A death in the dales

Set in 1926, Brody's leisurely paced seventh Kate Shackleton mystery (after 2016's Death of an Avid Reader) takes the private investigator and her teenage niece, Harriet, to the Yorkshire village of Langcliffe, where they stay at a cottage belonging to Dr. Lucian Simonson, who's sweet on Kate. No less than three problems require Kate's attention. First, Lucian's aunt, Freda, witnessed the murder of the local alehouse keeper in 1916 and maintained until her recent death that the wrong man was executed for the crime. Kate feels compelled to investigate this old case, despite the disapproval of some townspeople. Meanwhile, Harriet befriends a girl whose brother has gone missing. Finally, the wife of Langcliffe's biggest landowner wants help retrieving some indiscreet letters. No wonder Lucian feels Kate has no time for him. The characters are pleasant enough, but there's not much mystery, except for an out-of-left-field ending that takes everyone by surprise. Agent: Judith Murdoch, Judith Murdoch Literary (U.K.). (Feb.) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.

Problems come in sets of three, and it's no different in 1926 Yorkshire, the setting for Brody's seventh series installment featuring private investigator Kate Shackleton (after Death of an Avid Reader). This time she has her teenage niece, Harriet, in tow, and the pair stay in a cottage owned by Dr. Lucian Simonson. As befitting a small English village in a mystery novel, there's plenty of tension bubbling just beneath the surface in Langcliffe. Lucian's recently deceased aunt was positive the wrong man was executed for a crime---except that crime took place in 1916. Kate decides this is a perfect old case to investigate, but that's not the only thing to occupy her time-and detective skills. Harriet becomes fast friends with a girl whose brother has gone missing, and one of the village's biggest landowners wants Kate's assistance in secreting away some letters, though he's far from the only villager in this picturesque hotbed of intrigue with something to hide. VERDICT The mysteries themselves may not be complex, but given the fascinating cast of supporting characters, a pleasant Yorkshire setting, and an endearing heroine, this is a solid British traditional mystery that should please series regulars and newcomers alike. © Copyright 2017. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.