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Cornish Mystery #3
Valley of the Shadow
A cryptic message spurs Eleanor, Megan, and Nick Gresham on a frantic search for a refugee's missing family, in The Valley of the Shadow, a Cornish Mystery from Carola Dunn.
While out on a walk, Eleanor Trewynn, her niece Megan, and her neighbor Nick spot a young, half-drowned Indian man floating in the water. Delirious and concussed, he utters a cryptic message about his family being trapped in a cave and his mother dying. The young man, unconscious and unable to help, is whisked away to a hospital while a desperate effort is mounted find the missing family in time.
The local police inspector presumes that they are refugees from East Africa, abandoned by the smugglers who brought them into England, so while the Cornwall countryside is being scoured for the family, Eleanor herself descends into a dangerous den of smugglers in a desperate search to find the man responsible while there is still time.
While out on a walk, Eleanor Trewynn, her niece Megan, and her neighbor Nick spot a young, half-drowned Indian man floating in the water. Delirious and concussed, he utters a cryptic message about his family being trapped in a cave and his mother dying. The young man, unconscious and unable to help, is whisked away to a hospital while a desperate effort is mounted find the missing family in time.
The local police inspector presumes that they are refugees from East Africa, abandoned by the smugglers who brought them into England, so while the Cornwall countryside is being scoured for the family, Eleanor herself descends into a dangerous den of smugglers in a desperate search to find the man responsible while there is still time.
320 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 11, 2012
33 people are currently reading
392 people want to read
About the author
Carola Dunn
91 books890 followersCarola Dunn is the author of more than 30 Regency romances, as well as 16 mysteries (the Daisy Dalrymple mystery series is set in England in the 1920s). Ms. Dunn was born and grew up in England, where she got a B.A. in Russian and French from Manchester University. She travelled as far as Fiji before returning to settle in California. After 30 years in the US, she says she still sounds as if she arrived a month ago.
Prior to writing, Ms. Dunn’s various jobs included market research, child-care, construction--from foundation trenches to roofing--and writing definitions for a dictionary of science and technology. She wrote her first novel in 1979, a Regency which she sold to Warner Books.
Now living in Eugene, Oregon, Ms. Dunn has a son in California who has just made her a grandmother, and a large black dog named Willow who takes her for a walk by the Willamette River each morning. (www.belgravehouse.com)
Prior to writing, Ms. Dunn’s various jobs included market research, child-care, construction--from foundation trenches to roofing--and writing definitions for a dictionary of science and technology. She wrote her first novel in 1979, a Regency which she sold to Warner Books.
Now living in Eugene, Oregon, Ms. Dunn has a son in California who has just made her a grandmother, and a large black dog named Willow who takes her for a walk by the Willamette River each morning. (www.belgravehouse.com)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 125 reviews
September 24, 2019
EXCERPT: They walked on until the path petered out into terraces and steps of slate. The abrupt edge was two or three feet above the smooth tops of the swells that surged onward to meet the stream in swirls of foam. Clumps of thrift, the flowerheads brown now, clung in crevices here and there. A grey and white herring gull launched itself into the air and joined its fellows circling overhead, their raucous screams cutting through the constant yet ever-changing sounds of moving water. High above floated a buzzard.
"Gorgeous," said Megan.
"Good enough." Nick fiddled with his camera's settings, peered through, and fiddled some more.
Megan jumped down a slate step. Eleanor sat on it, the sun warm on her back.
"What's that?" Nick lowered the camera and pointed.
Eleanor peered, wishing she had brought binoculars. Something dark bobbed in the water. "A seal?"
"No." Megan's voice rang harsh. "It's a man. And if he's not already dead, he soon will be."
ABOUT THIS BOOK: While out on a walk, Eleanor Trewynn, her niece Megan, and her neighbor Nick spot a young, half-drowned Indian man floating in the water. Delirious and concussed, he utters a cryptic message about his family being trapped in a cave and his mother dying. The young man, unconscious and unable to help, is whisked away to a hospital while a desperate effort is mounted find the missing family in time.
