Requiem Mass

Starred review from March 4, 2013
Early in Corley’s compelling first mystery featuring Det. Chief Insp. Andrew Fenwick, a young mother disappears from her comfortable suburban home outside London, lured to the city by a scheming psychopath. What becomes a cold case turns out to have a significant link to the gruesome killing of a teacher: the two women had been classmates at Downside, a local school nationally known for its strong music curriculum. Fenwick and his team meticulously work their way through countless interviews and endless cups of tea to come up with a profile of the killer. They further discover that more women from Downside are at grave risk, particularly a world-renowned soprano coming home to celebrate Downside’s 75th anniversary. Meanwhile, Fenwick grapples with domestic concerns, police politics, and an unwise liaison. The finale, reminiscent of The Day of the Jackal, ratchets up the suspense and brings new meaning to the word stalking. Agent: Sonia Land, Sheil Land Associates (U.K.).