Thirty years later, Jonathan Hughes, a research fellow in European anthropology at London University, writes a book entitled Disordered Minds in which he examines the case. He feels that Howard Stamp, the grandson who was convicted of killing his grandmother, was innocent. Stamp died in 1973 in prison by his own hand so there is no chance of freeing an innocent man but Jonathan thinks his name should be vindicated. George (Georgianna) Gardener, the local councilor in Bournemouth where the crime took place, has read Jonathan’s book, and tends to agree with him. She has done some independent work and thinks it would benefit both parties if they pooled their knowledge.

George arranges a meeting with Jonathan at the Crown and Feathers, a local pub. Jonathan carries a huge chip on his shoulder because he is black and of uncertain parentage. When he arrives at the pub, George, whom he assumes to be a man, has not yet arrived. Roy Tenant, the pub owner, takes an instant dislike to Jonathan, and things go downhill rapidly. Jonathan leaves, but eventually George catches up with him, and convinces him that her interest in the case is genuine. She is not out to steal his glory, but because of her local knowledge may be able to help him.

Minette Walters is the consummate storyteller. In Disordered Minds she has employed a number of seldom used techniques for relating her tale. Ordinarily writers use either first person singular or third person to tell their story. Walters has been able to incorporate a bit of both through the use of emails, letters, newspaper articles, police incident reports and private investigators reports. These documents, inserted in the text at strategic points, allow the author to present first hand accounts from different people. This provides a welcome variety to the presentation as well as lending an air of authenticity. She avoids giving too much away with the suggestion that some characters may be lying.

Though not a short novel, the 544 page format provides ample time for Walters to carefully develop each of her characters. They are a realistic bunch, and not all of them are nice people. Further, it is not immediately obvious who is nice and who is not. The author relies on the reader’s intelligence to ascertain the true personality of each of her characters. As more information is revealed about the principal players, feelings toward these characters change. And, of course, as mentioned above, several of the principal characters are habitual liars.

One of the major themes of the book is child abuse and the ramifications it produces for the victim in later life. This subject has been a hot topic among fiction writers of late and has been a bit overdone. Walters’ novel is not preachy, and the theme, while important, is not the only social issue that she addresses. Racial prejudice, alienation, and the difficulties of the mentally impaired play a significant part in the story. What is outstanding about this novel is that the social issues do not override the mystery. The fact that the mystery is over thirty years old and several of the principal players, who could have contributed information pertinent to its solution, are dead increases the impact of the ending.

The aptly named Disordered Minds is a worthy contribution to the mystery genre.

--Andy Plonka