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Isle of Man #7
Aunt Bessie Goes
Aunt Bessie goes house hunting with her friend, John Rockwell.
CID Inspector John Rockwell asks Bessie Cubbon, a longtime resident of the village of Laxey where she's known to just about everyone as "Aunt Bessie," to help him find the perfect house in the village. What they find in one of the bedrooms of the last house they visit isn't what either of them was expecting.
Aunt Bessie goes to look at furniture with John as well.
Again, they find the unexpected, this time in a furniture storage unit in Jurby. But are the two cases, separated by thirty years, connected?
Aunt Bessie goes to great lengths to try to figure out what's happening before anyone else goes missing or ends up dead.
CID Inspector John Rockwell asks Bessie Cubbon, a longtime resident of the village of Laxey where she's known to just about everyone as "Aunt Bessie," to help him find the perfect house in the village. What they find in one of the bedrooms of the last house they visit isn't what either of them was expecting.
Aunt Bessie goes to look at furniture with John as well.
Again, they find the unexpected, this time in a furniture storage unit in Jurby. But are the two cases, separated by thirty years, connected?
Aunt Bessie goes to great lengths to try to figure out what's happening before anyone else goes missing or ends up dead.
242 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 16, 2015
241 people are currently reading
124 people want to read
About the author
Diana Xarissa
223 books262 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 - 30 of 34 reviews
March 22, 2022
Book seven in the series in which Aunt Bessie goes house hunting with her friend John and they discover more than they expected in the form of dead bodies. It is a good thing John is a Police Inspector.
As usual Bessie uses her contacts and friends to discover information which helps the police solve the case. She suffers a few very unpleasant moments and comes a little too close to the murderer but of course all is well by the end of the book.
Aunt Bessie always reminds me of Miss Marple and I always smile when she is reading an Agatha Christie novel as she does in this book. This time it is Poirot but I am sure she reads Miss Marple sometimes too.
These are nice, safe, reliable books to read when you do not want to be challenged or disturbed, and there is nothing wrong with that!
As usual Bessie uses her contacts and friends to discover information which helps the police solve the case. She suffers a few very unpleasant moments and comes a little too close to the murderer but of course all is well by the end of the book.
Aunt Bessie always reminds me of Miss Marple and I always smile when she is reading an Agatha Christie novel as she does in this book. This time it is Poirot but I am sure she reads Miss Marple sometimes too.
These are nice, safe, reliable books to read when you do not want to be challenged or disturbed, and there is nothing wrong with that!
October 6, 2024
Author Diana Xarissa does a wonderful job with this seventh novel in this cozy series featuring Aunt Bessie (a.k.a. Elizabeth Cubbon) — and the best one so far. Aunt Bessie accompanies Inspector John Rockwell house hunting when he goes to look at a house for sale in Laxey, Isle of Man. Surprisingly, they discover a dead body with a pair of suitcases hidden behind a wall for decades.
The presumption is that the dead young man is Adam King, son of Nancy King (who met her demise in Aunt Bessie Enjoys); people thought he’d gone off to Australia in 1967 and never looked back. I won’t ruin this book by telling too much, but I can say there are plenty of twists and the reappearance of characters from previous Aunt Bessie books. Highly recommended.
The presumption is that the dead young man is Adam King, son of Nancy King (who met her demise in Aunt Bessie Enjoys); people thought he’d gone off to Australia in 1967 and never looked back. I won’t ruin this book by telling too much, but I can say there are plenty of twists and the reappearance of characters from previous Aunt Bessie books. Highly recommended.
November 28, 2015
Struggling with how to rate this one.
Aunt Bessie accompanies Inspector Rockwell to look at houses, as he is divorcing his wife and wants to live in Laxey. One of the houses they look at is the home of Bessie's friend from Book 5 (Aunt Bessie Enjoys) and Rockwell finds a body entombed between walls. Soon another body turns up, and is probably related to the first body found. And so, Bessie is off to find another murderer.
On one hand, this is a fun series, and this book tied up a few loose ends from previous books. On the other hand, this mystery wasn't solved, the murders were confessed by the killer. I don't know if the author wrote herself into a corner or what, but it seemed like it was an easy way out and was kind of a let down.
Overall, an enjoyable book but I felt this book didn't quite measure up to the earlier books in the series. But still a really great read.
