That Way Murder Lies (Hardcover)

It's not that i dislike the Fran books - indeed, they're enjoyable reads that I suspect the authors gets a lot of youthful fun from the writing of - but, while good reads, they're nowhere near the class of her seminal series; they aren't as brilliantly plotted, populated with such fascinating eccentrics, and they aren't half as confident in the writing or the tone. I rejoice at their return, and That Way Murder Lies is one of the finest in this already fine series.

Alison Jenner has started to recieve poison-pen letters. They refer to her murder-trial 25 years earlier. She was accused of the murder of her great-aunt and, as the result of an over-zealous police investigation, entirely exonnerated. The writer is threatening to expose this secret, still attesting to her guilt. Through her husband's cousin's friend Meredith Mitchell, Superintendent Markby is asked to look into it. He decides to put newly promoted Inspector Jessica Campbell on the case, as a sort of introductory investigation. Soon, the buried violence and resentment from 25 years ago exposes itself anew as a fresh murder occurs...

Now, I know these traditional mysteries are scorned by many, but they are also beloved of a great many as well. If you are one of those latter, like myself, then it would be hard to understand if you didn't adore Ann Granger's marvellous series. Certainly, along with Caroline Graham, Granger is the best exponent of these sorts of mystery novels. She has her craft polished to a fine gloss; she drops clues, characterises marvellously, creates credible suspects, intriguing and colourful plots and leads you through it all with the hand of Mitchell and Markby. After about 15 books, their gradually evolving relationship is as interesting as ever, and is continually developing. Indeed, this book is dedicated to "those readers who have followed Mitchell and markby over the years". It's been a great journey, and long may it continue! They are likeable, easy protagonists; brilliantly at home in their genre.

The mystery is clever, as good as we expect it to be, and twists very satisfactorily. The procedural details may not be entirely accurate - although they don't need to be; this is fiction, and reality must necessarily be twisted to make it as fine it can be in these kinds of books - but Granger has a perfect ability to make it SEEM accurate, regardless. Too, there is a wonderfully comforting picture of life here: crimes are solved, justice is achieved with only the minimum of moral greyness, the world is free of profane language, and everything tends to look on the optimistic side. It's a great pleasure to be able to indulge in this every now-and-then.

Certainly, if this is your genre, Ann Granger is the finest writer at work within it and I heartily reccomend you try this fine series. That Way Murder Lies is a enjoyable, clever, incredibly entertaining and interesting book. If you are its audience, then this is perfect for you. If only we didn't have to wait so long for the next!