The Water Clock, by Jim Kelly

Retrieved from: the library
(0312321430)

A mystery somewhat reminiscent of P.D. James' works. This is set in the fens near Ely; the location is important because only there would the bogginess of the land mimic the bogginess of people's interior lives. There are mysteries in mysteries here: who rescued reporter Philip Dryden from his car after a crash into a bog, but left his wife to die (although she remains in a coma); what is so important about a crime that occurred 38 years ago; who is visiting his comatose wife and leaving notes under her pillow; is the detective assigned to the current case Dryden is reporting as incompetent as his father and everyone else think?

A pretty good story, although the title somewhat gives the game away, if you are paying attention to the descriptions of people's house decor. Still, this is a pretty decent first effort for an author who normally writes for the Financial Times in London! I wonder if he'll bring back Dryden in forthcoming books, or if he'll start anew.