Murder-- Now and Then
Jill McGown, Jill McGowan. St. Martin's Press, $20.95 (304pp) ISBN 978-0-312-10006-3
McGown ( The Other Woman ) places a complex but rewarding case in the capable hands of series regulars Detective Chief Inspector Lloyd and Inspector Judy Hill. The narrative alternates between ``now'' chapters describing the circumstances of a recent murder in Stansfield, England, and ``then'' sequences detailing a woman's unsolved murder some 13 years past; the same loose circle of acquaintances is implicated in both crimes. When corrupt international businessman Victor Holyoak is stabbed to death, Lloyd and Hill interview a lengthy list of potential killers, including an ex-prostitute and a crooked former policeman. Prime suspects seem to be the Holyoaks' estranged stepdaughter and her husband, whose first wife was strangled to death years before. McGown juggles a vast array of details about her characters' interpersonal relationships, supplying crucial hints in briskly passing flashbacks and flash-forwards. Some key incidents may get short shrift, but readers who stay on their toes through this mostly expository mystery will appreciate its logical, likely conclusion. (Sept. )
Details
Reviewed on: 08/30/1993
Genre: Fiction
Hardcover - 376 pages - 978-1-4472-7055-3
Mass Market Paperbound - 346 pages - 978-0-449-22311-6
Open Ebook - 200 pages - 978-1-4472-6864-2
Paperback - 416 pages - 978-0-330-33243-9
Paperback - 376 pages - 978-1-4472-6863-5