Beverley Carter

The third of the Eden Reid mysteries - a real page-turner.

Sleeping Dogs

Amazon.com link

My review -

A man is found horribly mutilated outside an old lady’s house. Eden goes to see her – she can’t keep herself to herself. She then visits the widow of the murdered man. She’s genuinely concerned – not a nosy person! The widow knows who’s behind it but daren’t speak up. There’s all manner of things going on in this sleepy village, including dog fighting and wife beating and they’re all tied up with the political ambitions of a rich man.

It was lovely to meet some old friends from earlier stories here, though the book doesn’t depend on them. I think it can be read as a one-off. I love the Eden Reid mysteries because it’s not DS or DCI Eden Reid. It’s Miss Reid, the woman in the street. You can put yourself in her position. Her concern for the victims and her loathing of corruption come through and will be shared by readers. Another cracking good story in this series.

Beverley Carter

I've read and enjoyed novellas by Beverley Carter but this new one is a full length novel. It's excellent!

The Lookout

Amazon.com

My review -

This is a story of fascinating characters as much as anything. Three adult sisters live together, the oldest looking after them with a very firm hand. Their mother is dead and their father has gone away. They have a brittle relationship with a housekeeper. Tom is a strange man who becomes fascinated with the youngest sister then disappears. Eden Reid is asked by a friend to look for him while she's in the area on business.

I really enjoyed this 'mystery'. I use the quotation marks because the reader sees what happens and it's Eden and her friends who have to put the clues together. Deduction isn't the same as evidence, however, and much though they are convinced they know what happened, and even why, their problem is in making anyone else believe it. A great story, well told.