The Quiet Woman

Priscilla Masters, The Quiet Woman, Book 2 of A Florence Shaw Mystery, Severn House, July 2024.

Thank you, Net Galley, for providing me with this uncorrected proof for review.

The Quiet Woman is an intriguing murder mystery in so many aspects –characterisation, plotting, pace and writing style. Nurse Florence Shaw is a quiet woman, herself, although the title refers to the woman who attends her surgery, the occasions accumulating with no answers, her husband’s irritation and coldness readily apparent, and Florence Shaw’s concerns tumbling throughout her mind as she goes about her other activities.

Dates and times are appended to most chapters so that Florence Shaw’s days hour by hour are accounted for. She wakes, dresses, has breakfast and leaves for work. There she interacts with the receptionists, sees her patients and exchanges warm conversation with Jalissa who brings her lunchtime sandwich. Later she investigates her former husband’s activities with his new partner on the net, or meets friends, one of whom she interacts with increasing frequency. Will and Florence share both an interest in detection and the possibilities of a romance as they spend time getting to know each other better.

Florence’s detection brings her into contact with the Clays, their daughter and past staff from the surgery. She is also concerned about her patient on a quit smoking program. He is an oddly appealing young man of questionable behaviour that is likely to get him into serious trouble. A lot of Florence’s detection is based on her experience of the couple and understandings about controlling partners. However, she is constantly brought up short as another part of the puzzle quietly slips into place.

This is the first of Patricia Masters’ books that I have read. Book 2 , while drawing to a satisfactory conclusion in relation to the mystery, also leaves an intriguing trail to be followed. I look forward to a sequel to The Quiet Woman and intend to read Book 1 in the series. I realise that I have missed a treat that needs to be rectified, so thank you again, NetGalley for an excellent introduction to a writer it would have been sad to miss.

Thank you NetGalley and Severn House for the eARC.
Nurse Florence has been seen by Christine and Richard Clay often. Christine has many complaints about her health, but it's always her husband who speaks for her... in a very cold and irritated way. Florence worries about her and feels her husband is way too controlling. When the news comes that Christine is dead and Richard in hospital, it's deemed a suicide pact gone wrong. A horrified Florence promises herself she'll find the truth - she's certain Richard killed Christine.
This is a thoughtful and suspenseful book that has quite a few surprising events in it and I liked it very much. Can't wait for the follow-up!