A Murder for Miss Hortense
Miss Hortense, a retired nurse, immigrated to the Birmingham suburb of Bigglesweigh from Jamaica in 1960. Forty years on she lives a somewhat isolated life, estranged from her community, although her old friend, Blossom, stops by regularly to discuss her ailments over a plate of Miss Hortense’s black cake and a tot of rum. However, one day Blossom brings shocking news. Constance Brown, an old acquaintance, has been found dead in her home, victim of an apparent heart attack. But Miss Hortense isn’t so sure the death is as simple as that.
Another unexpected death follows, and Miss Hortense finds herself drawn back into things she thought she’d buried thirty years earlier. A founding member of the Pardner network, a community investment group, Miss Hortense had been ousted from the group after a tragedy and series of dark crimes. Now, as Miss Hortense seeks to unravel this current mystery, the old unsolved events bubble to the surface and threaten Miss Hortense and her tightly knit community.
This new mystery, the first in a planned series, is a breath of fresh, bright air. The author has strong ties to the community she writes about, and the authenticity shines through. Miss Hortense is savvy and a determined sleuth, observant and hard to fool. The other characters spring to life, and the complex mystery will keep readers turning pages. A somewhat cozy mystery with hidden depths, this beautifully written book comes highly recommended.
