An abandoned pub is set alight and a man is reported missing. The man’s wife asks Libby to investigate and she finds his murdered body in a barn. Is there a connection to the arson at the pub?
Murder at the Crooked Horse is the 26th book in the Libby Sarjeant series. There are references to past cases and events, and I believe that the characters and relationships have developed over the series of books.
The Crooked Horse pub has been closed and is waiting for redevelopment. Locals are shocked to hear that someone has attempted to burn it down. Luckily no one was injured but someone is missing and Libby is asked to investigate. She finds his body in his own barn but she has suspicions that the murder could be related to the pub, smuggling, an ancient treasure trove, or possibly all three!
There is plenty of mystery for Libby to uncover and I liked the respectful and reciprocal friendship she has with the police characaters. She has to find links between several plot strands but I felt that some of the revelations and clues were convoluted, based on assumptions not evidence. For this reason, I didn’t find the conclusion particularly satisfying.
The writing style is quite dialogue led. The use of dialect and language brings the spoken parts to life. There is very little description and almost nothing about the forensics of the case. There are a lot of peripheral characters and I found it difficult to keep track of everyone and their relationships. I think I would benefit from reading this series from the start.
Murder at the Crooked Horse has plenty of mystery and the characters are brought to life through a dialogue driven narrative style.
Murder at The Crooked Horse
After learning of a suspicious attempt to burn down a beloved old pub, The Crooked Horse, Libby Sarjeant and her friend Fran reluctantly agree to investigate.
But when a local antiques dealer mysteriously disappears after apparently taking out his boat, it appears there are dark and sinister forces at play.
Can Libby and Fran uncover a connection between the fire and the missing man? And will unravelling a deadly case put them in terrible danger?
Author Bio – Lesley Cookman writes the Libby Sarjeant Murder Mysteries and the The Alexandrians, an Edwardian Mystery Series. She lives on the south east coast of England, and is a former model, actor, and journalist. Her four adult children are all musicians and writers.
