This excerpt is from the book entitled The Goat Parva Murders an English Murder Mystery book set in the countryside, starring two policemen who have been working together for a few years and get along really well. There’s lots of dialogue and banter with some humour thrown in amongst the murders and suspects.
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Knowles hoped that his Land Rover would look incongruous in the well ordered surroundings of Langstroth House. The lawns were mown into a chess board pattern and the topiary was immaculate. Even the sundial in the turning circle by the front door was polished to perfection.
Knowles tucked his shirt into his trousers and smoothed down his crumpled suit.
“How’s the diet working, sir?” asked Barnes.
“I am just starting out so it’s not had time to register with the fatty parts of my body.”
Knowles pointed to the sundial.
“That’s quite a sober decoration for the front of a house – normally it’s either two nymphs copulating or three of them playing with a large stick.”
“Why is it important to know the time before you enter the house?” wondered Barnes.
“It’s more likely for when you leave – time passes slowly in houses such as this and it’s necessary to check the time when you come out.”
“So we’re just interested in talking to Claude Avon?”
“Yes, but at least one of his parents will want to be with him.”
Knowles pulled the rope that rang the bell in the servants’ quarters.
After a minute the large wooden door lurched open and the butler stood there with a saturnine countenance – the result of a decade’s practice.
“Gentlemen, how can I help you?”
“I am Detective Inspector Knowles and this is Detective Sergeant Barnes – we’d like to speak to Claude Avon if we may.”
“Do you have an appointment?”
“Do we need one,” said Knowles sarcastically, “no! I don’t think the police need to make appointments to see people who will be able to help them with their inquiries into a murder. Fetch him please.”
“Please wait in the atrium here if you will.” As he spoke the Butler gestured to the area just inside the door.
Julian Worker Fiction Writing 