An April Shroud

A countryhouse mystery. The phrase evokes an image of 1930s fops in dinnerjackets starched family retainers pale fingers dripping strychnine in thegin. It does ... » 

A countryhouse mystery. The phrase evokes an image of 1930s fops in dinnerjackets starched family retainers pale fingers dripping strychnine in thegin. It does not evoke an image of the belching Andy Dalziel and yet there heis on an enforced holiday fetched up at a crumbling country manor andsticking his bulbous nose into circumstances surrounding the late ownersunusual demise. As this is 1972 rather than 1932 the fops are sporting tshirts and excessive facial hair and the family retainer is knocking ash inthe microwaved stew. But there is a femme and while she may or may not befatale shes fabulous enough to waken even Dalziels long dormant romanticdreams. Peter Pascoe could apply the brakes but hes on his honeymoonestablishing his own romantic dreams with Ellie. For good or ill love is inthe air. «