An Air That Kills by Andrew Taylor takes place over the course of five days in the run up to Remembrance Sunday. One of the characters remarks early in the novel that November is the month of the dead. For the little town of Lydmouth, located on the border of Wales, November isn't only the time to remember those fallen in the war, but a month where not only the remains of a tiny skeleton are discovered but two further deaths--probable murders-- occur as well.
Lydmouth is a conservative town and one where no matter how long you've lived there, if you weren't born there, you're an outsider. Two outsiders will play large roles in the Lydmouth series, of which An Air That Kills is the first of eight novels. The story opens with Jill Francis, a London journalist fleeing a failed relationship, traveling to Lydmouth to stay with friends. She's feeling troubled and sad having undergone some experience that has left her physically and emotionally drained. The Wemyss-Browns, Philip and Charlotte, are hoping to take Jill's mind off whatever has put her under strain. Jill and Philip worked together in London, and Charlotte is from an old, established and respectable family in Lydmouth--and owner of the local paper. Charlotte is an exacting woman, rather snobbish, but all grace under pressure, which on occasion sets Jill's teeth the tiniest bit on edge.
Inspector Richard Thornhill comes from the Fens in East Anglia having received a promotion to Detective Inspector, a somewhat precarious position since he's "not a local man" and he may not be "entirely familiar with the way they like to do things in this neck of the woods". Married with two children he yearns for intimacy but his wife tends to shut him out--always being too tired or too busy. He warned her what life would be like married to a detective, but she still finds herself resentful at coming second to his work and left alone to care for their two children for long stretches. It's a rocky marriage but both behave with the utmost propriety, and while there is the sense that things aren't perfect there is still warmth between the two.
When a tiny skeleton is found in a former privy of a dilapidated inn that is being demolished Thornhill is called in to investigate. It could have been there for much longer than anyone realizes, but it's found with a silver brooch and a scrap of newspaper--everything jumbled together making it hard to know whether they were buried together or simply the victims of time and unknown persons mixing the refuse up. When Thornhill brings the piece of newspaper to the Wemyss-Browns in order to be identified as being from their newspaper, Jill Francis will unexpectedly become involved in his investigation. Adding to the confusion is the fact that the inn was once home to a Victorian murderess. Could the remains have been associated with her, or are they far more recent?
Taylor is a contemporary author, but he imbues the novel with a flavor that seems quite authentic to the years just after WWII when the story is set. There's a feeling of drabness and dreariness, gray buildings and wet cobblestone streets. You can sense the former glory of the hotels and pubs that are now faded with time--having seen better and more prosperous days, and the townspeople as well who have also seen more prosperous days. And it's all very subtly and convincingly done with the barest of details. He accomplishes it all through his excellent storytelling and characterization, which is very pacy--short chapters that leave you hanging so you want to continue on to find out what happens next. Lydmouth is an interesting mix of people of varying social classes. A town not without the usual problems--such as a series of burglaries that may somehow be connected to the murder victims.
And Richard Thornhill and Jill Francis. Next to the mystery itself, they're the best part of the story. Upon first meeting they neither like each other very much. But there is an undeniable and unexplainable spark. One which I expect will be explored in later books. She doesn't agree with his methods and he finds her cold, arrogant and snobbish. But he's intrigued by her eyes.
I enjoyed An Air That Kills immensely and am totally hooked. I'll be continuing on with this series and have heard they only get better with each new story. Next up is The Mortal Sickness (I read that all the book titles come from the poetry of A.E. Housman), which I have in one of my bins of books, so I'll be digging it out soon to read. By the way, An Air That Kills won the CWA Ellis Peters Historical Dagger Award. Deservedly, I'd say.