The Victim by Gillian Jackson

 

The call from Caron Rivers comes in one morning.  She reports that her husband is dead and that she has killed him.  Police arrive to find a kitchen full of broken dishes and Bill Rivers lying on the floor in a pool of blood.  Under interrogation back at the station, Caron reports that she is a victim of domestic abuse and she has a long record of black eyes and cuts plus burn marks on her arm to back up her allegation.  It was a case of self defense.

Bill, the owner of a computer security software company, is much older than Caron and very rich.  She reports that he had all the classic actions of an abuser.  He didn't want her going out during the day without him.  She had no money of her own, rather an allowance for food.  He picked and bought her clothes.  He had isolated her from her friends and family.  It seems like an open and shut case but DI Jack Priestly informs his team that they will investigate like any other death. 

Gillian Jackson is an English author known for her domestic crime novels.  She worked in a victim support role in a prior career which gave her insight into what goes on in homes that may appear perfect. I listened to this novel and the narrator with her English accent took me right into the story.    There are some twists but I realized the biggest one before the police did.  Others were complete surprises to me and overall the reader will enjoy this book which is recommended for mystery readers.