Life Sentence (Fran Harman Series #1) Book

Fran Harman is struggling to cope with weekend trips to Devon from Kent to help look after her elderly parents as well as holding as working as Chief Superintendent during the week. Burning the candle at both ends and in the middle is taking its toll on her and old friend and her superior Mark Turner finally realises he must do something about her workload. Fran is put in charge of trying to find out why a woman - known only as Elise - was attacked and left for dead beside the road two years ago. She is in a Persistent Vegetative State with no hope of recovery and the hospital are seeking to turn off her life support which would make her attacker a murderer.

Why is the nurse in charge of Elise's care being obstructive? And why is a stranger visiting Elise and talking to her? Fran must answer these questions as well as the pressing questions of what to do about her parents who are clearly both sliding into dementia and becoming more and more difficult. In addition it seems her relationship with Mark is changing after thirty years undemanding friendship just when she can do without any further complications in her life.

This is a well written and absorbing mystery with some very well drawn characters and some challenging situations. I thought the problem of elderly parents and other family members was very well drawn and I could sympathise with Fran in her dilemma. The office politics side of policing was also well done and I really like Fran as a character.

This is the first book in the series but the series titles can be read in any order as standalone novels. If you like crime novels without graphic violence and bad language then you may enjoy this series.