Audrey Peterson

Claire, an American professor, goes to England for the summer to research a biography she is writing. She is divorced from an Englishman and has a circle of friends there. One of those, Iris, is murdered in Clarie's apartment. Naturally Claire becomes the prime suspect. I enjoyed the mystery, didn't solve it in fact ,and the characters are interesting. The format is a very traditional whodunit format which makes it seem a little old fashioned. I liked it though for an easy, quick read. I will probably read the other two in the series, too bad I started with the last one!… (more)

When Claire Camden takes a leave of absence from her job in California, her main goal is to visit with her daughter Sally. But while first visiting her ex-mother-in-law, Bea, she learns of a young woman who was recently found dead among the moor. The case soon becomes of interest to her, along with a growing interest in the detective superintendent assigned to it, Neil Padgett.

While Claire learns that a neighbor of Bea's is ailing and longing for her granddaughter, she finds that the young woman, Harriet, may have a tie to Darla - while the neighbor insists they barely knew each other, Claire learns that Harriet and Darla were indeed friends...and something more lies between them.

But while trying to stay away from the murder she is yet drawn into it, and her study of the Victorian author M. L. Talbot may also have a peculiar clue to the case that Claire very nearly misses...

I read this book, as the first in a series of three because it sounded interesting. I did find it enjoyable, and liked most of the characters in it. In fact, I would have liked to have seen this series continue, but as it isn't, I will have to content myself on the three that exist.

It was pleasant enough and there were a couple of subplots that actually wove themselves into the story nicely and brought it to a satisfying conclusion. The scenarios are all believable, and while all of the characters aren't likable, they aren't meant to be. There was enough given on Claire's background that the reader doesn't feel as if they've walked into the middle of a conversation, and I hope in the next two books to see that Claire's and Neil's relationship flourishes. A very nice read indeed of a mystery.… (more)