This was the first Ryder and Loveday book I had read, and although it is 7th in the series it works perfectly well as a standalone story. That being said, it has made me keen to read the previous 6!

A Fatal Night is a lovely tale of old-fashioned police work. A thoroughly enjoyable mystery/procedural story about a female WPC who takes advantage of snow-induced staff shortages to run with a case that would ordinarily have been passed over to a more senior, and definitely male, colleague. She brings along her unofficial partner, coroner Clement Ryder, to help her uncover that the seemingly run-of-the-mill road collision may not be all it first appears.

The writing is like a big warm blanket and a bottle of Lucozade when you are ill as a child, it’s comforting and nostalgic. Faith Martin invites you along with Loveday and Ryder as they follow leads, and I had no idea which one would be the right one until it was revealed - just as it should be. I felt that Ryder’s character was given more depth, however given that this is part of an established series, this could be true of only this instalment, of course.

It has definitely whet my appetite to get to know them, and their families, more.

I love a detective story and this one didn't disappoint. The friendship between Trudy and Clement made for engaging reading and as the story unfolded it showed that things are not always as they seem.

Will be looking for more in the series to read.

I rather enjoyed this, I didn't realise it was part of a series but it wasn't necessary to read the others to understand this one, very interesting to see the attitude to female police officers at this time, a nice easy read and also good fun, I thought it ended rather abruptly

I had not heard of Faith Martin, one of four pen names the author assumes when she writes in the crime genre (she also publishes classic whodunnits and romantic novels). I have to admit that when I initially opened this thriller, I was a little disappointed to find it is the seventh instalment in a series built around Oxford WPC Trudy Loveday and coroner Clement Ryder, as I usually like to read the books in a series in the order in which they are published. As it turned out, however, it is entirely possible to read this novel as a stand-alone, too. It starts with a snowy New Year’s Day in the 1960s in Oxford, when Loveday is called to the scene of an apparent involuntary death: a young man who froze to death in his car after attending a high profile party. Subsequent interviews with the other guests set in motion a torrent of conflicting statements and lies that Loveday has to unravel. Brilliantly plotted, this book made for a satisfying read. My thanks go to the publishers and NetGalley for the free ARC provided in exchange for this unbiased review.

If Agatha Christie had written in the 60’s is how I would describe this novel. The story of a young WPC ,in the misogynistic and still Puritan 60’s England, trying to climb the ladder by solving a car crash/murder and make her voice heard. Helped by an aging medical examiner moonlighting as a sleuth, she navigates the police department politics as well as the clashing social classes and takes you through a delightful and nostalgic murder mystery which is definitely a must read under a cosy blanket!

Set when women were first allowed to be police officers - and not treated very well. The WPC here is aided and abetted by a local coroner who makes sure that she isn't just turned into the tea lady for the male officers. Set in The Big Freeze - when from December 26th 1962 until 8th March 1963 there were parts of the country at below zero, everywhere had a really hard time with the snow and ice.

Enjoyed it.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher I read a free advance review copy of the book. This review is voluntary, honest and my own opinion.

When I requested A Fatal Night by Faith Martin I didn't realise it was book 7 in a series; however, it is a standalone story so I was able to read it with ease.

Overall I enjoyed the story. I liked the way Trudy and Clement worked together and how Trudy's superiors hated them working together because things were never straightforward. I had no idea who the killer was but am not sure if there were enough clues to guess either.

One thing I really disliked was how much time the author spent writing about the characters looks and the good looking characters constantly being gushed over. I felt it unnecessary to the story.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

A bit of an alternative murder mystery story with some fun thrown in and a new viewpoint. Enjoyable.

This has the reader gripped from page one! Constable Trudy Loveday is back, associating again with the coroner Clement Ryder solving crimes above her pay grade. With the background of a New Year’s Eve party for posh people In a suburb of Oxford, the lover of the older hostess dies. There are several suspects once it is proved that it is more than a random car accident. Trudy still has to prove herself to the antagonistic inspector and she successfully fights the inbuilt antagonism to a successful female junior! All that is well handled. The characters are well created and the story keeps producing surprises, not least at its climax when Trudy, of course, solves the case. This is a story that is so well told, it can’t be put down. It is a gripping read. I strongly recommend it.

