When a young married woman is found stabbed to death in her bed the answer is simple, her husband did it and the Brighton Police don't investigate further. however for his childhood friend, McGregor, it's not that simple. Unable to look into the crime because he is part of the police force, McGregor engages the services of Mirabelle Bevan, his private investigator girlfriend. As Mirabelle probes further she is drawn into a dangerous game where individuals become expendable and corruption leads all the way to the top.
Having read one of the earlier Mirabelle Bevan stories I was sure that I was going to get a slightly more gritty adventure than one might think for the setting in post-War Brighton. This almost has shades of 'Brighton Rock' in the way that the seedier underbelly is exposed. I love the fact that one of the main characters is black and that Mirabelle is not a young woman - racism, sexism and ageism are all covered but in a subtle and integral part of the storyline. As far as the plot goes, there is something for everyone.

Mirabelle Bevan is back in the latest title, Her boyfriend Superintendent McGregor is taken off a case due to his former close relationship with the suspect and old school friend. The gruesome murder of his wife seems a cut and dried case but it does not make sense to Mirabelle. Her pursuit of the truth unearths more of the crime underbelly of Brighton. The 1950s setting adds to both the glamour and seediness of the settings as Mirabelle and her partner Vesta attempt to untangle a web of deceit and misdirection.
A quick read which is great for the summer and those who like a British crime novel..

When I chose to read this, I didn't realise it was the 6th in the historical crime fiction, Mirabelle Bevan series, set in 1950s Brighton. However, whilst there are numerous mentions of previous back stories, with Mirabelle having a history at wartime with the intelligence agencies, it still works well as a standalone. Mirabelle and her assistant, the black Vesta Lewis, work for McGuigan & McGuigan Debt Recovery. Phil Quinn wakes up feeling groggy after a night of drinking with his wife, Helen, to his horror, whilst he was sleeping, Helen was fatally stabbed. Superintendent Alan McGregor, the sometime partner of Mirabelle, is not allowed to look into the murder as he knows Phil. Convinced of Phil's innocence, he asks her to look into the murder.

Phil is charged with the murder, although most people who know him, including those at Hove Cars, the taxi service he part owns, do not believe he is guilty, citing his devotion and love of his wife. Vesta is pregnant, uncertain and confused as to how she feels, concerned at how it will affect her relationship with her husband, Charlie, her job and whether she can take on the role of being a mother. Mirabelle and Vesta struggle to find a motive for Helen's murder, and discover the bottle of Gin was poisoned. Mirabelle begins to understand the good times to be had, the glamour and lucrative nature of prostitution for women who are protected by Ernie Davidson as comes to appreciate its lure. In the meantime, a Russian Countess flaunts her wealth as well as her propensity to complain endlessly. McGregor finds himself in charge of an apparent suicide of ex-RAF Flight Lieutenant George Forgie, a man with casino chips sewn into his coat. As the truth begins to become clearer, the establishment shows it's determination to ensure that the truth is buried. Is any form of justice going to be possible?

As I began to read, I mistakenly assumed that this was going to be a cozy mystery, only to be shocked at just how gritty the storylines actually are. Sara Sheridan evokes the atmosphere and feel of this historical period, the racism and sexism, the corruption, the attitudes and a country emerging from the post war austerity years. I loved the character of Mirabelle, brave and fearless, willing to go wherever she needs to go to solve the case. She begins to become suspicious of McGregor as she starts to question his integrity, their relationship becomes increasingly strained and pressurised, looking increasingly like it will break apart. An enthralling and absorbing read which I thoroughly enjoyed. Many thanks to Little, Brown for an ARC.

Brighton, 1950s. A young wife is stabbed to death in bed, with her husband seemingly asleep beside her. Why did no one hear her call out? How is it that her husband heard and saw nothing? This is a case for McGuigan and McGuigan, debt collectors- and occasional murder investigators. Mirabelle and Vesta are soon on the track of the killer, leading them through the streets of Brighton, into the smartest hotels and high society private gambling dens. Who could have committed this truly dreadful crime?
I love this series and this one is a corker! With characters old and new taking the reader by surprise, I couldn’t work this one out! I love the author’s descriptions of 1950s life and the thoughts and habits of the era. I love the intrigue and the mystery. A thoroughly enjoyable and entertaining read!