Margaret Murphy continues her successful series of crime novels, this time with a teacher taking the principal role. Sixth-former Ryan Connelly goes missing, only to turn up burnt to death. He is immediately dismissed as someone who experimented with drugs, but Geri, his teacher, cannot accept the official verdict and tries to find out the truth for herself.

'Dying Embers' is an interesting story that oozes authenticity. Murphy accurately recreates school life and child behavior, showing her experience in this field. Instead of concentrating on the police procedural side of the novel, she prefers to look at the psychological and personal aspects, showing the effects the disappearance and subsequent murders have on the characters. The atmosphere created is one of worry and menace, and Murphy continuously uses pathetic fallacy to the maximum effect.

She includes some false clues and the identity of the murderer when it is revealed is a relatively surprise. Overall, this is another enjoyable crime novel and another success for Margaret Murphy. I look forward to reading her next novel.