Book Review: Capable of Murder

Reviewed By: Cheryl - RAM

Capable of Murder     Amazon US TPB Amazon UK PB Amazon Canada TPB
Brian Kavanagh
Class/Genre:   Mystery   Woman Main Character   Amateur Sleuth
Series: Belinda Lawrence # 1
BeWrite Books, 2005

This is the first novel featuring Belinda Lawrence, a young Australian emigrant to the UK, where she inherits a rustic cottage from her eccentric and reclusive great-aunt. Aunt Jane has died in an accident which Jane finds very suspicious. But why would anyone murder a poor elderly lady who kept to herself in her run-down cottage?

'Capable of Murder' belongs to the time-honoured genre of English village cosies, but is unfortunately not in this sub-genre's top ranks. This is partly due to the lack of vivid physical descriptions of the classic English village scenes, and partly due to Belinda's rather implausible character. She is completely convinced that her aunt is murdered - yet she stays alone in the old cottage, although she alternates between calm and panic. There is no indication that she is independantly wealthy - yet she gives up her job and home in London to support herself and pay for the renovation of the cottage by working part time as a village cleaning woman! The basic elements of a village mystery are in place - amateur detective, picturesque village, unexpected inheritance, eccentric villagers - but never quite fit together into a coherant and convincing whole.

Cheryl - RAM

Reprinted with permission. Do Not repost without permission from the author, Cheryl - RAM

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