Fri 15 Oct 2021
An Archived Review by Bob Adey: SHEILA RADLEY – Death and the Maiden.
Posted by Steve under Reviews[2] Comments
SHEILA RADLEY – Death and the Maiden. H. Hamilton, UK, hardcover, 1978. US title: Death in the Morning, Scribner, hardcover, 1979; Dell (Murder Ink #1), paperback, 1980.
Excellent debut novel set in East Anglia and featuring “up through the ranks” Chief Inspector Quantrill and newcomer “blue blood” Detective Sergeant Tait. The problem: death by drowning of a pretty teenage girl.
The writing is top class, the atmosphere keenly evoked and the personal involvement of the two detectives, with their opposing views and methods, realistic and relevant.
An author to watch out for.
The Inspector Quantrill series —
1. Death in the Morning (1978)
aka Death and the Maiden
2. The Chief Inspector’s Daughter (1980)
3. A Talent for Destruction (1982)
4. The Quiet Road to Death (1983)
aka Blood on the Happy Highway
5. Fate Worse Than Death (1985)
6. Who Saw Him Die (1987)
7. This Way Out (1989)
8. Cross My Heart and Hope to Die (1992)
9. Fair Game (1994)
October 15th, 2021 at 9:29 pm
I read and liked several of these when she first started. I ran out of interest, but enjoyed the first books.
October 15th, 2021 at 11:28 pm
The same as I. Read the first two, maybe three, enjoyed them, but my interest in British detective fiction faded away, and I shifted to something else. It’s been that way for me all my life. Can’t stick with any one sub-genre if you will for any length of time. Her books were fine. Wish I had time to get back to them.