A Missing Woman..
The sixth outing in the DI Herbert Reardon series of historical mysteries , set 1930’s, finds the investigator looking into the case of a missing woman. When the very glamorous wife of Judge Waring seemingly disappears, there are no clues to her whereabouts- until her strangled body is discovered in a nearby park. The careful positioning of the body and her accessories causes further consternation and as the investigation progresses, secrets and lies may well out. Compelling and immersive with a cast of well drawn and credible characters and an intricate plot casting a glimpse into the society of the time. A worthy addition to this well written series.

I thank NetGalley and Severn House for an advance reader copy of “A Fatal Necessity.” All opinions and comments are my own.

Herbert Reardon, now a Chief Inspector, is back solving crimes in “A Fatal Necessity,” and this time he’s doing it with a new sergeant by his side in 1930’s Worcestershire. Seems easy enough -- a missing lady of the manor, who apparently decided the country life wasn’t for her and ran away. But then her body is discovered, and what seemed like something a wee bit sordid turns into something far more complex, when past and present lives combine to bring about murder.

Reardon and his new DS Jago ((Joe Gilmour’s laid up with a broken leg) have a whole lot of suspects to keep them busy; angry estate workers with republican leanings, visiting toffs who know more than they’re saying, and family who’d like to ignore class distinctions while dealing with “winds of war” issues (we’re in 1935 England). Details of the dead woman slowly emerge; author Marjorie Eccles planned for quite the surprises in this one, that’s for sure. A woman fighting her own battles, which the author illustrates with a sure descriptive hand. Her “good fight” ensures her death, in “A Fatal Necessity.”

In Reardon’s capable hands, aided by Tom Jago (would be nice to see more of him), the truth is uncovered, after a thorough investigation filled with many secrets. Lady Justice has her day, after a fashion.

There’s also an exploration of the history of the times, with mention of Oswald Mosley’s Blackshirts and what was going on in Europe. This story is packed with stories within stories, and well worth your time and attention. And it’s always a pleasure to watch a good copper at work.

Found this book hard to understand, and the storyline didn't grip me at all. Admit to not finishing as it wasn't appealing.
Many thanx to NetGalley, the author and the publishers for allowing me to read and review this book.

This is the first book I’ve read in this series, but it won’t be the last. This novel is set in 1935, on the cusp of war. The first book took place in 1919, just after WWI, as Britain attempted to put itself back together. In this novel, while life is fairly peaceful in the village of Templewood in Worcestershire, it’s not for one particular family. As the book opens, the wife of a prominent judge has left her husband a note that she’s leaving him. When they find her, her body is in the skeleton of a house site where she had planned to build a new home, and her suitcases are sitting right next to her. It’s pretty apparent she’s been murdered.

The town is tiny and DCI Reardon and Sergeant Jago, a man new to him, are assigned to the case. Jago has been working in London where things are heating up thanks to Oswald Mosley’s gang of thugs. The two end up working well together as they begin to quiz the family of the dead woman, Emilie. Her husband, his two daughters, and his stepson and tutor are all part of the mix, as is a neighboring family whose daughter is a contemporary of the judge’s Sophy and Gizi.

This entire story is subtly and carefully told. As revelations emerge about Emilie’s past and how that past might tie to her death, each suspect, from the gardener to the housekeeper to the daughters and the men hanging around Gizi and the neighboring family’s daughter, Dee, are delicately and memorably portrayed. Dee is engaged to one of them and all of the young men seem fast and somewhat louche. Gizi even seems to feel some affinity for the black shirted Mosleyites, alarming her father.

Reardon and Jago are both good characters – Reardon older and more settled in life, Jago just getting started, and they work well together. The whole relationship between the two men and really, between all the characters in the book, feels very organic, as does the storytelling. Each bit of a clue and revelation of character builds on the one before it, growing into a coherent picture.

It’s gently told, and that’s a term I sometimes use when I mean it’s slow or dull, but that was not the case here. Eccles may simply be the least show-offy of writers. Subtlety is her storytelling method, and with her light touch, it’s an excellent method. There were quite a few characters and a complex backstory for the dead woman, but both characters and their relationship to one another stayed clear in my mind.

Overlaying the novel is the threat of the Moseleyites as well as that of Hitler, and Sophy and Gizi’s brother Sam, who has left a banking job in Berlin, has his own horror story to tell. Subtle storytelling can be just as chilling, resonant and effective as a more in your face method. It’s the build up that gets you. Another author who employs this method is Ann Cleeves, whose books are a slow burn. This trip backward to 1935 is also a slow burn. I loved the writing and the characters and if you are looking for an historical novel that seems like it was actually written in 1935, look no further.

In 1935 Worcestershire, the mysterious murder of a judge’s wife leads DCI Reardon and Sergeant Jago on an investigation that uncovers long-buried secrets and lies.

