2016 • 272 pages • Zaffre
On the marshes of Kent in the late eighteenth century,
Reverend Hardcastle discovers a dying man on his doorstep. Narrowly escaping a
bullet himself, he is entrusted with the dying man’s last words which leave him
questioning the mystery behind this anonymous man’s death. With smugglers rife
along the Kent coast, it seems as though it was a simple falling out amongst
thieves, but the Reverend believes the answer to this crime lies deeper.
Assisted by the brilliant Mrs Chaytor they set off to solve the mystery – but
with smugglers lurking all through the county and the French threatening to
invade, there are unsuspecting dangers around every corner.
The
Body on the Doorstep is the first novel by A. J. MacKenzie (the
pseudonym of married writer couple Marilyn Livingstone and Morgen Witzel) and
it’s a gripping, atmospheric page turner. From the opening pages you’re thrust
in to the action and the mystery, and neither slow down throughout the course
of the novel. Reverend Hardcastle’s discovery of the dying man sets off a
continuous chain of events, leading to yet more murder and endless corruption
in the small village of St Mary in the Marsh and it makes for a very enjoyable
read.
As amateur sleuths, Reverend Hardcastle and Mrs Chaytor
are an interesting choice of characters to take on the task of solving the
murder of the man on the doorstep, and at first I was sceptical. Hardcastle is
the village rector with a colourful past and a weakness for drink, while Mrs
Chaytor is a young widow and newcomer to the village, but I was pleasantly
surprised to find they make a likeable and strong detective team. Mrs Chaytor
is incredibly witty and brave for a woman of her period and it’s always fun to
have a strong and determined heroine in a historical novel. Every character in
this book has a purpose and there is a reason for every one of them to be in
the story, which I find is a rare thing to come across in most fiction but it
only emphasises how well the story is planned out and executed.
The plot itself is extremely clever, with numerous
twists and turns that kept me constantly guessing right up until the final few
pages. Some crime stories can feel predictable and lazy, but The Body on the Doorstep is fresh and
exciting in addition to being skilfully written. The story is complex but not
overwhelming, and I never found myself struggling to keep up as the pieces of
the mystery began to fit together. The historical detail is also wonderful – I
loved the gritty and dangerous atmosphere which was present throughout, and I
look forward to seeing what A. J. MacKenzie produces next.
Overall rating: 4.5 stars
My copy of The Body on the Doorstep was sent to me by The Bookbag and my review was originally published on their website.
Overall rating: 4.5 stars
My copy of The Body on the Doorstep was sent to me by The Bookbag and my review was originally published on their website.