Happy Friday! I hope all of you have had an enjoyable day. I spent the day doing some chores around the house. I am starting to feel a little better (thank goodness). Do you have any special plans for your weekend? I have plans for relaxing and more housework (the two will have to find a way to mix).
A Death in the Dales by is the
seventh book in A Kate Shackleton Mystery series. Kate Shackleton is taking her niece, Harriet
on holiday to recover from her bout of diphtheria. They are going to stay in Lilac Cottage owned
by Dr. Lucian Simonson, Kate’s beau. He
inherited the cottage six months prior when his Aunt Freda. Kate is hoping for a relaxing fortnight in
Langcliffe, but the fates are not with her.
Kate and Harriet have barely arrived when Mr. Bradley Wigglesworth
arrives. Wigglesworth had been a friend
of Freda’s, and she had entrusted a box of papers with him before her
death. Freda had witnessed the murder of
Rufus Holroyd in 1916, but her testimony was discounted. The case haunted Freda for the past ten
years, because she knew the wrong man was convicted and hanged for the crime. Kate feels compelled to look through the
papers and the case peaks her interest.
Harriet meets Beth Young in the village.
Beth is worried about her brother, Martin. After the death of their mother, the two siblings
were brought to town and put to work.
Martin is working at Raistrick Farm.
Martin was supposed to show up for the May Day festivities and he never
arrived. When he fails to show up soon
thereafter, Kate agrees to drive out to the farm to inquire about the young
boy. Unfortunately, Kate’s profession
as a detective has gotten out in the village and soon she is approached by Mrs.
Victoria Trevelyan about a delicate situation.
Someone is trying to blackmail Mrs. Trevelyan about letter she wrote to
a past lover. Mrs. Trevelyan would like
Kate to obtain the letters. It is not
turning out to be much of a holiday for Kate.
Harriet, though, is thrilled. She
is fascinated by her aunt’s business and believes it might be the right
profession for her. Harriet wishes to
act as Kate’s assistant. Langcliffe may be a small village, but it is rife with
secrets. This trip is also about Lucian
and Kate making decisions about their future.
It does not look promising when Lucian objects to Kate’s exploring the
murder of Rufus Holroyd. This holiday is
not turning out the way Kate expected.
A Death in the Dales was easy to
read and well-written. I have not read
the previous books in A Kate Shackleton Mystery series, but it was not a deterrent.
The author provided all the information a reader needs to enjoy this
novel. I liked the main character, Kate
Shackleton. She is a smart, strong woman
(thank heavens) and a good example to her niece, Harriet. I liked Harriet as well. I hope the author includes her in future
books. I believe A Death in the Dales is
the type of book you want to curl up with in a cozy chair on a rainy afternoon
(and do not forget to have your favorite beverage and snack nearby). The author did a superb job at capturing the
time and place. You can tell that
Frances Brody did her research. I give A Death in the Dales 4 out of 5 stars.
There is a lot going on in this book, but I was able to keep track of
the various storylines and their characters.
There are a couple of slow spots, but they did not bother me. The romance portion of the book seemed
off. I did not feel any love or passion
between Kate and Lucian. It felt like the
writer seemed there should be a romance in the book and, therefore, included
one. Kate and Lucian did not seem
compatible, and I could not see Kate becoming a doctor’s wife (especially since
she has no clue about shopping, cooking, and village politics). The murder mystery was entertaining and I
liked the puzzle. I was able to figure
out the killer before the reveal (you know I love solving the mystery). I believe most readers will be
surprised. I am definitely going to read
the other books in A Kate Shackleton Mystery series.
Thank you for your visit. I am currently reading Fatality by Firelight by Lynn Cahoon. I am going to watch Grimm, MacGyver, and Sleepy Hollow while enjoying Chinese. When I am sick, Chinese food is the only thing that tastes good to me. May each of you have a special evening. Take care and Happy Reading!
Kris
The Avid Reader
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