While reading an extremely dense and detailed non-fiction book I took a break and read the next of the Isle of Man Cozy Mysteries: Aunt Bessie Invites, by Diana Xarissa. One tradition that Bessie loved from her years living in the United States was Thanksgiving so she has continued to celebrate that ... and this year is the biggest gathering ever. When she goes out to a local farm to 'check on her turkeys' she discovers the wife in one of the old storage sheds, distraught over having discovered a body. An old body. This leads to events from the past, long enough back where memories might be dim, those involved dead ... and a new investigator with ... different techniques for solving crime. Can it be solved by the Thanksgiving dinner?

I do love finding a new author and series and I did that just recently! And, it's local! The Hatbox Murders is the first in the Elliott Bay Mystery series by Jennifer Berg. Set in Seattle in 1956 there are lots of nice period details here. When a woman insists that her friend would not have committed suicide, Inspector Michael Riggs reluctantly agrees to look into it. Conflicting reports on the victim indicate she had a double life. And, she has a somewhat unusual family. There are some interesting characters here, especially Victoria, a woman who helped with a previous case that caused her way too much notoriety and she vowed to never, ever help the police again ... but can she stay away? I can't wait to read the next book!

Reading Hermit With Dog