AudioFile
Bruce Montague's understated style is perfect for this modern-day cozy, set in the English countryside. When the Berebury Footpaths Society sends two members to scout its upcoming trek, more than the society is in for a nasty shock. A crow flying overhead drops a human finger, turning the walkers into police assistants as they comb the trail for a body. Aird peppers the story with an array of literary quotations. Sergeant Mason must report police progress to his overbearing superior entirely by phone. Montague delivers these reports with just the right amount of suppressed frustration while adding a poetic touch to the text when necessary. This unusual story should appeal to those who yearn for a less complicated world. S.G.B. © AudioFile 2004, Portland, Maine