by Ellis Peters

Theo and Suspiria Freeland are a painter and potter of some talent. Surviving the Blitz in a suburb of London with a mix of Bohemian and working class people. Theo’s drinking is becoming more frequent and self loathing. And the one day Dennis Forbes brings him home one night. Dennis is a handsome young man. A mechanic in his 20s. Suspiria is 14 years older then Dennis. The attraction grows until….

And after they do, one morning Theo is found dead…poisoned by a pottery coloring ingredient. But did Theo commit suicide? If not, which of the lovers poisoned him? And if they cannot be convicted, will the couple live happily ever after?

So, the first two thirds of the books is about what you’d expect – meet cute, murder, and legal proceedings. But the last bit of the book is dealing with the aftermath is what gives this a little extra. Part of the suspense is that at the end of the inquiry, we are still not sure what happened – suicide or murder? And then the couple have to live together with everyone around them giving them pressure. It adds another layer that I was not expecting. Otherwise an average Peters stand alone mystery.

295 Pages

3.5/5