Confronting the past can be deadly.
As Christmas approaches, murder is the last thing on Kent Fisher's mind.
When contractors employed by local entrepreneur Stephen Fox discover the remains of a woman on the site of Kent’s original animal sanctuary, old family secrets come to light, threatening those closest to him.
Fox believes it’s his missing wife. Despite intense pressure and a lucrative fee, Kent still refuses to investigate, having promised not to take on more cases. But when the police launch a murder inquiry, can he keep his promise? Or will he investigate?
If he does, he risks interfering with a criminal investigation and losing the woman he loves.
If he doesn’t, the wrong person could be accused of murder.
It's my pleasure to be hosting the blog tour for No Easy Answers today. Many thanks to Robert Crouch for inviting me and for sending me an advance digital copy of the novel.
No Easy Answers is the ninth book in the Kent Fisher series and what a pleasure it has been following these characters through their various ups and downs. It's for this reason that I recommend reading the series in order if possible, although it can be enjoyed as a stand-alone too.
In the past I've described this series as cosy crime but while it's still not at the dark and gritty end of crime fiction, it has taken on a noticeably darker tone as the series has progressed. Robert Crouch has really put his protagonist through the mill; he has suffered some significant losses and real upheaval in his personal life. No Easy Answers takes place shortly after the traumatic events in No Escape and I would strongly advise you to read at least that book prior to this one, if you can. Kent is a different man here, his marriage woes dog him throughout and in some respects become the main plot, with the investigation into a mysterious murder almost taking less of a precedence. His understandable preoccupation with his personal life and his fear of upsetting his wife, Gemma still further, results in him being reluctant to look into a missing woman case. It's only when an unidentified body is discovered at the site of his old animal sanctuary that he really starts to investigate. Even then, there's a sense that the joy of crime solving has dissipated and he is more melancholic and introspective than in the past.
I've never made a secret of my reservations about Gemma but grew to respect and sympathise with her a little more in No Escape. My feelings towards her were arguably more torn than ever during the course of this book; she really is a flawed, complicated woman. It's fair to say, however, that she isn't the only character who causes more worries for poor Kent. Thank goodness he has the always reliable Columbo, his loyal, cheeky Westie on hand to provide a listening ear (and beg for snacks!) The end of this particular instalment leaves a few questions unanswered about those close to him, so I'm intrigued to discover what happens next. I'm hoping that he isn't made to suffer much longer and achieves some sort of resolution – both for his sake and ours!
The investigation into the murder becomes personal for him for a number of reasons beyond the location of the victim's body. There are some surprising and distressing revelations which are another reason why I'd hesitate calling this cosy crime. Nothing is described graphically and most of the crimes occur off the page but there can be no disguising the heinous nature of what took place in the past, especially. My suspicions about the eventual culprit were proven correct thanks to the gradual nudges that Robert Crouch scatters throughout the plot. The tense conclusion and the explanation behind the crimes wrapped this case up satisfactorily while the ending ensured I'm eagerly anticipating what lies in store for Kent, Columbo and friends in the next book. Change seems to be in the air!
No Easy Answers is a well-structured mystery with excellent characterisation and a compellingly twisty plot. I thoroughly recommend it.
Follow the blog tour, details are below.
Robert wanted to bring something fresh and original to the murder mystery novel.
He drew on his own extensive experience to create environmental health officer Kent Fisher, a
different kind of sleuth to appeal to today’s readers. While neither a police officer nor a private
detective, Kent has the enforcement skills, contacts and determination needed to tackle the most complex murders.
While Robert taps into his early experiences of injustice to explore the motivations that drive people to kill, he tempers this with irreverent humour and a hint of romance. A love of wildlife, nature and the environment help add a contemporary slant to the stories.
When not writing, Robert can be found walking among the gentle hills and the coast of the South Downs with his wife. Armed with a camera, or two, he likes to photograph the local wildlife and seek out settings for the next novel.
You can find out more about at his website, robertcrouch.co.uk, where you can also join his Readers Group for more news, insights and giveaways, including a free short story.
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