My latest read; Snow by John Banville

‘The body is in the library,’ Colonel Osborne said. ‘Come this way.’

Detective Inspector St John Strafford is called in from Dublin to investigate a murder at Ballyglass House – the Co. Wexford family seat of the aristocratic, secretive Osborne family.

Facing obstruction from all angles, Strafford carries on determinedly in his pursuit of the murderer. However, as the snow continues to fall over this ever-expanding mystery, the people of Ballyglass are equally determined to keep their secrets.

Genre – Historical cosy mystery set in Ireland in 1957, an era I love reading about.

I got what I expected from this book. A cosy mystery, atmospheric, and a touch of dark humour sprinkled through. I’m a fan of Agatha Christie so this was right up my street. I particularly liked the snowy wintery scenes. It suited the chilling nature of the plot.

Detective Inspector St John Strafford is not your typical detective. He’s clean living, doesn’t particularly enjoy his job, and hasn’t a clue when it comes to women. He’s a protestant working in a mainly catholic workplace, which causes him a bit of anxiety—this is Ireland in the 50s, remember.

The story begins with the discovery of a dead priest in the aristocratic home of the strange and curious Osbourne family. The family members all have secrets and we could suspect any one of them as being the killer. If you’re a Saltburn fan, you will love this family. I found them to be more intriguing and entertaining than the plot itself.

Although the motive for the priest’s castration and murder is quite predictable, the solving of the case is twisty and edgy, with plenty of barriers for Strafford to wade through.

The main theme of the story is abuse of power and control by the Catholic Church and how physical and sexual abuse by some priests were covered up. A small section of the story is told from the dead priest’s point of view; a part that some readers would find disturbing as it’s quite detailed. However, it is an insightful part of the story and it did answer questions.

Would I recommend this book? Yes, as it once again highlights the disregard that members of the clergy had for innocent children and the long-term psychological effects that the abuse had on them.

This book isn’t for you if you feel triggered by child sexual abuse.

Thanks for visiting today! Before you go…

Would you like a peek inside the pages of my fictional novel? It might just be your cup of tea!

Set in a gossipy small town in Ireland at a time when marriage is for keeps and sexuality is repressed, Secrets in the Babby House is a family saga over three decades that starts in 1956. It is a story of love, deception, and stolen diaries filled with sins and secrets.

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