It's a pleasure to take part in the Publication Day Push for Preserved by Fiona Sherlock.
About the Author
Fiona Sherlock is a crime writer from Bective, in Ireland. Her murder mystery games are played across the world. She also writes poetry and prose but cannot stay away from a good murder. After spending a decade in Dublin working in public relations and journalism, she moved to the country for mid-day fires and elderflower champagne.
About the book
She's stuck in the past, the killer wants to immortalise his future. When a local farmer announces on social media that he has discovered a bog body in Ardee, the world’s historians are keen to explore the secrets of the life and grisly death of the victim. Antique journalist January Quail is fighting to keep her newspaper job and uncovers far more than she bargained for.
The victim is actually a recent murder, and January uses her nose for the truth to investigate the County Louth town. From shopkeeper to the publican, everyone is a suspect, but when the Gardai can’t find the killer, can January?
Once she sets down the liqueur glass, January gains the confidence of the lead garda investigator. Within days, the case unravels into a much more dangerous situation with a killer on the loose. Despite the risk, January is electrified that this newest discovery has come at the perfect time to inject some colour into her flailing career. January relinquishes her old ways to fight for survival, abandoning her antiques column and vintage corsets to solve a cryptic crime that has the experts puzzled. This woman who longs to lives in the past must now fight for her life in the present.
Review
January Quail is a wee bit of an oddball or shall we say she endeavours to live up to her heritage as only those born to privilege can, especially when that coincides with pomposity, wealth and heirlooms in the form of large houses.
She is on the verge of losing her job as a journalist for the Irish Sunday Chronicle. Antiquities are her game, however they don't seem to be anybody else's, hence the need to find something more exciting to write about. Whilst on another assignment she hears the news about a bog body being found, which is right up her alley. A great story - tick. Old - tick, more or less antique - tick. Except its not, and that's where the trouble begins.
I must admit I wasn't sure what to do with January. She was a bit like Eeyore meets Miriam Margolyes with a hint of an Eton schoolboy. Not quite sure whether to be annoyed at her posh old marm eccentricity or to laugh at her for being a bit like a blinkered racehorse finding it's way to the finish line with extraordinary inaccuracy. Then again that is also the charm of the character and read.
It's a bit of bumbling cosy crime read. It will be interesting to see if January returns to fight another day.
Buy Preserved at Amazon Uk or go to Goodreads for any other retailer. Publisher : Poolbeg Press pub date 10 Feb. 2021. Buy at Amazon com.
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