PRETTY MAIDS ALL IN A ROW

by Anthea Fraser ‧ RELEASE DATE: Feb. 6, 1987

Another neatly crafted English village mystery for the author (A Shroud for Delilah, etc.) and her introspective Chief Inspector David Webb. There's a rapist abroad in the village of Westridge, his first known victim a nurse at the Willows Residential Home who reports that he insisted she quote nursery rhymes throughout the attack. News of this is not, of course, a happy introduction to town for newly married actress Jessica Selby and writer husband Matthew, as they move into Hinckley Cottage for a month while Matthew researches a history of the nearby aristocratic Sandon family. Then unease escalates when the body of their cottage's owner, Freda Dowley, is discovered, a typewritten nursery rhyme in her pocket. There are more rape victims, too--one of them apparently the Selby's pregnant household helper, Carrie Speight, who lives with beautician sister Della. Meanwhile, Inspector Webb's private life is in turmoil with the return to town of his ex-wife--but that connection provides the clue he needs to save Jessica and bring the case to a nifty, twisty conclusion. Clever, literate, comfortable entertainment.

Pub Date: Feb. 6, 1987

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: -

Publisher: Doubleday

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 15, 1987

Categories: FICTION