A Fatal Truth is the fifth entry in the Trudy Loveday/Clement Ryder series by Faith Martin. Once again Trudy is able to team up with Coroner Dr. Clement Ryder to determine if the death of Thomas Hughes is a terrible accident or if there is a more sinister explanation for his death. There were certainly enough people, especially in his own family, who might want Thomas dead.

This is a very easy read. It takes place in the 1960’s Trudy Loveday is one of the rare policewomen of the time. Dr. Ryder is her mentor. The book goes a little slow for me. I’m mor a contemporary reader. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. I received a copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

I requested and received a free e-book copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

A Fatal Truth is the fifth book in the Ryder and Loveday series, I have read them all so far, some are excellent, others not quite so good. Although I still enjoy the premise of Trudy Loveday as the only female officer on the police force, in the 1960’s and the challenges she faces from her colleagues and the public. She has been fortunate to work with Dr. Clement Ryder, the city coroner, to resolve a few crimes. I enjoy reading about the different way of life and attitudes, including car ownership.

I was a little bit disappointed with this one as the author is one of my favourites and it looked from early on that it might be one of the excellent ones in the series. As ever the characters, were very well presented and easy to imagine. But I felt that it plodded along a little too slowly and never quite lived up to the early promise. It was however a pleasant way to spend an afternoon and sink into a different world. 3.5 rounded up to 4 stars.

law-enforcement, England, murder-investigation

Have to admit that I was disappointed with this one as the author is one of my favorites and I had expected to love it. I felt that it plodded along in a rather lackluster fashion and never really got off the ground. The characters, however, were very well presented and easy to imagine as they moved about and asked/answered and generally delved into things. The publisher's blurb is very good.
I requested and received a free ebook copy from HQ Digital via NetGalley.

Another great Trudy Loveday novel.
Trudy once again finds herself seeking answers with Dr. Ryder. When a freak accident claims the life of a rich businessman, Mr. Hughes, it is almost immediately ruled an accident. But then a newspaper article is published suggesting that the police acted in haste in closing the case and should take another look. To appease the public, Inspector Jennings assigns Trudy to look into the family and the death and see if she can close the case once and for all. But what Trudy and Ryder uncover leaves them both with a moral decision. Because if the truth comes to light, a young, innocent girl may pay the ultimate price. Can they let a killer get away with murder to clear their conscience or will they follow the law?
Love the twist at the end of this story. Great addition to the series.
I received and advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Thanks Netgalley and the Publisher. Nice cosy mystery, great characters and I must say a really enjoyable read out in the garden with a glass of vino. Thank you

As the Hughes family celebrate bonfire night, a terrible accident leaves the garden shed in flames – and father and grandfather Thomas trapped inside.

Tragic though it is, Thomas’s death passes without suspicion – until a local journalist makes accusations of a police cover-up in the press. WPC Trudy Loveday is sent to investigate, and asks coroner Clement Ryder to help.

But the more questions the two ask the less clear the case seems. There’s no evidence of foul play, and yet the dead man’s family are obviously hiding something. Then there are Thomas’s dubious business practices – was someone out for revenge?

All Trudy and Clement know for sure is that everyone is lying – and that they must find the truth…

I thought this book was....ok. It kept me interested but it didn’t have a lot of depth I felt like. If you are looking for an easy read, this one I would recommend. Thank you #NetGalley for this Arc!

I am a fan of stories of an era where technology is not used much and hence I picked it up. The beginning doesn’t disappoint with the case being reopened due to the doubts cast in a news article. But as it proceeds there seem to be no evidence turning up in any way and still the duo pursue their interviews and finally arriving at the answer by a sudden thought. And the conclusion is debatable, whether the superiors would just brush it under the carpet. An easy one time read.

