After having left the Natchez Police Department, Beth has started working in pairs with her colleague Michael Preston as a private investigator. One day, their agency informs them that they have to take care of a new case in Savannah, a characteristic little town in Georgia. When they go there, Beth and Michael meet Mrs Doyle, an old lady who, after a 40-years-long marriage, suspects that her husband has an affair with another woman. For the sake of privacy, she’s hired Beth and Michael from abroad. Almost as soon as the job starts, they find out that nothing is what it seems to be. Mrs Doyle’s husband really has a relationship with another woman, but Mrs Doyle doesn’t seem to care. Why? The situation becomes less and less clear when Mrs Doyle calls them in the middle of the night to denounce an attempt to kill her on the shore. The couple of private investigators seems to have a lot to find out during their forced vacancy in old Savannah…
I really appreciated this book which is the fourth title of “The secret of the South Mysteries” series. The characters are perfectly analysed and they’re really enjoyable, especially through their interactions. Indeed, I think that the real value of this book has to be found in dialogues. As I writer, I can testify that dialogues are the most difficult part to write, but Mary Ellis is perfectly capable of sorting them out.
The setting is always well depicted and it makes you think you just want to be there, in old Savannah, walking and watching everything around you. I’m sure I’ll read the other books of this series because Mary Ellis is an author who is worth following.
