In the quiet wine-growing town of Martinborough, Detective Senior Sergeant Kate Sutton is called to investigate the murder of respected local physician Dr. Geoffrey Scott. Found dead in his own garden, the doctor's death sends ripples of unease through the close-knit community.
Recently divorced and still settling into her new home, Kate methodically begins to piece together the puzzle. As the investigation deepens, she discovers unexpected connections to the three-year-old disappearance of a young French womanâa case that has lingered unresolved in her career.
In this meticulously crafted mystery set in New Zealand's picturesque Wairarapa region, Rosy Fenwicke delivers a compelling police procedural that rewards careful attention and offers satisfying twists in the tradition of classic detective fiction. As Kate follows the clues to their logical conclusion, she discovers that even in the most idyllic settings, the past never truly stays buried.
In the quiet wine-growing town of Martinborough, Detective Senior Sergeant Kate Sutton is called to investigate the murder of respected local physician Dr. Geoffrey Scott. Found dead in his own garden, the doctor's death sends ripples of unease through the close-knit community.
Recently divorced and still settling into her new home, Kate methodically begins to piece together the puzzle. As the investigation deepens, she discovers unexpected connections to the three-year-old disappearance of a young French womanâa case that has lingered unresolved in her career.
In this meticulously crafted mystery set in New Zealand's picturesque Wairarapa region, Rosy Fenwicke delivers a compelling police procedural that rewards careful attention and offers satisfying twists in the tradition of classic detective fiction. As Kate follows the clues to their logical conclusion, she discovers that even in the most idyllic settings, the past never truly stays buried.
Geoffrey knew it was coming. The crunch of shifting stones underfootâthat tell-tale sign. Then the whisper of disturbed air across the nape of his neck, milli-seconds before impact. He made no attempt to escape; there was no point. He was going to die. It struck him as darkly amusing, that the stories about your life flashing before your eyes were true. Then it saddened him, that these fragmented scenes scooting across the private cinema of his mind, would be the last things he would ever see.
He couldnât help himself.
He braced.
The spade delivered a catastrophic blowâthe metallic clang resonating with his fillings in their sockets. Pitched forward, as if in slow motion, he toppled face-down into the soft earth. The rough caress of leaves brushed against his cheek. The sweet heady aroma of the crushed strawberries seeping through the fabric of his t-shirt, reached him with surprising clarity.
Suspended in a twilight consciousness, he waited.
The outcome as inevitable as taxes.
Dr Geoffrey Scott knew precisely what was happening to his brain. His middle meningeal artery, violently ruptured, now relentlessly pumped blood into the confined space of his skull, starving his brainstem of oxygen, creating pressure where none should exist. Within moments, he would stop breathing, his heart would stop beating, his neurones would stop functioningâand that would be it.
How curious then, to experience the profound sense of relief washing over him.
Life.
Unceasing toil.
The unmet demands.
The bottomless disappointment reflected in Avaâs eyes. His own bewildered reflection staring back at him in the mirror each morningâa man utterly perplexed by what he had become. Yet, it hadnât always been this way. Happy memories of childhood, laughter, loving parents, school triumphs, sporting exhilaration, loyal friends, adventures and travels, fun, love, joy and the soul-deep satisfaction of saving lives; these afforded him solace as he felt his heartâs erratic fluttering in his chest. Like a trapped butterfly desperately beating its wings against unyielding glass.
Footsteps crunched on the gravel behind him. Laboured breathing, punctuated by grunts. His assailant leaned over him, scrutinising his face for signs of life.
Determined to preserve his last whisps of consciousness for himself, Dr Geoffrey Scott played dead.
When a beloved small-town doctor is found dead in an apparent murder, Detective Senior Sergeant Kate Sutton knows he cannot have been the saint everyone claims him to be. Using startling information from his autopsy, she digs for information about any recent changes in his behavior that could have contributed to his demise. Besides the unreliable help of a terrified witness, there is very little evidence to work with. Learning that the doctorâs murder may be linked to the unsolved disappearance of a woman in town, DSS Kateâs careful detective work reveals a web of interconnected lies, an unexpected new witness, and a satisfying conclusion.
Rosy Fenwickeâs The Secret of the Angel Who Died at Midnight is brilliantly plotted from start to finish. With steady pacing, clues are unveiled gradually up until the final pages. This lifelike police procedural played out like a movie in my mind, from the small-town New Zealand setting to the raw portrayal of the characters. In particular, I appreciated the handling of mental illness in this novel. Furthermore, struggling with her own personal obstacles, DSS Kate must overcome her weaknesses while remaining sharp on the job, making her a relatable yet powerful protagonist. With numerous unexpected revelations in the case and a full cast of realistically flawed characters, I was left guessing up until the very end.
Readers who enjoy gritty mysteries and classic detective fiction will relish the challenge of guessing âwhodunnitâ and their motive in The Secret of the Angel Who Died at Midnight. Difficult subjects such as alcoholism, serious mental illness, and mental decline are handled with grace, preserving each characterâs humanity and seeking their redemption amidst the grave circumstances. With such attention to detail in plotting and character development, I am looking forward to reading the upcoming installments in this murder mystery series.