Aunt Bessie accompanies Inspector Rockwell to look at houses, as he is divorcing his wife and wants to live in Laxey. One of the houses they look at is the home of Bessie's friend from Book 5 (Aunt Bessie Enjoys) and Rockwell finds a body entombed between walls. Soon another body turns up, and is probably related to the first body found. And so, Bessie is off to find another murderer.
On one hand, this is a fun series, and this book tied up a few loose ends from previous books. On the other hand, this mystery wasn't solved, the murders were confessed by the killer. I don't know if the author wrote herself into a corner or what, but it seemed like it was an easy way out and was kind of a let down.
Overall, an enjoyable book but I felt this book didn't quite measure up to the earlier books in the series. But still a really great read.
October 18, 2015
This was excellent! I can hardly wait for the new book in this series to come out and MUST read it the day it hits the shelves... Xarissa has me hooked on Aunt Bessie! In this one, Aunt Bessie goes to help CID John Rockwell find a new home in Laxley and instead, they find a body in a wall... one that's been there for 30 years. This begins a whole new mystery that has ties to things that have happened in other books along the way. I loved it, although I wish the ending had been a bit more final for the criminal, but we shall see if he turns up again...
September 28, 2025
Book 7 finished, and this cozy mystery series is still fun to read. Yes, the stories are pretty much the same, but they are not all that easy to figure out. So, I will keep going.
April 8, 2020
This is a wonderful story. I still hate all of the titles for this series, and I hope they won't dissuade or confuse readers. The book titles seemed like nonsense when I first saw the Aunt Bessie books recommended in a sidebar, but after seeing a friend's review on Goodreads, I gave it a chance, and I'm thrilled I did. The alphabetical nature of the titles is good in theory but not in practice. It's difficult to remember which book is which mystery/case. They're best read sequentially to get the full impact of all the setups/payoffs, so I find myself thinking in terms of their numbering rather than anything else. For this installment, which I've been calling, "Aunt Bessie's Body in the Wall," is the perfect example of the nuanced foreshadowing and setups peppered throughout the previous books. It's like the series has finally hit its stride, with the author being more in tune with each personality of the entire milieu, and lays out the mystery in a clear and concise manner.
The structure of the narrative is spot-on with the placement of the inciting incident et al. The midpoint victim discovered around 52% was both shocking and exciting. It was one of those things I briefly considered as a possibility but couldn't work out how it might happen. The way it unfolded felt natural but also like a surprising twist at the same time. That makes for such an excellent cozy!
The payoffs to things set up in the previous book serve as zingers and twists throughout the second half. All that combined with backstory reveals peppered in bite-sized chunks throughout the character development moments, make this is a satisfying read. In previous installments, the case recaps or dinner table summaries felt a bit much. Here, they're not as heavy-handed or overdone. We get just the right amount of Dave, the driver as well.
There's still so much to explore in terms of character and cast dynamics with Hugh relegated to such a supporting role here, Grace never really got much time on the page. We've yet to find out how she likes her new job or if she's found a chance to wear one of the hats Bessie gave her. The young cafe owners introduced here, if the next few installments follow the setup/payoff pattern already established, should feature more prominently in an upcoming mystery/case. I can't wait to read what kind of role they'll play going forward.
We see new sides to Mary Quayle, and I hope that continues as well. This book is the first to overtly present the mutual attraction in the Doona-John love story that's unfolded over the last several books. Previously it was barely suggested, then hinted at, then large clues were dropped, so it's really satisfying to see how their arc is developing over the series.
I've arrived late to this series - which is now well over 20 books and counting. I've already begun the next one. Even if you're not a KU member, this is a great series to binge.
The structure of the narrative is spot-on with the placement of the inciting incident et al. The midpoint victim discovered around 52% was both shocking and exciting. It was one of those things I briefly considered as a possibility but couldn't work out how it might happen. The way it unfolded felt natural but also like a surprising twist at the same time. That makes for such an excellent cozy!
The payoffs to things set up in the previous book serve as zingers and twists throughout the second half. All that combined with backstory reveals peppered in bite-sized chunks throughout the character development moments, make this is a satisfying read. In previous installments, the case recaps or dinner table summaries felt a bit much. Here, they're not as heavy-handed or overdone. We get just the right amount of Dave, the driver as well.
