Resort to Murder

In this book Mapp and Lucia meet Agatha Raisin. I haven't read the first book in the series, Riviera Express, and this book reads well as a stand alone, but I will go back and read the first volume, as I enjoyed this so much. Our main character, Judy, is a strong and likeable heroine, as is her number two, Valentine. Although the book is a crime novel, the background setting, characterisations and vivid descriptions make it so much more. The book is set very firmly in the 50s, and pleasantly invokes the atmosphere of that time. Occasional names of products (such as Mum roll on) and TV programmes add to this throughout. I'm looking forward to more stories about Miss Dimont, she's a star.

I would like to thank Netgalley and HQ for an advance copy of Resort to Murder, the second cozy novel set on the Devon Riviera, featuring intrepid local reporter Miss Dimont.

It is summer 1959 and it's all go in Temple Regis. Danny Trouble and the Urge, the number one band in the newfangled beat style, are bringing hoards of teenage girls to their residency at the local theatre. The final of the Miss Devon beauty pageant is being held and Miss Dimont has a new reporter, Valentine Waterford, to break in. If this not enough there is a dead body on the beach, the hordes from Fleet Street are threatening to descend as scandal threatens to engulf local entrepreneur Bengt Larssen and his rejuvenator, a device that has made him millions but has also been killing some of its users and the Sisters of Reason are threatening direct action in furtherance of their demands for sex equality. And just what is Rudyard Rhys, the Riviera Express's editor up to?

I thoroughly enjoyed Resort to Murder. It has a clever plot, is inventive in its detail and is very amusing. I previously read its predecessor The Riviera Express and wasn't overly impressed but Mr Fielden has really hit his stride with this one. He manages the different strands of the plot masterfully and brings it all together in a dénouement I didn't see coming.

The joy of the novel, however, lies in the detail, like some of the stories that make the paper - the flower show or bowls winners where names mean purchasers or the running gag about the photos of ugly newlyweds.

Miss Dimont, who was rather important in Naval Intelligence during the war, brings this experience of command to her job and manages to run rings round Inspector Topham in every investigation by getting witnesses to open up to her. She also has an eclectic crew of friends to help her, like Aurore who writes the paper's horoscopes and Auriol who runs a tea shop and was her boss in the war. I like the fact that these strong, intelligent women can get the job done in the face of opposition from the editor, their former, rather incompetent junior. It is an ironical situation but so typical of the times.

I'm not sure the historical setting rings quite true so I have awarded it 4 rather than 5 stars.

I enjoyed Resort to Murder which is a very well done cosy and have no hesitation in recommending it as a good read.