My Review of In Two Minds (The Teifi Valley Coroner) by Alis Hawkins

I gave In Two Minds 5* out of 5*

In Two Minds (The Teifi Valley Coroner)

Book Description:
Harry Probert-Lloyd, a young barrister forced home from London by encroaching blindness, has begun work as the acting coroner of Teifi Valley with solicitor's clerk John Davies as his assistant.

When a faceless body is found on an isolated beach, Harry must lead the inquest. But his dogged pursuit of the truth begins to ruffle feathers. Especially when he decided to work alongside a local doctor with a dubious reputation and experimental theories considered radical and dangerous. Refusing to accept easy answers might not only jeopardise Harry's chance to be elected coroner permanently but could, it seems implicate his own family in a crime.

My Review:
Remembering the problems I had with the first book I read of this author's (Revealed here: here to those who need to be warned), I only settled down to read In Two Minds after I'd hidden the car in a nearby drive, drawn the curtains, switched off the mobile and made a pile of sandwiches which could last the day.

I'll tell you why: similar to that book, None so Blind, this story is unputdownable (yes, I know, made up word), because Alis Hawkins draws the reader immediately into the world of West Wales in the 1800s and the lives of  the characters: protagonist, Harry Probert-Lloyd, acting coroner of Tefi Valley and future heir of the Glanteifi Estate, and John Davies, a young man who has battled his way from a poor background and is both Harry's friend and clerk. And who, we begin to realise, not only protects Harry physically when in danger through his poor eyesight, but is also quite an astute investigator into the crime that is at the subject of the inquest.

I must, as always, point out here, that I never give spoilers in my reviews; I prefer to say what I think are the strong points of the stories. But neither do I shy away from those aspects that didn't work for me because I know that my viewpoint is, as with everyone's, subjective and every reader can judge for themselves. Yet again, as with the first book, there was nothing that jarred; nothing that took me out of that well-used phrase, " the suspension of disbelief".

The main plot, the identity of the faceless body on the isolated beach and how it came to be there, is diverse and absorbing, and is woven around subplots that reveal the confines of the society at the time and the machinations of some of the minor characters.  And, as before, it is manifestly clear that the author has painstakingly researched the era and society that is the background for this book.

Told through the first person point of view of each of the main two characters  (my most favourite of all the ways narrative can be related), the dialogue is excellent and easily identifiable to each of them. I especially loved the internal dialogue, their thoughts, which gives an understanding of their personalities, the dilemmas they are in and the misunderstandings between them.

A great sense of place is depicted through the descriptions of the Welsh countryside, the grounds of the Glanteifi Estate, the conditions of the houses of the poor in the society,  the roads and streets of the towns around. And again, as before in my previous review of the first book, I have to mention the wonderful portrayal of the weather that creates such an atmosphere for some of the scenes.

All in all an excellent read and I have no hesitation  in recommending In Two Minds to readers who enjoy historical fiction, mystery and crime fiction

About the Author:

Alis Hawkins grew up on a dairy farm in Cardiganshire. Her inner introvert thought it would be a good idea to become a shepherd and, frankly, if she had, she might have been published sooner.

However, three years reading English at Corpus Christi College, Oxford revealed an extrovert streak and a social conscience which saw her train as a Speech and Language Therapist. She has spent the subsequent three decades variously bringing up two sons, working with children and young people on the autism spectrum and writing fiction, non-fiction and plays. She writes the kind of books she likes to read: character-driven historical crime and mystery fiction with what might be called literary production values.

As a historical writer, Alis takes her research very seriously which sometimes has unexpected consequences. Research into the techniques of medieval charcoal burning led to a fascination with the craft and she and her partner are now regular members of the team that keeps the earth burn charcoal-producing technique alive in the Forest of Dean.

You can find more on Alis and her writing on her website: www. AlisHawkins.co.uk, on Facebook - Alis Hawkins Author - and on Twitter: @Alis_Hawkins