A Body in the Forest by P. F. Ford

 

A half-naked body with a mysterious tattoo found in a forest on Halloween sets the hook for this latest mystery in The West Wales Murder Mysteries. The Dragon Forest, named after rumored ancient pagan rituals conducted there, is home to visitors, hikers, dog-walkers, and present-day pagans who still observe rituals in the forest.  

Detective Norman of the Llangwelli police is called in to investigate and senses something off about the crime. When Acting Superintendent Evans learns that pagans had held a gathering there on Halloween, he concludes that they are responsible and directs Norman to question and arrest them. The discovery of a second body sends the investigation in new and unexpected directions. 

Evans is the kind of cop that Norman can't stand. He's a climber, an inexperienced investigator, and focused on closing cases quickly rather than well. Norman is closer to the end of his career than the beginning, having already retired once. He was coaxed out of retirement to mentor some of the younger officers on the small police force. He also has a need to solve mysteries and the instincts and experience to do so. Every meeting with Evans is a clash, and Norman's contempt for the man is palpable. Holding his temper and his tongue is a constant struggle. Norman's partner and supervisor, Sarah Southall, is younger, more diplomatic, and on a path for bigger things in the police department. She is the calm to Norman's storm and does her best to shield him and the rest of her officers from Evans' worst instincts while also standing up for what she believes to be right. 

Norman follows the scant clues, as the investigation of each one unearths another. The questioning of the pagans gives him background and new ideas to investigate. One of the things Ford does best is lead you to conclude that certain suspects are probably not guilty, but does not entirely exclude them. Everyone has secrets, even if they are not the ones you are looking for. Norman's determined style and intuition pair well with Sarah's own investigative skills and more polished ability to navigate workplace politics. New clues pivot the investigation and unearth additional suspects and sometimes even cause you to look at old suspects differently. 

Andy Cresswell narrates the book with a steady pace, matching the investigative style of the book. His character voices are distinctive, particularly for the three main characters, Norman, Southall, and Evans. One minor complaint is the voice he uses for Norman, the main viewpoint character. The voice made me think he is a little slow-witted, which he clearly is not. It is always clearly enunciated, and the story made clear he is insightful and thorough. Nevertheless, the sound of his voice feels slightly at odds with who you know the character to be. The scenes with Evans are particularly well-done. They convey the tensions in every conversation he has, particularly with Norman. Evans' pretentiousness and inexperience come through. He is an irksome character, but never quite unbearable. 

Interesting characters, serious stakes, and painstaking police work make this a fun mystery. Norman is a great character to lead you through all its twists and turns as you attempt to solve it yourself. The pace matches the procedural nature, and each twist feels genuine and exciting. You always feel like you are making progress whether you are taking a step closer to the killer or eliminating an unproductive path of investigation. The ending doesn't wrap up as neatly as some mysteries, with a few questions left unresolved. I would have preferred more, but didn't feel shortchanged by the conclusion. This is the 7th book in the series, but I had no problem jumping into the story. There may be a greater connection to the characters for those who have read more of the series. I look forward to reading more of this series.

I was provided a copy of this book by the publisher.