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Past Reckoning (Inspector Finch / Inspector Rudd, Bk 16)
Past Reckoning - Inspector Finch / Inspector Rudd, Bk 16 Author:June Thomson Detective Chief Inspector Jack Rudd of the Chelmsford police is surprised to find that Nina Gifford, a major player in one of his past murder cases (Portrait of Lilith, 1983), who's lived away from the area for years, is a potential witness in a local killing. — The victim is Imogen Kershaw, elderly sister of the late, little-known novelist W... more »alter Kershaw, found bludgeoned to death in the tiny museum she operated in his memory. Her body was discovered by neighbor Ambrose Scott, a friend of Waiter's since their Cambridge days. Nina had visited the museum the previous day, killing time on a nostalgic visit to the district, and heard Imogen and Scott arguing. She also met Lucy Blake there -- a young woman fulsomely praising Kershaw's work -- to Imogen's delight and Nina's skepticism.
Another visitor was wealthy art collector Maurice Chadwick, who showed much interest in a drawing Nina thought to be a Samuel Palmer. Now, the drawing and a few other objects are missing in what appears to be a break-in and robbery. Meanwhile, Scott confesses he'd argued with Imogen over her plan to have Kershaw's best work republished -- even at her own expense -- a source of possible friction with Clive Osborne as well. Clive, another of Waiter's longtime friends, also managed Imogen's business affairs.
Rudd and sturdy Sergeant Boyce spend a lot of time and energy interviewing possible suspects, but get nowhere until Rudd sees the crack in an impregnable alibi.
Main character is Inspector Jack Finch in UK editions; Inspector Jack Rudd in US editions.« less