The Big Chill by Doug Johnson

This is the second in the author’s trilogy about the Skelf family, and while it’s not essential to read its predecessor, A Dark Matter, readers will be doing a disservice if they don’t. This is both because the back story contained in the first book will enrich the reading of the second and because A Dark Matter is an excellent book in its own rite.

The Skelfs are three generations of women: Dorothy, the elderly matriarch, is an immigrant from California long relocated to Scotland; Jenny, is her daughter, and Hannah, her granddaughter. The three operate a funeral directors and a private investigation service, the former successful, the latter fledgeling and less so. 

In A Dark Matter, Jenny’s ex-husband and Hannah’s father, Craig, was exposed as a murderer. He had killed Hannah’s friend after having an affair with her and getting her pregnant. He later tried to kill Jenny and Dorothy when he was discovered. The book ended with his capture. Events in The Big Chill continue on from there. Craig is awaiting trial and is a destructive presence in their lives. When he decides to change his plea from guilty to diminished responsibility, the disruption gets worse.

As with the first title, subplots run through the novel that originate from either the Skelf’s funeral director business, or private investigation practice, or occasionally, from both. Throughout the narrative, the characters reflect on death, quantum physics (Hannah is studying physics at university) and the quandary that is this thing we call life.

The Skelf books are a mix of cosy crime and something with a harder edge. They don’t shy away from difficult subject matter, but these aren’t noir or the darker crime thrillers that I’m normally drawn to. They are great books though and they have a real heart that has you connect with the characters. The sections that ruminate on death and the quantum universe are engaging too, and certainly, they make you think.

The author has a third novel in the series planned and I look forward to seeing how the Skelf story continues.

4 out of 5 stars