Published by Penkhull Press
Ebook
Expected publication 3 June 2017
238 pages
ARC
In January of 1940 a small rural community on the Sussex Downs, already preparing for invasion from across the Channel, finds itself deep in the grip of a snowy landscape, with an ice-cold killer on the loose.
Bunch Courtney stumbles upon the body of Jonathan Frampton in a woodland clearing. Is this a case of suicide, or is it murder? Bunch is determined to discover the truth but can she persuade the dour Chief Inspector Wright to take her seriously?
Winter Downs is first in the Bunch Courtney Investigates series.
OPENINGThe first gunshot flushed a clamour of rooks into a yellowish sky to circle their tribal elms.
WHAT I THOUGHTI really enjoyed Winter Downs. This book has a charming feel of an old fashioned mystery novel in the vein of Miss Marple or something similar. I thought the characters were great, well written, made of flesh and blood. I loved Bunch; the name suits her better than her real name, Rose. She's a great heroine, feisty, determined to prove her friend and sometime lover did not kill himself and refusing to back down even though everyone else thinks she's barking up the wrong tree. I loved her. I really liked the plot as well, how all the little seemingly unconnected threads (Frampton's death, the murder of a Land Girl and her soldier lover) are gradually, bit by bit revealed to be linked. I kept second guessing what was going on and I'm glad to say I was barking up the wrong tree. I liked the way Winter Downs ended. I really enjoyed the book, would like to read the entire series and recommend the book.