Pact of Silence (Frank Kavanagh) - Hardcover

Armstrong, David

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 072786971X ISBN 13: 9780727869715

Publisher: Severn House, 2011

Synopsis

The new DI Frank Kavanagh thriller - In the long, hot summer of 1969, two young men are involved in the accidental killing of their boss in a Shropshire market town. Traumatized, they conceal his body, but leave behind a vital clue. Four decades later, DI Frank Kavanagh and DC Jane Salt’s relationship is in trouble, and Jane, desperate to escape the bad atmosphere between them, escapes to a friend’s home in that same Shropshire town – only to find herself in peril . . .

About this title

About the Author

David Armstrong is Professor of Classics at the University of Texas at Austin.

Review

Welshman William fitz Baldwin is saintly and much loved. So it's a shock when he dies an excruciating death after eating rancid (or poisoned?) butter. The mystery of his death is never solved. Seven years later, Crusader and knight Sir Geoffrey Mappestone is commanded by King Henry to deliver confidential letters to several of the king's Welsh subjects. Capitalizing on Geoffrey's reputation as a sort of medieval detective, the king also commands him to unravel the mystery of fitz Baldwin's death. Knowing the king's requests are never straightforward, Geoffrey reluctantly agrees. His first hint of trouble comes when King Henry's chief scribe is murdered. Then Geoffrey is attacked on the road to Wales. Geoffrey is convinced the letters he's carrying are the target but has no idea why. Arriving in Wales, he realizes he has once again been pulled into one of King Henry's diabolical political conspiracies. Beaufort's latest is meticulously researched, cleverly plotted, full of enticing period details, and packed with rollicking adventure--plus it's a fine murder mystery to boot. --Booklist, March 1, 2011

Armstrong's latest begins with a prologue detailing an accidental killing at a construction site in 1969 Shropshire, England. The incident was covered up by those involved, but now, more than 40 years later, the death comes back to haunt one of the killers, Gareth Thomas. Meanwhile, in present-day London, Detective Inspector Frank Kavanagh and Detective Constable Jane Salt's relationship is crumbling, prompting Jane to visit her friend Carrie in Shropshire, where Jane learns about Thomas, who has a reputation for being a hard businessman who isn't above breaking the law to achieve his ends. When additional murders occur after the discovery of evidence of the 1969 accident, Jane assists the local police in finding the killer. Jane also investigates Carrie's new boyfriend, Ben, whom she believes may be involved in dealing drugs after his recent release from prison. An entertaining mystery for fans of mainstream British procedurals. --Booklist, March 1, 2011

Edition details

• Publisher: Severn House
• Publication date: 2011
• ISBN 10: 072786971X
• ISBN 13: 9780727869715
• Binding: Hardcover
• Language: English
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 224