Book Review: The Body on the Beach

Reviewed By: Harriet Klausner

The Body on the Beach     Amazon US PB Amazon US HC Amazon UK PB Amazon Canada PB Amazon Canada HC
Simon Brett
Class/Genre:   Mystery   Amateur Sleuth
Series: Fethering Mystery # 1
Berkley, Aug 2000, $21.95, 320 pp.

Fethering is located on the South Coast near Tarring. Only the locales believe the posh place is large enough to be considered a village. Resident Carole Seddon feels Fethering is perfect for her personal values. The fifty-three year old divorcee recently retired form the Home Office. The prim woman's only companion is her Labrador Retriever Gulliver.

Carole's proper environs is shook to its core when she finds a man's body on the nearby beach. She goes home, washes her dog and her kitchen floor before calling the police, who find nothing on the beach. The police believe Carole is a bit daffy with her loneliness leading to her imagination running wild. An outraged Carole reacts to their condescending nature by ignoring her inhibitions to go to a pub with her neighbor, Jude. Carole tells Jude about the events of the day. Jude not only believes Carole, but also insists they investigate THE BODY OF THE BEACH. Thus, a new fearless crime fighting team has formed.

The interaction between the two female protagonists turn THE BODY ON THE EBACH into a fascinating amateur sleuth tale. Jude's mellow attitude contrasts with Carole's up tight demeanor, but their interplay forces Jude to take a step back while loosening Carole a bit. The who-done-it is fun supplemented in part by the official position of the local police. Simon Brett provides his audience with an insightful look at small village life in an insular British hamlet. The opening gamut in the Carole-Jude mysteries seems to forecast a long running series to the delight of sub-genre fans.

Harriet Klausner

Reprinted with permission. Do Not repost without permission from the author, Harriet Klausner