Canadian Reader has returned home, tree is put away so the living room can go back to 'normal', and most importantly, there are lots of books on my shelf! For no particular reason, I started with The Crimes of Clearwell Castle, one of the Lord Edgington Investigates mysteries by Benedict Brown. Young Christopher has finished his exams and he and his grandfather are off to the beautiful Forest of Dean to visit old friends. They arrive during the 'celebration' (a rather grisly one) of an old rivalry between a neighboring town. What's that all about? And why carry the grudge forward for centuries? There are two murders, seemingly unconnected. Lord Edgington is sure there is one, and he and his grandson set out to figure it all out. Fun twists here, and a bit of history about the towns and families make for another good entry in this series.

Retired police detective Albert Smith and his dog Rex are enjoying a quiet day in Biggleswade, where he's come to learn how to make a clanger. (Recipe included). This is interrupted by the arrest of the waitress for murder ... of the cafe's owner. Her reaction tells this seasoned detective she is innocent, but the police are not willing to look any further ... so he and Rex take on the case. Then Albert becomes the target. Bedfordshire Clanger Calamity, number four in the Albert Smith's Culinary Capers mystery series by Steve Higgs, has an odd twist ... a mysterious, evil character, in the background (for now?) who is controlling things. Why?

Reading Hermit With Dog