posted on 31 Jan 2020

The Truth about Murder by Chris Collett

It is always a treat to find a captivating crime novel to devour over a couple of lazy days. I am a big fan of this author’s D.I. Mariner series which have been reviewed elsewhere on this site (here, here, here and here). I know that this very different novel has been bubbling away for some time - she explains that it is partly inspired by ‘the time spent teaching and discussing disability history with undergraduate students’. I taught alongside Chris and so have some understanding of the complex and fascinating subject which she is determined to highlight as part of this unusual story.

Importantly, she does not allow this to overwhelm the plot which is fast paced and well written at every stage. One of the central characters, Stefan Greaves works as a solicitor in a law firm that is struggling to find enough clients. When a woman, Rita Todd seeks him out for advice about a work related problem in the hospital’s post-natal ward where she is employed as a Senior Nurse, he is curious and keen to take on the case. He hears nothing more the following week but then he learns that she has disappeared and is then found dead by the riverbank. He feels compelled to try to unravel the mystery. He learns that she had been recently suspended and that her strong views about the need to keep very sick babies alive as long as possible, in consultation with parent’s wishes, was not necessarily shared with all colleagues.

Stefan is an ambitious, attractive young man with an independent life, but he clearly has some kind of disability (eventually named as cerebral palsy) which can be frustrating and often attracts unwanted attention. It can also slow him down, especially when he is tired or when he has been using cannabis for medicinal purposes. His life is changed dramatically when one night, soon after his visit from Rita, he is the victim of a brutal mugging by a gang, which turns out to be one of several unsolved disability hate crimes in the town.

The other central character is Mick Fraser, a likeable policeman who is recently arrived in the area and who is finding his partner, Denny Sutton rather difficult to get along with. Then Denny is murdered and the plot thickens.

As the story unfolds we get to know both Stefan and Mick very well because their lives become intertwined as the background to the woman’s death and the reasons for the mugging seem to be related. I am not going to spoil the plot by revealing how they are linked and how serious questions arise as to the morality of senior police officers, consultants at the hospital and politicians. The underlying messages about the horrors of eugenics are very clear to me, but then I am familiar with the history. I would be interested to know whether other readers would pick these up in the same way.  

As a page turner that is laced with jeopardy and plenty of surprises – this is a real winner. I held my breath towards the end as the sinister denouement approached. This is a writer who can really build atmosphere and suspense. I am very pleased to see that there is a hint of a sequel when Mick Fraser suggests that Stefan and his assistant, Plum might consider working as private investigators – I do hope so.

Strongly recommended for all readers who enjoy a complex and satisfying puzzle to solve. 

 Karen Argent

January 2020