Diana Hockley

The Naked Room is written by Diana Hockley. I read her short story “The Metamorphosis of Troubadour Merriwether” and was so intrigued by her writing, than I was eager to try The Naked Room. This is a novel that doesn’t disappoint. Not just a straight detective novel, but rather an in-depth look at each character, their flaws and their motives for being involved.
When Ally Carpenter is taken and held for ransom, no one can think of a reason for the kidnapping, least of all the police. It’s the reader who is gradually made privy to information the police don’t have. Not that it helps – for Ms Hockley’s false trails and red herrings are worthy of an Agatha Christie. I felt sorry for the policewoman Susan Prescott, as despite unerring devotion to her work, she hits that many blank walls she must have had a headache! Not that her work colleagues or even her husband make her job any easier. I particularly liked the soft side of her though. Her empathy with the people involved was well written and totally believable. This is true of the whole of the book. It has a reality that grounds it and the reader is led to think – yes, stuff like this really could happen and people really are like this.
Can you work out who did it? I couldn’t! The resolution to the novel is emotional and all story lines are pulled together. But this is no romantic look at love, lives, kidnapping and ransom. Ms Hockley never shies away from uncomfortable subjects, she tells it as it is, which is a refreshing change. I highly recommend Ms Hockley’s work.
… (més)

Shell-shocked from a tragedy at work and an acrimonious domestic upheaval, Detective Senior Sergeant Susan Prescott flees town to recuperate, but fate has other ideas.

Her plan to house-sit for relatives in a rural community is shattered when Susan witnesses a very public murder within an hour of her arrival. Things turn sinister after an encounter with an elderly lady; a hint of a long ago murder is not a secret with which Susan wants to be entrusted.

Enter Detective Inspector David Maguire whom she has not seen for thirteen years and who is assigned to the case, which sends her into a further tailspin. Against her better judgment, Susan is drawn inexorably into the investigation, surrounded by menacing strangers whose private agendas threaten her safety, and soon, her life.

My thoughts:

This is another enjoyable read. I really like the way this author treats the narrative and uses the viewpoints of several characters to reveal the story. This is the sequel to The Naked Room which I review a couple of days ago and I enjoyed it just as much as that one. I suggest you read both these books if you enjoy a good mystery.… (més)

When classical pianist Ally Carpenter goes missing during a night out with friends, the implications stretch far beyond her disappearance. Veteran detective, Senior Sergeant Susan Prescott, believes that sexual predators may have abducted Ally. However, after two women with connections to the Carpenters are murdered, she realizes there may be more to the crime than at first thought.
While Prescott puts all her efforts into solving the crime, those close to Ally battle their own turmoil. Friendships become strained and secrets come to light as Ally's terrified mother, Eloise, is forced to confront the lie she has perpetuated for 26 years. Cellist, Briece Mochrie―determined to discover what has happened to the girl he loves―is swept into a dangerous undertow of murder and revenge. The kidnappers have their own agenda; Ally's life is on the line.

My thoughts:
I really enjoyed this book. The characters were well developed and the plot well written. I especially liked how the author portrayed each scene from several view points--from the victim's, the killer's, the investigator's and the friend's and family's.
If you like mysteries, I highly recommend this book.… (més)