This is the first Faith Martin book I’ve read and it won’t be last. I can’t imagine how I’ve missed them. I love reading about WPC Trudy Loveday and her working friendship with Coroner Clement Ryder. And now there’s his son Vincent to consider. The story tells the tale of poor unfortunate Terrance Parker who drives his car into a tree during the awful winter of 1962-3, dying at the scene. Was it an unfortunate accident or is there more to the story? Of course there is and I love the way little snippets keep turning up. Does Terry’s partner know more than he’s telling? Patsy Arles is a strange one and at one stage I feared for her. In the end it was someone I hadn’t expected. Can’t wait for the next one and I’ll even go back and read the previous ones.

Loved this, A Fatal Night.

New Years Eve 1962 the big freeze continues as in lots of snow 3ft banks of snow line the streets and paths of Oxford. Also the guests arrive to a party to be remembered, the roads restricted who went where etc. The host of our party is ready and hoping to see the New Year in engaged to a man 10 years her junior more common now than in the 60's. But we have a thriller so obviously it isn't to end without drama and Faith does not disappoint.

There are some great characters that make this special there is our Hero WPC Trudy loveday and her sidekick the (older just an observation) coroner Dr Clement and his son Vincent (younger). With the staff at the station this is my first of this series so I'm assuming the staff are the usual including Inspector G Jennings. (I put in the G its for Grumpy 😠). The guests for this time are the host Millie Vander and her twins Juliet and Jasper, Terry the one Millie was hoping would provide a ring, a gate crasher (female) Katherine Morton a local celebrity an Artist, and Patsy a guest of the twins. And Geoffrey Parker Terry's business partner. There are others but these are the ones to watch as in they stuck out to me for various reasons none badly even if they were bad people. I'm saying they helped make this a great read. It will keep you guessing and we'll I just loved the whole story (thriller) it entertained gripped and as such I really didn't want to put it down.

I mentioned that this is my 1st read in the series but this didn't happer or disappoint, it has made me keen to read others from Faith Specifically about WPC Trudy. It is easy to read as a standalone but may not be standalone soon afterwards. I hope you enjoy it as much as I have a great escape from life for a while.

What a gentle and enjoyable read, despite the fact it is about blackmail and murder! A straightforward whodunnit in a typical Agatha Christie style. No jumping about in the timeline of the story, all the clues are left for you to find at the same time as the young WPC Trudi Loveday and the semi retired Coroner Clement Ryder discover them. Did not realize that this book is one of a series. Ideal as a stand alone.
Thank you to NetGalley and HQ for the advance copy of this book.

Although this is the seventh book in a series it can easily be read as a standalone.

It is New Year's Eve 1962, the widowed Mrs Millie Vander is hosting a New Year's Eve party at her home, hoping that her man-friend, Terry Parker will propose to her, despite the ten year age difference. Millie's nineteen year old twins Jasper and Juliet are rather less than thrilled at the prospect of an oily second-hand sportscar salesman becoming their stepfather and spending their considerable inheritance.

Meanwhile, WPC Trudy Loveday is one of the few police officers still on duty, so many having been trapped at home by the unprecedented snowfalls that brought Oxford to a halt, and others being brought down by a flu epidemic. The last thing she expects to be asked to do is investigate a dead body found slumped in a car on New Year's Day morning, even if the verdict is expected to be death caused by driving a car into a tree whilst intoxicated. Trudy suggests asking the coroner, Dr Clement Ryder, to pronounce death, given the holidays and being short-staffed. Dr Ryder and Trudy have apparently solved a number of murders in Oxford by pursuing what appeared to open-and-shut accidents, and Dr Ryder has a soft spot for the young WPC.

This was a very enjoyable, easy-reading, police procedural, as a reader I was aware of several potential suspects but had no clue as to who had committed the murder or why. There were lots of what I really don't want to classify as red herrings, more like leads which didn't pan out, suspects who had motive but didn't commit the crime.

I've not come across Faith Martin before but I will definitely keep an eye out for other books in this series.

I received a free copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in return for an honest review.

This is a light, gentle read by Faith Martin. I enjoyed the story set at Christmas in Oxford 1962. The main characters of WPC Trudy Loveday, a young police constable, and elderly Dr Clement Ryder, City Coroner, have a lovely working relationship and work well together. Trudy is eager and willing to learn her trade. Dr Ryder admires her work ethic and thinks Trudy will go far in her career. Other memorable characters throughout the story will transport you with witty dialogue. I liked the writing style, descriptions and locations in the story.

For me, this is a light and gentle novel. I enjoyed my reading journey.

I give a 3 star rating

I WANT TO THANK NETGALLEY FOR THE OPPORTUNITY OF READING AN ADVANCED COPY OF THIS BOOK FOR AN HONEST REVIEW.

