British mystery – D.S.Dehel

Today I have the honor of sharing with you a really good book in my favorite genre: British mystery.

Blurb:

Former police detective Michael McLaren is at the home of his lady friend, Melanie. The house is sold, the removal van is booked. All that is left is to help her pack her belongings for her move to his village. But the laborious task is interrupted when one of Melanie’s neighbors asks McLaren to investigate the circumstances of her parents’ murders. McLaren’s reluctance to take it on and abandon Melanie appears to be solved when his best mate, Jamie, steps in to help with the packing. It’s not the easy investigation McLaren was hoping for, however. Sightings of Mordred and a ghost, and a burglary at the local Tudor Hall complicate the murder inquiries. What had seemed to McLaren a perfect remedy with Jamie close at hand now disintegrates into a horrendous mistake. And McLaren questions if the investigation is really worth it, especially when he puts the people he cares about most in danger.

My Thoughts

Since this is one of my favorite genres to read (and watch), the bar is a high one…and I enjoyed The Cottage. Hiestand evokes regions of England that I’m familiar with, but doesn’t beat the reader over the head with it. (There’s even nice map.) She deftly weaves a mystery that is both compelling and easy to follow. Personally, I detest mysteries that the reader can’t follow along with the solution. There’s nothing worse than wondering how the detective comes up with the answer. Each of the characters is clearly defined and fully fleshed out.

If you like British mysteries, add this one to your bookshelf.

Excerpt

She had that urgent look about her, had that implication in her voice. He knew the signs all too well, for he had seen and heard similar pleas during his years in the job. But the phrases were left unsaid, and he struggled with his feelings. It was the last thing he wanted to do, take on an investigation. He tried to force a bit of optimism into his voice, but he was still struggling with his duty and feelings. “Well, I don’t know. Melanie’s a strict master. It’s not time for my afternoon tea break.” He grinned to lessen the awkward situation and put her at ease. It seemed to have worked, for the woman before him smiled. “Seriously, Miss, I don’t know what I can do for you. I don’t live here in Moorton.”

“I aware of that, Mr. McLaren.”

The use of his name surprised him. He angled his head slightly, trying to remember if he had come upon her before, but he had no recollection of it. “You know who I am. I… I’m sorry. I don’t know your name. Have we met? If so, please forgive me. I’ve an atrocious memory.”

“You’ve an excellent memory, Mr. McLaren. That’s evident from your previous investigations. But no, we’ve not met. I know of you through the articles that appeared in our newspaper. Also, Reverend Redfern and some of the other villagers talk about your sojourns here, when you previously visited Melanie, and how you solved those other murders.”

AUTHOR Bio and Links:

Jo A. Hiestand grew up on regular doses of music, books, and Girl Scout camping. She gravitated toward writing in her post-high school years and finally did something sensible about it, graduating from Webster University with a BA degree in English and departmental honors. She writes a British mystery series (the McLaren Mysteries)—of which three books have garnered the prestigious N.N. Light’s Book Heaven ‘Best Mystery Novel’ three years straight. She also writes a Missouri-based cozy mystery series that is grounded in places associated with her camping haunts. The camping is a thing of the past, for the most part, but the music stayed with her in the form of playing guitar and harpsichord, and singing in a folk group. Jo carves jack o’ lanterns badly and sings loudly. She loves barbecue sauce and ice cream (separately, not together), kilts (especially if men wear them), clouds and stormy skies, and the music of G.F. Handel. You can usually find her pulling mystery plots out of scenery—whether from photographs or the real thing.

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The book will be $0.99 during the tour:

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-cottage-jo-a-hiestand/1143862736

World-wide Kobo link: https://www.kobo.com/ww/en/ebook/the-cottage-40

USA Kobo link: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/the-cottage-40