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Smoke and Murders by J L Blackhurst : a review

I’m delighted to be sharing Laura’s thoughts about Smoke and Murders by J L Blackhurst.

Book cover for Smoke and Murders by J L Blackhurst. Vector - a woman either side of the cover with smoke billowing between them with the suggestion of a skull in the smoke
  • Category : Crime & Mystery
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ HQ (12 Sept. 2024)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 320 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0008567271
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0008567279

Members of the Lewes Bonfire Society would say afterwards that the event would have been a huge success that year, if it hadn’t been for the dead body…

When the charred remains of MP Rupert Millington are found inside a burning effigy, no one knows how they got there, but there are plenty of rumours about whodunnit.

The lead suspect wants Detective Tess Fox and her con-artist sister Sarah Jacobs to help clear her name. She says she’s being framed, but surely there is no smoke without fire.

The heat is on when a second victim is killed in a locked room while Tess and Sarah are in the building. Can the duo solve this puzzling mystery and find the real killer before they strike again?

Smoke and Murders Review

I liked this book however I think I would have benefited from reading the first in the series, Three Card Murder to fully understand the relationship and background between the main characters.

I thoroughly enjoyed the writing style as I was quickly hooked on this murder mystery. A local councillor was found murdered at the Lewes hugely popular Bonfire Night. Detective Tess Fox, although upset with a colleagues promotion needed to discover the culprit. Sadly for the victim Tess soon discovered on questioning that she had many options for the murderer, all with plenty of motive.

The relationship between Tess is superb with her con- artist sister Sarah. They share witty conversations and are both shocked at the return of another familiar character in their lives.

Smoke and Murders is a great read.

About the Author

J.L. Blackhurst is a pseudonym for Jenny Blackhurst who was born and grew up in Shropshire, where she still lives with her husband, two boys and two beagles. She has a Masters degree in Occupational Psychology and has worked in administration for the Fire Service and retail management before leaving to write full time. Her first pyschological thriller in 2011 won her a silver Nielsen award and became a kindle number one bestseller in the UK and a Spiegel Bestselleren in Germany. X @JennyBlackhurst

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