Another instalment in this lovely series with John Jago and his offsider Peter Cradock hunting down the person responsible for the death of a commercial traveller.

There are a number of red herrings to be discarded before the truth is finally revealed.

What I love about these books is the feeling of authenticity that comes from solid research and details gleaned from the news of the day. (Who knew that early RAF bombers were sent out with homing pigeons to deliver their location in the case of being shot down; or that Great Britain paid Jamaica NOT to export their banana crop?)

In some ways police procedures have not change in 80 years - fingerprinting, dental records etc - but these crimes are set against the setting and stress of London in 1940, and the characterisation is superb. There are glimpses of what is happening in the rest of the world and how England is surviving as Hitler attempts to cut it off. ( )

Title: The Camden Murder (The Blitz Detective #7)
Author: Mike Hollow
Pages: 384
Year: 2023
Publisher: Allison & Busby
My rating is 5 out of 5 stars.
It’s November 1940, and the war rages. Detective Inspector John Jago and his assistant Detective Constable Craddock are now under the arm of Scotland Yard. They are assigned to look into the incident of a body found in a burning car. The coroner determines the man was dead before the car fire, so murder is the finding. While investigating, Jago and Craddock must always be watchful of the war regulations, rationing, blackout conditions, and air raid warnings. They set out for Camden, the victim’s hometown where they begin their investigation by informing the victim’s wife of his death.
The two detectives begin their questioning with a picture of the victim beginning to take shape. He was ambitious, optimistic and a great salesman. As they continue to question the same people, a comment slips out that begins to delve deeper into the life of the victim, painting a much different picture. The detectives discover several of the people connected to the victim are potential suspects who are guilty of other crimes, but which one committed the murder?
This was a fast read for me as I was so interested in solving the case. I enjoyed riding along with DI Jago and DC Craddock as they traveled about Camden to ask their questions, putting the pieces of the puzzle together. DC Craddock always adds an element of humor, but he is also gaining more knowledge and wisdom in the company of DI Jago. Jago is training him to listen and then asks him what he thought about so and so and what did he make of that? Hard work and sacrifice pay off for these two determined detectives. I’m looking forward to their next case!
Note: The opinions shared in this review are solely my responsibility. ( )