Shred of Evidence [Mass Market Paperback]

Jill McGown (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 7, 1998

"McGown's style is uniquely hers, engrossing, poignant, with effectual characterization."
--Mystery News

When the body of fifteen-year-old Natalie Ouspensky is found strangled near a public park in Stansfield, England, Detective Inspector Judy Hill and Detective Chief Inspector Lloyd have their work cut out for them. For Natalie wasn't quite the innocent her mother believes, and her classmates at Oakland School guard Natalie's secrets--and their own--like life itself. Then a shred of evidence points Hill and Lloyd in the right--and decidedly deadly--direction. . . .

"[A ] compelling story . . . The characters are devious, cunning, charming--and truly, truly wicked. This small English town, overrun with malice, is well served by its finely delineated constabulary, with Lloyd and Hill at the top of their form."
--Publishers Weekly

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Constant gossip, endless secrets, nonstop rumors-these everyday elements of high-school life prove nearly impenetrable obstacles for Detective Chief Inspector Lloyd and Inspector Judy Hill of the Stansfield Police as they try solve the murder of a teenaged girl in this leisurely but compelling story. Natalie Ouspensky is a precocious 15-year-old with a host of gregarious friends, a fine school record and, apparently, a secret life. When her strangled corpse is discovered near a public park, Lloyd and Hill join hands to demonstrate once again (after Murder... Now and Then) why their professional (and romantic) collaboration creates tension, ignites sparks and ultimately, in McGown's skilled telling, comprises superior mystery fiction. As the investigators (aided by the overzealous and cheeky Detective Sergeant Tom Finch) query the pupils and faculty at Oakland School, they discover a network of romantic liaisons and flirtations that cross the barrier between students and teachers. Was popular gym instructor Colin Cochrane having an affair with Natalie? Who is sending him sexually explicit mail? Why doesn't an eyewitness to the events on the eve of the murder come forward? The characters are devious, cunning, charming-and truly, truly wicked. This small English town, overrun with malice, is well served by its finely delineated constabulary, with Lloyd and Hill at the top of their form.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Library Journal

Detective-Inspector Judy Hill (short hair) and Chief Inspector Lloyd (short and no hair), who are lovers, concentrate on finding clues to the murderer of a 15-year-old schoolgirl in Stansfield. Handsome, philandering gym teacher Colin and newly hired, philandering English teacher Patrick, likely suspects both, hold almost as many secrets as the dead girl. McGown's (Murder...Then and Now, St. Martin's, 1993) well-cadenced prose increases tension, establishes emotional complicity, and layers the plot with subtle complexity. Excellent work.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback
• Publisher: Random House Value Publishing (April 7, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0517300559
• ISBN-13: 978-0517300558
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #9,560,748 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Another Good Plot with Plenty of Unexpected Twists and Turns, March 13, 2003

By 

S. Schwartz "romonko" (alberta canada) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Shred of Evidence (Mass Market Paperback)

Jill McGown's style is quite wonderful! Her books are very carefully plotted and her character development is excellent. In this book we get to see Judy in action. Her careful attentiveness to detail, and her detailed notetaking help her solve this perplexing murder of a schoolgirl. Typical of Ms. McGown there are plenty of twists and we dont' discover the real murder until the very end. In the meantime we the readers have thought it was three or four different people as the plot unfolds. The title of the book is a pun on something quite relevant to the case. Read it and discover Ms McGown's wonderful world in the English midlands.

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A pretty good murder mystery., June 11, 2001

By 

Betti Trapp - See all my reviews

This review is from: Shred of Evidence (Mass Market Paperback)

This book was pretty good. It was well written, the characters are lively, the plot is suspenseful, and it is an easy read. There is a nice twist at the end that will keep you wondering until the very last page. I think this author has some real talent. The story takes place mostly in the teenage world, where lovesick teenagers abound. One in particular has taken her crush on a teacher to a new depth, and another is actually having an affair with a scandalous character that is a teacher as well. When 15 year old Natalie Ouspensky winds up dead, the story unfolds like layers of an onion, peeling away one new twist after another. Natalie's best friend Kim knows something about Natalie that she wants to tell the police, but she has sworn to her friend (now dead) that she won't breathe a word. Without this information, the wrong person may be charged with the murder, and lives ruined as a result. The person I suspected all along turned out to be not the culprit, but every bit as conniving and evil. I think you will enjoy this book.

2 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Intelligent plot, convincing characters, October 25, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Shred of Evidence (Mass Market Paperback)

Jill McGown has created another masterpiece. She has a unique style, there is a lot of suspense and the way she portrays the different personalities of her characters is fantastic. You will love this book.