The Ugly Man - P.D.Viner
The summer of 1976.
The whole country baking in a heatwave. And in a sleepy Derbyshire village a man, known locally as the Ugly Man, walks into his local with a claw hammer and in front of everyone brutally murders the young woman behind the bar.
For Patricia Lancing, juggling the demands of being a wife and mother alongside her desire to get recognition as an investigative journalist, this could be the case that makes her career... If she survives it.
Some time ago, I read and really liked 'The Sad Man' by the same author, and though 'The Ugly Man' is very different, it is an equally excellent read.
This story is a tragedy. It pretty much sums up the consequences of a life spent lonely, unloved and despised by others.
It's a scorching July day in 1976. In Little Longstone, a tiny Derbyshire village, Sally Matthews, a barmaid, is dragged from behind the bar's counter and bludgeoned to death with a hammer in front of her punters. The killer is a very dangerous man, hated and avoided by everyone and known locally as The Ugly Man.
In the meantime, Patty Lancing, a journalist, is fighting for a front page story in an otherwise male-dominated press room. She is sent to Longstone by her boss to cover the murder story. She's very excited and knows that her career depends on this story... but she doesn't know about the horror awaiting her.
Asking around, Patty soon realises that this story has very deep roots which go back in time. She has to dig deep to understand. Who is The Ugly Man? What's his story? Why did he commit this murder? Where is he?
This was another great novella by P.D.Viner that made me reflect and kept me interested to the end. After reading about The Ugly Man's life and the pain he suffered, I found myself feeling really sorry for him. The ending can only be described as 'unforgettable' and 'tragic'. Read it ... it will stay with you.
The Sad Man - P.D. Viner
Police officer Tom Bevans is nicknamed the Sad Man by his colleagues. As a Family Liaison Officer he is always the bearer of bad news - it is his job to tell the friends and family of victims the fate of their loved ones. But Tom is weighted down by crimes both old and new - haunted by the death of his best friend Dani, whose murder has never been solved.
When a rare opportunity emerges for Tom to take the lead in a horrific murder investigation, he is determined to get justice for the victim. A young girl has been found in her own home, cut so badly - and so carefully - that she has bled to death, leaving a deliberate pool of blood in the shape of angel wings....
Police officer Tom Bevans, also known as 'The Sad Man', is a Family Liaison Officer (FLO). He delivers tragic news to families of murder or accident victims. Tom suffers with these people as he knows well enough what it means to lose a loved one. Dani Lancing, a girl he loved all his life has been the victim of a yet unsolved murder. He is still in love with her and continuously hears her voice echoing in his mind. He talks to her as if she is still alive.
After twelve years as FLO, Tom wants to advance in his career. An opportunity arises when a horrible murder takes place and the current DI is out on sick. He is temporarily appointed Acting DI to solve this murder.
The body of a young woman is found in an art gallery. The killer is very meticulous. The victim's blood is artistically displayed in the shape of angel wings. Tom soon realises that this will not be an easy case to solve. Being his first case, will he succeed in putting this killer behind bars?
At one point the story took a turn I found somewhat strange and was about to lose interest, however soon after that an unexpected twist rekindled my full attention and kept me hooked till the end.
This was a really well written book and I was impressed with the author's ability to write a complete and interesting murder account together with background information and believable characters in just over 100 pages. Well Done !!