I can see why Aubrey Hamilton recommended the Inspector Sloan mysteries to me. Henrietta Who? by Catherine Aird has a clever plot. I never guessed the killer because the plot was so well-developed, and there were too many likely suspects.
It was Henry Ford, the postman in Larking, who found Grace Jenkins body early in the morning. It was obvious to the police that her death was a hit and run. They called her daughter, Henrietta, home from university to notify her and have her identify the body. It had always been just Henrietta and her mother because her father died when she was just an infant before they moved to Larking. However, it was the pathologist who said Mrs. Jenkins had never had a baby, and it was also unlikely she had ever been married. Now, Detective Inspector Sloan and his team have to discover who killed the woman, and identify the young woman who always thought Mrs. Jenkins was her mother.
I was impressed with the way Aird handled the entire situation with Henrietta. The reader saw the police investigation, but we also watched Henrietta realize she has no identity. She doesn’t know who her mother is, who her father is, or what her actual name is if she’s not Henrietta Jenkins. Although there are villagers who want to take care of her, and a young farmer who loves her, she doesn’t feel she can go on until she knows who she really is. And, it’s going to be up to the police, with just a few clues, to identify her. Henrietta Who?
Well done. Despite all the mysteries I read, Catherine Aird baffled me. Well done.
Catherine Aird’s website was http://www.catherineaird.com/
Henrietta Who? by Catherine Aird. Rue Morgue, 2008. 159p.
FTC Full Disclosure – Library book
I enjoyed her stand alone book that you recommended so I suspect that I’d like this series too. Too many books and not enough time.
I really really enjoyed A Most Contagious Game, one of her stand alone books you recommended. I did not like her first Inspector Sloan mystery as much but since my wonderful Free Library of Philadelphia has it all ready to download I will try this one. Maybe Inspector Sloan will grow on me.
Sounds great!
Our online library has it, too so I will read it after my next book club book.
I’m glad a couple of you enjoyed A Most Contagious Game. Maybe Sloan isn’t for you since it’s a police procedural series. I did love the standalone, as you said.And, you don’t have to read the series in order (although most of us do), so if one book stands out to you, try that one!
I just looked up Catherine Aird because I’m now interested in her novels. Sad to see she passed away just in December 2024. RIP to a master!
You’re right, David. Aubrey had let me know that before I started to read her. Loved her standalone!