This book is so much more than a crime novel.
Nadine Matheson has taken a cracking crime story and wrapped a clever plot full of politics around it.
The politics of race, family feuds, political interference and so much more.
A Pastor is murdered in his Church.
The SIO, DI Anjeclica Henley is looking around the scene when she finds a small locked room with the body of a young, white, man bound to a bed. Everybody thinks he’s dead until the Pathologist arrives and finds he’s alive.
The family of the Pastor have an overinflated view of his importance, and perceived celebrity.
The young man is unidentified.
The Pastors wife is infuriated by the fact that the Police appear to be putting more effort into identifying the man from the locked room, than into the murder of her “celebrity” husband.
The wife involves the local MP who sees an opportunity to attack the already stretched Police force, accusing them of racism.
What she doesn’t realise is that DI Henley is SIO and that she is Black. In fact by “rattling the cage” and insisting on a press conference she has the opposite effect.
Suddenly the Pastor has gone from murder victim to possible abuser, with is past life being dragged up by police and press.
All the time another person is being held captive, their bones are being broken, they are being denied food and drink. Is it too late for her to be saved.
A great read, as much for the personal and professional struggles some of the characters go through, as for the crime itself.
Pages: 512. Publisher: HQ Release date: 7th July 2022
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