Murderer's Fen is a puzzler from writer Andrew Garve, where all is not what it seems. This includes Garve himself, who is in fact English journalist and crime novelist Paul Winterton (successfully writing as Garve, Paul Somers, and Roger Bax), a founding member of the Crime Writers Association in 1953.
Garve loves a twist ending, and none more so than in Murderer's Fen. Young Alan Hunt has planned an assured future - never mind he is currently caretaker of a caravan park bordering a swampy peatland outside of Cambridgeshire. He is engaged to Susan, a 22 year old with nondescript hair, a very plain face, and almost no figure. Her main attraction for Alan are her parents, wealthy on both sides. He has worked hard to feign devotion and commitment, and this short cut to easy wealth is paying off. He can hardly contain his excitement.
We have no delusions about Alan - totally unscrupulous with an inability to feel concern for anyone - he is living disproof that there is some good in everyone. Hunt is bad right through.
While on a quick trip to a Swiss resort, he can't help but seduce an innocent young girl away from her parents for a night of passion. Chestnut-haired Gwenda is strikingly beautiful. Giving her a false address, he claims they will meet back in England. He never thought he would after returning to his his fiancé Susan, but here is Gwenda shortly after at the door of his camper with shocking news - she has tracked him down, she has left her parents, and she is pregnant. Quickly, a plan is formed - the swampy fen is a perfect place to hide a body.
We would suspect nothing less from Alan.
Shortly thereafter, Chief Inspector Nield and Sergeant Dyson begin an investigation into the disappearance of a woman, her parents are frantic. An anonymous witness states they saw Alan walk into the fen with a woman, but he came out alone. A search proves nothing. Alan asserts she was there, but he convinced her to return to her parents - his car milage backs that up, and a witness places him near their house. Despite best efforts, all evidence shows Alan innocent of wrongdoing, so he therefore must be exonerated.
You may think I have said too much, but this is the tip of a clever mystery. If Alan killed her, how could he prove a strong alibi? If she simply ran away - where is she?
The answer is ingenious, and despite the vague similarities to A Place In The Sun or The Talented Mr. Ripley, Garve has created a twisted and captivating novel. I certainly didn't see the finale coming. Another fun read from Andrew Garve, with my Pan paperback (pictured) featuring great artwork by Pat Owen.
My other reviews for Andrew Garve thrillers:
1966 / Paperback / 157 pages
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