The local police inspector presumes that they are refugees from East Africa, abandoned by the smugglers who brought them into England, so while the Cornwall countryside is being scoured for the family, Eleanor herself descends into a dangerous den of smugglers in a desperate search to find the man responsible while there is still time.
MY THOUGHTS: I quite enjoyed this cosy mystery by Carola Dunn set in Cornwall. I usually prefer my reading somewhat darker, but I am a sucker for anything set in Cornwall. And while this may be classed as a 'cosy', it is not at all twee, like I have found some of them to be.
I enjoyed Eleanor's character, and the mystery is a good solid one. Plot development is steady, and the characters are well rounded. I would read more of this series, although I have tried another of this author's books and didn't find it particularly satisfying.
Although this is #3 in a series, this book worked perfectly well as a stand-alone.
***.5 stars
THE AUTHOR: Carola Dunn is the author of more than 30 Regency romances, as well as 16 mysteries (the Daisy Dalrymple mystery series is set in England in the 1920s). Ms. Dunn was born and grew up in England, where she got a B.A. in Russian and French from Manchester University. She travelled as far as Fiji before returning to settle in California. After 30 years in the US, she says she still sounds as if she arrived a month ago.
Prior to writing, Ms. Dunn’s various jobs included market research, child-care, construction--from foundation trenches to roofing--and writing definitions for a dictionary of science and technology. She wrote her first novel in 1979, a Regency which she sold to Warner Books.
Now living in Eugene, Oregon, Ms. Dunn has a son in California who has just made her a grandmother, and a large black dog named Willow who takes her for a walk by the Willamette River each morning.
DISCLOSURE: I listened to the audiobook version of Valley of the Shadow by Carola Dunn, narrated by Wanda McCaddon and published by Blackstone Audio, via Overdrive. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own opinions.
For an explanation of my rating system, please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page, or the about page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com
This and other reviews are also published on my webpage https://wordpress.com/posts/sandysboo...
"Gorgeous," said Megan.
"Good enough." Nick fiddled with his camera's settings, peered through, and fiddled some more.
Megan jumped down a slate step. Eleanor sat on it, the sun warm on her back.
"What's that?" Nick lowered the camera and pointed.
Eleanor peered, wishing she had brought binoculars. Something dark bobbed in the water. "A seal?"
"No." Megan's voice rang harsh. "It's a man. And if he's not already dead, he soon will be."
ABOUT THIS BOOK: While out on a walk, Eleanor Trewynn, her niece Megan, and her neighbor Nick spot a young, half-drowned Indian man floating in the water. Delirious and concussed, he utters a cryptic message about his family being trapped in a cave and his mother dying. The young man, unconscious and unable to help, is whisked away to a hospital while a desperate effort is mounted find the missing family in time.
The local police inspector presumes that they are refugees from East Africa, abandoned by the smugglers who brought them into England, so while the Cornwall countryside is being scoured for the family, Eleanor herself descends into a dangerous den of smugglers in a desperate search to find the man responsible while there is still time.
MY THOUGHTS: I quite enjoyed this cosy mystery by Carola Dunn set in Cornwall. I usually prefer my reading somewhat darker, but I am a sucker for anything set in Cornwall. And while this may be classed as a 'cosy', it is not at all twee, like I have found some of them to be.
I enjoyed Eleanor's character, and the mystery is a good solid one. Plot development is steady, and the characters are well rounded. I would read more of this series, although I have tried another of this author's books and didn't find it particularly satisfying.
Although this is #3 in a series, this book worked perfectly well as a stand-alone.
***.5 stars
THE AUTHOR: Carola Dunn is the author of more than 30 Regency romances, as well as 16 mysteries (the Daisy Dalrymple mystery series is set in England in the 1920s). Ms. Dunn was born and grew up in England, where she got a B.A. in Russian and French from Manchester University. She travelled as far as Fiji before returning to settle in California. After 30 years in the US, she says she still sounds as if she arrived a month ago.
Prior to writing, Ms. Dunn’s various jobs included market research, child-care, construction--from foundation trenches to roofing--and writing definitions for a dictionary of science and technology. She wrote her first novel in 1979, a Regency which she sold to Warner Books.
