August 1935 and Lord Edward Corinth is motoring to the home of the Duke of Mersham, his brother. He is to be at a weekend dinner party along with some very influential and wealthy people, to possibly discuss politics in Europe. When he meets up with Verity Browne, journalist and committed Communist Party member at the same party, he realises that the weekend is not going to be dull. When a guest, General Sir Alistair Craig VC, swallows poison with the Duke’s poison, Lord Edward and Verity find themselves in agreement - it was murder and they’ve got to get to the bottom of it!
As they delve deeper into the mystery, they realise that there is more at stake than the Duke of Mersham’s reputation as a host. Everyone has a reason to want Sir Alistair dead ... Including the Duke himself. The politics of an Anglo-German accord, especially with the Nazi Party in ascendance, is a major factor and both Edward and Verity have differing motives to get to the bottom of the crime. What started as a dinner party murder turns into an unwinding of vicious and underhand deals, double-deals and brutal politics. Politics which lead to further deaths ...
First in a fine series, Sweet Poison is a rare combination of whodunnit and political intrigue. Roberts has given us two great characters in Lord Edward and Verity; both differing in experience and temperament yet, as in reality, irresistibly drawn to each other even if they are from such differing political standpoints. Worthy of reading, and re-reading, this is a great novel of murder and mystery.
Sweet Poison by David Roberts
Published by Constable & Robinson, 2001
ISBN: 1-8411-9402-6
Verdict: A winning combination of murder,
mystery and mayhem with two opposites that
attract!
