I read this book as an advance reading copy provided by Edelweiss, and I have submitted my comments to the publisher via that web site. This book is an electronic reissue of an original work written in the 1990s.

At one point in this book a character, an English tutor, admonishes his young charge to "remember to write in full sentences, not a series of fragments," which sounds like lush irony coming from this author. Her writing is evocative, but would it kill her to use a subject and verb instead of stringing numerous participle phrases together?

As to plot, it is slight but serviceable. Recommended for libraries with large mystery collections, especially those who have other books in the Helen West series. ( )

Helen West, Crown Prosecutor, and Geoffrey Bailey, police inspector, have moved in together into a new house in the estate that is the commuter village of Branston. Neither of them like their rented accommodation, a stylistically modern house, and it adds to the stresses of them working out their relationship. They never seem to have any time to talk about their feelings either.
Helen is working through the local Crown Prosecutor's office, very different to her city base in London, and Geoffrey is finding his work is far from ideal. Helen is aware that she is making major career sacrifices and Geoffrey seems determined to exclude her from his new life. He also has a new sergeant, female, who is career driven, and hard for Geoffrey to relate to.

The murder investigation provoked by the discovery of the body of the wife of the estate's creator brings both Helen and Bailey into close contact with the locals, many of whom are commuting to work in London, as well as establishing a social pecking order based on their economic status and the quality of their housing. Most have little time to devote to taking notice of what is happening around them.

Apart from the issues of the West/Bailey household, the author uses the novel to explore what is happening in these modern "yuppy" communities, where faux villages give London commuters the impression that they are living in the country. Her analysis of the two teenagers who feature centrally in the novel is stunning.

Many refer to the work of Frances Fyfield as "literary" at the same time as being crime fiction. The first in this series A QUESTION OF GUILT was an Edgar Award Nominee for Best Novel in 1990.

Though I enjoyed the story, I didn't find the narration of Rula Lenska easy to listen to, although she did much to embellish her character portrayal. The voice that holds TRIAL BY FIRE together is that of Helen West but the narrator didn't seem to capture that as well as I would have liked.

Nevertheless, well worth reading. My rating: 4.3

Trial by Fire was a major TV film and starred Juliet Stevenson ( )

Well-written mystery; the second from Frances Fyfield, continuing the story of Crown Prosecutor Helen West and Detective Chief Inspector Geoffrey Bailey. They have moved in together, but away from London, to the village of Branston. Neither is happy in this new location, but they haven't spoken of it to the other. They need to work on their communication!! Which they will learn more harshly when a naked body of a woman is found buried in the woods. The prime suspect is the lover of the only friend Helen has made since their move. The friend blames Helen for betraying their friendship. Helen does not believe the suspect guilty, but feels she cannot convince Geoffrey to look more deeply. He is probing further, but quietly. The mystery is satisfying, and the author offers insights in human relationships before a somewhat ambiguous ending. ( )