A Fatal Truth is the fifth book in Faith Martin's Ryder and Loveday series. Set in Oxford in the 1960s, Trudy Loveday is the only female officer on the police force, and she has been fortunate to work with Dr. Clement Ryder, the city coroner. Once again they are brought together when the death of Thomas Hughes, initially ruled an accident is questioned by a journalist. As Loveday and Ryder investigate, it seems that every member of the Hughes family had reason to want Thomas dead. The question is, did one of them act on their feelings, or was Thomas just in the wrong place at the wrong time?
Loveday and Ryder still have a good working rapport, though their history is making it more complicated. Loveday has concerns after their last case ended dramatically, and Ryder has medical issues that make him fearful of anyone discovering the truth. All the Hughes children look guilty at one point or another, and even the dead man's sister has a motive. After going down quite a few rabbit holes, I was sure I had figured out whodunnit and why, and for once I was correct!
This seemed like it would be a solid four-star read, until, sigh, the ending. Without giving away the plot, while I understood how this wraps up, I just couldn't believe that the authorities would have chosen to act this way. I may be jaded, but it just didn't work for me. I finished this several days ago and let my thoughts sit before writing my review. I still feel the same, so for me, this was a good, not great addition to the series. I will certainly read the next installment if there is one, and I would suggest this series to my cozy mystery friends. Maybe 26 days of self-isolation is making me a picky reader and I might well visit A Fatal Truth again when this new normal has passed.

A death in a garden shed is marked as a tragic accident until a local journalist makes an accusation of a police cover up prompting WPC Trudy Loveday to investigate the truth behind the fire that left Thomas dead

Whilst I normally like Faith Martins novels and especially the Hillary Greene series i cannot seem to get on with the Ryder and Loveday Mysteries

I have read Faith Martin before and didn't enjoy this quite as much as her other stories. She does write very gentle, appealing mysteries and this is a good example of the genre.

#AFatalTruth#NetGalley
Its a one time read.
As the Hughes family celebrate bonfire night, a terrible accident leaves the garden shed in flames – and father and grandfather Thomas trapped inside.Tragic though it is, Thomas’s death passes without suspicion – until a local journalist makes accusations of a police cover-up in the press. WPC Trudy Loveday is sent to investigate, and asks coroner Clement Ryder to help.But the more questions the two ask the less clear the case seems. There’s no evidence of foul play, and yet the dead man’s family are obviously hiding something. Then there are Thomas’s dubious business practices – was someone out for revenge?
Thanks to NetGalley and HQ Digital for giving me an advance copy.

Overjoyed to read the new Ryder and Loveday book. Faith Martin perfectly captures the early sixties attitudes and morals. Fabulous mystery too, with Loveday gaining in confidence and , maybe, proving her worth to the DI. Great character development in this series. Highly recommended, perfect way to spend an afternoon on the sofa.

#AFatalTruth #NetGalley
I became fatal while reading Fatal Truth. Faith is back with an explosive read.
As the Hughes family celebrate bonfire night, a terrible accident leaves the garden shed in flames – and father and grandfather Thomas trapped inside.Tragic though it is, Thomas’s death passes without suspicion – until a local journalist makes accusations of a police cover-up in the press. WPC Trudy Loveday is sent to investigate, and asks coroner Clement Ryder to help.But the more questions the two ask the less clear the case seems. There’s no evidence of foul play, and yet the dead man’s family are obviously hiding something. Then there are Thomas’s dubious business practices – was someone out for revenge?
Characters, dialogues and plot were superb.
Thanks to NetGalley and HQ Digital for giving me an advance copy of this awesome mystery.

Oxford 1961. A family bonfire ends in tragedy, when Ted Hughes dies after the garden shed goes up in flames, with him still inside. At first it’s treated as a tragic accident, until a local journalist makes accusations about the investigation - or lack of it.
Dr Clement Ryder is the local coroner who presided over Ted Hughes’ inquest, and had some qualms about the whole incident but it’s ruled as accidental.
Rookie WPC Trudy Loveday is ordered by DI Jennings to look into the accident, having no great expectations about her ability to complete this task. Not long out of her probationary period, she is still a novelty as a police woman in a mans world. She’s worked on a few cases with the coroner before, successfully, so it feels natural to ask for his help, and he’s happy to get involved again.
During their enquiries they find that the dead man was very unpopular, even with his own family, and there seems no shortage of people who were happy he was dead.
This is the 5th book in this series. I hadn’t read the previous books but still found it easy to keep up with the characters. It’s well written and evocative of the era, where women were regarded as almost a husbands property. Becoming a police officer was a very unusual thing for a woman to want to do, with all its ingrained prejudices and men’s club atmosphere. Nice easy reading.