This richly developed mystery has a strong Golden-Age feel as well as an intriguing family drama subplot. There’s a lot here, and it’s revealed at a gradual rate that keeps the level of suspense high. The characters are compelling and the pace never drags. I look forward to reading more from this author.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.

A carefully crafted and clever procedural set in 1935 England with all the atmospherics. Who killed Emilie? That's the question Detective Chief Inspector Herbert ‘Bert’ Reardon and Sergeant Jago must answer and it's more challenge than they thought at first. There are secrets, lies. and the looming WWII. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. While this is the latest in a series, it will be just as enjoyable as a standalone. A very good read.

I always enjoy the books in this series. Herbert Reardon is an interesting person and I like following along as he solves the mysteries and murders committed by those in his territory. His DS this time was an especially interesting addition to the team. Down from London on another matter, he is assigned to Reardon whose usual DS is on medical leave. Seeing this area of England through a Londoner's eyes was a great addition to the story.

This highly traditional British mystery would be right up the alley of BritBox subscribers. It starts in a fairly leisurely fashion, establishing the family living in a rural home: a young woman aspiring to be a writer, her fashionable sister who is dabbling with Moseley's fascist movement, a troubled young man who has come to live with them, and a stepmother - who disappears. When she's found dead, strangled to death, DI Reardon is sent to investigate.

I found this book well plotted and enjoyable, and actually liked the slower pace compared to so many contemporary thrillers that don't do much in terms of character development. It was a bit like going back in time and reading Rendell's Wexford mysteries for the first time. I also was intrigued by the inclusion of elements of British fascism in the 1930s as well as the contrasting effort by a Jewish neighbor to help refugees find a safe harbor. It's a fascinating time for a mystery.

I have enjoyed quite a few of Marjorie Eccles’ books and was excited to see a new one of hers on NetGalley.
It did not disappoint.

Despite being sixth in a series I haven’t read, it was fine as a stand-alone. Told from various perspectives in 1930s pre-war England, it develops gradually (but without dragging) as layers of the life of murder victim Emilie Waring are uncovered by detectives Reardon and Jago. The imminent threat of the Nazi regime, the British fascist movement, and efforts to help Jews flee Germany play a role in the story. I found myself absorbed in slowly coming to know and like Emilie in a way that doesn’t always happen for me when the person is only revealed through the memories of others. and this kind of character development is a testament to Eccles’ talent. There were enough twists to keep me guessing almost to the end, and a charming hint at a future romance provided lightness. All in all a great read.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Inspector Bert Reardon and Sergeant Tom Jago are called to a lonely building site where a woman, Emilie, met her death by strangulation days ago. Why was she not missed and why should she have been at a building site with packed luggage? Emilie's past life is a secret to everyone, including her husband, but Reardon and Jago are convinced that the crime will have had its roots in Emilie's early life.

This book has all the elements of a British mystery that aficionados love -- the idyllic countryside, quaint cottages, grand estates, quirky characters, and police officers with sharp minds and a bulldog's tenacity, occasionally hidden underneath a somewhat bumbling facade. I loved it.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

What happened to Emilie? I wasn't sure about this book at first. I have never read from this author nor had I read any of the previous books. I'm glad I didn't let that stop me. It was a engaging read. I love the time period. The author did great in not giving the mystery away. It was great as a standalone, but I will read the previous ones.

This book was a mystery that unfolded until the very end whole bringing in interesting historical content to the story as well. While parts of the book slowed down the story continued to move and finished out strong uncovering many different things, not just one mystery.

Set in the 1930s, the murder of a prominent judge's wife sees DCI Reardon and DS Tom Jago investigate a world of upper class privilege amid a tense political environment. They must solve not only the murder of the enigmatic Emilie Waring, the second wife of Judge Waring, but also unravel the mystery of her past.

This is the sixth book in the Herbert Reardon series, and a new series (and author) to me. Despite not knowing any of the backstory it worked well as a standalone story and I didn't feel I was missing out by not having read the previous books. The book grabbed my attention quickly and I couldn't put it down until I'd finished it - the setting, characters and writing style all drew me in.

It combines golden age mystery, pre-WWII political drama, and even has a bit of an I Capture the Castle vibe with the sections from the point of view of Sophy, youngest daughter of the Waring family who is intelligent and just wants to write (but is also slightly naïve to the currents around her).

The mystery was solved at the end and loose ends tied up, but I still want to know more about what happens to the characters and how everyone deals with the outbreak of war. I'll definitely be seeking out more books by the author in the future.

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

What an amazing book. The mystery is honestly so good. I love how the book was written, and it was interesting to see why and what happened as well as who did it. I also enjoyed the characters; I had several that I thought were guilty and none of them ended up being the right one.