Now living in Eugene, Oregon, Ms. Dunn has a son in California who has just made her a grandmother, and a large black dog named Willow who takes her for a walk by the Willamette River each morning.
DISCLOSURE: I listened to the audiobook version of Valley of the Shadow by Carola Dunn, narrated by Wanda McCaddon and published by Blackstone Audio, via Overdrive. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own opinions.
For an explanation of my rating system, please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page, or the about page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com
This and other reviews are also published on my webpage https://wordpress.com/posts/sandysboo...
January 14, 2022
I'm really enjoying this series and Eleanor is such a hoot! She has this very unique ability that she doesn't let anyone know about but it's saved her from disaster in each book so far without anyone noticing and I find that so funny! A great mystery with a social justice tie-in -- sad that sixty years later it's a social justice issue -- and I'm really enjoying Wanda McCaddon's narration. There's a little more coarse language cropping up as the series progresses which I'm not a fan of, but still relatively tame.
January 22, 2014
This mystery is so cozy it doesn’t even have a murder. Although there are definitely victims, bodies floating in the sea, and a villain, the crime itself is entangled with the British foreign policies of the 1960s or perhaps ’70s – the author herself is unclear on her dates.
The entire root for the crime is an immigration issue. When the British Empire began to crumble in the ’60s, many African states, previously under the British rule, declared independence. British citizens were expelled. The white Brits returned to England. Unfortunately, many East Indians also worked for the British in Africa and held British passports. They were expelled too, of course, but the British government denied them the rights to settle in England. Those people had nowhere else to go. No other country, India included, would grant them citizenship. With British passports but no entry visas, many of them had no choice but vagrancy. Others opted for some illegal ways into the country. And of course, where the law is so inhuman it has to be broken, a number of greedy felons enter the fray. Human smuggling, money, and racism intertwine in unholy combinations, creating the background for this story.
Most of the characters investigating the crime are familiar to the readers from the previous novels of the series. Our old acquaintances include Eleanor, an absent-minded, retired lady who forgets to lock her doors but always remembers people and faces, and her niece Megan, a sergeant with the Cornish Police. There is also Megan’s boss, the grumpy DI Scumble, and Eleanor’s assorted friends and neighbors. Together, they solve the crime perpetrated before the novel started, but I won’t relay the details here to avoid spoilers. I would also point out that it’s not necessary to read the other novels of the series to appreciate this one; it stands firmly on its own.
The action is rather lagging, despite the urgency of the victims’ situation. Too many unnecessary chats, tea cups, and other trifling aspects are woven into the tale like red herrings, so the readers always wonder, together with the heroes: is this man important? Will this woman play a role later in the story? Some of those hints even pay off eventually, while others peter to nothing.
As always in Carola Dunn’s novels, I found a number of delightful British colloquialisms, some new to me, others not, but all worth repeating:
Fascia – a board over a shop front
Hoick – to rise or raise something abruptly and sharply
Gimbal – a device (see the technical explanation elsewhere)
Load of codswallop – nonsense, lots of it
On the whole – an easy, entertaining read, although nothing special.
The entire root for the crime is an immigration issue. When the British Empire began to crumble in the ’60s, many African states, previously under the British rule, declared independence. British citizens were expelled. The white Brits returned to England. Unfortunately, many East Indians also worked for the British in Africa and held British passports. They were expelled too, of course, but the British government denied them the rights to settle in England. Those people had nowhere else to go. No other country, India included, would grant them citizenship. With British passports but no entry visas, many of them had no choice but vagrancy. Others opted for some illegal ways into the country. And of course, where the law is so inhuman it has to be broken, a number of greedy felons enter the fray. Human smuggling, money, and racism intertwine in unholy combinations, creating the background for this story.
