Genre: Mystery
Hardcover; Paperback; Digital Book
ISBN #" 9780708909225; 9780008175900
Walker Publishing
186 Pages
$1.99; $17.55; (used) $7.99 Amazon
October 1, 1981
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Everyone is convinced that Vera Foster committed suicide - everyone, that is, except the policeman in charge of the case. Chief Inspector Kelsey puts his reputation on the line. He must solve the most complicated puzzle of his career to prove what his intuition won't let him deny.
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Vera Foster is the spoiled only child of the late Duncan Murdoch. After her father's unexpected death, she married his sole employee, Gerald Foster. Now, nine years later, she's still mourning the loss of her father and temporarily bedridden due to sciatica. She also has a live-in companion named Edith Jordan, who is staying with her until she's mobile again.
Her housekeeper Alma Driscoll leaves every second Thursday to help a neighboring elderly couple, and doesn't return until Friday morning. Her Uncle Matt also visits Lynwood, the Foster's home, whenever he can to get a free meal and perhaps snatch a small item or two.
This particular Thursday, Gerald has business away, and he promises to be home early the next day; so her sole housemate is Miss Jordan. But when Alma returns the next morning, she sees that lights are on where they shouldn't be, and Vera's bedroom is locked without answer. So Alma rouses Miss Jordan, but eventually Vera's door needs to be broken by the gardener's son and they find her slumped over in bed apparently dead by her own hand.
While it is eventually ruled suicide in court, Chief Inspector Kelsey sees something right after leaving that has him suspicious - a small action, but he questions it nonetheless. He insists that Mrs. Foster was murdered by her husband and he's going to prove it, even if it has to be on his own time. So he enlists the help of Sergeant Lambert to discover how Gerald Foster murdered his wife when he wasn't even in the same town...
While this could have been a very good mystery - a woman is murdered and the detective is sure that the husband committed the crime even though he was far away - it was rather dull in nature. It's hard to put my finger on exactly what it was, but the book dragged on when there should have been something, anything, to pull the reader in. Most of it, as would be expected, is rehashing events as they occurred, but there was no spark in the words. It was basically 'she went to the store, she bought carrots' type of dialogue. But the big thing is that there was no spark among the characters. Kelsey appears to be tired of his job; he sends Lambert out to do most of the legwork; it as if he has no energy left in life and is waiting only to retire.
But the ending! When it comes, you are more or less left hanging. Yes, there is a conclusion; this is no 'you need to read the next book to find the outcome' type; however, it is unsatisfying - while we do see justice for one, there is still the question of another - you're never given a complete answer as to what is or has happened. (If you read the book, you will understand what I am trying to say; if not, I will not elaborate further). I felt that there was another chapter to be written but that the author decided not to do so for whatever reason. Because of this, I am not sure if I will even attempt another book by this author.
https://www.amazon.com/Every-Second-Thursday-Emma-Page/dp/000817590X/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2249436743
More on Emma Page's Books: https://www.fantasticfiction.com/p/emma-page/
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