I am thoroughly enjoying the Julia Bird Mysteries by Katie Gayle, and this (the third), A Village Fete Murder was no exception. Everyone is looking forward to the annual village celebration at Berrywick house ... complete with tea tents, cake stalls, flower competitions (where the competition is fierce), and a hedge maze. This is where Julia (and her dog, Jake) are when she comes across a body. It is someone who is not all that popular, as well as a strong competitor in the baking competition. Not willing to leave it to the police, Julia sets out to solve it (and then another murder) before the festival ends.

Edinburgh,1911. Maud McIntyre has set up her own detective agency (using just her first initial on the sign since women did not have their own businesses, I mean, really!) Her one time maid is her partner (but can play the part of the proper maid when needed) and together they set off to find who has been stealing expensive jewelry from fashionable houses (remember the big parties they used to give ...) Of course, there ends up being a murder, which they also investigate. Can they prove that as women they are up for the job? Not a bad book, but I do wish some of the Scottish-isms were better explained, I could not figure them all out just using context. The Scottish Ladies' Detective Agency is by Lydia Travers.

Reading Hermit With Dog