Most of the characters investigating the crime are familiar to the readers from the previous novels of the series. Our old acquaintances include Eleanor, an absent-minded, retired lady who forgets to lock her doors but always remembers people and faces, and her niece Megan, a sergeant with the Cornish Police. There is also Megan’s boss, the grumpy DI Scumble, and Eleanor’s assorted friends and neighbors. Together, they solve the crime perpetrated before the novel started, but I won’t relay the details here to avoid spoilers. I would also point out that it’s not necessary to read the other novels of the series to appreciate this one; it stands firmly on its own.
The action is rather lagging, despite the urgency of the victims’ situation. Too many unnecessary chats, tea cups, and other trifling aspects are woven into the tale like red herrings, so the readers always wonder, together with the heroes: is this man important? Will this woman play a role later in the story? Some of those hints even pay off eventually, while others peter to nothing.
As always in Carola Dunn’s novels, I found a number of delightful British colloquialisms, some new to me, others not, but all worth repeating:
Fascia – a board over a shop front
Hoick – to rise or raise something abruptly and sharply
Gimbal – a device (see the technical explanation elsewhere)
Load of codswallop – nonsense, lots of it
On the whole – an easy, entertaining read, although nothing special.
January 21, 2018
Just rather boring and a bit on the polemic side. Some thoughts on the series as a whole can be found on my blog at
https://thearomaofbooks.wordpress.com...
https://thearomaofbooks.wordpress.com...
January 28, 2023
I struggled a bit with the first two books as they were rather boring, but I’m glad I picked this one.
The mystery case is thrilling and more complex, there were not many unpredictable turns, but it didn’t spoil the story. The Indian family definitely saved the book. I loved how kind and friendly they are, also the names are beautiful.
The setting is still nice, but countryside stroll made it even better. Imagining all that nature, water, caves was a pleasant experience. Now, when I live in the large city, I miss the calmness of the country and this book was a delightful grounding.
The mystery case is thrilling and more complex, there were not many unpredictable turns, but it didn’t spoil the story. The Indian family definitely saved the book. I loved how kind and friendly they are, also the names are beautiful.
The setting is still nice, but countryside stroll made it even better. Imagining all that nature, water, caves was a pleasant experience. Now, when I live in the large city, I miss the calmness of the country and this book was a delightful grounding.
May 31, 2019
Megan Pencarow, still considered odd as a woman police officer, investigates this crime against Indian refugees abandoned in cave bounded by rough water. Her meddlesome aunt is a great help as are several friends & neighbors. Working on the theme of human responsibility to respect all other people & races, it's an adventuresome & entertaining story. Aunt Eleanor's forgetfulness, however, does become quite exasperating by the end.
May 20, 2022
Eleanor and her little dog are still fun to hang out with, as is her niece Megan, and all their assorted support group -- Nick the painter, Janice the parson's wife, Megan's cranky boss, her annoying old boyfriend.
January 25, 2019
enjoyable read
August 15, 2022
Great cosy mystery of the 60/70s, showing the appalling attitude of the then reigning government and their monstrous miss handling of the immigration mess the commonwealth breakup.
January 2, 2013
Carola Dunn is one of my favorite "cozy" writers. I've enjoyed her Daisy Dalrymple series for years although I came to it in the middle so I have some catching up to do. However, this is the third in this series featuring Eleanor Treywynn, a senior citizen who has retired to a small Cornish village. I started following the series as soon as the first came out. Cornwall is known for it's smugglers. It's apparently an easy journey to France where smugglers could bring back cigarettes and French goods that had high taxes on them. These books take place in the 70's before cell phones and computers. A young man is found nearly dead in the sea. Megan, a detective sgt, a niece of Eleanor's (known affectionately at Nell) has taken some time off for a picnic with her aunt and a local artist. Eleanor keeps hoping that a romance will develop between Megan and the artist, but so far no luck! Megan jumps into the sea to save him. Two hikers who are nearby offer assistance. Since there are no cell phones, Eleanor has to hike back up the steep hills, find a hotel nearby and a telephone. The young man is delirious and mutters something about the rest of his family in a cave. Of course, this being Britain, the fog rolls in and doesn't want to leave. However, rescue boats get out and finally find the family trapped in a cave. The family is Indian although they had lived in Africa for many years. However, now that the African companies are independent, they are expelling Indian families who have lived there for generations. Despite having British passports, they are not allowed into Britain which does not want an excess of dark skinned people in their midst. (Sound familiar?) The book was a bit slow in spots, but finishes at a rousing pace as everything comes together. It's an interesting look at a particular location in Britain that, like Ireland, Scotland and Brittany in France, had a large Celtic population.
