In the second Mrs. Pargeter mystery, Mrs, Presumed Dead, Brett’s perceptive amateur sleuth moves from a seaside retirement home to an executive home. She’s not sure Smithy’s Loam is where she wants to live, but she gives herself six months to discover whether the small neighborhood of six homes is where she wants to be. “But, nothing about Smitty’s Loam gave any sense of community.”
Mrs. Pargeter finds a neighborhood where the men work long hours, and most of the other female residents are stay-at-home women who seem isolated from each other. It isn’t long before Mrs. Pargeter realizes they all have secrets, including the former residents of her own house. Teresa and Rod Cotton seem to have disappeared. Although the other women say they moved “North”, Melita Pargeter discovers their forwarding address is nonexistent. Now, she begins to worry that at least one of the former residents may be dead.
Mr. Pargeter left his widow well-off financially, but he also left her with an address book. She has contacts in prison, a Missing Persons specialist, and, a specialist in high-end cars. One of those men should be able to help her with her investigation. What happened to the former residents of her house?
While I enjoyed this second book, it was slow-paced, and none of the secondary characters who live in Smitty’s Loam seem well-developed. However, it’s a delight to “meet” the men whose names are in the late Mr. Pargeter’s address book. These quirky characters are more than willing to assist the widow of a man they all admire.
I’m sure Mrs. Pargeter is ready to move on to another location. I’m ready to move on with this sharp sleuth.
Simon Brett’s website is https://www.simonbrett.com/
Mrs, Presumed Dead by Simon Brett. Charles Scribner’s Sons, 1988. ISBN 9780684188515 (hardcover), 248p.
FTC Full Disclosure – Library book
I downloaded the earlier novel from Libby, but haven’t manged to work it in yet. I don’t recall reading any of his novels before, but his name is familiar, probably from his short stories.
A tech from my internet service provider was here yesterday to install an upgrade. He said we were the first house on the new transmitter, so hoping it all goes smoothly.
Oh, I hope it goes smoothly, too, MM. Nothing more frustrating than tech problems.
I’d read several of Brett’s short stories, but there’s just something about his Charles Paris series, about an alcoholic actor that doesn’t appeal to me.
Yes, Mrs. Pargeter’s “contacts” from her late husband’s book are the part of the series I enjoy the most. They are always ready to help her out.
It’s fun, Jeff, to “meet” the various contacts in the books.
Not a comment on the writing but the dark picture would make me not want to read it! Glaucoma and Myoptic Macular Degeneration makes it impossible to see the images if they are there! Oh well.pass
I have to admit I didn’t really pay attention to the cover art, Carol, because it was so dark.