Our Lady Of Pain

Our Lady of Pain is the second book in the Mark Tartaglia series by British author, Elena Forbes. When a naked body is found in the snow in Holland Park, posed in prayer, a Swinburne poem stuffed in her mouth, DI Mark Tartaglia and his Barnes Murder Squad investigate. On closer examination it transpires that the victim, an attractive, wealthy and well-liked art dealer, had secrets of which even her family and closest friends were unaware. Then a journalist claims a link to a year-old cold case, complicating the investigation even further. In this instalment, Forbes expands on her two main characters, Tartaglia and DS Sam Donovan, both of whom are appealing, in spite of, or perhaps because of, their flaws. The story features S&M, more than one stalker, and a bit of psychological profiling. This page-turner has a clever plot with a red herring or two, a heart-stopping climax and enough twists that the author should worry about being sued for whiplash injury. A brilliant read.