Reviews

Births, Deaths and Marriages by Jill McGown

nocto's review

5.0

As a series book I knew what one of the births and one of the marriages would be in this book, and I wondered if there would be much more to it than that. Being a detective series you can pretty much guarantee a death or two. I'm pleased to say it turned out to be more than just a couple of rites of passage for the central characters.

Decent puzzles added up to a good plot. I'd guessed the murderer quite early on - process of elimination seemed to exclude everyone else - but it didn't make for disappointment (as it shouldn't in a good book) because there was enough else to figure out and the 'how' wasn't at all clear to me.

This has been a consistently good series; I think I'm within a book of catching up with the author now.

juliechristinejohnson's review

3.0

I had no idea that Jill McGown passed away in April 2007. I read this novel December 2006- the first McGown mystery for me.

I was enchanted and intrigued by Chief Inspector Lloyd and Det Sgt Judy Hill- partners on the force and partners in life. The characters have all the charm of Agatha Christie's cast and the mystery is of its age without the cynicism or maudlin tattoo sported by many a modern murder mystery. The marriage and professional lives of its chief protagonists lend the story a humanity and empathy that is utterly feminine but not hand-wringingly emotional.

I will place other Mcgown's on my to-read list, with a great sadness knowing there will be no new works to anticipate. R.I.P. Ms McGown- the literary world is all the poorer without your voice.