The Ice House (Macmillan, 1992, ISBN 978-0330327916) was rejected by many publishing houses prior to its publication. It was then awarded the John Creasy Award (Crime Writers Association) Award for first novel. It has been translated into several languages and a film has been made starring the current James Bond actor, Daniel Craig. The story involves a missing, presumed dead, husband, a half eaten body and a cold dark place at the bottom of the garden.
Main Characters
Three women living in 'the big house' are under great suspicion from the other villagers. Phoebe Maybury, was suspected of murdering her husband David a decade ago but never convicted. She lives with two of her childhood friends, Anne and Diana. The three are all successful if not eccentric women and they stir up suspicion amongst the inhabitants of Streech Village. Then a half eaten body is found in a building in a disused building once used to store ice and the police are determined to get a conviction. There are two police officers who hold opposing views on the crime and suspects. Chief Inspector Walsh was present at the original crime and sees everything in black and white. However, Detective Sergeant Andy McLoughlin feels the need to look deeper, to examine the grey areas and discovers something more about himself in the process.
Summary
In a quintessential but run of the mill English village in present day and with flash backs to ten years previously when the abusive husband of one of the women went missing. The Detective in charge of the recent inquiry was present then and is convinced that she murdered him.
There are many little subplots; the women portray themselves - or don't deny the rumours - as lesbians. At one point in the story, the main character Phoebe is also suspected of having killed her parents. The facts and the conclusions become blurred though it is well known to the villagers that Phoebe was abused by her husband. Then the wife of a missing man appears to develop religious and sex manias - which is actually quite sinister and the reader discovers that Walsh also has something to hide.
The Ice House is a regular 'whodunit' but Walters keeps everyone guessing about it all from start to finish. She is very gifted at taking a very simple plot - dead body, very little evidence and one suspect - and weaving and winding her way to take the reader to different dead ends. Her story telling is an absolute dream and she keeps all the threads together neatly tying off the knots as she goes along.
About the Author
Minette Walters is a best selling female crime writer living in Dorset, England. She lives with her husband Alec and two sons. She is currently working on her thirteenth novel.
