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{{infoboxinfobox1
|title=A Darker Night
|sort=Darker Night
|borrow=Yes
|isbn=978-1849010450
|hardback=1849010455
|pages=368
|publisher=Constable
|date=July 2010
|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1849010455</amazonuk>|amazonus=<amazonus>1849010455</amazonus>|website=http://www.pjbrooke.co.uk/|cover=1849010455|aznuk=1849010455|aznus=1849010455
}}
The location is the beautiful and historic city of Granada. The husband-and-wife writing duo, aka P J Brooke, impart their knowledge of this area to the reader almost straight away. The hot and dusty terrain is described in detail, along with some tempting snippets of local history; for example, some of the locals still choose to live in old cave houses. Very primitive living indeed, as you can imagine. And one inhabitant, a gypsy, is found dead. As his cave is so bare and sparse there's not too much evidence for Sub-Inspector Romero to go on. But, he does find something of interest ...
And from here the plot thickens nicely. All manner of family members, neighbours and people in the wider community are questioned. Nothing appears to be forthcoming. The general view is that he probably choked on his own vomit after having one drink too many. He was an ex-con after all, what do you expect? Case firmly closed. Or is it?
We find out at Paco, the man who died in his cave, had a history. He didn't get on with some members of his extended family. Why? And by degrees the story unfolds. Shady property dealings, dodgy accounting and much more rear their ugly heads. Bulldozers, residential blocks, derelict farmhouses all feature in the mix. It seems as if it's one big tussle between past and present. As one local succinctly put it ''Enjoy it while you can. In ten years, every square inch of this coast will be covered in concrete.''
However, Romero is a methodical and dedicated operator. (He even makes out lists so that he won't forget a single thing). He becomes involved with various interesting characters, both male and female. And one female in particular catches his eye ...
This novel is a good, solid story with interesting characters set in a beautiful part of Spain. Recommended.
If you enjoy ''A Darker Night'', you'll also love [[Bloodprint by Kitty Sewell]].
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