Sunday, May 14, 2017

The Hanging Tree

The Hanging Tree by Rodney Hobson
Endeavour Press: 4/10/17
eBook review copy: 168 pages
ASIN: B06Y5VXVH9
D.I. Paul Amos series # 5

The Hanging Tree by Rodney Hobson is a highly recommended fast-paced police procedural set in the 1990's.

Detective Inspector Paul Amos and Detective Sergeant Juliet Swift are on  the case of a middle aged man found hanging from a tree in his back yard. The two older women living next door heard noise in the night and saw a naked man walking through the backyard so the police were on the scene rather quickly and have a few clues to follow. The murdered man was Duncan Watson. He was apparently the leader of a group of protestors in the sixties who participated in a siege of historic Wykeham Hall in an attempt to save it. Their efforts resulted in failure, but the group is having a 30th reunion this weekend. Amos and Swift rely on interviews while following the various clues that lead to a conclusion.

This is most decidedly an old-fashioned police procedural that follows the clues in the case without the help of current technology or advanced forensics. This isn't necessarily a bad thing as you follow the deductions the detectives make through their interviews and investigations. It is also a simple, short, fast-paced novel. There isn't a lot of time for character development or more than one line of investigation. The Hanging Tree is definitely a novel to read simply for relaxation. It is a good story that reaches its conclusion quickly. And let's be honest, sometimes this is a nice change of pace, especially if you have had a hectic week.

Disclosure: My review copy was courtesy of Endeavour Press.

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