This was the first Lynda La Plante book I have read and it
(quite by chance) is the first book to have Anna Travis as one of the main
characters. I read most of it during a 3 hour train journey between my home and
my parents over Christmas. My copy of the novel is in paperback and cost me 25p
from my local charity shop 25p very well spent.
Basic plot:
A body of a young woman has been found and the method of the
murder is identical to that of a string of murders which were on the dead file
list. However, the victim is very different to all the others. Is it the same
murder or a copy-cat or one or totally unlinked? If DSI Langton can prove a
link then they may be able to solve all of them in one go….
DC Anna Travis is brought into the murder squad. DCI Langton
had worked with Anna’s father who was well respected in the force. Anna seems
to be quite timid at first but after she uncovers a major clue the police are
on a race against time to get the evidence they need before the next victim
falls pray as they already know who she may be…..
What I thought of it
On the whole this was a well written novel and it was quite
an easy read. It was one of those books where I found myself looking at the
clock late in the evening and then think – oh just one more chapter.
There was little straying from the main plot of the story
and there were no major sub plots to confuse the reader and it doesn’t jump
around between different characters. DCI Langton is written as a workaholic
with a my way or the highway attitude but his always by the book approach
contrasts well to Travis’ rather more naive but determined approach. It is
clear that Langton is prepared to read the riot act if any of his team screw
up. The characterisation of the main characters is good but not overdone. This
naturally has left more scope to increase the complexity of the characters in
later novel in the series.
Anna’s relationship with her now deceased parents is
included in parts and it is clear she was especially close to her father DCS Jack
Travis who was Langton’s boss. It is clear in some ways that Anna is very
similar to her father and Langton can see that she takes after him in the way
she pulls evidence in.
This is written from the point of view of the police
investigation into the crime and only a police officer or someone in the legal
system would be able to pick out any errors in it. Whilst the concentration
away from the police station was mainly on Anna Travis this is understandable
with her being the main character.
At times there is a sense of danger which some of the
characters are putting themselves in and the suspense is well written into the
novel. Also well written are the small mistakes which the murderer has made
which enable the police to gain the evidence they need to make the charges
stick. In a way the way it is written you do gain some sympathy for the
criminal in terms of the type of childhood he has had.
The climax to the novel is perhaps a bit of a let-down as it
is obvious it will be solved and the tension is hardly built up very much in
the last couple of chapters but it does conclude the story is such a way that
it will lead into the next novel of the series.
I’m looking forward to reading the next book in the series.
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