IN these uncertain times (I write in the era of Covid-19) there is little better than delving into a book knowing that satisfaction is guaranteed. Plot, characters and dialogue will meld into a teasingly enjoyable story of good fighting evil with at least some measure of justice being served. The good guys will at times act roguishly, even illegally, and the evildoers will deceive with kind deeds and winning ways. Deception and duplicity play for both sides. How The Dead Speak is (by rough reckoning) Val McDermid’s 33rd crime novel and the eleventh in the series featuring psychologist Tony Hill and… Continue reading
Photo: Warren Wong, unsplash ‘Morning, can I help you?’ The receptionist smiled her greeting. ‘I hope so. At least you look as if you want to.’ A clumsy compliment, Bromo chided himself. But well meant. ‘Makes a refreshing change to where I come from,’ he hurried to explain. ‘Tyllmouth must…