The Marlow Murder Club trio take on twin mysteries, including their most personal case yet, in Robert Thorogood’s The Mysterious Affair of Judith Potts.
Judith, Becks and Suzie have just solved the murder of a local actor, but there’s no rest for the members of the Marlow Murder Club. Almost immediately, Detective Inspector Tanika Malik, their friend on the force, tips them off to a new death investigation: Someone has shot a talented soccer player. Within days, another local celebrity is shot―this time, a bestselling writer. With DI Malik suddenly suspended, the women of the Marlow Murder Club are on their own to figure out who is targeting prominent residents of their small town.
At the same time, Judith’s mysterious past has finally caught up with her. Eleni, a young woman claiming to be the daughter of Judith’s long-deceased husband, Philippos, believes Judith was behind his suspicious death in Greece nearly 50 years ago. More than that, Eleni claims she has definitive proof that Judith murdered Philippos, and she’s ready to go to the police. Judith is at a loss for how to deal with the angry woman. Eleni’s evidence must be fake―right?
Robert Thorogood presents a satisfying set of puzzles in The Mysterious Affair of Judith Potts. There’s a slew of believable suspects and clues in the well-plotted case of the celebrity killings. Cheating, lying and blackmail dominate the investigation, making it that much harder―and satisfying―for the women to crack the case. With Judith distracted by Eleni’s claims, Suzie and Becks rise to the occasion and take the lead on the investigation. The unwavering friendship among the three women grounds the story, highlighting how much they trust one another and how far they’re willing to go to protect their group.
Philippos’ suspicious death has been hinted at in previous books, and fans of the series will appreciate finally learning what really happened all those years ago and how it shaped our beloved puzzle fanatic, Judith. Readers need not be familiar with the previous novels to follow this entry, though―it can certainly still be enjoyed as a standalone mystery.