Customer Reviews

The Coffin Trail

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Starts off with a young Oxford Historian and his girl friend getting fed up and 'retiring' to live at a place where Daniel Kind, the historian, lived and remembers a brutal murder. His father, the policeman was never convinced of the guilt of the man presumed to have committed the crime, but who died-accidentally or by suicide. He left our hero and his family and Daniel exhibits the usual angst of sons in this situation.
One of his father's old flames, Hannah Scarlett, now is in charge of 'cold crimes' and reopens the case. She has a relationship which began at the time of the murder.
Nicely written, very atmospheric, and lyrical language which enhances the Cumbrian landscape. But the characters behave in predictable ways, the domestic squabbles of Daniel and Miranda are hackneyed. The usual village gossipers want to let well alone. 'No good will come out of digging into the past,' etc.
It actually reads like Christie's Hercule Poirot tackling old mysteries. Unfortunately for the author, while Mrs. Christie's books ran to about two hundred pages, this one, at twice the length, fails to totally snare the readers' attention. But in the end, it is a solid mystery, none too distinguished but then everyone cannot be another Reginal Hill.

Miranda persuades her lover Oxford historian and TV host Daniel Kind to leave the school that she insists is stifling him and she would quit her detestable job so that they can relocate and move in together. She further convinces Daniel to buy notorious Tarn Cottage in a relatively isolated Lake District Valley. Daniel is familiar with Tarn Cottage once home to Asperger's syndrome sufferer Barrie Gilpin, whom he knew.

Barrie was suspected by the police led by Daniel's father of a violent ritual murder, but before he was questioned he fell to his death. Daniel has solved mysteries on his TV show using Holmesian logic and always felt that Barrie was innocent. Additionally, Detective Chief Inspector Hannah Scarlett has reopened this cold case because of a recent anonymous tip. Although Hannah and her team do not want Daniel interfering, he also makes inquiries as he plans to prove Barrie was innocent. The two adjoining investigations upset several residents of Brackdale, who want their dirty laundry left hidden from view.

Although coincidence is over-killed to bring the son and the protégé in competition, readers will appreciate this fine amateur sleuth police procedural rivalry in which the who-done-it is cleverly devised. The story line is fun to follow as Daniel and Hannah employ similar methods as both learned from his dad. They also share in common the fear that their teacher bungled this case when he bet on Barrie exclusively. Miranda adds just the right additional touch so that the audience obtains a strong mystery that tracks THE COFFIN TRAIL, the path the dead are taken on to leave the isolated valley for burial.

Harriet Klausner

Daniel Kind and his lover, Miranda, buy a house in the Lake Country; a house once lived in by a boy accused of murder, who was found dead of an accident. Daniel's policeman father investigated the case, but Daniel never believed the boy was guilty. Now Daniel is asking questions and causes the police to take a new look at the murder. The locals are not happy, particularly when someone else dies.

The basic story, the descriptions of the Lake District and the overall writing were enjoyable. But this was offset by lack of character development, being irritated by the relationships of the two main couples, and the coincidences. The scene exposing the killer just wasn't realistic. I found myself having trouble caring about the story or the characters. It wasn't a terrible read, but there are many better out there.

This book could have used a strong editor. For instance, characters begin speaking before they are introduced and the reader is left wondering who they are, what are they doing with these other characters and retracing his/her steps trying to figure out if the reader fell asleep and simply missed their introduction.

One of the main characters in the book, Daniel, goes to a pub with his wife. He leaves her sitting while he table hops stopping to speak with people as if they were long-time friends/acquaintances even though Daniel has just moved to the area. While talking with these people as if they hadn't just met, Daniel asks if they heard a gun shot the night before. The couple gives a long explanation of who it might have been and why he might have been shooting at night. Daniel then asks the same people if they heard a gun shot the night before.

It was at that point that I put the book down. There are just too many good books on the market to waste one's time with either poorly written or poorly edited books.

The author switches from the couple who have just moved to the Lakes District and the officers involved in the newly formed Cold Case Squad. The author would have been better served telling the story from the point of view of the Squad's Hannah Scarlett for it is her voice that sustains the book and keeps the reader reading well beyond 50 pages. The couple are unbelievable from the get go - giving up a tenured position at Oxford University, knowingly buying a cottage where an alleged murderer lived, spending scads of money refurbishing the cottage when both are now unemployed, all for love.

I was disappointed because this book sounded so good in the descriptions and reviews I'd seen.

I enjoyed this book - the writing style was good, the plot and characters are believable. Recommended for those who enjoy British mystery writers such as Elizabeth George, Ruth Rendall and PD James.

This was my first book by Martin Edwards, purchased based on Amazon's recommendation, and it certainly won't be my last. On the cover, the Guardian is quoted as saying " ... writes terrific crime novels" and I certainly found this to be the case. The two main characters, Daniel Kind and DCI Hannah Scarlett are very sympathetic - honest and intense. The plot details are summarized above, so I won't repeat. My only reservation was the feeling that the premise for Daniel's move and his relationship with Miranda, just seemed not quite plausible. However, the rest of the book was gripping and I am eager to read more of Mr. Edward's books.

Cannot do any better than timely delivery of what was advertised and ordered.