A Death by Wounds
Winchester, 1919, Armistice Day. Returning to her duty as nurse to the pupils of Winchester College, Philippa Lambert is called to view the body of a woman that has been found in a trench close to the Cathedral wall. The survivor of an abusive marriage, and thwarted in her ambition to study medicine, Philippa offers to assist Canon Cresswell Strange in investigating the murder.
Head Constable John Sim—the real head constable of Winchester at the time—is happy to hand the investigation over to the duo. The action develops slowly, hampered by the author’s love of description and a sub-plot relating to Philippa’s past. The resolutions both of this sub-plot and the murder case are not wholly satisfying.
The stultifying atmosphere of both College and Close is well-conveyed. Philippa is a fish out of water here, grateful to be employed but aware that, as men return from war, women are being forced back into a domestic role. Overall, an interesting portrayal of a provincial England that looks to the past rather than the future in the horrifying aftermath of WWI.
The paperback is poorly formatted, and more care in preparing the text for publication would have resulted in a more pleasant read.
