The Remorseful Day

Colin Dexter

This is the first Inspector Morse novel I have read and the last one Colin Dexter plans to write. I'm glad I did not know that going into this book (OK, so I didn't read the cover fully - I read it with a group and went along with their choice) because I would have read it with a different bias.

Inspector Morse has, against his will, been pulled in to a case that is a year old. Chief Superintendant Strange believes there is some new evidence about to surface. When Yvonne Harrison was first found murdered, Morse had stayed out of the case, citing the case he and Lewis had currently had. As they delve deeper into this case, Lewis begins to wonder if there is more than Morse has said. Perhaps Morse knew this woman on more than a professional level?

Yvonne Harrison was found dead in her country home, naked and handcuffed. Her husband, daughter, and son had all been in London at the time the murder was supposed to have occurred. A burglar appeared to have come into the house through a broken window. Yet little was taken. Now, a year later, a burgler was getting out of jail on parole on a different crime. Strange felt this man knew something about the Harrison case as well.

Morse was able to stay out of the investigation until two more people were found dead after the burglar left jail. Then he and Lewis started their rounds, Lewis always seemingly one step behind Morse. To complicate matters, Morse is dealing with his diabetes worsening. His new doctor at the clinic is the Harrison daughter.

Although this is the last Morse novel, it stands well on its own. I'm sure the characters of Morse, Strange, and Lewis have been fully developed over the series, yet enough explanation is given here that I did not feel like I was stepping into territory where everyone knew what was happening except me. Instead, each character was introduced and explained well. I was quickly comfortable with most of them. The mystery is excellent. It has twists to the right that end up to the left. There are secrets to be revealed even after the murderer is discovered. If you haven't read this yet, you will be glad when you do.

The Last Bus to Woodstock
Last Seen Wearing
The Silent World of Nicholas Quinn
Service of All the Dead
The Dead of Jericho
The Riddle of the Third Mile
The Secret of Annexe 3
The Wench is Dead
The Jewel that Was Ours
The Way Through the Woods
The Daughters of Cain
Death is Now My Neighbor
The Remorseful Day

You might also like:

The Falls by Ian Rankin