A Medal for Murder

December 3, 2012
Set in 1922 Yorkshire, Brody’s second Kate Shackleton mystery (after 2012’s Dying in the Wool) falls short of the standard set by such authors as Jacqueline Winspear and Charles Todd in creating early 20th-century female sleuths whom Harriet Vane could have regarded as peers. Near the start, Kate catches a glimpse of herself in a mirror, and describes what “the stylish lady detective is wearing this season under her motoring coat,” revealing her to be appearance-conscious in a way that Maisie Dobbs and Bess Crawford are not and perhaps less serious when it comes to catching criminals and seeking the truth. That’s not borne out by the plot, in which Kate tries to solve a robbery of a Leeds jewelry store before shifting gears to a homicide inquiry after stumbling across a corpse on her way home from the theater. Unfortunately, the storyline isn’t compelling enough to compensate for the less than engaging lead. Agent: Judith Murdoch, Judith Murdoch Literary.

January 1, 2013

Still fairly new to the PI business, photographer Kate Shackleton combines her work with pleasure when an assignment involving a pawnshop robbery necessitates a quick trip to Harrowgate. Recently, she spent time there photographing a theater cast in advance of their stage presentation. After she attends the performance, Kate's evening is shattered when she finds one of the theatergoers stabbed to death in an alley. Her routine robbery case morphs into a murder investigation when Scotland Yard--via a certain special Inspector--requests her assistance. VERDICT This lusciously written historical cozy is an excellent addition to the crowded 1920s market, and Brody's second series entry (after Dying in the Wool) positions her for deserved attention. Her gentle and traditional structure (noteworthy use of flashbacks) pairs nicely with Kerry Greenwood (see review above) and Jacqueline Winspear titles. Brody has also written historical novels as Frances McNeil.

Copyright 2013 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.