September 15, 2015
I enjoyed this one. Eleanor Trewynn has retired and moved to a small town. Her niece, Megan, is a police detective, which is absolutely NOT the norm for the time frame. While walking Eleanor's dog, Eleanor, Megan, and Nick (Eleanor' neighbor and an artist) see a body in the water. Megan pulls him out. The mystery? Who is he? He is Indian, and there are not very many in the area. He manages a few words before he passes out.
July 28, 2018
So, I'm not the kind of reader who needs the first line to be ground-breaking but:
"'Yip" said Teazle hopefully.
'You're not supposed to beg at the table' Eleanor reminded her."
Really?! I read five pages of dull character scene-setting and then gave up. Which is a shame because I love Cornish mysteries. Maybe I'll stick to DuMaurier!
"'Yip" said Teazle hopefully.
'You're not supposed to beg at the table' Eleanor reminded her."
Really?! I read five pages of dull character scene-setting and then gave up. Which is a shame because I love Cornish mysteries. Maybe I'll stick to DuMaurier!
March 24, 2015
The classic cozy. Little old lady living in a picturesque town. Mysterious goings on at night. Smugglers . . . the whole works. All set in a quaint English sea side town.
A pleasant read all around.
A pleasant read all around.
June 6, 2014
Really enjoyed this book. I have never read a Cornish mystery before and will look forward to more books by Carola Dunn
February 26, 2018
These pleasant little mysteries have an interesting cast of characters and a decent plot. While neither a page-turner nor great literature, these titles are a great way to spend a wintry afternoon.
November 12, 2018
I still enjoy Carola Dunn books, both this series and the Daisy Dalrymple series. The library didn't have the Cornish Mystery book 2, so I jumped to book 3.
The story pulled me right in with the opening rescue scene.
Although I haven't been to the Cornish part of the United Kingdom, I have been to other coastlines of the United Kingdom, and I felt I could just see that sort of coastline. I've even been in a cave on an island in the UK, by way of a small boat, but the one I was in had unusual geology. So, I enjoyed Dunn's settings and descriptions.
It was funny that Eleanor used self-defense while trying to make it not look like self-defense.
I still like the characters. Eleanor's forgetfulness still didn't bother me as much as it did some reviewers, but it didn't seem to be as prevalent or as funny as it was in book 1. Upon reading book 1, "Manna from Hades," my husband said that Eleanor's forgetfulness reminded him of some sweet, older ladies that we know. (No names here, but I knew whom he meant!) So, Eleanor's forgetfulness didn't bother him, either, because it reminded him of their sweetness. I found that funny, but yes, I could imagine them in her role.
Unlike most of Carola Dunn's books, this story was mostly about a search-and-rescue rather than a murder mystery. SPOILER - There was illegal activity and neglect, but not malice aforethought. I didn't mind the deviation from her usual writing because it was still suspenseful.
I did not figure out whodunit, but I'm not convinced we had enough clues early on to do so. We found out as they had the clues. I think that one, or perhaps two (one is debatable) of S. S. Van Dine's rules for writing mysteries, for giving the reader fair play at solving it, were broken.
After the search and rescue part of the book, I nearly lost interest in the search for the perpetrator of the crime. I'm not entirely sure why. I would have been if people I'd known in real life had been treated in that way. It was just more mundane, until nearly the end of the book, and then it took a bizarre turn.
Eleanor thought complaints of Jocelyn so often in her mind that I wondered why they were still friends. She also had negative thoughts of Mrs. Davies, and more understandably, of Scumble. She did still like both her niece, Megan, and Nick, or else I'd wonder if she were just getting old and cranky. She seemed to have a more pleasant character in the first book. She does still dote on her niece and dog. One of the other reviewers commented that Eleanor's real problem was her inner sense of arrogance towards these other people, and I could see that. Although I enjoyed this book, I did quit reading one other mystery series because, in part, the protagonist was so negative about everyone else, so arrogant. (Alexander McCall Smith's "The Sunday Morning Philosophy Club") So I have will have to see if this bothers me more as I go along the series.