This book was a real joy! No edge-of-the-seat, thrilling, stomach churning sections, as in the usual type of book I like to read. It was just a comfortable, easy to read, murder mystery that made me chuckle at times (I’m not certain it was supposed to, but it did). I loved the relationship between WPC Trudy Loveday and the coroner, and the way they solved a murder case without any of the technology available to the police today. Just good old-fashioned detective work and determination, with not even a mobile phone to help them. Poor old Trudy was only given the role of looking into this murder because so many of her male colleagues were absent due to the dreadful weather and, oh my word, was she thrilled or what? Dr Ryder equally so (perhaps being a coroner is boring work?). The dialogue between them was wonderful.
The writing was brilliant, the pace was good, and the characters were so well described that I could picture them in my head. So - interesting characters, wonderful descriptions of everything as it would have been in 1962, little twists and turns to keep us interested … fabulous! You can’t go wrong with this one!
Thanks to NetGalley and HQ for allowing me to read the book in return for an honest review.

A jolly book about a murder, a lovely read. Only spoilt by lack of research unfortunately!! The book is set in 1962 mainly on New Year’s Day, the author says this is a holiday sadly it was not a bank holiday until 1974!,, Otherwise I enjoyed and would like to find out more about the main characters Trudy & Clement.

A New Years Eve party takes place in 1962. A reveler drives home after the party - and is found dead in his card the next morning, after crashing in a snowdrift. It is the coldest Christmas in years, and the snowstorm has shut down much of the country. So when WPC Loveday is called in to investigate, initially it looks like the high society party goer was just the victim of unfortunate circumstances. But she has teamed up with county coroner Clement Ryder. At the scene of the crash Ryder notices some signs on the crash victim that make him suspicious. Loveday notices a possible second set of footprints leading from the car.

Concerned that there may be more at stake here than a simple tragic accident, they investigate, and get pulled into a series of investigative threads that seem to pull them deeper and deeper into investigating the case as a murder. Everyone is lying to them, and it seems like multiple people wanted the victim dead. The only question is, who followed through on their desire to see him die?

I really enjoyed this mystery. I loved the more old fashioned take on the police crime thriller novel, and the partnership of Loveday and Ryder is wonderfully drawn. I had not read any of this series before, and while there was much intonation of previous cases and previous relationship development between them, I didn’t find myself unable to enjoy this book for lacking the previous reads. I will, however, make it a mission to read the previous books in the series. I could not wait to get to the end and see where good old fashioned detective work brought the case, and the delightful characters were gracious to bring us along on their adventure.

*Thanks to Netgalley for a copy of this book for review, but all opinions are my own.

I enjoyed this book, I hadnt realised that it was the final in a series and so i am now determined to read the rest of the series alongside this one again to et a thorough understanding of the book but overall i enjoyed it

It’s New Year’s Eve of 1962. There is snow everywhere and it’s so deep hardly anyone is out celebrating. Millie Vander however has kept her plans to have a party at her house, most of the local friends she invited are still coming and she’s hoping her love, Terry will propose.

As the new year rings in WPC Trudy Loveday is woken to the news of a fatal accident and as so many staff are unable to get in because of the snow, she is sent out to start the preliminaries. On her way she calls on her friend and colleague Dr Clement Ryder, city coroner, to record the death.

Upon finding the body the pair get the feeling it’s not just an accident and that there is more to the

When I saw this book I liked the sound of it from the synopsis. At the time I didn’t realise it’s book 7 in a series. I hadn’t read any of the previous books but decided to stick with it anyway and as it turns out it doesn’t matter too much that I hadn’t. The story follows the Trudy and Clement as they figure out if the death was an accident or if it was murder. Being set in the 60’s there is a lot of sexism regarding WPC Trudy Loveday’s role in the police force which I imagine was unfortunately a regular occurrence back then. The story was quite good and I think it’d suit a more mature audience quite well. I do have to admit I thought I’d figured it out but as the end approached I was completely wrong. I’d like to read the previous books at some point to find out more about the WPC and the Dr.

A Fatal Night by Faith Martin

Set in the heavy snows of 1962,
WPC Trudy Loveday is sent out on New Years Day to attend a fatal road accident in Oxfordshire.
This is part of a series that I haven't come across before, but it didn't really detract from reading this one.
I would describe the book as a cosy crime , the sort that does not scare, or make you wince at any horrific , gruesome or gory sections.
A really good nostalgic read , with a very good plot.