Book Review: The Burning by M R Hall – the latest “Coroner” novel is a tale of murder, deception and duplicity set against Jenny Cooper’s increasingly complicated personal life

The newest Jenny Cooper novel starts with a devastating fire that the hides the murder – suicide of Ed Morgan and his two daughters.  Morgan’s chilling message from the grave to his wife Kelly is that she is a cheating whore and will never see their son again.  

This appalling and motiveless crime has Cooper puzzled.  Why would quiet Ed Morgan suddenly snap and murder his daughters?  Why does he then taunt his wife, by not leaving his son’s body to be found? Lines of inquiry start to emerge – the disappearance of a young girl from the same area ten years ago, Ed Morgan’s job at the local rendering plant, a convenient way of disposing of bodies if there ever was one, and the apparent murder and apparent murder and disappearance of local gangster Jacob Rozek.  All these leads seem to add to the confusion without providing the killer clue to unlock the mystery. 

Meanwhile, Cooper’s on off boyfriend Michael has asked to make their joint domestic arrangements more permanent, much to Cooper’s surprise.  However, she finds that some of his behavioural traits appear at best odd and a chance discovery leads her to realise that Michael’s undying love for her may not be all it seems.  Cooper gets information, help and support from smart and good looking detective Gabriel Ryan and as Cooper’s relationship with Michael starts to fray, an increasingly charged frisson appears in their professional relationship.  Assistant Alison is also back in the frame although her brain injury at the end of the previous novel has left her with a distinct lack of tact and a level of social awareness that at times is absolutely cringing!

Just confused?  Well the good news is that M R Hall has managed, again, to create a complex [in a good way] tightly plotted novel that’s nevertheless straightforward to follow and enjoyable too.  The book held my attention well – I read it in only two bites – and whilst the twists and turns of the plot make you at times, like Cooper, question everything you have come to believe, the ending is both complete and convincing, with all the intersecting puzzles resolved.   All in all, I’d say this is another success for M R Hall and Coroner Jenny Cooper.

Romancrimeblogger