An Old, Cold Grave, by Iona Whishaw is the third in her Lane Winslow Mystery series. When one of the Hughes sisters is getting something out of their root cellar part of the roof caves in revealing a small skeleton. Who is it? Male or female? It will lead to some tragic secrets of a family that once lived nearby. I loved how the complete story here was tracked down (to say much more would be a spoiler). A bit darker than the earlier books, I think, but this series has just been an excellent read and I now have to await Canadian Reader's next visit to read the next book! Setting is just north of the border, so descriptions of the area will be familiar to many of you.

Snowballs and Scotch Mist, the third in the Belchester Chronicles, by Andrea Frazier, is what I consider a 'traditional' cozy ... that is .... a remote manor house or castle, a group of twelve guests, and snow. Lady Amanda and Hugo have been invited to spend Burn's Night in Scotland. Add a piper who strolls the halls much too early in the morning, weak tea and no alcohol, a few family secrets, and of course, a body, and you have a nice afternoon read.

This time it's the Medieval Herbalists that are gathering for a retreat (and wedding) and Jane is hoping this one will go better than the first two. Alas, it is not to be and the body of a popular herbalist and photographer is found along the banks of the river during the first annual rubber ducky race. As with her earlier books, author Ellery Adams creates interesting characters and settings in Murder in the Secret Garden, third in the Book Retreat Mystery series.

Reading Hermit With Dog