| She's
leaving home...bye, bye.
-- The Beatles
She’s
Leaving Home takes place in England, 1968. The main characters
are DS Cathal Breen and WPC Helen Tozer. The mystery starts
with Breen, a detective with a fault rarely forgiven. Further
in the storyline Tozer is assigned to Breen’s current
case. As a team, Breen is reserved but Tozer makes up for
it in enthusiasm. She’s aware of the department’s
sexist attitude but doesn’t let it slow her down.
The current
case is a strangled teenage girl dumped in the alley of a
housing estate, which backs up to The Beatles recording studio
on Abbey Road. Breen gets the case and seems to start out
slow but eventually gathers momentum as he tries to prove
himself worthy.
When
Tozer is assigned to Breen’s case this odd duo really
takes off. Readers get plenty of dialogue with the department’s
interaction, as well as Breen and Tozer getting to know each
other and their interviews with those who know the victim
and the people in the area of the murder. At some points,
there are examples of the racism, sexism, generations clashing,
and police corruption, and other times, that small reminder
of the innocence missing nowadays.
She's
Leaving Home is a well written, entertaining mystery.
William Shaw does an amazing job of bringing to the Sixties
back to life. His ability to deliver a full-bodied mystery
without the usual extreme violence, profanity or sex is quite
refreshing. Cameron Stewart narrates the audio version. Stewart
brings out the best of Shaw’s characters and dialogue.
It’s a memorable listen worth sharing with others. Highly
Recommended.
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