Love and Murder

Whalley ( Old Murders ) keeps the reader engrossed yet off-balance in this suspense story that demonstrates how circumstances ensnare a man into concealing a gruesome slaying.Martyn Culley meets Julie Eden at the beach after she witnesses his rescue of a drowning child. Awed by her beauty and stylishness, Martyn becomes Julie's lover, but he wonders how the evasive ex-model can be so free with her money. Martyn's suspicions peak when he comes home one day to find that Julie has stabbed a man to death in the kitchen. At Julie's insistence, they bury the corpse nearby, since Julie fears her past as a porno model wil be revealed if the crime comes to light. Having unwittingly become an accessory to murder, Martyn is drawn further into Julie's nefarious activities. Crisp writing, swift pacing and a totally unexpected conclusion make this book a page-turner. (July)