The Mayfly by James Hazel is the first in what I’m sure will be a long-running series featuring ex-detective turned lawyer, Charlie Priest. Charlie has… issues (as all good protagonists do), but in this case they’re rather more interesting than most. He’s approached by Kenneth Ellinder, a wealthy entrepreneur, to investigate the murder of his son, Miles.
Oh, and what a murder it is. You’ll need a strong stomach for this one! Charlie and his team investigate, albeit reluctantly at first, and are swiftly drawn into a mystery dating back to the World War II and the interrogation of a Nazi surgeon. The story is interspersed with flashbacks to the questioning, and I really liked how this tied back into the story. I’d have loved to find out a little more about Colonel Ruck around that time. Perhaps a spin-off series…?
The Mayfly is a cracking psychological mystery. I loved the character of Charlie Priest – despite initial worries that he was going to be a yet another cookie-cutter ex-policeman-turned-lawyer (personal issues: check, family issues: check), he quickly grew on me with his quick thinking, smart wit and sense of humour. The plot hums along at quite a pace, sagging only slightly in the final third – there’s a romantic element which I felt kind of got in the way of the main narrative a little, but that’s more my personal preference than anything else. The supporting cast are also great – Georgie and Okoro fill out the gang nicely (more of Mr Okoro please) and Charlie’s family… well, I’ll let you find out more about them.
A sharply told tale – I look forward to seeing what Mr Priest gets up to next.
The Mayfly by James Hazel is published by @BonnierZaffre and is out now. You can find James Hazel on twitter @JamesHazelBooks
It’s happening again.
A mutilated body discovered in the woods.
A murderous plan conceived in the past.
A reckoning seventy years in the making . . .Charlie Priest, ex-detective inspector turned London lawyer, is hired by influential entrepreneur Kenneth Ellinder to investigate the murder of his son. But Priest is no ordinary lawyer. Brilliant, yet flawed, this case will push him, and those closest to him, to the edge.
Priest traces the evidence back to the desperate last days of the Second World War. Buried in the ashes of the Holocaust is a secret so deadly its poison threatens to destroy the very heart of the establishment.
With more victims going missing, Priest realises that not everyone should be trusted. As he races to uncover the truth, can he prevent history from repeating itself?
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