Cover Image: A Fatal Night

A Fatal Night

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Member Reviews

I really loved this. A mystery set in the 1960's, a young man freezes to death in a motor car that has crashed in the snow. It seems like a tragic accident but WPC Trudy Loveday and coroner Clement Ryder suspect foul play.

The main protagonists were all really likeable and whilst the story was a little slow, I loved the build up and the investigation as it unfolded. I loved Trudy and was rooting for her all the way through.

I had not come across this author before and I was delighted to find there are loads more books in the Loveday/Ryder series. I will definitely be buying all of them!

A cosy murder mystery, perfect for a winter's day curling up on the sofa with a cup of cocoa.

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An entertaining cosy read set in the 1960's and how different the police methods were then, with no mobile phones and internet just telephone boxes and library archives.
I have read and enjoyed books by this author before but none in this series so I was surprised to see that it was the 7th in the series. This did not spoil my reading as the characters were soon established and although reference was made to previous cases. these did not impact on the mystery within this book.
A gentle satisfying read set in less frenetic times, it keeps the reader guessing.

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Agatha-Christie-style twisty whodunnit set in Oxford in the early 1960s, featuring Probationary Woman Police Constable Trudy Loveday and her mentor, long-serving city coroner Dr. Clement Ryder. Compounded by unusually giant masses of snow, the unlikely duo have to unravel the circumstances of a suspicious fatal car crash on new years eve. Thank you NetGalley and publisher HQ for letting me read an ARC in return for myhonest opinion.

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This is the 7th book in a series and can be read alone but makes several references to previous cases that WPC Loveday and Dr Clements have worked on together and the working relationship they have built up.

A story set in the harsh winter of the 1960's where WPC Loveday has to deal with the male dominated police force. With half the police force snowed in or ill, she is tasked with taking all details of a fatal car accident ready for when a more experienced officer is available.
She calls on her good friend, and coroner Dr Clements to visit the scene and they soon realise the car crash may not be as simple as they first thought. Making the most of the time they have, they soon learn that the driver was at a New Years Eve party the night before and start interviewing all the other guests .... but why are so many of them telling lies?

A great story but very slow through most of the book. There are a few twists and turns and it keeps you guessing right to the end.

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This is my first book by this author and I had not realised that this is the 7th book in a series. I think it can be read as a stand alone but feel I have missed a bit of the connection between Loveday and Clement.

I found it to be slow until about 70% in but would be interested in reading the next book to hopefully see how the characters develop.

Thank you to #NetGalley for a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review #AFatalNight

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Not my first Faith Martin's book but the first in this series and I thoroughly enjoyed.
A riveting, entertaining and well written historical cozy mystery that kept me turning pages.
The winter atmosphere is magic and I liked the descriptions of the setting.
Ryder and Loveday are a couple of likeable and clever investigators, well developed and fleshed out.
The solid mystery is full of twists and kept me guessing.
Can't wait to read the rest of this series.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

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coroner, law-enforcement, 1960s, England, foul-play, investigation, investigators, family-dynamics, family, class-consciousness, cosy-mystery, small-town, winter, snow, procedural, friction, friendship*****

I love the ongoing main characters and even the odd ones on The Force. It was nice meeting Coroner Ryder's son and watch him transform into a decent human being. Ms Martin really has a way with awful humans as well as the totally clueless variety! Great sleuthing, fine plot, devious twists, and red herrings. I loved it!
I requested and received a fee ebook copy from HQ Digital via NetGalley. Thank you!

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This is the 7th book in the Ryder and Loveday series. I wasn’t aware of this when I requested the book. Having said that I was able to read and didn’t feel that having not read previous books distracted me from this storyline.
A New Years Eve party ends fatally for 1 partygoer and the main characters Ryder and Loveday are called to the scene of a road traffic collision. Is it a clear cut case of a drunk driver or has something else happened?
Felt this book was a little slow going at times and I was able to put it down easily as it didn’t grip me or make me want to keep reading just 1 more chapter
I was drawn to the characters though and am keen to try more from this series and author
Thanks to Netgalley for the opportunity to read this title

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7th book a a lovely series set in the 1960’s and featuring the endearingly enterprising WPC Trudy Loveday and retired coroner Clement Ryder.

In this episode it is a cold winter and the scene of the murder is a New Year’s Eve party where potential young love interest of the party hostess is found dead in his car. The duo begin to investigate while the snow falls and the dedicated police murder detective team are unable to start work.

The duo are delightful and are joined, somewhat reluctantly at first, by Clements son. The three make excellent work of good old fashion police work and the descriptions of the snow and the characters make the reader really engaged with the storyline.

I hadn’t guessed what had happened until almost the end and the story was wrapped up well and leaving the reader looking forward to the next in the series.

Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher and the author for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

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I really enjoyed this book, it was so easy to follow and just get absorbed in the characters and the story. I loved the retro feel to the book.

I hadn't read any of the other books in the series but it really didn't matter, but now I want to get back and read more.

I was given an advance copy by netgalley and the publishers but the review is entirely my own.