There's still so much to explore in terms of character and cast dynamics with Hugh relegated to such a supporting role here, Grace never really got much time on the page. We've yet to find out how she likes her new job or if she's found a chance to wear one of the hats Bessie gave her. The young cafe owners introduced here, if the next few installments follow the setup/payoff pattern already established, should feature more prominently in an upcoming mystery/case. I can't wait to read what kind of role they'll play going forward.
We see new sides to Mary Quayle, and I hope that continues as well. This book is the first to overtly present the mutual attraction in the Doona-John love story that's unfolded over the last several books. Previously it was barely suggested, then hinted at, then large clues were dropped, so it's really satisfying to see how their arc is developing over the series.
I've arrived late to this series - which is now well over 20 books and counting. I've already begun the next one. Even if you're not a KU member, this is a great series to binge.
September 17, 2020
Aunt Bessie Goes ... house-hunting with her friend, Inspector John Rockwell. In the last house they visit, the King Cottage, the Inspector notices some severe water damage in one room; opening up the wall, he finds a body and some suitcases behind it.
Circumstantial evidence suggests that the body may belong to Adam King, who was rumored to have "emigrated to Australia" back in 1967. But if that's so, why was Adam entombed behind a wall in a cottage which was owned by his parents?
While Inspector Rockwell begins an official police investigation, Aunt Bessie Goes ... to her own sources, people who knew Adam back in 1967 and may be able to tell her more about his personal life and what may have led someone to murder him.
Circumstantial evidence suggests that the body may belong to Adam King, who was rumored to have "emigrated to Australia" back in 1967. But if that's so, why was Adam entombed behind a wall in a cottage which was owned by his parents?
While Inspector Rockwell begins an official police investigation, Aunt Bessie Goes ... to her own sources, people who knew Adam back in 1967 and may be able to tell her more about his personal life and what may have led someone to murder him.
October 5, 2017
Aunt Bessie Series
Bessie's friend John Rockwell is looking to buy a house and asks Bessie to go with him to look at properties. When they go to look at Nancy King"s (who recently was poisoned) they discover a body behind a wall. The body turns out to have been there for 30 years and is Nancy's son Adam King. How Bessie discovers what happened is fascinating. Another great mystery in the series with a cliffhanger ending. Definitely recommend this book and the series.
Bessie's friend John Rockwell is looking to buy a house and asks Bessie to go with him to look at properties. When they go to look at Nancy King"s (who recently was poisoned) they discover a body behind a wall. The body turns out to have been there for 30 years and is Nancy's son Adam King. How Bessie discovers what happened is fascinating. Another great mystery in the series with a cliffhanger ending. Definitely recommend this book and the series.
October 9, 2017
Another page turner
As usual, Diane Xarissa has presented another intriguing mystery, this one surrounding the skeletal remains found behind a false wall. Plenty of plot twists kept me guessing, and the ending leaves room for yet another mystery in this series. I'm off to start the next book!
As usual, Diane Xarissa has presented another intriguing mystery, this one surrounding the skeletal remains found behind a false wall. Plenty of plot twists kept me guessing, and the ending leaves room for yet another mystery in this series. I'm off to start the next book!
September 4, 2019
A well crafted tale
This is another interesting, rather low-suspense story, in the series. As the inspector, with Aunt Bessie's help, delves into the old mystery, they uncover the trail of a very crafty criminal, and another body. But to tie these deaths to to the one responsible is a challenge.
This is another interesting, rather low-suspense story, in the series. As the inspector, with Aunt Bessie's help, delves into the old mystery, they uncover the trail of a very crafty criminal, and another body. But to tie these deaths to to the one responsible is a challenge.
May 21, 2021
Interesting house hunt
This story draws quite a bit on its immediate predecessor, so wouldn’t be a good one to start this series.
It takes place on various parts off the island, with some descriptions of the geography and quirks of the island, which are part of the charm of the series.
An interest, and quite convoluted mystery.
This story draws quite a bit on its immediate predecessor, so wouldn’t be a good one to start this series.
It takes place on various parts off the island, with some descriptions of the geography and quirks of the island, which are part of the charm of the series.
An interest, and quite convoluted mystery.
December 6, 2022
These are a nice cozy series that I enjoy reading Free with Kindle Unlimited. My only wish is that the character, Bessie had a hobby besides reading. Aside from solving mysteries, reading and housecleaning, this character does almost nothing else. Oh, yeah, she spends some time at the Historical Museum, sometimes.
