Veronica Heley

TW: Date Rape

Bea Abbot left Kensington 6 months ago as a couple. Returning as a widow, Bea is hoping the sleep that has eluded her since the loss of her husband Hamilton might be possible, as travel home alone from New Zealand has been exhausting. Opening the door to her home brings Bea anything but peace, beginning with a welcome home party in progress organized by her son and daughter-in-law. And that’s simply the beginning of individuals needing Bea’s attention and help. Where to begin?

Many characters surround and interact with Bea, and due to each person’s needs, Bea needs to interact with even more people. Keeping track of them all was easy by their unique personalities, talents, and needs, with Bea a "Wonder Woman" at sorting through the chaos. I enjoyed the investigation, but an aspect of the case gave me pause (actually shock!) in how it was handled, and I remain unsure if I will continue reading the series.

Dog lovers should be aware that the Yorkshire Terrier belongs to the daughter-in-law and isn’t integral to the storyline, with exception that the furry silhouette on the cover design drew this reader’s attention to the mystery series.

A "Glossary of English Usage for US Readers" is provided at the end of the novel.

Reviewer’s Notes:
• In multiple locations on different retail sites and social media the series is noted as The Bea Abbott Agency Mysteries. I have utilized the spelling of Bea Abbot as per spelling on the title page and throughout the mystery.
• I am not in agreement with marketing as a cozy mystery due to my trigger warning at the beginning of the review.… (more)