The Coat of Arms Killer
Frances Lloyd
224 pages
Joffe Books
published March 6, 2025
About the book
A killer is stalking the illustrious Fitzwarren family. And any of the clan could be next …
Lord Hugo may be heir to the Fitzwarren millions. But everyone knows who rules the roost in his noble old family. His formidable mother, Lady Beatrice. It’s been that way since her husband met his watery end. In a boating accident, poor thing.
Now, on the eve of her seventieth birthday, Lord Hugo plans to give his mama a gift she’ll never forget: a portrait of her dear, departed husband.
Guests gather at the Fitzwarrens’ decadent ancestral pile, waiting with bated breath for a glimpse of the painting. Detective Jack Dawes is among them, his wife Corrie on his arm. A cord is pulled. The curtain falls . . . and Lady B lets out a blood-curdling scream.
It’s not the likeness that has her spooked. It’s the dagger, plunged deep in her husband’s chest. Scrawled beneath, in blood-red paint, there’s a single word. Killer.
Is it a spiteful prank . . . or something more?
Detective Jack’s determined to find out. But he’s got his work cut out — with the frosty Fitzwarrens seeking to shut him down at every turn and Lord Hugo himself mysteriously missing.
Lord Hugo’s family are certain he’ll turn up in his own time. But Jack knows the clock is ticking to solve this baffling case.
Before something worse than paint is spilled . . .
This entertaining and absorbing mystery is perfect for fans of Agatha Christie, LJ Ross, J.R. Ellis, Faith Martin, Catherine Moloney and P.F. Ford
My Review
This is my first Jack Dawes book and I am kinda wondering why. A murder mystery. A reluctant detective. And a rich family behaving poorly. All thrown together in a slow burn mystery where the facts slowly seep out. I’ll say that slow burn part is a little at odds with the shortness of the book. Take note if you are looking for a short book for a challenge prompt. But the facts of the case are everchanging as I learned more of what was actually going on.
I admit I didn’t discover it until the end, but I loved that there was a glossary of British words and jargon to help us non Brits to keep up.
The characters associated with the case are really not likable. Rich people behaving badly. I am not really caught up much if the suspects in a crime novel are likable. I am always focused on the case and if I can solve it before the team of detectives. Alas with the slow stream of facts and the twists, I’ll admit I did not. But I was engaged from the start and loved that it kept me on my toes.
I was probably as frustrated as Jack and his team as the Ftizwarren family tried their hardest to not cooperate. It made them all look guilty and kept we wondering what exactly they were hiding.
I was also a fan of Jack and his wife. Their interactions allowed a little break from the seriousness of the case. While this is book # 12 for the series and the first for me, I didn’t have any difficulty jumping in.
I can see the comparison to Agatha Christie and think this should appeal to all those that like a good crime novel.
About the Author
Frances Lloyd was born in Essex but spent a nomadic childhood being carted between RAF stations until mercifully, she was allowed a crack at a proper education in Cheltenham, studying English and Classics. As an adult, she became something of a wandering minstrel with no physical or spiritual roots apart from a strong work ethic.
Frances has always been a writer. The job that paid the mortgage was in government communications, She also worked as a freelance journalist and photographer but her ambition was always to write crime novels.
She now lives in Northumberland – “Vera” territory – and writes full time. She has published ten DI Dawes murder mysteries.
Married three times but now a widow, Frances’ hobbies are reading, wine tasting and cooking.
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