Priscilla Masters has featured in this blog several times before. She’s possibly a little less well known than other friends of mine of roughly the same generation- the likes of Ann Cleeves, Kate Ellis and Cath Staincliffe spring to mind – but she’s a consistent and entertaining writer, and her latest book, A Velvet Scream, marks the return of her premier series character, DI Joanna Piercy. It is, in fact, Joanna’s tenth appearance.
One of the strengths of Cilla’s books is that they have a distinctive sense of place – her territory is the Shropshire/Staffordshire border, where she has lived for many years. It’s not a famous or even unusually dramatic part of the country, although Ellis Peters set her Cadfael stories not far away, but it’s certainly attractive and interesting area, and this book evokes the local scene well.
A teenage girl is found in a bad way in the snow outside a nightclub in Leek. It seems a rapist is at work in the quiet town. Joanna is called in, but the girl’s story appears to have a number of holes. A comparable case that occurred six months earlier comes to light, serving to complicate the picture. The solution to the mystery makes good use of the author’s medical knowledge – she continues to work as a part-time nurse.
In some ways, Cilla Masters’ novels remind me of many that appeared under that long-established and highly successful imprint, Collins Crime Club. They are short, snappy and full of believable characters - not just Joanna, but the supporting cast as well. So many bestsellers today are twice as long – but that doesn’t mean they are twice as good. Life is short, and I have to say that a book like this one, that I can read reasonably quickly, has a lot to commend it. But it’s not just a question of length and concision. A Velvet Scream is not just a good title, it is a good book.
4 comments:
Thanks for pointing Priscilla's work out to me Martin
Martin – I first came across Priscilla Masters through your blog last year and read ‘Slipknot’ and ‘Wings Over The Watcher’ in quick succession. Coroner Martha Gunn and DI Joanna Piercy both came over as real women, admirable and appealing in their different ways; indeed all Cilla’s characters seemed created with a real depth of understanding. Her plots were intriguing without being far-fetched and had real meat to them. Cilla illuminated her Shropshire/Staffordshire borderland for me and her company on the page I found most enjoyable.
I bet she could write a cracking short story and wonder whether she’s produced any?
I’m so glad you brought Priscilla Masters to my attention – thank you. I hope ‘A Velvet Scream’ brings her the recognition she deserves.
Regards, Paul
Kerrie, Paul, thanks. Cilla has often resisted my pleas for her to write a short story, but I live in hope!
Martin, do you have any idea of the meaning of the title 'WINGS OVER THE WATCHER"? Perhaps you would ask Cilla for me?
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