After the Armistice Ball by Catriona McPherson

ISBN-10: 1845291301
ISBN-13: 978-1845291303

"To socialite Dandy Gilver a spot of amateur sleuthing seems like harmless fun. And what could be better than to try and track down the Duffy diamonds, stolen from a country house after the Armistice Ball? Before long though Dandy's innocent pastime is swept away by something much more serious. The untimely death of the lovely Cara Duffy in a seaside cottage is recorded as an accident, but Dandy, and Alec, Cara's fiance, feel sure the Duffy family is hiding a dark secret..."

(Taken from the Dandy Gilver website)

I'm not sure what I was more charmed by, the website or the book, or to be more precise Dandelion Dahlia Gilver herself. I really liked Dandy and Alec, I think in real life we could have been friends.

Do take a look at the website where you'll find extracts from the book and all sorts of useful information such as how to make tomato sandwiches and the care of linen.

Have to say that I agree with the Scotland on Sunday review, 'Society sleuth Dandy Gilver is the most engaging and ingenious crime-cracker I've met in ages'

The Inspector Mayo Mysteries by Marjorie Eccles

ISBN-10: 0751538612
ISBN-13: 978-0751538618

Do you remember the BBC series Mayo ?

Wikipedia described it as as a comedy detective drama, locatetv.com as : crime drama, starring Alistair McGowan as a wise-cracking Detective Inspector obsessed with working things out.

I remember it as being quirky and entertaining, the clocks in Mayo's house fascinated me and I was intrigued with the way he used model figures to help him work things out.

The real Inspector Mayo isn't like that, in fact I can't for the life of me understand why the Beeb bought the rights to the books because about the only thing Alistair McGowans' TV Mayo has in common with Marjories Eccles' Mayo is the name.

Having said that there is absolutely nothing wrong with her books, they are grand and you get a compilation of three in this edition:

Cast a Cold Eye

Death of a Good Woman

Requiem For a Dove

All well worth reading just thought I'd warn you not to expect anthing like the TV series.

Retreat From Murder by Marian Babson

ISBN 978-1841199016

Loved this one. I haven't read Marian Babson before but I will be looking out for more of her books.

Our sleuths are a group of mystery writers who live in the village of Brimful Coffers. Their peaceful life is turned upside down by visiting novelists who both use the same historical character in their books, a spate of tragic hit and run incidents, a bitchy chic- lit author and the enforced diet of Roscoe the cat.

A thouroughly entertaining Sunday afternoon read.

Agatha Raisin and The Vicious Vet by M.C.Beaton

ISBN 9781845290818

Love the cover. Though I have to say the Agatha Raisen in my head doesn't look at all like that.

Friends from my old blog, Willow House, will know that I have long enjoyed the writings of M.C.Beaton and after exploring the works of other authors it was wonderful to revisit an old friend.

Don't know how, but somehow or other, I managed to miss this the second of Agatha's adventures. Here she falls for the new vet, who manages to accidentially kill himself. Or does he? The demise of the vicious vet provides the perfect opportunity for Agatha to pursue Mr Lacey, one almost feels sorry for him.

If you too like Agatha Raisen you can read her biography online here

The Plague Maiden A Wesley Peterson murder mystery by Kate Ellis

(ISBN 0749906685)

Loving the library at the moment as it is giving me the opportunity to try loads of different authors without the risk of disapointment. After all if I don't particularly like the book I can just take it back and it hasn't cost me a penny. No guilt, brilliant.



Anyway this one I did like, which was a relief after Inspector Peach from the previous post.

"When a letter arrives at Tradmouth police station claiming that the man convicted of murdering the Vicar of Belsham during the course of a robbery in 1991 is innocent, it causes quite a stir. DI Wesley Peterson, however, already has his hands full when threats are made to local supermarket chain, Huntings, and the last thing he needs is an alleged miscarriage of justice to investigate. But, with political pressure from above, it seems that he has no choice.
Meanwhile archaeologist Neil Watson is surprised to uncover a medieval plague pit at a site near Belsham church earmarked for Huntings' new superstore. And when Neil is attacked, it seems that someone is willing to use violence to ensure that the plague pit keeps its secrets.
As Wesley's investigations continue, he begins to suspect that the vicar's murder, the disappearance of a former Sunday school teacher and the threats to the supermarket my be linked in some way. Then comes the disturbing discovery that the ancient plague pit is home to a more recent resident..."


I liked the characters they are very human with real everyday concerns and I enjoyed the mix of archaeology and murder. I'll certainly be looking out for more of Kate Ellis. Actually I wonder how long it will be before Wesley Peterson hits our television screens?