The China Governess
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Dull, the plot never really went anywhere, despite lots of interesting bits. There IS a startling scene near the end when the killer is discovered in a dark cellar which is powerfully written but the rest left me cold I'm afraid.
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Past and present meet in a harsh post-WW2 London
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An Allingham treat, enmeshing the past and the present into a web of deceit, lies and terrors. The characterisation of the cast is excellent, and the detail of the (sometimes horrific) events disturbing, without being graphic. A notorious slum, bombed during the war, an heir who discovers he is without roots before his marriage, a family rich in intellect and wealth but cold in emotion, and a street-wise villain ready to threaten, terrorise and murder in order to keep a secret. Into this real post-war world steps Detective Inspector Luke aided by Albert Campion, the amateur but sensitive detective. The differences in understanding love, honour, and duty are raised and challenged alongside a the murky past and a brand new housing development. Fantasy and reality about family and fate are the driving forces behind an intriguing mystery. Written after "Tiger in the Smoke", Luke and Campion develop theirs skills and friendship in the hard light of post-WW2 London.
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