Book title: Love Story, With Murders
Author: Harry Bingham
ISBN: 978-1-4091-3723-8
Publisher: Orion Publishing
Being constantly with other people places a pressure of normality on me that I can’t always bear. Here, alone, I can be the way I am. My version of ordinary.
Intrigued by an interesting book title, I picked up this book out of curiosity. I was unaware that it was the second book in the series.
As I delve into the story, it started with a chilling discovery — the body of a young woman buried in an elderly lady’s house who has recently passed away in Cardiff.
When Detective Constable (DC) Fiona Griffiths and Police Constable (PC) Adrian Condon were about to conclude their patrol duty and prepare to head back, they were called to the scene due to a suspicious package discovered during a house clearance.
At the scene, Fiona takes a look at a leg found in the freezer at the old lady’s garage and leads her to believe it belonged to the deceased homeowner.
What was found from this shocking finding is the revelation that the leg belongs to Mary Jane Langton, a college student who disappeared several years earlier.
Langton, once an exotic dancer, had vanished in August 2005. As days pass, the police unearth more of her remains while searching the neighbourhood.
Then, the investigation into the vicinity discovered more body parts, this time belonging to a male. Identified through DNA analysis, the victim was a university lecturer Ali-el-Khalifi. Despite his absence from university, Khalifi was never reported missing.
With two mutilated bodies discovered, both murdered in a similar manner but five years apart, questions begin to surface.
The Detective Inspector (DI) calls the case Abacus, but the police call it Stir Fry, which sounds humorous.
While, in dealing with the investigations, Fiona has to work with different bosses and she is able to demonstrate a remarkable ability to collaborate with her superiors, allowing them to not only accept but also utilise her distinct approach to solving cases.
So, who is the murderer behind these gruesome acts? Were they murdered by the same person? What are the motives? Are the two murders connected or is it merely an unfortunate coincidence?
Hence, this is for the readers to find out …
Meanwhile, on my verdict of this book. I love the style of writing, especially how the author’s portrayal of Fiona’s unique and sometimes humorous personality.
She is honest in her dealings with colleagues and her relationship with Detective Sergeant (DS) David ‘Buzz’ Brydon, her detective boyfriend.
Despite Fiona facing mental health issues, Buzz has come to accept Fiona the way she is and all her strange quirks. Not to mention, the romance between the couple is just sweet.
Moreover, Fiona is smart and always thinking outside the box in her crime solving. The author definitely made Fiona into a very special heroine.
Despite having a personality disorder called Cotard’s syndrome, Fiona still tries to fit in and attempts to understand the world she described as “Planet Normal”.
As for the storyline, while it might seem a bit complicated with multiple twists and turns, it managed to hold my interest as I wanted to know who the killers were and what’s next? What happened to Fiona, did she manage to solve the mysteries?
As mentioned earlier, this is the second book in the series. However, on the good side, I think it can also be read as a stand-alone book. The story turned out to be interesting. But I will definitely hunt for the first and third series of the book.
Towards the end of the book, there was a note on Cotard’s Syndrome, a rare mental disorder which causes the sufferer to believe that he or she is dead. It gives readers a thought about those who are experiencing such mental disorders.
The book then concludes with a conversation with the author, where he tells readers the story behind the book title, the characters, and some clues about the next novel.
So, go on and read the novel. “Love Story, With Murder” is a recommended read for enthusiasts of crime fiction. It combines suspenseful storytelling with intriguing characters and thought-provoking mysteries.
