The Women on Retford Drive by Alretha Thomas – a Review

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Description:
Julia Pritchard, an aging sitcom star making a comeback, and her
stepdaughter, Blythe Pritchard, an aspiring attorney,
form a pact to start fresh and pursue their dreams. But their plans go
awry when Keith Pritchard, Julia’s soon-to-be ex-husband
and Blythe’s father, goes missing and is presumed dead, the day they
plan to move out of his mansion.

The women are filled with bittersweet emotions when they consider the idea
that Keith, a tycoon and functional alcoholic, could be
out of their lives for good. Moreover, they fear the police will name them
as persons of interest because of the abuse they suffered
at Keith’s hands. Julia believes Keith hasn’t met with foul play but
orchestrated his own disappearance, hoping the women will be blamed.
However, Blythe believes her father is dead. When the police reveal a
damning piece of evidence, which could result in one of them being
charged with Keith’s possible murder, they join forces to find out what
happened to him. Did one of the women go off script and kill Keith,
or is another agenda at play, unbeknownst to the women and the police,
that’s far more sinister?

Review:

The Women on Retford Drive begins with Julia Pritchard, and her stepdaughter, Blythe, finalizing their move into their own apartment, and leaving the home they’ve shared with Keith Pritchard for years.  They are both ready to move on with their lives, away from an abusive husband and father, until they receive a phone call from Keith’s assistant that he’s missed his flight and no one has heard from him.  Neither of them thinks much of it.  They talk to Martha, the housekeeper, who hasn’t seen Keith since yesterday evening, but things take a sinister turn when Martha discovers a bloody shirt of Keith’s between the washer and dryer.  As they all try to decipher what’s happened, things start to happen quickly.  The police are called and suspicions are raised.  What follows is a series of twists, turns and revelations that will leave you guessing until the very end………….

The Women on Retford Drive is a great start to Alretha Thomas’ new series, Dancing Hills Mysteries.  Told from several first person POVs, we are privy to the character’s thoughts and feelings.  Julia Pritchard was an interesting character.  She was a very protective step-mother, a very loyal friend and by all accounts, a loving and supportive wife.  She and Blythe were extremely close, but that didn’t stop either of them from suspecting (even just a little) each other.  Blythe was a nicely written character as well.  Thomas did a great job of writing about her insecurities, as well as her determination to see things through.

The secondary characters were well written as well.  We get to know just enough of them to make it interesting, and to also suspect them as you read along.  I would know, without a doubt, who the culprit was, until I read the next chapter.  Then, I knew again, and again……………  LOL!  I did end up figuring it out before the reveal, but not until I’d suspected basically everyone, which for me, is a good thing.  It means the author is doing her job.  I’m looking forward to getting more glimpses into the workings of Dancing Hills.  I’m guessing the detectives we meet in this installment will continue to appear, and I can’t wait to get to know more about them as well.  Talk about an odd couple!  But, I love them together.  The Women on Retford Drive is ultimately a story of self-discovery and proof that blood does not make you family.  I can’t wait for the next installment.  If you’re a fan of mysteries, with a little romance mixed in, you’ll definitely not go wrong with this one.  Well done, Alretha Thomas!  Very well done!

Reviewed by Vickie

Copy supplied for review