Tom Hindle: A Fatal Crossing, 9781529135695, Century / Penguin Random House UK, Pub date: 20. January 2022, hardback

I read a lot of mysteries, so when I say that “A Fatal Crossing” by Tom Hindle is the type of historical mystery that kept me constantly guessing and engaged this is definitely praise. The many twists and turns coming from a cast of well grafted, opaque characters made for a terrific plot which literally kept me in suspense until nearly the very last page creating a great, entertaining read with   memories of Agatha Christie mysteries coming to mind...

When the “Endeavour” sails from Southampton to New York in 1924, no one expects the week long crossing to be very eventful. But it is for an elderly gentleman who is found dead at the bottom of the stairs, everything pointing to an unfortunate slip by accident on a rainy deck at night.  James Temple, a moody, mysterious and short tempered Scotland Yard detective who happens to be on board, insists on a more thorough investigation, with the captain and ship officer Timothy Birth much less enthusiastic to have someone stir up what they consider a fateful accident.  And so begins the unraveling of a mystery to the identity of the dead man, an art dealer as it turns out, with many colorful protagonists, first class passengers in particular as possible suspects for a less than accidental death and Temple and Birth dueling each other on the search for the truth.  Enjoyed “The Fatal Crossing” immensely and congratulations to the publisher for a very atmospheric cover .

 

Chris Whitaker: We begin at the end, Zaffre/Bonnier UK, 9781785769405, paperback
(deutsch: Von hier bis zum Anfang, Piper, gebundenes Buch)

 

My attention was drawn to “We begin at the end” when the CWA Dagger Awards were announced; Chris Whittacker won the Gold Dagger for best crime novel of the year.  Receiving high praises by such peers as Jane Harper, Louise Penny and Mark Billingham, I bought a copy and was very impressed by the fine writing and the  American noir story line. 

Centered on thirteen year old Duchess Radley and her little brother Robin the story is so raw, it is almost heartbreakingly sad at times particularly when their troubled mother Star and Duchess set a series of events in motion that have a disasterous effect on all characters in the book.  

Whittaker's writing is almost lyrical and carefully crafted, reminding me of Chandler in many ways  but yet a very different voice, unusual for a crime novel, making it stand out.

Set in Cape Heaven, California and Montana the nature and countryside descriptions are beautiful, as are the finely drawn out characters in the book who, I know it sounds like a cliché, stay in your head for some time.  But non as much as Duchess who makes your heart ache or police officer Walk who is doing his best to protect the children of his high school friend Star with a killer on the loose and trying to help his best friend Vincent King to get his feet on the ground after being recently released from prison. As a teenager Vincent was convicted of killing Star's sister Sissy with a devastating effect on their families and friends.  

"We begin at the end" ranks as one of my favorite and more memorable crime novels so far.