The Quayle Assignment

Janet Markham Bennett Cozy #17

by Diana Xarissa

Janet is delighted when an assignment from Smith takes her and Edward to the Isle of Man. They arrange to stay in a cottage on Laxey Beach, which means Janet should get to spend some time with her good friend, Bessie Cubbon. The assignment, though, is a tricky one.



Breaking into banks in the middle of the night isn’t on Janet’s list of fun holiday activities, but she and Edward need to find a very special ring in a safe deposit box in one on the banks on the island. Finding it is one thing. Avoiding the owner is another.



The ring belongs to Mona Kelly, who has agency connections. Smith is insistent that Mona not find out about the assignment, which means trying not to bump into the woman, who has met Edward in the past.



The Isle of Man is a small place, though, and it isn’t long before Janet and Edward encounter Mona. While she seems to believe that they are on the island for a holiday, she also wants them to help out a friend of hers who has a problem. Janet finds herself low on sleep and high on adrenaline in this latest adventure.

169 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 5, 2025

About the author

Diana 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.

Reviews

[Hlsabine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Back to isle of man, with appearance by Mona!

This was an enjoyable adventure with Janet and Edward in the Isle of Man. We also get appearances from aunt Bessie and Mona! I really enjoyed this book.

[A G A VAN DEN BOS · Rating 1 out of 5]

If you are into stories that have almost as much emphasis on food as a gourmandizers autobiography, then you will love this one. Otherwise, be prepared to once again be treated to a dialogue which screams of the authors own demonstrations of lacking knowledge or having done any reasonable research. Instead, it relies heavily upon insulting readers intelligence. To make this even more complete, there is also a considerable interdependence on mixing characters, scenarios, and even exact wording from books from other series written by the author.
Additionally, given the difficulty to maintain a mediocre fantasy for a self-determined fifteen chapters, a second convenient assignment just happens to require attention.

[Donna Coffey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another winner! 5 stars

I was looking for something to read on yet *another* cold grey afternoon, and then I remembered... " The Quayle Assignment " is out today! What a delightful way to spend my afternoon, Diana Xarissa! A glass of wine, a blanket, a couple kitties and I read it cover to cover.

This is yet another winner from my favourite author.. Don't miss it. :). :). :::: waves at Mona ::::

[Sue Hampshire · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another sequel in the Janet Markham Bennett cozy thrillers!

Diana Xarissa has done it again. This time the Bennett visit the Isle of Mann where they are involved in two different capers. Will they solve them?

[Carola Mac · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lovely

I love Janet and Edward’s adventures. They make such a lovely couple. And in the Isle of Man, no less, I really enjoyed that.