The Broken Circle

March 15, 2010
Wells's solid fourth police procedural set in Lancashire (after 2009's Where Petals Fall
) opens on a strong emotional note. Jill Kennedy, Harrington CID forensic psychologist and self-help author, interviews Claire Lawrence, a troubled prison inmate who's been convicted of killing her 11-year-old daughter, but has yet to tell authorities where she buried the body. While Kennedy tries to find out, her boyfriend, Det. Chief Insp. Max Trentham, investigates the murder (by head trauma) of Bradley Johnson, a well-to-do Kelton Bridge businessman. Since Johnson, an American who fancied himself a sort of “lord of the manor,” had made more enemies than friends, Trentham has his hands full in narrowing down the suspect list. Two other murder cases also occupy Trentham. While Claire's story grips, the less than spellbinding subplots plod along. Still, Kennedy and Trentham make an engaging sleuthing team.