Bridget's Reviews > A Fatal Affair

WPC Trudy Loveday and Coroner Clement Ryder are back in this sixth instalment of the series by Faith Martin. In A Fatal Affair, May Day is upon the village of Middle Fenton, a quiet and peaceful village in England. The birds are singing and there is a crowd gathering around Magdalen Tower waiting for the celebrations to start. The choristers are ready on top of the college building and the Morris Dancers are waiting nearby for the dancing to begin. Margaret Bellham, a May Day Committee member is headed for the village green. She is responsible for overseeing the May Day Procession including organising those preparing the food for the picnic and ensuring that the village maypole is ready for the maypole dancing by all the village maidens. As she steps towards the stone maypole she sees the May Queen the villagers voted for, seventeen-year-old Iris Carmody with the coloured ribbons that hung from the crown of the maypole wrapped tightly around her body, her neck a mass of dark bruises. A week later, David Finch is found hanging in a barn and many believe that David committed suicide because of the murder of his girlfriend, Iris...

A Fatal Affair kept me on my toes throughout as I devoured each chapter. I adored being in the company of Trudy Loveday again who I find to be enthusiastic, feisty, considerate and, at times stubborn. Ryder is a man who has experienced his fair share of life - someone of a certain age who has lived a little.

Set in the 1960s, Faith Martin's writing is so good and her style is a great fit for me, helping to tempt me into the story. There was plenty going on which kept my attention throughout and I never once felt bored. With a handy supply of colourful supporting characters, the mystery itself was sound and there was always something going on to keep my attention focused. The clues, twists and red herrings were cleverly placed and with nothing as it seemed and secrets aplenty, the story was super exciting. This has left me wanting to read the first two books of the series, as well as eagerly anticipating the next instalment.

I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from HQ Digital via NetGalley. This review is my own unbiased opinion.