One of the other characters compared Eleanor to Agatha Christie's Miss Marple character, and I also thought she still resembled Dorothy Gilman's Mrs. Pollifax.
Favorite quotes:
"Eleanor reminded herself of the wisdom of allowing people to follow their charitable impulses."
"Life is dangerous. It invariably leads to death."
"The whole point is that there is hope even in the valley of the shadow of death." (Yes, I know that because Jocelyn said it, and Carola Dunn even had the character say it severely, Eleanor didn't agree. Maybe Ms. Dunn doesn't either. But I do.)
The story pulled me right in with the opening rescue scene.
Although I haven't been to the Cornish part of the United Kingdom, I have been to other coastlines of the United Kingdom, and I felt I could just see that sort of coastline. I've even been in a cave on an island in the UK, by way of a small boat, but the one I was in had unusual geology. So, I enjoyed Dunn's settings and descriptions.
It was funny that Eleanor used self-defense while trying to make it not look like self-defense.
I still like the characters. Eleanor's forgetfulness still didn't bother me as much as it did some reviewers, but it didn't seem to be as prevalent or as funny as it was in book 1. Upon reading book 1, "Manna from Hades," my husband said that Eleanor's forgetfulness reminded him of some sweet, older ladies that we know. (No names here, but I knew whom he meant!) So, Eleanor's forgetfulness didn't bother him, either, because it reminded him of their sweetness. I found that funny, but yes, I could imagine them in her role.
Unlike most of Carola Dunn's books, this story was mostly about a search-and-rescue rather than a murder mystery. SPOILER - There was illegal activity and neglect, but not malice aforethought. I didn't mind the deviation from her usual writing because it was still suspenseful.
I did not figure out whodunit, but I'm not convinced we had enough clues early on to do so. We found out as they had the clues. I think that one, or perhaps two (one is debatable) of S. S. Van Dine's rules for writing mysteries, for giving the reader fair play at solving it, were broken.
After the search and rescue part of the book, I nearly lost interest in the search for the perpetrator of the crime. I'm not entirely sure why. I would have been if people I'd known in real life had been treated in that way. It was just more mundane, until nearly the end of the book, and then it took a bizarre turn.
Eleanor thought complaints of Jocelyn so often in her mind that I wondered why they were still friends. She also had negative thoughts of Mrs. Davies, and more understandably, of Scumble. She did still like both her niece, Megan, and Nick, or else I'd wonder if she were just getting old and cranky. She seemed to have a more pleasant character in the first book. She does still dote on her niece and dog. One of the other reviewers commented that Eleanor's real problem was her inner sense of arrogance towards these other people, and I could see that. Although I enjoyed this book, I did quit reading one other mystery series because, in part, the protagonist was so negative about everyone else, so arrogant. (Alexander McCall Smith's "The Sunday Morning Philosophy Club") So I have will have to see if this bothers me more as I go along the series.
One of the other characters compared Eleanor to Agatha Christie's Miss Marple character, and I also thought she still resembled Dorothy Gilman's Mrs. Pollifax.
Favorite quotes:
"Eleanor reminded herself of the wisdom of allowing people to follow their charitable impulses."
"Life is dangerous. It invariably leads to death."
"The whole point is that there is hope even in the valley of the shadow of death." (Yes, I know that because Jocelyn said it, and Carola Dunn even had the character say it severely, Eleanor didn't agree. Maybe Ms. Dunn doesn't either. But I do.)
