Has anyone seen Charlotte Salter? Nicci French back to their best

What a relief! Nicci French - writing duo Sean French and Nicci Gerard - are back to their best. I've reviewed their last two novels, disappointingly not up to their usual standard. I've been reading Nicci French's books for twenty years now and they have always been my one of favourite psychological thriller writers. If you haven't read the writing duo, I highly recommend their Frieda Klein series, named after days of the week. I suggest reading them in order as the books are connected. Frieda is a London psychologist who consults with the police. There are a bunch of Nicci French standalones. I've read them all bar one, in some cases multiple times. They are cleverly constructed and superbly intelligent stories. That is, until the last two books that frankly didn't feel like Nicci French novels at all.

So...I was excited to read Has anyone see Charlotte Salter? as I was determined not to give up on on them despite the two lacklustre previous books. I'm glad I stuck with them!

Update: Check out my review of Nicci French's next novel here.

Has anyone seen Charlotte Salter? | Published April 2023 | Read March 2024

The Charlotte Salter of the title is woman universally loved by all who orbit her. She's described as radiant, vivacious, friendly and kind. Sadly, Charlotte disappears from her husband's 50th birthday party in a small English village just before Christmas 1990. A few days later, the body of the Salter's neighbour, Duncan Ackerley, is found floating in the river that flows through the village. The (somewhat inept) local police force conclude, without any evidence, that Duncan and Charlotte were having an affair before Duncan killed Charlotte and then committed suicide. The case is closed and Charlotte is never seen or heard from again.

Charlotte's disappearance and Duncan's death destroy both families. The four Salter children and their father, Alec, grow apart, and they only reunite 30 years later when the elderly Alec is suffering from dementia. The now adult children return to the village just as Duncan's son, Morgan, a successful documentary maker, records a podcast with his older brother, Greg, on the unsolved death of their father and disappearance of Charlotte.

The podcast sends the town into a spin as old wounds are reopened and secrets revealed. The podcast garners national attention, sending London DI Maud O'Connor to take over the cold case investigation from the local police. Maud is relentless in her pursuit of the truth, causing resentment from the mostly male local detective squad who are less than competent in their duties.

The story has two distinct parts to it. The first is the family drama surrounding Alec's 50th birthday party in 1990 and Charlotte's disappearance. Alec is a horrible man, so it's easy to suspect that he had a hand in his wife's disappearance, especially since he doesn't seem to care that she has gone. The second part to the story is set in the present, exploring the cold case investigation led by DI O'Connor and her trusty sidekick, Carrie Kessler, heavily pregnant and on maternity leave from the metropolitan police. As the investigation progresses, Morgan and Greg relive the past through their podcast and ask difficult questions of the events of 1990. Elizabeth (Etty), only 15 when her mother disappeared and the youngest Salter sibling, tries to put her father's affairs in order and pack up the family home so he can enter a care facility.

The first part of the novel is something of a slow-burn and that's probably my only criticism. I loved getting to know Charlotte and Etty, but this part of the book could have been shorter. Things became more interesting and intriguing in the second part, and I was captivated by the unfolding case and the emotional journey that led the Salter and Ackerley children back to the village. I didn't guess the ending and it all makes sense (after a series of bonkers ending to books I've read of late), so that was a nice bonus.

The novel is full of atmosphere and rich characterisations, the trademarks of Nicci French novels. The dysfunction of the Salter household is clearly described. I found Etty's story heartbreaking and authentic, particularly in the second part when the reader is exposed to the damage her mother's disappearance caused even all these years later. It's a complex story, with the added layer of the misogynistic local police force whose ineptitude bungled the past and present investigation.

I loved Maud and Carrie! I could read a whole book on the dynamic duo solving crimes. They are a couple of bad ass women who approach their work with intelligence and dedication. Their witty dialogue is a joy to read.

Despite the slow opening and overall length of the book, Has anyone seen Charlotte Salter? is a gripping, poignant read, with well-fleshed out, relatable characters and a moody setting. I'm so glad to see Nicci French back to their best.

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