Private View

Chatfield. The murder of a local art gallery owner - the flamboyantly camp Minim Minikin - after a private view one night in February 1986 and the theft of the painting on display had DCI Sheldon Hunter stumped. After months of enquiry, the investigation turned up nothing. No suspects, no murder weapon, no painting and, indeed no artist. The identity of the painter, Fayne, whose work disappeared that fateful night was as much a mystery to the police as to the art world at large. Reluctantly, with no leads to pursue, the case is filed - unsolved. Four years later, Hunter receives a series of anonymous letters and phonecalls alleging the involvement of a family in the picturesque town of Rush Deeping in the death. His interest piqued, he decides to take a look. Apart from being pillars of the community and monstrously self-regarding, the Saddlers are unremarkable...but as Hunter digs around he discovers that their son, Ian, is missing and his mystery caller claims it has something to do with the artist Fayne. Can Hunter get to the truth before another death?
An enthralling mystery set against the backdrop of an affluent market town, Private View is the latest in the popular series featuring DCI Sheldon Hunter and his team.