I’ve only just managed to squeeze in my e-book of the month. My kindle (as usual) went AWOL and I then forgot what a short month February is. However, I just managed to get my reading done in time. I reviewed the first book by Eva Hudson last year. The Loyal Servant was set in the corridors of Whitehall and featured the hapless Caroline trying to uncover the truth about a Minister’s death. My review mentioned that my favourite character was Caroline’s mother Jean Henderson, and I was pleased to see that she had become the main protagonist in The Senior Moment.
Jean is visiting her son Simon in New York, who is awaiting the imminent arrival of a new baby with his wife Cindy. But the moment she arrives, she is witness to a violent robbery in a grocery store and catches a glimpse of the gunman’s face. Her son is missing and the only clue in his empty apartment is a friend who turns up to say that they own $100,000 to a loan shark. As Jean tries to raise the money to bail-out her son, she is being hunted by the grocery store killer, who wants to eliminate her as a witness.
Despite the change of location, the book is written very much in the style of The Loyal Servant. Jean is the same doughty character that we saw in book 1, determined to rescue her son although frightened that she has found herself within the gunman’s sights. The scenes containing Jean are the ones with the most tension. A friend and I have in the past lamented the lack of interesting older women characters in fiction, particularly given that many women read crime books and thrillers. Jean fills some of that gap with her gung-ho attitude and astute actions although the character is written with subtlety and with a bit of romance thrown in.
I also enjoyed the police scenes as Luisa, suffering at the hands of a male dominated precinct, attempts to unpick the case in the midst of departmental disinterest. The character develops throughout the book and towards the end you’re rooting for both Jean and Luisa for different reasons.
It was a bold move for the author to move this second book from London to New York but I was surprised at how well it worked. I’m looking forward to book 3.
I received a copy of the book from the author whose website is here.
Sarah Ward & Rhiannon Ward 
Sarah – I absolutely must read these novels. It sounds as though this series is shaping up very nicely. I agree with you that it’s difficult to move the setting of a series from its ‘usual’ place to another, but it’s good to hear it worked in this case.
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Yes it’s funny when series move around isn’t it? I’ve got a copy of the 1st Elizabeth Hand book which is set in Maine and I see the 2nd is in Iceland.
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Thanks Sarah- I have not come across these at all so will add to the (ever expanding) wishlist as I am always keen to discover new British authors.
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Thanks Raven – look forward to the review. I’m always looking for new British authors too.
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You certainly roped me in with this review. The book could be interesting from my point of view as an older woman, although I suspect this protagonist is much braver than I. I am on the wimpy side. I checked out your review for the first book and will start there. I can easily get both on my Kindle soon.
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Thanks Tracy. Yes the older woman protagonist is an attraction of this book and it’s nice that there is a bit of romance in there too for her.
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Sounds good to me. Always eager to read mysteries featuring women protagonists, and older women at that, a rare bird indeed. Will look for this one at the library.
I try to go out of my city virtually to broaden my horizons, but I’ll gladly try this one.
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Thanks Kathy. I thought of you when I was reading it as it’s based in your city. It would be interesting to hear what a native NYer thought of it.
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I like the older women figures – Miss Marple (obviously!), Miss Silver, and one I read a long time ago, Mrs Pollifax, so I’m keen to read this one. A new author to me, too – always nice to add another to the TBR.
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Yes I liked the older woman protagonist . More Miss Silver than Miss Marple I think.
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This does sound good. YOu are far too good at picking great books to review and pulling us all in!
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Sorry Moira! If it’s any consolation your blog does the same to me.
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Can’t find this here, isn’t at the library. Will have to wait to find it at Amazon, Abe Books or at the library.
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