the house on the cliff - Hardcover

After studying philosophy at college, Charlotte Williams went on to work as an arts journalist, writing for newspapers and magazines as well as making radio documentaries and, later, writing radio dramas for the BBC. Under her maiden name, Charlotte Greig, she also recorded several albums of original folk music. Sadly she was diagnosed with cancer shortly after finishing the first draft of her second crime novel in the Jessica Mayhew series, Black Valley, and died shortly before publication.

Welsh psychotherapist Jessica Mayhew is a self-confessed “nosy parker” who’s after the truth even when she’s at risk. She also acknowledges her human frailties, notably her susceptibility to the charms of a new client, young actor Gwydion Morgan (described as “sex on a stick” by another woman), soon after Jessica’s lawyer-husband, Bob, confesses to a one-night stand. Gwydion seeks Jessica’s help for his button phobia and a repeated disturbing dream, which evolves into a recovered memory from his childhood about the role his charismatic, womanizing father, director Evan Morgan, had in the presumably accidental death of the family’s Swedish au pair years earlier. As Jessica’s involvement with the Morgan family increases, so does her dilemma about testifying in a probable trial in which Bob also has taken a part. Jessica is an appealingly fallible character struggling with both her professional and personal life (including a rebellious 16-year-old daughter) who is humanized by stepping out of bounds. Williams’ first crime novel features an appropriately moody setting, a suspenseful climax, and a winning protagonist likely to attract trouble. --Michele Leber