The Daughters of Cain - Colin Dexter

Introduction
This is the eleventh book in the Morse series - I was delighted to find it in a charity shop, because it is the only one I have never read before. I would recommend that you start with one of the earlier books first: either 'Last Bus to Woodstock', 'Last Seen Wearing', or 'The Silent World of Nicholas Quinn', so that you can follow the story of Morse through. Each of the books have some things in common - a complicated plot with many false leads and a difference in investigation styles between Morse and his valued side-kick Lewis. Eventually, the mystery is solved by a random comment from Lewis, which then spurs Morse into finding out the truth. Sounds contrived, but somehow, Dexter manages to make it anything but.

The author
Colin Dexter was educated at Cambridge, but lives in Oxford, where all the Morse novels are located, usually with a link to an Oxford college (Wolsey in this case). Dexter cleverly stopped writing the Morse novels, the final one, 'The Remorseful Day', being written in 1999 (where we find out what Morse's first name is!) - I say cleverly because so many authors start off well, then go rapidly downhill, so that they are remembered more for the weak books than the strong. Of course, from the TV series point of view, this is probably just as well following the death of John Thaw - I don't think anyone could have taken over that role. Interesting fact - Colin Dexter has a walk-on part in each of the Morse TV programmes!

The plot
An academic from Wolsey College is killed by a knife wound to the stomach, following a night of passion with a prostitute. Morse and Lewis find a potential suspect, Edward Brookes, a college 'scout' (presumably some kind of care-taker), who was sacked from his job for peddling drugs the day that the dead man, Felix McClure, retired from his job. Yet Mr Brookes was in hospital having a heart attack on the day that Dr McClure was stabbed.

We are also introduced to Brenda Brookes, his wife, who has put up with frequent physical abuse from her husband; Julia Stevens, a teacher dying of cancer for whom Brenda works and with whom she is very friendly; Ellie Smith, the aforementioned prostitute; and a schoolboy, eager to do anything to make Julia Stevens happy. When Ted Brookes goes missing, later to be found stabbed, it is clear that somehow one of the three women is responsible. But the investigation is seemingly fruitless, as all the suspects have water-tight alibis. The sticking point is the murder weapon, stolen from a nearby museum and found stuck in Ted Brookes' back - the exact time that the knife was stolen is known. But Morse and Lewis do not give up and at last, the solution is uncovered.

The characters
Morse in particular is well-portrayed. His way of making Lewis pay for his drinks when he earns far more and of putting Lewis down all the time are somehow endearing. His budding relationship with one of the suspects is beautifully described and when he was admitted to hospital with bronchial problems, I really cared what happened to him. A highly frustrating character, but very loveable. Very accurately portrayed on TV, although the storyline is not always 100% correct. Lewis, although frequently frustrated, shows incredible loyalty to his boss. The other characters, Julia dying of cancer, Brenda suffering from domestic abuse and Ellie, incapable of loving are also sensitively dealt with - not bad for a man. I felt great sympathy for the perpetrator once she was uncovered.

Conclusion
The usual Dexter high standards. There are perhaps too many red herrings and false clues - if I wasn't such a fan, I could find them frustrating, but they are cleverly done and really keep you hanging on until the end to find out what happens. Dexter's writing is fabulous; he manages to write beautifully without sounding too pretentious - I sometimes would like to slap Morse for being such an intellectual snob, but that is all part of the character, I think. If you haven't read any Morse - time to start.

The book can be bought from Amazon for £5.59. 400 pages long. Published by Pan. There is also an audio tape, again which can be purchased from Amazon, distributed by Macmillan and narrated by Kevin Whately. Price £7.19. This is an abridged version.