September 28, 2018
In Cornwall in the recent past, retired world-traveler-for-charities (is there a better way to put that?) Eleanor Trewynn lives in the small town of Port Mabyn and rather accidentally gets involved in a lot of murders, to the despair of the local Inspector Scumble and Eleanor's police sergeant niece Meghan. This time, the murder is a bit different. While out for walk on a rocky coast, Eleanor, Meghan, and Eleanor's artistic neighbor Nick spot a man floating in the water. After a dramatic rescue, he rouses briefly in the hospital to convey that his whole family is trapped in a cave. How did an entire family of Indian descent get stuck in a Cornish cave? As Eleanor and Meghan start exploring the world of Cornish smuggling--which is no longer limited to alcohol and lace--the clock is ticking on being able to save the family. Will they find them in time? And either way, can they find out who is responsible?
I enjoy this series because forgetful Eleanor is such fun, and I like the other characters as well. There's a lot of setting detail, which I love, and the author has clearly done her research into refugee issues of the appropriate time. It's not something I knew beforehand. Usually I'm not keen on having international politics in my cozy mysteries, but this was well done and had lots of the usual humor and heart, so I enjoyed it as well as learning something.
I enjoy this series because forgetful Eleanor is such fun, and I like the other characters as well. There's a lot of setting detail, which I love, and the author has clearly done her research into refugee issues of the appropriate time. It's not something I knew beforehand. Usually I'm not keen on having international politics in my cozy mysteries, but this was well done and had lots of the usual humor and heart, so I enjoyed it as well as learning something.
May 6, 2022
This Series Just Gets Better and Better!
This is a fascinating story with a sad historical backdrop that many, many people would have forgotten. It concerns a period of the British Empire history that is conveniently glossed over. I thoroughly this book because it tells the individual human story behind the callousness of Government policy… I believe that there will be a reckoning for this, one day.
The plot is well outlined, the story is not frivolous, but well told, with the interweaving of the various characters idiosyncratic personalities!
I can honestly say that, the first story, introducing this series, was so underwhelming that it could have dissuaded one from continuing - that would be a shame. However, since then, the stories have got better and more interesting.
Head and shoulders above Daisy Dalrymple!
I listened to the audiobook version of this title. The narrator, Wanda McCaddon, is ok. Dialects and accents are not her strong points. Also, she gets the characters voices mixed up/intertwined in some dialogues which makes it challenging to discern which character said what… but overall, it was a pleasant listen.
This is a fascinating story with a sad historical backdrop that many, many people would have forgotten. It concerns a period of the British Empire history that is conveniently glossed over. I thoroughly this book because it tells the individual human story behind the callousness of Government policy… I believe that there will be a reckoning for this, one day.
The plot is well outlined, the story is not frivolous, but well told, with the interweaving of the various characters idiosyncratic personalities!
I can honestly say that, the first story, introducing this series, was so underwhelming that it could have dissuaded one from continuing - that would be a shame. However, since then, the stories have got better and more interesting.
Head and shoulders above Daisy Dalrymple!
I listened to the audiobook version of this title. The narrator, Wanda McCaddon, is ok. Dialects and accents are not her strong points. Also, she gets the characters voices mixed up/intertwined in some dialogues which makes it challenging to discern which character said what… but overall, it was a pleasant listen.
August 13, 2025
I was a bit desperate for reading material when I picked this up, as I had read the first in the series and been unimpressed. Happy to find this one much better.
A senior, semi-retired NGO employee in a '70 s Cornish village is the MC, with a convenient niece in the police. A nearly-drowned man is the intro to a problem of human smugglers.
Dunn spends less time emphasizing the MC's absent-mindedness, and generally has all the recurring characters: the niece, the vicar's wife, the police inspector --seem less annoying than I remembered.
A senior, semi-retired NGO employee in a '70 s Cornish village is the MC, with a convenient niece in the police. A nearly-drowned man is the intro to a problem of human smugglers.
Dunn spends less time emphasizing the MC's absent-mindedness, and generally has all the recurring characters: the niece, the vicar's wife, the police inspector --seem less annoying than I remembered.
August 27, 2020
The jump from naked body to hidden immigrants seems long, but in the UK political and Cornish coast environment, perhaps not. So the mystery is somewhat sacrificed for a race against time, weather, and disbelief. Ellie is no doddery retiree, she's smart, active, and fit, in brain and body, a pleasure to visit with. She does spend a lot of time with her vicar wife friend Joce, cop niece, and neighbor Nick, revisiting and reworking theories and clues.
