A new author/series for me, starting with no 3 in the series as the earlier 2 were unavailable at the time.

It is a cosy read, and like so many modern crime series, is equally a crime/mystery as well as a depiction of the development of the relationships of a small group of characters, this time living in the fictional town of Bruncliffe in the Yorkshire Dales in England.

The main characters are Delilah, who runs the struggling Dales Dating Agency, as well as a website maintenance business, and Samson, an undercover police officer who is currently on compulsory leave and running the Dales Detective Agency (which is run out of the same building as Delilah's businesses). Yes, Samson and Delilah!

There is a mystery as to a long deceased local as to whom a death certificate (or indeed any other evidence as to her death) can be found, and a will (newly made) which clearly names that local as a beneficiary. Why?

There are other locals, who bring a lot of colour, and sufficient hints as to both events that will have been addressed in the first two books of the series as well as unresolved hints of skull duggery which will be addressed in future books.

I expect that whether this series will appeal to you may be tested by whether you enjoy similar series such as:

- Kerry Greenwood's Corrina Chapman Mysteries (amateur detection by Corrina, a Melbourne based baker, who cooks up a storm)

- Martin Walker's Dordogne Mysteries (featuring Bruno of the local constabulary, who is not restricted to baking)

- Elly Griffiths' Dr Ruth Galloway Mysteries (forensic archaeologist who is called on to assist the local police to solve various mysterious deaths in what seems to be a crime ridden Norfolk.

I will try some more of this series, but will look for them in the used book shops rather that rush to buy them at full price.

Big Ship

29 November 2022 ( )