Book Review: A Deadly Walk In Devon by Nicholas George

The disparate group of American tourists who make up the Wanderers walking tour through Devon have more in common than you might think.  Rick “Chase” Chasen is a recently retired detective from San Diego. He’s happy to be in the company of his old friend, Anglophile Billie Mondreau: she’s an inveterate knitter and a wise old soul. Chase is still coming to grips with the death of his longtime partner, Doug. Although it’s been a year, hearts heal at their own pace. 

Sally Anders is the walk-leader of the Wanderers—their mother hen. They say a mother is only as happy as her unhappiest child. That being true, Sally is not a happy camper since one of the group, Ronald Gretz, is a miserable so and so. Ronald is the quintessential ugly American, complaining vociferously about anything and everything—the food, the accommodation, the length of the hikes, and his trophy wife’s annoying persistence in making him take his pills. 

Ronald’s attitude is a big contrast to the other Wanderers. Walking and enjoying historical landmarks—that’s the way, and the why, of joining the Wanderers. Chase is immediately absorbed into the rhythm of vigorous walking.

Even with the trail’s uphill grade, it didn’t take long for familiar walking motions—the rhythmic swinging of my arms, the steady forward propulsion of my legs, the measured breathing—to work their magic. Tension began to flow from my shoulders, legs, and neck. Each intake of fresh, clean air was followed by an expulsion of the stale accumulated chemical soup of the civilized world.

Chase thinks to himself, “This was how to get in a positive frame of mind.”

When Ronald learns that Chase is a retired detective, he begs him to protect him. Ronald has been receiving threats to his life—alarming “texts and emails signed “An Avenger.” Ronald doesn’t know the identity of this Avenger.  Disturbingly, even with Chase keeping a close eye on Ronald, repeated “accidents” haunt Ronald, so many that retired detective Chase is forced to take him seriously. 

It turns out that Ronald Gretz was right about the threats against him and dangers to his life. The group is traversing a wet and rocky coastal path: the day is foggy and windy. Chase tells Billie he’s worried about Gretz: “I don’t have a good feeling about this.” Ronald won’t wear the proper footwear, he’s not in the best of health, and frankly, he’s either accident prone or he really does have enemies. Later that afternoon, Chase asks Billie to peer over the side of a cliff they’ve just crossed.

There was no mistaking what I was seeing—a body clad in checked trousers and a pale-yellow polo shirt. It was facedown, and waves were lapping at his head.

 

It was definitely Gretz. And there was no way he could be alive.

The pair hurry back to the Valley of the Rocks to inform Sally of Ronald’s death. 

A Deadly Walk in Devon is an homage to traditional closed circle English mysteries. Billie’s conversation with Chase underlines the similarities.

Billie finished off her scone. “There’s one thing about murder I’ve learned from reading murder mysteries: it must be proven. And how is anyone going to do that? For all we know, Gretz was completely alone on the path when he . . . fell.”

 

“He wasn’t alone,” Phaedra said. “His wife was with him.”

 

Brett turned on her. “Are you accusing Summer of murder?”

 

“Let’s not get ahead of ourselves,” I cautioned. “No crime has been suggested yet.”

And so, it begins. It emerges, through the days of investigating and interrogating, that everyone in the walking party had a connection (usually unhappy) with the late, unlamented Ronald Gretz. That’s a marked similarity to Agatha Christie’s modus operandi. 

The local constabulary tasked with investigating Ronald’s possible murder reach out for help, saying “a chief inspector from the CID will be coming in from Exeter.” It’s fascinating to contrast and compare Chase’s investigative technique vis a vis the Brits. Chief Inspector Teddy Kilbride of Exeter CID is happy to include Chase in the investigative team. Kilbride is likely glad to have a man on the inside, so to speak. 

A Deadly Walk in Devon is the first “A Walk Through England Mystery”—I wonder where Chase will walk next. He’ll be solving mysteries as he chalks up miles exploring England’s “green and pleasant land.” What a charming debut mystery!