The third novel in the Teifi Valley series arrives from Dome Press. It has been my pleasure to be a part of the blog tour for the release
The novel brings us back together with Henry Probert-Lloyd, lead coroner for region who is having to experience a local election for his role against a favoured local. Henry along with his loyal subject, John Davies, are reporting on a local death of a popular school teacher, Nicholas Rowland, who has died under strange circumstances. Amidst the local hustings, Henry and John must find the answers to a local death which has become murder, rule upon the case and win an election while saving face - this threatens to undermine his ambition and his career.
Hawkins does a great deal of work in creating the gothic and eerie atmosphere of the surroundings of the Valley; what also must be said is how we are at a tipping point in Welsh history and for that reason the culture of body science. One character very much would like to conduct an autopsy of the dead victim to see the full extent of the injuries suffered, the belief being that you will learn more by opening up the body and discovering that the inside will tell more of a story than mere external contusions, lacerations and blood loss.
Following the publication of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, there was a real fear of grave robbing and a fear of surgeons with god complexes who may well carve up bodies for their own reasons. Probert-Lloyd must cleverly weigh the aspirations of his medical career with a political aspiration and being a novice detective. Lloyd must navigate this path of being true to science and rationality, and not use his intelligence as a weapon against those less fortunate.
Hawkins' expert research and natural storytelling creates a well written narrative; a story that can be dove into on newcomers to this series as well as existing fans. In Probert-Lloyd you have an enjoyable but flawed main character who in partnership with John Davies is a tandem to follow and saviour.
Those Who Know is out from Dome Press in September.
My thanks to Emily Glenister for the review opportunity.
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