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WPC Trudy Loveday and Coroner Clement Ryder are back in this seventh instalment of the series by Faith Martin. A Fatal Night kept me on my toes throughout as I devoured each chapter. I adored being in the company of Trudy Loveday again who I find to be enthusiastic, feisty, considerate and, at times stubborn. Ryder is a man who has experienced his fair share of life - someone of a certain age who has lived a little. Set in the 1960s, in Oxfordshire, Faith Martin's writing is so good and her style is a great fit for me. There was plenty going on which kept my attention throughout and I never once felt bored. With a handy supply of colourful supporting characters, the mystery itself was sound; the clues, twists and red herrings were cleverly placed and with nothing as it seemed and some great descriptions of the inclement weather, the story was super exciting. This has left me wanting to read the first two books of the series, as well as eagerly anticipating the next instalment.

I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from HQ Digital via NetGalley. This review is my own unbiased opinion.

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Thanks Netgalley and the Publisher. I have enjoyed all this authors books and this was no exception. Fast paced, great storyline and would recommend to other readers.

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I really enjoyed this book. I really enjoyed the dynamic between the characters. Trudy is a great character and it was intriguing to watch her interactions with Vincent & Duncan . I loved the fact it was set in the 1960's and it was very invocative descriptions of the snow & the ice. I wouldn't have guessed the ending . I am a huge Faith Martin fan & this didn't disappoint.

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Thankyou for giving me the chance to read and review. I did enjoy this actually but wasn’t sure what to expect. Worth a read if you get time :)

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Who doesn’t want a winter mystery to disconnect on a stormy night? I’ll admit that if there’s a crime story, I am always in, I am so easy! 😉
This case will be quite interesting to read, a car accident with a victim, but it’s really an accident or a murder?
From the first moment WPC Trudy Loveday and coroner Clement Ryder are called to the scene knowing that this will not be as easy as it seems. Because the victim doesn’t seem to have many friends but a quite long list of possible killers! The business partner, the son/daughter of the girlfriend… and so many, many more!
The mystery is interesting but I enjoyed reading the different characters’ situations and lies, all of them are hiding something and have a good motive to kill. So, the main question will be, who and why now?
Even if this is the 7th book of the Ryder & Loveday Mystery series you can read it as a standalone. The relationship with the characters is well explained and you’ll not feel lost with the mystery, believe me.
This is a quick read, easy to get trapped in the story and try to discover this whodunnit before it’s revealed.
Are you ready to discover “A Fatal Night”?

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A cosy murder set in the 60s without any gore, not my usual murder books but couldn`t put it down.

It`s new year`s eve and the snow is deep but Millie Vander still has her party of the year,
A man is found dead with his car in a snow drift, WPC Trudy Loveday is the only one that managed to get into work so she has to investigate what happened to the dead man, her boss hopes it`s only a bad accident, but with the help of coroner Dr Clement Ryder they discover it`s a murder.

Loved the characters Trudy and Clement they worked so well together, and loved it set in the 60s and how difficult it was for women in the police force and how they had to go looking for a phone to call people, reminds you of the past, not an easy time for all.

It`s the 7th in the series but can be read easy, will look forward to seeing how Trudy and Clement progress.
Well worth a read.

Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Posted to Goodreads

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A wonderful nostalgic visit to the 1960s. I remember the harsh winter in the book and the difficulties getting around in the snow. The team of Loveday and Ryder has become one of my favourite duos and now there is the possibility of a third member. Excellent!

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I am still not sure how I feel about this book. A police procedural but it seems to be lacking a certain something that makes you want to continue turning the pages. That it is part of series of books did not hinder following the plot. My problem was I didn’t care enough about it. I hold my hands up I should have done better research before requesting this copy.

I received a free copy of this n

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Great mystery with characters who are developing well.

The book is well written and richly descriptive which helped me get taken right in.

Read if you like police procedural mysteries.

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I didn’t realise going in that A Fatal Night is the seventh in a series of novels following WPC Trudy Loveday and Dr Clement Ryder, surgeon turned coronor, who solve mysteries in 1960s Oxford. I’m happy to report that not reading its predecessors didn’t affect my enjoyment!

A Fatal Night explores the mystery of a man found dead in his car during a snow storm after a new year’s party. As the truth of the deceased man’s identity unravels, suspects and motives become apparent, and the death begins to appear a lot more suspicious than first thought.

This is fun and engaging, a cosy, historical crime fiction story. It flows effortlessly, and the chracters who are new to be (but shouldn’t be as its book seven of the series) are endearing and likeable.

WPC Trudy Loveday is a strong, determined and fiesty woman in a man’s world. Dr Clement Ryder is charming and respectable, with a growing vulnerability.

Despite the inclusion of quite a few characters the story is easy to follow and enjoy. The Oxford of Loveday and Ryder is painted vividly by Martin, setting the scene perfectly.

I enjoyed A Fatal Night, and didn’t predict the outcome at all. I will definitely be adding the other books of the series to my ever growing to-be-read list.

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