Sergeant Cathy Marsden investigates the death of a local gangster in WWII Leeds.
Leeds, 1944. Cathy Marsden’s happiness at her boyfriend Tom’s brief leave from the army and marriage proposal is short-lived as she embarks on a new case in the Special Investigation Branch. Eric Carr, a local gangster, is dead after crashing his car on the outskirts of Leeds. Not only that, but an alarming discovery is made in the boot: weapons, including guns, stolen from a US military base, to be sold on the black market. Was the crash simply an accident, or something more sinister? One thing’s for sure – Eric’s death has set a chain of murder and gangland chaos in motion. As the number of people disappearing increases, and men start dying Cathy must work out who is pulling the strings, and why.
Kirkus says the books is “Chock-full of historical detail, local color, and exciting adventures as the Allies prepare for D-Day.” You can read the entire review here.
In a lovely review, Between The Covers notes that “What Nickson – like all good novelists – does well is to make us care deeply about the central characters. “
Booklist Reviews highlights: “When her boss is badly injured during a
raid, Cathy’s as shocked as she is proud to take over as his temporary replacement, although
there’s extra pressure—her “being a woman and all”—to crack the case. But her local connections, ingenuity, bravery, and intuition pay off. A plucky female cop, wartime drama and romance, and a look at how the war gave women new opportunities give oomph to Nickson’s
slow-burning police procedural.” I’ll take that!
Promoting Crime Fiction notes the “multilayered, beautifully constructed plot and an engaging protagonist who is part of a diverse and likeable team. The historical background is superb, embracing the weariness and pain of Britain in the last stages of the Second World War, and the strong, determined, female protagonist reveals the challenges facing a working-class woman trying to make her way in a male dominated world.” Read it all here.
Chris Nickson 