July 9, 2017
Just ok
I enjoyed the island setting and the supporting characters are quite well written but Aunt Bessie drives me crazy. She is so smug and righteous. I will probably keep reading the series, however, as I receive them for free through kindle unlimited.
I enjoyed the island setting and the supporting characters are quite well written but Aunt Bessie drives me crazy. She is so smug and righteous. I will probably keep reading the series, however, as I receive them for free through kindle unlimited.
July 15, 2018
I'm still enjoying this series even when the mysteries aren't the strongest. It's hard to pinpoint why I like them so much. It might be because I want to live Bessie's live when I am retired. Her days seems to be filled with eating and reading which doesn't sound so bad. Oh yeah and long walks on the beach. This book wraps up some story lines from a couple of previous books and sets up some possibilities for books down the road.
March 9, 2019
An interesting story
I'm glad more of the other characters were back. I missed them in the last one. It was an interesting mystery with it's tied to the past. Curious to see if some of the characters make it back later in the series.
I'm glad more of the other characters were back. I missed them in the last one. It was an interesting mystery with it's tied to the past. Curious to see if some of the characters make it back later in the series.
December 30, 2019
Come in number 7!
Having read the previous 6 in this series, and the Isle of Man ghost series, I had considered them enjoyable, but light, books. This takes them a good bit further though, and ties up a number of loose ends from previous volumes. Much, much better, in my opinion.
Having read the previous 6 in this series, and the Isle of Man ghost series, I had considered them enjoyable, but light, books. This takes them a good bit further though, and ties up a number of loose ends from previous volumes. Much, much better, in my opinion.
January 19, 2022
I enjoy the Aunt Bessie series so much. It’s the perfect cozy mystery featuring the Miss Marple-like Aunt Bessie and the found family she had created on the Isle of Man. Aunt Bessie Goes does exactly what it sets out to do. It’s lovely.
March 6, 2022
Love Aunt Bessie
I Love the Aunt Bessie mysteries and again this one doesn't disappoint. Always delightful characters and intriguing cases to solve. I'm looking forward to the next installment.
I Love the Aunt Bessie mysteries and again this one doesn't disappoint. Always delightful characters and intriguing cases to solve. I'm looking forward to the next installment.
November 12, 2016
Another mystery solved by Aunt Bessie
Enjoyed again the twists and turns with Aunt Bessie and her friends at the local constabulary. Have read the whole series in sequence
Enjoyed again the twists and turns with Aunt Bessie and her friends at the local constabulary. Have read the whole series in sequence
October 14, 2017
Another winner
From the Isle of Man. Again,Bessie is as much observer as sleuth. But we see her lovely Island home through her determined eyes and decades of wisdom.
From the Isle of Man. Again,Bessie is as much observer as sleuth. But we see her lovely Island home through her determined eyes and decades of wisdom.
November 27, 2017
A solid 5-star read
Diana Xarissa has written another very enjoyable read. I love her descriptions of both the area and it's various inhabitants.
Diana Xarissa has written another very enjoyable read. I love her descriptions of both the area and it's various inhabitants.
July 4, 2022
Aunt Bessie always pays off....great light reading
January 23, 2023
Aunt Bessie is once again caught up in not one, but two strange deaths. Will she be able to figure out what is going on? This book will keep you guessing almost to the end.
January 3, 2024
A very enjoyable murder mystery with ramifications that last until the final book in the series.
September 25, 2019
I love Aunt Bessie
Aunt Bessie mysteries are the definition of cozy mysteries, just fun reads. They are much better if read in order.
Aunt Bessie mysteries are the definition of cozy mysteries, just fun reads. They are much better if read in order.
November 1, 2015
Aunt Bessie Goes is an Isle of Man Cozy mystery by Diana Xarissa. It is book seven in the series. The story takes place in September, 1998 in Laxey. Diana does an amazing job of creating the rest of the town and businesses as well as the people. She makes it seem as if all of it was real.
Bessie’s friend, Doona, calls to tell her that John Rockwell, the head of the Laxey Constabulary and a CID detective would like to call on her that evening for a casual visit. He would bring dinner and pudding (dessert) as well. This in itself concerned Bessie. Why would John have Doona call for a casual visit? Why didn’t he just call himself, after all, they were friends? To clear her head, Bessie takes one of her many walks along the beach. John will tell her soon enough what he wants.
