A review by ncrabb
Saknaden efter Josef, by Elizabeth George
3.0
Deborah St. James is troubled. She feels as if she’s losing the best of her marriage. The issue is among the most personal of them all. Her husband, Simon, is interested in adopting a child. Deborah is deeply concerned that she couldn’t love an adopted child in the way she could love one to which she had given birth. It is that reflective troubled Deborah we see as the book opens; she’s paying a visit to an art museum, and a particular painting of the virgin Mary and an infant Jesus captures her interest. She is soon joined by another gentleman who, like her, seems troubled in soul. He pointed out to her that Joseph is missing from the painting and sadly marveled that such is often the case with paintings of Mary and Jesus.
A few short days later, Simon and Deborah are vacationing in a small village when they learn that the vicar has apparently been accidentally poisoned. A single mom and her daughter, relative newcomers to the village, are questioned, since the woman gave him something to eat and since she is an expert on plants. The inquest ruled that the poisoning was accidental, but Simon and Deborah aren’t so sure. They call in their long-time friend, inspector Tommy Lindley, to help them slog through the facts and determine whether the vicar was poisoned or murdered, as they fear.
This is classic Elizabeth George even though this is one of the earlier books in the acclaimed series. These books aren’t short, but I’ve never yet been disappointed by one. Like the other books in this series, this title has several subplots that keep it interesting.
A few short days later, Simon and Deborah are vacationing in a small village when they learn that the vicar has apparently been accidentally poisoned. A single mom and her daughter, relative newcomers to the village, are questioned, since the woman gave him something to eat and since she is an expert on plants. The inquest ruled that the poisoning was accidental, but Simon and Deborah aren’t so sure. They call in their long-time friend, inspector Tommy Lindley, to help them slog through the facts and determine whether the vicar was poisoned or murdered, as they fear.
This is classic Elizabeth George even though this is one of the earlier books in the acclaimed series. These books aren’t short, but I’ve never yet been disappointed by one. Like the other books in this series, this title has several subplots that keep it interesting.