St Brynney’s, near the Welsh border, and a combination of heavy snow and flood-water has isolated the farms in the area. So it is the worst possible time for a car-crash, a head-on collision injuring one driver and killing the other, a retired doctor who kept himself to himself. He did enjoy driving, despite his failing eyesight, so maybe this was just one drive too many.

Of course that doesn’t account for the second dead body, found in the back of the doctor’s car. Tensions are running deep in the area between the locals, but it soon becomes clear that the doctor had a secret past. As the local constabulary struggle to get to the bottom of things, Chief Inspector Rivers is summoned from Scotland Yard. One police officer is already in the hospital – will more follow?

I’ve had a bit of a snafu with my British Library review copies, but thankfully that been resolved in time for the new Carol Carnac aka E C R Lorac title. Impact of Evidence has never been reprinted before (as is the case with a lot of the BL Crime Classics) and it’s an interesting choice.

There’s a real similarity with the Lorac mysteries set in Lunesdale, with the priority being character and location (and in this case the weather). The local rivalries propel the story for the most part, but there is a surprise in the tale at the end – a guessable surprise, but a surprise all the same.

I did think one incident had a disappointing resolution, pushing the plot forward a little too artificially, but if you like the Lunesdale books – Fell Murder, The Theft Of The Iron Dogs, etc – you certainly like this one.

Impact Of Evidence is out now from the British Library Crime Classics range.