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Aunt Bessie Cold Case Mystery #13
The Moss File
When Andrew comes back for another cold case meeting, he’s cautiously optimistic about their chances of solving the case he’s chosen. Douglas Moss was murdered and there are only four possible suspects. The problem is none of the suspects seem to have had a motive for killing Douglas.
As Bessie and her friends dig into the cold case, Bessie has something else on her mind. After living in her cottage for more years than she wants to admit, Bessie has just started to wonder how it got its name. Treoghe Bwaane means Widow’s Cottage in Manx, but who was the widow?
The cold case unit has to sift through twelve years of follow-up interviews, looking for missed hints as to what really happened in the Allegheny National Forest on the night that Douglas Moss died. Meanwhile, Bessie is spending her spare time in the Manx Museum archives, going through records that are considerably older. When she discovers that a man’s body was found on Laxey Beach some twenty years before she bought her cottage, her suspicions immediately turn to murder.
As Bessie and her friends dig into the cold case, Bessie has something else on her mind. After living in her cottage for more years than she wants to admit, Bessie has just started to wonder how it got its name. Treoghe Bwaane means Widow’s Cottage in Manx, but who was the widow?
The cold case unit has to sift through twelve years of follow-up interviews, looking for missed hints as to what really happened in the Allegheny National Forest on the night that Douglas Moss died. Meanwhile, Bessie is spending her spare time in the Manx Museum archives, going through records that are considerably older. When she discovers that a man’s body was found on Laxey Beach some twenty years before she bought her cottage, her suspicions immediately turn to murder.
- GenresMystery
222 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 5, 2024
347 people are currently reading
9 people want to read
About the author
Diana Xarissa
199 books264 followersDiana started self-publishing in 2013 and over a decade later she now has over a hundred books available for readers. Writing remains her passion and she has no plans to stop writing in the foreseeable future.
Diana grew up in Erie, Pennsylvania, and earned a history degree from Allegheny College. She met her husband, an Englishman, while living and working in Washington, DC. Following their marriage, she moved to Derbyshire. A short while later, the happy couple moved to the Isle of Man.
During their years on the island, Diana and her husband welcomed two children, and Diana completed a master’s degree in the history of the island. In 2008, the family made the decision to move to the US. Now empty-nesters, Diana and her husband are living in the suburbs of Buffalo, New York, and contemplating moving somewhere that doesn’t get snow.
Diana also writes mystery/thrillers set in the not-too-distant future as Diana X. Dunn and Young Adult fiction as D.X. Dunn.
Diana grew up in Erie, Pennsylvania, and earned a history degree from Allegheny College. She met her husband, an Englishman, while living and working in Washington, DC. Following their marriage, she moved to Derbyshire. A short while later, the happy couple moved to the Isle of Man.
During their years on the island, Diana and her husband welcomed two children, and Diana completed a master’s degree in the history of the island. In 2008, the family made the decision to move to the US. Now empty-nesters, Diana and her husband are living in the suburbs of Buffalo, New York, and contemplating moving somewhere that doesn’t get snow.
Diana also writes mystery/thrillers set in the not-too-distant future as Diana X. Dunn and Young Adult fiction as D.X. Dunn.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
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July 19, 2024Each book in this series is an unexpected pleasure. Not that it is high literature, but because each new story builds upon the rest. There are grand arches that involve all the characters either as principles or as friends watching the tales unfold.
There are also the crimes which are intelligently handled. The team discusses the ins and outs like I believe we would. Thus there are no Ah-Ha! moments. Instead the unknown is chipped away at until the truth is exposed.
Ultimately a cozy mystery, there aren't the usual things in cozy books that annoy me. They are just nicely done. [Although I admit that since I'm watching my calories I wish there was less talk of delicious meals, lol]
There are also the crimes which are intelligently handled. The team discusses the ins and outs like I believe we would. Thus there are no Ah-Ha! moments. Instead the unknown is chipped away at until the truth is exposed.
Ultimately a cozy mystery, there aren't the usual things in cozy books that annoy me. They are just nicely done. [Although I admit that since I'm watching my calories I wish there was less talk of delicious meals, lol]
May 4, 2024
Twelve years ago, five twenty-somethings went camping in the Allegheny National Forest in Pennsylvania, USA. Only four of them survived the weekend trip.
Now, Aunt Bessie and the cold case unit are looking into the circumstances surrounding the murder. It appears to be almost a classic "locked-room" murder, as it doesn't seem possible that the murderer could be anyone else but one of the four survivors.
There is no clear motive for the young man's death. However, if Aunt Bessie and her colleagues can figure out the "why," it's possible that will lead them to the "who."
Now, Aunt Bessie and the cold case unit are looking into the circumstances surrounding the murder. It appears to be almost a classic "locked-room" murder, as it doesn't seem possible that the murderer could be anyone else but one of the four survivors.
There is no clear motive for the young man's death. However, if Aunt Bessie and her colleagues can figure out the "why," it's possible that will lead them to the "who."
June 13, 2024
Amazing How Things Get Overlooked
The Cold Case Team asks questions that should have been asked 12 years ago, and a deranged person is revealed. As always Aunt Bessie is charming. There is a reason why I read every book Diana Xarissa writes. Every book is well written, well edited, and thoroughly enjoyable.
The Cold Case Team asks questions that should have been asked 12 years ago, and a deranged person is revealed. As always Aunt Bessie is charming. There is a reason why I read every book Diana Xarissa writes. Every book is well written, well edited, and thoroughly enjoyable.
June 21, 2024
The Squad takes a Guess
A lot of “around the world” guessing until they finally came up with the killer. I also liked the second story about why the cottage is named the Widows Cottage. I think Elizabeth’s story was used as a filler because it had no bearing on the cold case or the Widow’s Cottage.
A lot of “around the world” guessing until they finally came up with the killer. I also liked the second story about why the cottage is named the Widows Cottage. I think Elizabeth’s story was used as a filler because it had no bearing on the cold case or the Widow’s Cottage.
June 7, 2024
Fabulous...one of your best! The Moss File
Read this one in one sitting, yes I did! (Well, I was tired after cleaning the house and cutting the grass you know!). I was right about the murderer too (it was twisty)...and was glad! I really enjoyed this one a LOT....
Read this one in one sitting, yes I did! (Well, I was tired after cleaning the house and cutting the grass you know!). I was right about the murderer too (it was twisty)...and was glad! I really enjoyed this one a LOT....
June 10, 2024
Another good one
Maybe this one was not as exciting as some others but I enjoyed it even if the name of Bessie’s cottage was not fully explained, I hope that story keeps going. Looking forward to the next one even though I’m going to hate that journalist.
Maybe this one was not as exciting as some others but I enjoyed it even if the name of Bessie’s cottage was not fully explained, I hope that story keeps going. Looking forward to the next one even though I’m going to hate that journalist.
June 7, 2024
Good series
June 16, 2024
I love all the main characters but this mystery to be solved didn’t grab me at all.
June 10, 2024
Another fantastic cold case mystery for Aunt Bessie and her friends. I sort of guessed the villain - my guess was between two people, and I loved the search for the previous owner of Bessie's cottage.
August 22, 2024
A star for honesty. One of the chapters in this book very aptly reviews itself and the series.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews