Aunt Bessie is walking the beach, remembering a young man who was murdered there a year ago. Much to her surprise, she comes upon the widow, back on the island, it seems, celebrating her marriage (already?) to Alastair Farthington. He is rich, very rich, and used to getting his way. The rest of his sons and their wives are along as well. When one of them ends up dead Alastair wants Bessie to figure things out (you know, because the police are taking so long). She is not as easy to control as his family! Aunt Bessie Meets, the thirteenth Isle of Man Cozy mysteries, by Diana Xarissa was another good story with some new (and rather obnoxious) characters.

One of the books that came along with Canadian Reader was Death in Provence, by Serena Kent. Penelope Kite, divorced and with grown kids, decides to take early retirement and move from her home in England to a run down house in France. It will take a lot of work, but she can imagine what it will look like when it's finished. It's a bumpy introduction to her new (small) home town, especially after she discovers two bodies! (Not to mention the language barrier). Since she worked in forensics she feels she might know a few things the local police have not figured out (which does not go over well). Events from the past surface, and people are not who they seem to be, elements for a most interesting read!

If you don't want to wait until next December to read Christmas Mourning, then I suggest you read it when the weather is hot as it should make you shiver! Not only is there a lot of snow, basically isolating the small town of Castle Fathering, (no power, no internet, no phones), but there have been two murders as well. DI Falconer and his partner, DS Carmichael, resort to low tech methods to figure out the 'who dun it' in this eighth book of the Falconer Files Murder Mystery series by Andrea Frazer. Make special note of some delightfully silly (but very warm) hats, and a rather large dog named Mulligan.

Reading Hermit With Dog