Exclusive interview with author Elizabeth Corley and a review of her mystery novel about a vendetta against three women
Rating: Three Stars
By Gabriel Pantera
“I was listening to a performance of Verdi’s Requiem in an old, beautiful cathedral in England when I looked at the soprano on stage and thought ‘What if someone was trying to kill her right now,” says Requiem Mass author Elizabeth Corley. “From that moment I had to write the book to find out whether they would and why she was a target.”
Deborah Fearnside, a wife and mother, is missing. The police don’t think much of it. Women leave their marriages all the time. Four weeks later, DCI Andrew Fenwick, back from leave, finds clues the missing woman was kidnapped. Twenty years ago, four girlfriends at school went out together and one fell to her death. Now someone is stalking them. Can Fenwick find the killer before they all wind up dead?
Requiem Mass will delight those who like gritty mysteries. The first novel for Corley, she really delivers. The pace of the novel is well defined and as you read you will be guessing who did it. Fenwick is a character you understand. His motives for how and what he does as a detective are clear. If you like the Inspector Morse mysteries by Colin Dexter you will enjoy this novel. The tension is palpable. However, at times the plot is disturbing.
“In the writing of the book, I was surprised at how quickly the central characters took shape and became real individuals to me, with their own, sometimes unpredictable, characters,” says Corley. “They have stayed with me since, which is why I have to keep on writing books in the series. The second aspect was after I finished the book, I had no idea how it would be received by my colleagues at work, particularly my boss at the time. Would she think I wasn’t serious about my career? Would there be a problem because of the violent topic of the book. To my surprise and relief, everyone was really supportive.”
Corley says other crime writers are supportive, too. “They are a really nice bunch. You couldn’t ask for more supportive or friendly people, who want you to succeed. Their encouragement has been a source of inspiration.”
“Even though I grew up in Sussex and know it well, I also visited many of the scenes in the book to keep them fresh and vivid,” says Corley, who did extensive research, particularly on the forensic details and autopsy. “I view documents all over when I am researching my books, online and also in libraries. I tend to use physical books for topics where I don’t want my name associated with them in a search engine. I had to work out how the murderer could kill somebody silently.”
Corley is currently working on the next two books in the Fenwick series. She says she has ideas at different stages of development for six novels in the series. At this time the series hasn’t been optioned for TV or film. “My agent has said she would look seriously when I have seven ready in the series,” says Corley. “So I’m working on it.”
In her day job, Corley writes articles about global financial markets and saving for retirement income.
She currently lives in London and holidays in France. Corley was born in Luton, England and moved as a young child to Sussex where she grew up.
Requiem Mass: A Detective Chief Inspector Andrew Fenwick Mystery by Elizabeth Corley (Author). Hardback, Pages 448, Publisher Minotaur Books (May 21, 2013), Language English ISBN: 9781250028068 $25.99.
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