I'm sorry for having to say it, but this is the first Faith Martin title that I couldn't bring myself to finish.
I really love the Hillary Greene series; I think the Jenny Starling series comes a good second.

But this... I have some books that were written in the 1940's and 1950's, books my mother read as a young teenager and woman. A Fatal Flaw has the same style of writing and the same atmosphere. And where this is endearing in those old books, here, it makes the book read as a parody on Agatha Christie. The best word I can find is 'frumpy'. It reads like the first book of a 16-year old with writing aspirations.

I hope Mrs. Martin will finish her next Jenny Starling book soon, so I can read it to make me forget this 'fatal flaw'.

This is third in Faith Martin’s new series featuring probationary WPC Trudy Lovejoy and Coroner Clement Ryder. This series, like most of Ms Martin’s crime novels, is set in 1960’s Oxford which allows her to interject some interesting and pertinent social elements into the stories. Oxford born and raised she is able to bring the important element of authenticity to her descriptions of middle class townies.  WPC Trudy is the only girl on the Oxford Constabulary. Her boss DI Jennings and much of the staff there are not welcoming to the incursion of women, and this specific young woman, into their policing world. This pushes her in the direction of Coroner Ryder, who, while desperate to conceal his early stage Parkinson’s, also relishes the company of a lively young woman – no hanky-panky – just a genuine mentoring.

Trudy’s school friend Grace Farley, un-willing manager of the Miss Oxford Honey beauty pageant asks her to look into disturbing pranks that are being played on the participants, as well as the death of one of the girls, Abby Trent, that had been dismissed as suicide. We, the readers, have been given a hint that this may indeed be the case. A prologue has already telescoped that someone with malicious intent has been gathering deadly yew tree berries from the churchyard. Trudy reluctantly agrees to Grace’s request, going undercover as a last minute competitor, setting in motion an escapade that takes in all the fluff and glitter of a small town beauty competition, as well as scheming contestants, lecherous judges and revengeful broken hearts.  

Faith Martin is a prolific, Oxford born author who writes under 4 names. Her novels have consistently enjoyed a high degree of success and Fatal Flaw should prove to be no exception. Well written and well plotted, this is an excellent example of what has come to be known as ‘a cosy mystery’. There are none of the menacing overtones that are a feature of ‘noir’ There is a murder – 2 actually, a handful of scheming, disagreeable individuals and a sprinkling of very nice and likeable characters that include WPC Trudy and her coroner mentor. At 149 pages, this provided a pleasant way to spend a snowy weekend inside.  4****

In Oxford in 1960, probationary WPC Trudy Loveday and coroner Clement Ryder have yet another case to solve. This time, the pair are mixed up in bizarre behaviour and suspicious deaths involving the Miss Oxford Honey beauty pageant

A fitting addition to the series

A young girl who is taking part in a beauty pageant is found dead having drunk poison. But is this suicide, murder or an unfortunate accident? Trudy, a rookie cop, is approached by an acquaintance who is involved in the running of the pageant to try to get the police to investigate. There are hints of Miss Congeniality to it.

This is of the cosy mystery genre, easy to read and would be good to take on holiday.

It is part of a series but reads well as a stand-alone. 

It has an interesting title which accurately reflects what the book is about.

The 2 main characters are very likeable and they have a very endearing relationship. There is Trudy, a rookie cop who is desperate to progress her career and Dr Clement Ryder, an experienced coroner who is desperate to keep his career going despite the onset of Parkinson’s. The way they are portrayed you can empathise with them both.

Very readable and enough of a plot to keep your attention through to the end.

I'm not familiar with Faith Martin's work, but I enjoyed A Fatal Flaw. A contestant in a pageant at Oxford in 1960 is found dead, Who killed her? As a former pageant queen, it's very easy to imagine some contestants resorting to murder. It's a mystery with enough twists to keep your interest. The characters are likeable and engaging. I will read more from this author. Thanks to NetGalley for an arc in exchange for an honest review.

A great story line with brilliant main characters..  I read this book in one sitting as I couldn't put it down.