This is the most frustrating book I have not finished. To be fair, I read 200 pages and still could not keep all the characters or the chronology of events straight. This book by Mel Pennant offered a look into the Jamaican diaspora in England and I was looking forward to that. But the dialogue was thick with word usage I didn't recognize and could not altogether figure out from the context. I have absolutely no idea what it means to "cuss your teeth" and she used the phrase dozens of times. Nevertheless, the reviews I found were uniformly positive.
Booklist says, "Pennant's debut is both a gripping mystery and an eye-opening portrait
of life for the Jamaicans who immigrated to England as part of the
Windrush generation, emphasizing the discrimination and mistreatment
they suffered as well as their close community bonds...Pennant perfectly captures the Jamaican patois in this quirky, witty
tale with an unconventional cast of characters, a dark edge, and a
satisfying ending." Similarly, Library Journal offers this recommendation: "Infused with humor and heartbreak, playwright and screenwriter Pennant's
delightful first novel is for readers who enjoy community-based
mysteries led by amateur detectives of an older generation..."
Publishers Weekly offers this summary and positive review: "British playwright Pennant debuts with a lively cozy centered on the
indomitable Miss Hortense, a Jamaican nurse who’s been living in
Birmingham’s Bigglesweigh neighborhood since 1960. In the decades since
Miss Hortense emigrated from Jamaica, she and her friends and neighbors
have started an unofficial investigative service to look into local
crimes. One case that has remained unsolved is that of “the Brute,” a
man who, in 1970, brutally attacked a series of women in Bigglesweigh
and left them for dead. Now, in 2000, Miss Hortense’s nemesis, Constance
Brown, has turned up dead. Authorities believe she died of a heart
attack, but Hortense fears murder. Then the body of a mysterious
stranger is placed inside Constance’s house with a Bible verse taped to
it, and Miss Hortense becomes convinced that the Beast has returned.
Pennant populates Bigglesweigh with colorful, well-drawn characters and
strikes an appealing tone halfway between sweet and melancholy. It’s a
promising start."
Kirkus also gushes: "Pennant’s debut mystery is written with a playwright’s deft pen; the
scenes are neat, the action direct. What stands out most is the care
with which characters are written, in how they move, dress, and—most
notably—speak. As a bonus, traditional recipes are peppered throughout
with great effect. Surrounded by the smells of turmeric and cinnamon,
Hortense does her best thinking while in the kitchen.A memorable cozy with lots of depth."