A Case to Answer

November 26, 2001
In another finely crafted psychological thriller from British author Yorke (The Price of Guilt, etc.), recently widowed Charlotte Frost has been unceremoniously plucked by her stepson, Felix, from the family estate of White Lodge and ensconced in a lesser property at Number Five, Vicarage Fields. As Felix's marriage nears collapse along with his business interests, Felix's daughter Imogen leaves school and announces herself pregnant. Twin brother Nicholas assumes Imogen's only supporting role, while plans are made to saddle poor Charlotte with caring for the contentious teen. After Charlotte brings Imogen into Vicarage Fields, they both meet Captain Smythe, a charming elderly Navy retiree, who has recently nabbed a burglar in his home. By one of the seemingly incidental actions of Nicholas and Imogen, the burglar's former partner, Jerry, is soon employed by Charlotte and admired by Imogen. Then Imogen disappears from her room one night, and Charlotte foolishly decides to go looking for her alone and on foot. What happens to Charlotte sets the scene for the remainder of the story, in which the policemen of CID exhibit some distinctly odd attitudes. Although a very light mystery, the book is well weighted with superb plotting and in-depth personalities. This is a work of impressive quality in the genteel English tradition, though one would never know it from the murky jacket art of a teenage boy wielding a shovel. (Dec. 28)FYI:The author is the winner of the 1999 British Crime Writers' Association Cartier Diamond Dagger award.

December 1, 2001
Young petty thief Jerry changes his ways after going to work for recently widowed grandmother Charlotte. Caught up in a stepfamily crisis, Charlotte goes missing and dies suspiciously. Jerry subsequently comes under suspicion himself. A highly appealing tale of psychological suspense from the 1999 British Crime Writers' Association Carter Diamond Dagger Award winner.

Copyright 2001 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

November 15, 2001
Charlotte Frost has had a difficult life. Her first husband died suddenly, leaving her with two young children. Late in life, she met her second husband, who died unexpectedly after only two years of marriage, leaving Charlotte with the grown-up stepchildren from hell, who quickly throw her out of the family home and then foist Charlotte's sullen, teenage--and pregnant--stepgrandaughter, Imogen, on her. Imogen quickly befriends supposedly reformed criminal Jerry Hunt and persuades Charlotte to hire him as a gardener. When Charlotte disappears, the cops immediately suspect Jerry and Imogen. The real truth, however, is both more tragic and more shocking. Taut, suspenseful, cunningly plotted, and filled with human drama and compelling characters, Yorke's latest proves that, even after 42 books, her writing is as fresh as ever.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2001, American Library Association.)