Edward Marston - The Frost Fair

Fairly standard historical detective story, not especially noteworthy, but not bad either.  The seemingly old favourite of "body in the ice" which I seem to have read loads of times, in particular an Ellis Peters and I think a Jecks (though in that case it was "buried under snow and snow melts").  Anyway, it's the hero's brother who is the main suspect as he was heard to threaten the victim hours prior to his death, but as you read on you find the victim was not exactly on everyone's Christmas card list, apart from one or two who are obvious villains themselves.  As it is the hero's brother in the frame, the hero himself comes in for a bit of stick, mostly from the family of his lady love, distressingly.  It's these scenes that made me feel a bit uncomfortable, as Marston lays on the bias too thick, you can barely believe all concerned can be so small minded.  Maybe the old expression "mud sticks" and superstition was more rife, which I can believe.  Anyway, Chris, the architect, has to sort out the mess with his policeman friend, which he does of course and the brother's name is cleared.  It's a pity that he didn't have any of those that were quick to condemn earlier in the story, squirming at the end, which may have made the ending more satisfying.  Okay as a distraction, but not particularly remarkable.

My rating: 7/10

Next: Bernhard Schlink - Self's Deception