MURDER OF A BEEKEEPER by P F Ford

2.5* Sadly, nowhere near as good as the series books Norman Norman has been in before.

This free-to-all ARC of the first book in a new series feels very forced. We're told things, not shown. Fay doesn't feel like her own woman - she's a prop and a sort of PA to her partner/hubby Norman, who's lost the Norman wisdoms - no pun intended - of previous books. Sadly, she feels like a well-trained four-legged friend. Things are repetitive. Gestures are repetitive. The tale is boring, but does have some sleuthing, though you have to suspend disbelief that a vicar's wife would let newcomers to the village - Norman and Fay - into a deceased's house, so they can look for evidence. Norman and Fay's partnership is boring and docile. They don't talk much and when they do, she feels like the lesser party, like the less important one, an afterthought, almost. 

The actual death takes a back seat to the going ons and gossip and WI meetings in the village. The herbalist was the only interesting character. The DI - Lewellyn, maybe - was prejudiced and not believable as a SIO, sleepy Welsh village or not. If this were a bought book, I'd have returned it for a refund.

ARC courtesy of NetGalley and Joffe Books for my reading pleasure. 

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