Review of "A Lesson in Dying: A Detective Inspector Ramsay Mystery" by Ann Cleeves

 

 

 

Ann Cleeves is the author of the popular 'Vera Stanhope' and 'Shetland' mystery books. This is the first book in Cleeves' 'Detective Inspector Ramsay' series, written in 1990 and recently re-issued. Cleeves calls the Ramsay novels 'contemporary novels with a 'Golden-Age feel'.

*****

Harold Medburn is headmaster of Heppleburn Primary School in the Northumberland village of Heppleburn.



Medburn is disliked by almost everyone associated with the school because he's a spiteful man who insults parents; is cruel to a new teacher; insists on inconvenient times for PTA meetings; thwarts plans for children's activities; and is generally a little dictator.



So it's not a big surprise that - after a PTA-sponsored Halloween Party - Medburn is found hanging from a noose in the school playground.



Detective Inspector Stephen Ramsay is called in to investigate.....



.....and Ramsay learns that Medburn was having an affair with a pretty single parent called Angela Brayshaw.



Ramsay then jumps to the conclusion that Medburn's wife Kitty murdered her adulterous husband and promptly arrests her.



Kitty's arrest galvanizes widower Jack Robson, who's the caretaker at Heppleburn Primary School and a town councilman. Robson was in love with Kitty decades ago when they were young adults, and still has warm feelings for her. Now Jack is determined to prove Kitty is innocent, and even hopes the two of them might revive their old romance.



Once Jack starts his inquiries, he enlists the help of his daughter Patty. Patty is a little bored with her life as a wife and mother, craves excitement, and is happy to play detective. In addition to everything else, this gives Patty the chance to hobnob with DI Ramsay, who makes her heart flutter a bit.



Jack and Patty get to work interviewing the residents of Heppleworth, and they soon uncover secrets and clues. This is an old-fashioned cozy mystery where the amateur sleuths are more capable than the real detective. Thus Jack and Patty are instrumental in solving the case.....but not before more deaths occur.

Cleeves has a deft hand with characterization, and other interesting people in the book include:

Paul Wilcox - a stay-at-home dad who takes care of the children while his wife Hannah works as a computer consultant. Headmaster Medburn liked to needle Wilcox about not being able to support his family.



Irene Hunt - who's been teaching at Heppleworth Primary School for four decades, and is ready to retire. Medburn intimidated Irene for years until she finally learned to stand up to him.



Matthew Carpenter - a newly minted teacher whom Medburn disliked, harassed, and threatened to fire.



Mrs. Mount - who runs an old people's home.



Detective Sergeant Gordon Hunter - who'd like to be promoted to DI Ramsay's job, and kind of hopes his boss doesn't solve the Medburn case; and more.



This cozy(ish) mystery doesn't have the polish of Cleeves' later books, but it's engaging and I enjoyed trying to suss out the killer.

Thanks to Netgalley, Ann Cleeves, and Minotaur Books for a copy of the book.

 Rating: 3 stars