Weycombe
A Novel of Suspense
G.M. Malliet
Midnight Ink, October 2017
ISBN 978-0-7387-5426-0
Hardcover
Weycombe is a novel of psychological suspense. In it, Jillian, an American, who worked for the BBC in London until she was laid off (“made redundant” in British- speak) married a minor nobleman and moved to the tony gated village of Weycombe, is frustrated with her marriage, fearing that her husband no longer loves her. When the village real estate agent, Jillian’s neighbor, is murdered Jillian decides to investigate in order to help the police who, by the way, are not especially interested in her help. Then a shopkeeper is also murdered, and Jillian intensifies her efforts as do the police. But clues are few and the police investigation is stalled. Jillian, however, begins to suspect that her husband might be involved.
As Jillian talks to the various women in her neighborhood circle hoping something someone knows will help to discover the murderer, the police investigation seems to be going nowhere. Jillian reviews her list of suspects and the clues she has found but seems to be no further along than the police.
Weycombe is a fascinating novel of psychological suspense though some might be annoyed by long descriptions of events that deserve only a brief mention. Readers with a great deal of experience with mystery novels will likely deduce the murderer’s identity; however, the author has planted clues throughout the book that will likely keep even the most skeptical reader at least interested in finishing it. I enjoyed Weycombe very much and recommend it.
Reviewed by Melinda Drew, December 2019.
Buried Under Books 