I was delighted to receive a signed copy of the paperback version of this book.
Donna Morfett’s debut, The Disappearance of Peter Markham is a fast-paced roller coaster of a novel. This procedural, starring new lead detective, DI Cora Snitton takes us deep into an authentic police investigation. The author has obviously done a lot of research. She also knows her forensics, as we are given a detailed insight into how these things are done in a modern day murder inquiry. There is no hanging around here. The reader is thrust into the dynamics from page one and the shocks continue to arrive until the final chapter. I won’t go into detail, as I don’t want to ruin the story with spoilers. I’ll just say, you might get more than a few surprises. This isn’t a book you read in short one or two chapter sessions. Get ready to lose most of the day when you pick it up. One piece of advice: don’t read it just before dinner. You might find you’re not hungry all of a sudden.
I liked the characters, (Peter aside,) from the off and I’m sure they’ll grow on me even more as the series progresses. As for the victim himself, the reader may start out feeling some sympathy towards him, but that feeling evaporates as we discover his true personality.
Definitely not for the fainthearted, the tension is sustained throughout, but this grisly murder mystery has flashes of genuine humour woven into the narrative which really brings the lead character, Cora, to life.
Written with the skills of a seasoned pro. You wouldn’t know this was a debut unless you were told. Excellent work. I’m looking forward to the next one. Well done Ms Morfett.
