Monday, January 03, 2011

My first book of 2011.

Hunt for Sonya Dufrette by R. T. Raichev

Antonia Darcy is the assistant librarian at London's Military and Naval Club.  This divorced grandmother is also an aspiring writer. Twenty years after the Royal Wedding, Antonia sadly remembers the little girl Sonya Dufreete, who disappeared the same day Charles and Diana were married in July 1981. Along with Sonya's parents, Antonia was on holiday at a country house on the Thames at the time the young girl went missing and was presumed drowned, her body never recovered.

Being a writer - Antonia writes a lot and while having writer's block discovers a long ago written detailed account of Sonya's disappearance that she wrote shortly after the tragedy.  While re-reading it Antonia has a strong sense that something isn't right with her story and sets out to satisfy her nagging doubts—with the help of her admirer and willing assistant, widower Maj. Hugh Payne.

Hence a mystery reminiscent of Agatha Christie as we are given a few red herrings and the ending was more complicated than I expected.  It also appears this is a the first in a series which I discovered by accident. Plus I really enjoyed reading it, the suspense was well done and the mystery worked well.  I'm looking forward to others by this author.