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3.78 AVERAGE
3.78 AVERAGE
The police treat them as suspects - taking their clothing, paint samples from their home and more. There is no evidence to connect them with the murder but that doesn't stop the victim's brothers from attacking them and many locals convinced that they are getting away with murder. One of them is so distraught that he tries to commit suicide and this causes the death of the lead investigator. At the time there was no DNA evidence, but the collected evidence was preserved.
Fast forward to the present and Chief Constable Lawton is in charge of cold case investigations. One of his team is upset to discover that the evidence has been lost but they hope that it was just misfiled. When Alex, one of the group, learns that the case is being reinvestigated he hopes that will finally exonerate him and his friends. He is discouraged to learn that the DNA evidence has been lost. Then his friends start dying. One is Ziggy, a well known pediatrician who has a clinic in Seattle, WA. While his partner, Paul, is away on business he is murdered and the house burned down. Then Mondo, aka David, who is now a respected lecturer, is aso murdered. At both funerals an anonymous floral arrangement that says "Rosemary For Remembrance" is delivered. Alex is frustrated that Lawton will not take the murders seriously.
This book really kept me guessing although the clues were there. It's really well written and thoughtful with emphasis on police procedures, scientific evidence and changing mores regarding public views of homosexuality. This is definitely one of my favorites this year.
Graphic: Hate crime, Homophobia
There are definite echoes of A Place of Execution here: a two part story of the investigation into the death of Rosie Duff, a nineteen year old found stabbed to death just before Christmas 1978 in St Andrews. Four students drunk on their way home from a party find her in the snow and become the chief suspects. Nothing can ever be proved and twenty five years later, 2003, the cold case is reopened.
I like books like this a lot; seeing people in two different ages and seeing how they change in themselves and how their relationships change. And then seeing how the unsolved murder has affected all of their lives makes a great character study.
As with A Place of Execution it's quite possible to see the twist coming without it spoiling the story for you. I like the fact that the clues are all fair and above board. It seems a bit obvious in places but mostly that's just hiding the fact that McDermid is being very devious indeed.
Well worth a read.
Graphic: Homophobia
Moderate: Rape
