When Dorothy Martin is prevailed upon to teach a class at the local grammar school because the regular teacher had not shown up for work, she feels put-upon but willing to help out. However, the teacher returns and refuses to say why she had been absent, and the next day her husband is murdered in their kitchen, a knife sticking out of his back. Dorothy can’t help but be curious about these events, and with the help of her husband, former Chief Constable Alan Nesbitt, she begins to learn all about the teacher’s life, the extremist religious cult of which her husband was a member, and the fates of children of high-ranking politicians…. This is the eighth Dorothy Martin cozy, and like those before it, it’s a pleasant enough read, albeit not entirely convincing. Dorothy is still more a collection of eccentricities (cats, bizarre hats) than a real person, but she’s entertaining enough to spend an afternoon with. I was jolted by the use of the word “aspirin” when in England paracetamol is the common pain reliever, but perhaps an American writer wouldn’t know that. Mildly recommended. ( )

I discovered this at my local library and since I am a lover of cozy mysteries it called to me. The main characters are a newly wed couple of retirement age. The husband is a retired constable and the wife a retired school teacher. The characters, and there are many, are well thought out and have a purpose in the story. And right up until the last chapter you are kept guessing as to who committed the murder. ( )

I enjoy this series. One of the better cozy mystery writings. ( )