Ford’s Norman Norman makes a fast-paced, challenging read

I am so glad I stumbled across P.F. Ford’s “A Body on the Beach.” It is the first book in a series, and I will definitely find and read book number two.

Norman Norman used to be a detective sergeant in the London police force but left under a cloud. Now his private detective agency is failing, and he is bored.

He’s surprised when his former boss, Superintendent Nathan Bain, asks him to return to active duty. Bain wants him to work with some young officers who’ve gotten off to a bad start and are wasting away in Llangwelli, West Wales.

DC Catren Morgan, DC Derik Thomas and DC Judy Lane are competent officers, but past failures have sapped their self-confidence. Norman knows the feeling so with nothing better to do, Norman agrees.

Detective Inspector Sarah Southall was lead officer in an arrest when one of her subordinates made a foolish move and was wounded. It was his fault, but as lead officer Southall must take the blame. Now she has been offered a position as DI in far off Llangwelli.

Determined to remain on the force and prove herself she takes the position and moves to Llangwelli.

On Oct. 11 Ruth, Abby, Pippa, and Kim are enjoying their monthly girls’ night out. The friends are concerned that Kim is especially drunk and blatantly flirting with a younger man at the bar. About 10:30 they decide to leave and urge Kim to go with them, but she says she’ll find a ride home. The friends know that Kim sleeps around but she’s usually more discreet.

That night Kim disappears. On Oct. 22 DC Catren Morgan discovers a body on the beach. As DI Southall sets the investigation in motion, she is interrupted by DS Hickstead. He is from the larger force known as ‘region’ and expects to take charge of the case.

Southall firmly explains that her team can and will handle the case without the help or interference of the regional office. The body is Kim Lawrence, and she was murdered.

Using CCTV film, they quickly find several potential suspects, but all turn into dead ends. Her husband Greg explains that Kim had ‘disappeared’ several times when she was having a fling with another man. He didn’t like it, but he loved Kim and would never hurt her. The night Kim disappeared he says he played Snooker at Nick’s, got roaring drunk and was taken home to bed.

Nick readily backs up Greg’s alibi, but his smug attitude bothers both DS Norman and DI Southall. Kim’s friends reveal that Kim was disappointed in her husband’s lack of ambition. To punish him she often slept around.

Southall is pleased when her team is able to find the place where Kim was put in the water. Using the latest in technology they track vehicle movements and narrow the suspect list. A search of the Lawrence home turns up a surprising clue. It appears that someone is trying to put the blame on Greg.

Things get strange when an elderly neighbor supplies Greg with a different alibi. Southall and Norman can feel the case coming together. The killer may be cunning and cold-blooded, but he hasn’t reckoned with the police team at Llangwelli. Their dogged determination and new-found confidence will combine with the experience and instincts of Southall and Norman to bring him down.

“A Body on the Beach” was well-written, fast-paced and full of false leads, making for a good read and a challenge.

We all mess up. It is an essential part of learning and growing as individuals. As this book points out, with a second chance we can take what we learned from our failures and use it to succeed.
YOUR public library can supply all kinds of books that feature mistakes and redemption. Make plans to drop by soon so you can check it out.