September 19, 2020
Caution: this review contains what might be considered a spoiler. So be forewarned.
This mystery is different in that it's not really a murder mystery. I kind of like that it revolves around something else, but still has a "whodunnit" aspect. I enjoyed listening to it, although I knew practically right away who was involved because why else would the author throw in a random stranger with such detailed description?
Anyway, I enjoyed it.
This mystery is different in that it's not really a murder mystery. I kind of like that it revolves around something else, but still has a "whodunnit" aspect. I enjoyed listening to it, although I knew practically right away who was involved because why else would the author throw in a random stranger with such detailed description?
Anyway, I enjoyed it.
December 20, 2021
I’d have preferred to give this 4&1/2 but there’s no half option!
Enjoyable. Overall I don’t enjoy them as much as the DD novels, but I am only on my third. The story was interesting, thought provoking and relevant, but I felt the ending was a bit clichéd, I also find a lot of novels (and in fact tv shows and movies) are a bit odd with the way they portray death, and how it affects other people (in that it doesn’t really). Still pleasant as a diversion ☺️☺️
Enjoyable. Overall I don’t enjoy them as much as the DD novels, but I am only on my third. The story was interesting, thought provoking and relevant, but I felt the ending was a bit clichéd, I also find a lot of novels (and in fact tv shows and movies) are a bit odd with the way they portray death, and how it affects other people (in that it doesn’t really). Still pleasant as a diversion ☺️☺️
July 28, 2022
This series is rather vague about when it's set. Pre-cellphone. Wearing stockings is still normal. Few women are in the police force. Sorta 80s-ish?
In this one Megan gets to shine with her skills and stamina as a sergeant. (I think that's her rank?)
It also explores the difficulties created by changes in British law, which left some people from former colonies without citizenship anywhere - and those who would take advantage of it.
In this one Megan gets to shine with her skills and stamina as a sergeant. (I think that's her rank?)
It also explores the difficulties created by changes in British law, which left some people from former colonies without citizenship anywhere - and those who would take advantage of it.
October 13, 2022
DNF. Was getting quite interesting when I came upon the (so very tedious) inevitable slight to my religion. Why authors, who believe themselves to be oh so much more intelligent than simple minded I, feel the need to spout their views seemingly to enlighten my poor self when I do not feel the need to reciprocate, even though mine is the religion being bashed, is beyond my feeble intellect. Really. Can't we just have a cosy mystery?
June 24, 2017
This book doesn't really get going until about 2/3 of the way in. The mystery itself (a nearly-drowned man rescued from the dangerous waters off a rocky coast in Cornwall) is thin, but the appeal of the book lies mainly in the familiar characters of the series and the unique setting of Cornwall in the early 1970's.
December 15, 2023
Another Really Good One
I am loving this series. Dunn has created a thoroughly enjoyable cast of characters, has a real feel for what active, intelligent women in the late 60’s were dealing with and throws in an intricate crime. I love that her retired Good citizen is just minding her own business and her policewoman niece does the legwork and they both solve the crime.
I am loving this series. Dunn has created a thoroughly enjoyable cast of characters, has a real feel for what active, intelligent women in the late 60’s were dealing with and throws in an intricate crime. I love that her retired Good citizen is just minding her own business and her policewoman niece does the legwork and they both solve the crime.
August 3, 2021
Reading this series slightly out of order. I find myself not too interested at the beginning of each book but am hooked about 50 pages in. Definitely a cozy series with likeable characters and a good setting that plays a role in the mystery
December 29, 2021
I've really enjoyed reading this series. I can understand why some people may think the action is too slow (and some of the information gets repetitive) but there are a lot of interesting details in the cases and the characters are fun.
June 13, 2022
Fortunately this one was a huge improvement over #2. I think I like this one the best of the three so far. If I weren't driving across country, and if these audio books were not readily available from my library for download, I might not keep reading them
May 26, 2017
So terribly boring!!!
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