Having read some more serious, rather grim (but excellent historical) fiction, I opted for something more lighthearted, a nice cozy, perhaps. That was Questions and Quarrels, an Isle of Man Ghostly Cozy by Diana Xarissa. Fenella has decided it is time to drive around the island to check out all of the properties she inherited from her Aunt Mona. All but one are rented out and in good repair. That one is in a distant and remote part of the island, once home to a small, locally owned business that failed. 'Something' happened, years ago, something so bad that Max boarded it up, with strict instructions that it was never to be opened, never even discussed. When the land was passed on to Mona, she had to promise she would abide by those instructions. She did ... and in fact, even now, refuses to talk to Fenella about the abandoned building. Even when a body was found. What is the secret here? It is further complicated when possible relatives show up demanding access ... why did they wait so long? And why keep the building empty? Another book by this author that was hard to put down. :-)

A Well Constructed Murder, is both a new author and a new series for me. It is the first in the Bellbrook Murder Mystery series by Reagan Davis. Main character, Karla Bell, has returned to her home town for grandmother's funeral, only to learn that her grandmother has been implicated in two murders ... this just can't be true, and Karla sets out to prove that, with help from her little dog, Gucci. Not only are there the murders, but also missing money, jewels, and so on. One of the bodies is identified, only to discover that person doesn't exist. Some interesting twists and turns, here, and not a bad start for something new.

Reading Hermit With Dog