The Wrong Man
Laura Wilson
Felony & Mayhem, Dec 7 2014, $14.95
www.felonyandmayhem.com
ISBN: 9781937384838
In 1950, Merthyr Tydfil, Wales police send a telegram to Metropolitan
Police that John Davies confessed to killing his wife Muriel after she
miscarried and giving away his infant daughter Judy to Norman Backhouse in
London. Although he wants nothing to do with
this case that echoes the murder of his wife Jenny and their unborn child
several years ago, London Detective Inspector Ted Stratton and Sergeant Ballard
head to the address provided by Davies.
The two cops search the drain in front of 10 Paradise Street where
Davies said he disposed of her body but find nothing as it takes a team of four
strong cops to remove the lid. Supported
by his spouse Edna, Norman tells them that John said his wife and baby were in
Bristol and that the couple fought so much they wondered if he was a bit mental
and dim-witted.
Davies changes his confession to claiming Backhouse killed his
wife during a failed backroom abortion.
Taken to London, when the bodies of his wife and daughter are found,
Davies admits to murdering both.
However, instead of case solved, Stratton senses something is not right
with this air-tight capital case in which his guts scream The Wrong Man heads
to the gallows.
Based on a true murder, the third Ted Stratton police procedural
and first post WWII novel (see The Empty Death and The Innocent Spy) is a terrific historical psychological crime
drama. The clever opening telegram as a
prime communication between police in Wales and London sets the time as does
the way evidence is found and handled. Although
an unnecessary romance with Diana Calthrop feels
forced, Laura Wilson provides a fabulous Cold War mystery.
Harriet Klausner
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