FAMILY LIFE

TITLE: FAMILY LIFE

AUTHOR: PAUL CHARLES

Pages: 334

Date: 21/10/2009

Grade: 4.5

Details: no. 2 Inspector Starrett Mystery

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The Sweeney family are all gathering together on the family farm in County Donegal, Ireland, to celebrate the birthday of Liam Sweeney, the father. The only one missing is Joe, the youngest Sweeney son. But when there is a knock on the door it is not Joe but Inspector Starrett, arriving with the sad news that Joe has been found dead.
It soon becomes clear that we're dealing with a murder, and Starrett and his team start an investigation. Pretty quickly the team discover that there was a lot of tension in the family concerning the farm and its future. But was that tension enough to lead to murder, or were there outside forces at work?
While the investigation is going on, Starrett also has to deal with some family issues of his own as well as a new addition to his team who starts off making the worst possible impression.
I'm really enjoying this series. Starrett is a very likeable main character with an interesting personal story that never really interferes with the mystery. The same is true for the other regular characters in the series. The mysteries are very well plotted and worked out. And of course the Irish setting, even if it is a part of the country I have never visited, is great.
I'm going to have to try and find the previous mystery series by Paul Charles.