Death of a Warrior Queen

Early British remains mix with a very modern corpse in this insightful sixth appearance by Detective Inspector Benjamin Jurnet of the Angleby CID. After giving security advice to participants in an archeological dig, Jurnet with his love Miriam stops for a picnic on a Norfolk beach. There they discover the mummified corpse of Annie Chance, a single mother who had recently disappeared from a nearby village, having deserted her nearly grown retarded son Timmy. As Jurnet seeks a murderer among those who loved and lusted after Annie, Timmy and his protector, recently widowed Hannah Milburn, provide insights into village life and mores, particularly when it is revealed that Timmy had been involved with two goat farmers who are afflicted with AIDS. As Jurnet hunts for the man Annie might have decamped with, he comes to admire the aristocratic Hannah. A tragedy of misplaced maternal love intermingles with Jurnet's revitalized romance before the story comes full circle. Haymon's eminently civilized, witty and sophisticated storytelling will recruit new series followers. (Jan.)