- Published in 2003 by the Penguin Group (Australia)
- ISBN 978-0-7181-5697-8
- 499 pages
- source: library book
- #3 in the Freda Klein series
Ruth Lennox, beloved mother of three, is found by her daughter in a pool of her own blood. Who would want to murder an ordinary housewife? And why?
Psychotherapist Frieda Klein finds she has an unusually personal connection with DCI Karlsson’s latest case. She is no longer working with him in an official capacity, but when her niece befriends Ruth Lennox’s son, Ted, she finds herself in the awkward position of confidante to both Karlsson and Ted.
When it emerges that Ruth was leading a secret life, her family closes ranks and Karlsson finds he needs Frieda’s help more than ever before.
But Frieda is distracted. Having survived an attack on her life, she is struggling to stay in control and when a patient’s chance remark rings an alarm bell, she finds herself chasing down a path that seems to lead to a serial killer who has long escaped detection. Or is it merely a symptom of her own increasingly fragile mind?
Because, as Frieda knows, every step closer to a killer is one more step into a darkness from which there may be no return . . .
My take
For me this is a series that simply gets better, and if you've enjoyed the first two in the series, you'll love WAITING FOR WEDNESDAY.
For Frieda Klein the demons from her previous case just won't go away. She is still recovering from the injuries she received at the end of TUESDAY'S GONE and she longs for a quiet life. Around her are people who feel guilty about how they have treated her, and they are trying to make amends. She hasn't officially returned to work yet but fate and connections draw her into the Lennox case.
I found this an engrossing read despite the fact that it was incredibly long. Frieda doesn't need official work though to send her chasing threads and strange ideas. Neither will her own sense of compassion allow her to take things quietly when questions are unresolved and others are in need.
My rating: 4.7
I've also reviewed
4.3, BLUE MONDAY
4.5, TUESDAY'S GONE
Planned for 2014: THURSDAY'S CHILDREN
I've still not started this series - there'll be ten (no, I guess, seven?!) volumes out before I know it. I like when bloggers mention a book's length - for me, after cost, that's the next decision - whether I'm OK breaking my thumbs, or need an e-book!
ReplyDeleteKerrie - I like Nicci French's work very much, and it's good to know that this series is continuing to get better.
ReplyDeleteI haven't read any of this series, but it does sound good.
ReplyDeleteHave to agree here, then go further: this is the major series of the decade for me in so many ways. To start with, the reluctance of Frieda to be an investigator is a very attractive stance in throwing the clichés of protagonist off kilter. I suspect it is the Nicci Gerrard half of the team that has the deep grasp of psychology, and casually throws in to one of the series (or maybe the red room?) the notion that several traditional forms of psychology are a disproven field these days, with new approaches that Frieda is not quite embracing replacing them. It means we get a means of detecting as the skill set of the detector is becoming redundant. I very much look forward to the next four.
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