Malicious pranks or a deadly obsession? Everyone knew the significance of the noose left hanging in the tree outside James Palmer’s home. A young man hung himself from the tree two years earlier. Someone is determined this time the guilty ones will pay. DCI Hatherall must unmask a master of disguise before everyone connected to the suicide is slaughtered.
Point Of No Return (Peter Hatherall Mystery Book 3)
By dianajfebry
I had no idea that this was part of a three book series. It is perfectly written to stand alone with information from the prior books fitting nicely into the current story-line. The novel follows detectives Peter Hatherall and Fiona Williams into the English countryside as they investigate vandalism on a local farm. The ties to a infamous incident involving the farmer, James Palmer, seem obvious, but truthfully as not well liked as he is in the community, anyone could be behind the harassment. The situation quickly escalates as petty incidents become deadly attacks on the Palmer family. The matter is further complicated when the main person of interest turns up dead in a seemingly unrelated case.
This book was worth the wait, there are few settings better for a mystery the English countryside, with its vast array of quirky character archetypes and this story rivals the best. The mystery deepens as each plot twist fits itself into the growing story. There are several wonderful sub-stories woven into it making it a compelling read. Even when you are sure you know who done it, the read to the end will keep you on the edge of your seat. If you aren’t already a fan of this author, this book will make that happen.
This is my first book by Diana J Febry, a gripping read that hooked me already in the first few pages. Meet Peter Hatherall, the DCI in charge of solving a sequence of nasty events directed at James Palmer, a somewhat larger than life character with an eye for the ladies. Things escalate: a swinging empty noose, a bomb, a murder, and DCI Hatherall suspects James is being targetted for events in the past. But by who?
Ms Febry presents us with a good cast of characters. DCI Hatherall has other challenges than those offered by the case, and the tension between him and his partner, Fiona, adds an interesting layer. The setting is beautifully presented and while pace is at times a tad slow, this is probably a correct representation of what real police work is like. To me, Ms Febry has created an edgier version of Midsumer Murders – agreeably addictive. I will likely read more of her books!
A two year old suicide and a new spate of crimes have DCI Peter Hatherall and his team baffled. With several suspects, they are coming across many hurdles.
Are the two connected?
Another fantastic murder mystery from the pen of brilliant crime writer Diana J Febry. I cannot recommend her books highly enough.
I confess I read this in one fell swoop. This was my first DCI Hatherall book and I enjoyed its pace, setting and story very much. I loved the secondary characters, Dick and Gladys, who were delightfully colourful and eccentric, and I adored Colin, the dog. The story had a good sense of place and enough twists to keep me guessing about ‘who dunnit’ to the end. The only thing for me was that I didn’t find the main characters, Peter and Fiona, really grabbed me, but maybe I need to read the earlier books to gain a stronger sense of who they are. This is an easy to read detective novel and great for relaxing with; a good puzzle with enough suspects to make it a challenge for those of us who enjoy unravelling the clues!