John Rockwell told Bessie he was getting a divorce and wanted her to tell Doona and others so he didn’t have to explain. He also wanted her to help him find a house to live in and where he could house his children when they came to visit. Of course, Bessie agreed to both and began looking at the housing situation herself.
On Saturday, she and John accompanied a sleazy real estate agent to see some houses. The first needed way too much work, the second was an apartment not a house, the third had been added on to and modernized and didn’t look right in the neighborhood, and the fourth had belonged to one of Bessie’s friends, Nancy King who had died in the house. She had been murdered by one of her friends. (One of the previous Aunt Bessie books) While they were looking at the house, John discovered a discrepancy in the size of one of the rooms. It was smaller than it should be. They discovered a false wall had been built and there had been a leak in the roof in there which resulted in water over the years. It was definitely a concern. When John knocked a hole in the wall, he discovered suitcases behind the wall and a dead body.
Who was the dead body? How did he get there and did Nancy King know all these years? As John investigates the apparent murder, Bessie begins her own out of curiosity. Can John and Bessie figure it out? How do Bessie’s friends figure into the equation?
The book is full of surprises and twists.
Bessie’s friend, Doona, calls to tell her that John Rockwell, the head of the Laxey Constabulary and a CID detective would like to call on her that evening for a casual visit. He would bring dinner and pudding (dessert) as well. This in itself concerned Bessie. Why would John have Doona call for a casual visit? Why didn’t he just call himself, after all, they were friends? To clear her head, Bessie takes one of her many walks along the beach. John will tell her soon enough what he wants.
John Rockwell told Bessie he was getting a divorce and wanted her to tell Doona and others so he didn’t have to explain. He also wanted her to help him find a house to live in and where he could house his children when they came to visit. Of course, Bessie agreed to both and began looking at the housing situation herself.
On Saturday, she and John accompanied a sleazy real estate agent to see some houses. The first needed way too much work, the second was an apartment not a house, the third had been added on to and modernized and didn’t look right in the neighborhood, and the fourth had belonged to one of Bessie’s friends, Nancy King who had died in the house. She had been murdered by one of her friends. (One of the previous Aunt Bessie books) While they were looking at the house, John discovered a discrepancy in the size of one of the rooms. It was smaller than it should be. They discovered a false wall had been built and there had been a leak in the roof in there which resulted in water over the years. It was definitely a concern. When John knocked a hole in the wall, he discovered suitcases behind the wall and a dead body.
Who was the dead body? How did he get there and did Nancy King know all these years? As John investigates the apparent murder, Bessie begins her own out of curiosity. Can John and Bessie figure it out? How do Bessie’s friends figure into the equation?
The book is full of surprises and twists.
November 6, 2023
book 7 of the series
October 28, 2015
Another disappointing entry in this series. The plotting seemed to indicate the author wanted to make a garden salad so she threw a bit of everything in, including a petulant Bessie who became hurt and defensive when teased about her bodies-found ratio. Perhaps this is appropriate for the Aunt Bessie series since the "Foodie Four" continued to eat their way from beginning to end.
Proofreading would have helped plus a different ending because the confession made no sense except to leave the door open for the return of the villain in another book.
Proofreading would have helped plus a different ending because the confession made no sense except to leave the door open for the return of the villain in another book.
July 7, 2024
Aunt Bessie Goes: While helping her friend John Rockwell look for a home in the village, they make an unexpected find in a bedroom. Things get more complicated from there!
Although all of these books are stand alone, they are better read in sequence. John Rockwell's story and that of his kids is a fascinating part of the Bessie books.
This books was good, but it has been downrated for diet culture nonsense.
Although all of these books are stand alone, they are better read in sequence. John Rockwell's story and that of his kids is a fascinating part of the Bessie books.
This books was good, but it has been downrated for diet culture nonsense.
October 18, 2015
The latest in the Aunt Bessie series does not disappoint. While helping Inspector Rockwell search for a house, he and Bessie discover a body hidden behind a false wall. The thirty year old mystery is compounded with a current murder. Aunt Bessie and her friends work together to solve.
It is best to read this series in order.
It is best to read this series in order.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews