The Hanging Wood by Martin Edwards – 10/20 Books of Summer

In the fifth Lake District mystery by crime fiction expert, Martin Edwards, a cold case becomes linked to a present-day disappearance, and Daniel Kind and DCI Hannah Scarlett join forces again to investigate.

Daniel, a historian who left London for a quiet life in Cumbria, has been doing research for his new book at a private library, St. Herbert’s, adjacent to Mockbeggar Estate. He had befriended Orla Payne, who grew up at a nearby farm but now works at St. Herbert’s and she confided to Daniel that she had new information about the disappearance of her brother 20 years ago when she was just seven. Daniel urged her to consult his friend, Hannah, a detective specializing in cold cases. Unfortunately, Orla was drunk and incoherent when she reached Hannah, who did not take her seriously. Then Orla disappeared and was found dead, several days later. Everyone thinks it was suicide but Hannah’s boss wants her to dig deep lest the department get investigated for ignoring Orla’s call. However, not even Orla’s father seems to care much about his daughter’s death or believe there is any connection to his son:

He stood on the cobbles, legs wide apart, hands thrust deep into his pockets. His skeptical tone made her rank sound like proof of declining standards, as if she’d been promoted because she was a thirtysomething woman, not a proper detective. Hannah ground her teeth, unwilling to give him the satisfaction of provoking her temper.

“We’d like to ask you a few questions about Callum’s disappearance.”

“When my wife told me you wanted to talk about my son, I thought she must have got her wires crossed.” Hannah guessed Deirdre had felt the rough edge of his tongue. “What has Callum got to do with this? He died twenty years ago.”

It takes Hannah and Daniel a while to connect on the case; in part because he has no official connection (!) but also because Hannah has split up from her boyfriend Marc and is wary of getting involved again (this is not meant to be an amusing series but it makes me laugh that a Marc, a bookstore owner, is a selfish jerk – aren’t we conditioned to think bookstores are run by kindred spirits?). Daniel has had one relationship end in suicide and his most recent girlfriend decamped for London a book or two ago, so he is also unsure where his friendship with Hannah should lead (everyone but Marc wants them to wind up together). Daniel is also uncomfortable because Hannah once worked for his estranged father and he does not want to be a substitute for the man she admired.

There are complicated family relationships to untangle, all connected to Mockbeggar Estate, but what’s appealing about this series is the Lake District, small town setting more than the actual mystery. Edwards describes the region as overflowing with atmosphere (usually dark) but in a way that makes murder seem inevitable. Edwards specializes in unusual and sometimes morbid characters and nearly everyone in the book is very disagreeable indeed! Beatrix Potter would not recognize this part of Cumbria where people keep disappearing and where Daniel is trying to meet his deadline for a book on 19th century essayist, Thomas De Quincey’s influence on the history of murder.

This is book ten of my 20 Books of Summer and my twentieth book for the Cloak and Dagger Challenge.  Happy Bastille Day!  Storm the battlements!

Title: The Hanging Wood
Author: Martin Edwards
Publication: Poisoned Pen Press, hardcover, 2011
Genre: Mystery
Source: Library