The Paradise Heights Miniature Railway bust-up by Kate Solly

Mother of three young children, Flec Parker, not only needs an outlet where she can meet other adults but she also needs a mystery to solve. The Many Hands Craft Centre, a cooperative where women can meet and craft together, meets some of the first but she has been struggling with the second until she sees new graffiti on some local shops. The challenge is too easily solved leaving Flec unsatisfied, considering if she should investigate how to become a real private detective.  Meanwhile she has forgotten 6-year-old Sam’s class are to dress up as old people and there is a last minute burst of creativity required so Sam and best friend Joseph can comply. They look good, but not as great as Asher, Helen Greythorn’s grandson, a Super-senior, with a sparkly cape and a U3A badge there to disrupt the ageist agenda. Flec’s husband Matthew, who volunteers at the Paradise Heights miniature railway has just the investigative challenge she needs. Supplies have been going missing and the organization is experiencing quite significant losses. The railway is a favourite outing for the family so investigating gets off to a flying start, initially disguised as Flec’s first foray into Parkrun, which just happens to pass near the railway. This is the second in the series featuring Flec Parker and some of the relationships and character building must have been covered in the first, but it does stand alone as a quick entertaining read. As a mother of 6 the author has been able to draw on a wealth of entertaining everyday moments with young children, like having to negotiate a purchase of pegs from a three-year-old while hanging out the washing or buying imaginary cups of coffee with bark chips in the playground. The smooth dialogue and deprecating humour carries the story, touching on mental health issues, disability and women’s poverty without becoming preachy.

Themes: mystery, crime, womens fiction.

Sue Speck