History Corner/ Book Review: Death in Devon by Ian Sansome

Disclosure / Disclaimer: I received this ebook, free of charge,from Witness Impulse, via Edelweiss, for review purposes on this blog. No other compensation, monetary or in kind, has been received or implied for this post. Nor was I told how to post about it

This is the second installment of Ian Sansom’s The County Guides series, 

that began with The Norfolk Mystery, which we reviewed last year!

Synopsis:

What do they know of England who do not Devon know? Sidmouth. Budleigh Salterton. Dawlish. Teignmouth. Fine market towns, quaint little seaports, lovely villages, coves, fuscia hedges, deep valleys, winding ways, high ridges – and sudden storms.

In the second of “The County Guides”, glorious Devon is the destination.

Swooping down from the majestic heights of Dartmoor, Swanton Morley, Miriam and Stephen Sefton embark on another adventure, only to find themselves involved in a

mystery at All Souls School, Rousdon.

Swanton Morley has been invited to speak at the school’s Founders’ Day.

But a boy has died. With occasional outings to surf and to sample cream teas – Swanton Morley, Sefton and Miriam once again pit their wits against the dark, repressive, anti-intellectual forces of 1930s England.

Review:

Ian once again takes it slow in the beginning of this book, as he introduces the characters, for those readers, who haven't read the first book. Then while there is a frentic pace in the book, he allows the reader a relaxed pace, as the story speeds along. Once can't help put to wonder at the differences in crime scene processing from the modern world, to the 1930s, and to see just how far technology has taken us. Stepping into this book is truly taking a step back in time, to a simple time, though not as simple in its plot and twists. Once again Ian will have you thinking of the grand dame, Agatha Christie, as he rounds up the usual suspects and more and then lends a plot twist or two, to keep the readers on their proverbial toes until the end. This is a satisfying read, and perfect for whiling awhile on a lazy weekend, with a nice pot of tea and scones by your side! So don't miss this great new series, before book 3 arrives!

About the Author:

Ian Sansom is the author of the popular Mobile Library Mystery Series. He is also a frequent contributor and critic for The Guardian, The Daily Telegraph, The London Review of Books, and The Spectator. He is a regular broadcaster on BBC Radio 3 and Radio 4.