Death in Disguise

Hi Karen,

My next review is as follows:-

"Death In Disguise:A Police Procedural set in 1970's England(A Monika Panitowski Mystery", written by Sally Spencer and published in hardback by Severn House Publishers Ltd on 30 April 2016.224 pages. ISBN-13: 978-0727886200

It is the 13th March 1978 and the body of an American woman is found in the second most expensive hotel suite in the most prestigious hotel in Whitebridge, Lancashire and has obviously been murdered. Detective Chief Inspector Monika Panakowski was on a few days leave, but the Chief Constable felt that a detective of her high calibre was required to quickly solve this murder at such a notable location and so he demanded that she return.

Monika suspects that she was forced to return from leave because the hotel in question is used for assignations by very senior policemen meeting their mistresses and also because Freemason lodge meetings were held there often involving serving policemen!

Monika asked to view the crime scene in the very expensive hotel suite and sees that the victim of the murder had been struck by a heavy object. It also becomes apparent that the deceased, who registered as Mary Edwards, was wearing a disguise including cheap clothes and a wig. Monika asked for a photograph of the dead woman to be telexed to an American detective in New York as the deceased real identity was a course for concern. No passport can be located.

What had brought the dead woman to Whitebridge, Lancashire, as it was hardly a usual tourist location for rich Americans? What had she done in the town in the two week period that elapsed since she arrived. Why did she have two sets of clothes in her wardrobe-some expensive designer gowns and a set of cheap clothes?

These and other questions were urgently looked into. There appears to be a link with a murder that occurred fifty years previously but information is very scarce and baffling to say the least.

Sally Spencer is a pen name first adopted by the author (actually called Alan Rustage)when he was writing sagas and it was obligatory to have a woman's name as author on the cover. There are a number of other saga authors who are also following this trend. The author, who has lived in Spain for over twenty years has written over fifty three books in several series and I have never read a dull one.

I read for review previously, "Deaths Dark Shadow"(Nov 2013) and "Supping With The Devil"(March 2015)Both of which I thought were excellent. I was absolutely gripped by the latest one which I just could not put down until the last thrilling page. Well recommended.

Best wishes,

Terry
(To be published on eurocrime.co.uk in due course)