Lead Review (A Death In The Afternoon)

• Book: A Death in the Afternoon (The Clapham Trilogy Book 2)
• Location: Clapham
• Author: Julie Anderson

Review Author: tripfiction

The novel is set in 1948 and The South London Hospital for Women & Children continues to be at the heart of the story. This is Book 2 in The Clapham Trilogy and can be read as a stand alone.

In Book 1 “The Midnight Man”, the author sets the scene for her readers. Faye Smith (formerly a canteen worker at the Hospital) has now moved on to become a police officer in the Met and is being fast-tracked into the CID. Given she is a woman, she, of course, has to go the extra mile to prove herself. Misogyny and distrust continue to be rife and women – despite their amazing recent contribution to the WW2 effort – still continue to battle for their rights and their recognition.

The death of a student nurse, tumbling from a balcony, is put down to an accident but Faye listens to the concerns of her former colleagues at the hospital and feels compelled to act, despite stiff opposition. And as she investigates, she is drawn into a world of dastardly criminal activity, and it’s a race against time when further lives are on the line.

This is an exceptionally good series that evokes time and place. The aftermath of war, food rationing (spam is the go-to food item!) and well-formed feisty, female characters all make for an immersive read.

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