Mixing with the wrong people

‘How many bad men can one woman have in her life?’ asks the blurb on the back cover of this new crime thriller. The heroine, Rebecca, certainly has her fair share: dodgy police officer, weird neighbour, a journalist, and a charming, bereaved American.

The background is northern England in the late 1970s and early 1980s when the Yorkshire Ripper was at large. The book covers that case and the red herring of ‘Wearside Jack’ who sent hoax letters and a recording to the police. The public’s sense of fear and the frustration of the police who were ordered to follow leads suggested by the hoax are very well evoked. There is even a meeting with Peter Sutcliffe.

It was a very different era. Rebecca was perhaps unusual for being successful in a ‘man’s world’ and the book describes how she develops her successful brewing business. But against a backdrop of fear of assault, or death, and sexism, Rebecca seems to be unfortunate in her contacts with people who have a murky past.

This is a good story ranging from the grim north of England to a trip abroad to check on a character’s background. The heroine, who navigates various challenges including an alarming scene when her car breaks down and she meets a stranger, is very well portrayed. The pace of the book then picks up. The story ends in a criminal trial – as all good legal thrillers do!

The distinctive English background and setting make a change from US-style legal thrillers.

The author began his writing career as a playwright. He has had around 20 plays produced, including a couple for radio. He also had many short stories published before turning to novels in 2017. Woolf, who works full-time in policy for the Law Society, completed The Company She Keeps first, though it was published after Indefensible.

David Pickup is a partner at Pickup & Scott Solicitors, Aylesbury