In which we learn that solving murders might be harder than writing them
The Murders in Great Dibbling by Katarina Bilvald
Stars: 4
Audiobook
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.
Why are we so fascinated by small English villages and murders? I don’t think in reality that many people are violently killed in rural England all that often, but maybe they are and I just don’t have a real understanding of the crime rate in Great Britain. Regardless, there are a lot of authors writing mysteries set among lush green hills in quaint countryside settings, some with better results than others. Bilvald’s book is one of the better ones I’ve read and I hope this is not the only outing for novelist turned amateur detective, Berit Gardner.
A Swedish-British novelist, Berit’s last novel has been an unqualified success and she isn’t quite sure how she feels about that. She certainly is having a hard time starting her next book but she is quite happy to be in her little Cornish cottage in Great Dibbling. Though Great Dibbling is not one of those picturesque seaside villages along the coast of Cornwall. In fact, the town is a bit down at heel, but its inhabitants are trying to bring some life to it. And then at a party hosted by at the manor of the local book-loving grandee, Daphne, the village is witness to the murder of her not-so-beloved nephew in the house’s library. Berit is there, along with her newly acquired “assistant” Sally, the daughter of Berit’s agent, who was sent down to help light a fire under the author, and soon Berit finds that helping to solve a murder might be more fun than writing her next book.
Bivald populates Great Dibbling with some truly unique and wonderful characters and she slyly reveals why each one might be ready to commit murder. There are tongue-in-cheek moments, like when she has the village launch a murder festival complete with an array of famous authors which had me chuckling. Bivald also reminds the reader that things are not always well in small towns and that racism is still a real part of life for many people, there always has to be an other.
Helen Lloyd was the narrator and I loved her reading of the novel. She really brought both Berit and Sally to life. When reading their internal thoughts, it really felt like we were being let into the working of their brains, how they were processing things, giving voice to Berit’s strength and no-nonsense attitude and Sally’s insecurities.
As I mentioned, I really hope this isn’t the only book featuring Great Dibbling and I look forward to reading more books by Bivald.
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