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Oxford Dog Walker Crime Thrillers #2
Written in Red
The murder of a college professor has its roots in the Cold War: the new Oxford Dogwalkers mystery from award-winning YA writer Annie Dalton.
Shortly before Christmas, Professor James Lowell is found brutally attacked in his rooms at Walsingham College, where Anna Hopkins works as an administrator. Baffled as to why anyone would wish to harm such a gentle, scholarly man, Anna discovers that Lowell had a connection with her fellow dogwalker, Isadora Salzman, who knew him as an undergraduate in the 1960s, a co-member of the so-called Oxford Six. It turns out that Isadora has been keeping a surprising secret all these years. But someone else knows about Isadora’s secret: someone who has sent her a threatening, frightening letter.
Could the attack on Professor Lowell have its roots in a 50-year-old murder? And who is targeting Isadora and the surviving members of the Oxford Six? Anna, Isadora and Tansy, the dogwalking detectives, make it their business to find out.
Shortly before Christmas, Professor James Lowell is found brutally attacked in his rooms at Walsingham College, where Anna Hopkins works as an administrator. Baffled as to why anyone would wish to harm such a gentle, scholarly man, Anna discovers that Lowell had a connection with her fellow dogwalker, Isadora Salzman, who knew him as an undergraduate in the 1960s, a co-member of the so-called Oxford Six. It turns out that Isadora has been keeping a surprising secret all these years. But someone else knows about Isadora’s secret: someone who has sent her a threatening, frightening letter.
Could the attack on Professor Lowell have its roots in a 50-year-old murder? And who is targeting Isadora and the surviving members of the Oxford Six? Anna, Isadora and Tansy, the dogwalking detectives, make it their business to find out.
236 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 15, 2016
382 people are currently reading
165 people want to read
About the author
Annie Dalton
96 books97 followersAnnie grew up as an only child in the English countryside during the 1950s. Her father was not always around but when he was, he would tell her fantastical stories, often with her as the principal character. Annie missed him and his stories, which led her to the fantasy section at her local library, thus sparking life-long love of fiction.
After undertaking jobs such as waitressing, cleaning and factory work, Annie went on to study at University of Warwick and soon started writing.
Annie lives in Norfolk. She has three children, Anna, Reuben, and Maria (the inspiration for the first “Angels Unlimited” book, “Winging It”) and two grandchildren, Sophie and Isabella.
After undertaking jobs such as waitressing, cleaning and factory work, Annie went on to study at University of Warwick and soon started writing.
Annie lives in Norfolk. She has three children, Anna, Reuben, and Maria (the inspiration for the first “Angels Unlimited” book, “Winging It”) and two grandchildren, Sophie and Isabella.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 48 reviews
October 18, 2022
I did pick up the story thread moving on to the second book of the series, but I will be dropping out as I have had my fill of the multitude of characters and complex threads. Dogs do feature as main characters and we get treated to Christmas eating and gifting along with more physical attacks and complex history of "undercover" work done by a select group that was literally under covers. One likable character shines, but that is not enough to keep me reading.
Put me in a bad mood, so my next book had better be a good one!
Kindle Unlimited
Put me in a bad mood, so my next book had better be a good one!
Kindle Unlimited
May 4, 2016
I received an e-ARC of this novel through NetGalley and Severn House.
The three women who became friends in the first book in this series, THE WHITE SHEPHERD, are back again trying to figure out who is determined to harm members of a group involved in a 1960s covert operation to find supposed communists among the student body of Oxford University. Anna is back with her white shepherd, Bonnie, to work with Tansy to help keep Isadora safe from the shadowy figure who seems intent on extracting revenge against the Oxford Six, as Anna has named them. There are anonymous letters, portions of a diary keep mysteriously being shoved through letter boxes and the same set of photographs kept by both Isadora and James Lowell, the first to be attacked.
This story branches out in many directions. Anna has unresolved issues from her teen years when her entire family was murdered.. Bonnie and the calm, levelheaded Jake help with keeping some of her demons away. During the investigation Isadora discovers things she didn't know about her group from the 60s and has to learn to deal with those consequences. It's a good thing this author keeps adding secondary characters to the novels because I began to wonder who would be left standing before this investigation was done. Actually, I feel the character list is beginning to become rather overcrowded and it took away from the mystery aspect of the novel more than I liked. There turn out to be a lot of people who have secrets twisting and twining themselves around the three principal women and that is distracting because it takes up too much reading time. At least for my taste in mystery novels.
I would actually rate this second novel as a 3.5 star rating, not quite as satisfying as the first book because of uncovering all the relationship secrets. It's pretty obvious that Tansy's story will come next because the set-up is very plain to see in this story. Besides, it's her turn to get bashed over the head.
The three women who became friends in the first book in this series, THE WHITE SHEPHERD, are back again trying to figure out who is determined to harm members of a group involved in a 1960s covert operation to find supposed communists among the student body of Oxford University. Anna is back with her white shepherd, Bonnie, to work with Tansy to help keep Isadora safe from the shadowy figure who seems intent on extracting revenge against the Oxford Six, as Anna has named them. There are anonymous letters, portions of a diary keep mysteriously being shoved through letter boxes and the same set of photographs kept by both Isadora and James Lowell, the first to be attacked.
This story branches out in many directions. Anna has unresolved issues from her teen years when her entire family was murdered.. Bonnie and the calm, levelheaded Jake help with keeping some of her demons away. During the investigation Isadora discovers things she didn't know about her group from the 60s and has to learn to deal with those consequences. It's a good thing this author keeps adding secondary characters to the novels because I began to wonder who would be left standing before this investigation was done. Actually, I feel the character list is beginning to become rather overcrowded and it took away from the mystery aspect of the novel more than I liked. There turn out to be a lot of people who have secrets twisting and twining themselves around the three principal women and that is distracting because it takes up too much reading time. At least for my taste in mystery novels.
I would actually rate this second novel as a 3.5 star rating, not quite as satisfying as the first book because of uncovering all the relationship secrets. It's pretty obvious that Tansy's story will come next because the set-up is very plain to see in this story. Besides, it's her turn to get bashed over the head.
April 14, 2022
Murder in Midwinter features an investigation into a recent Oxford murder that is somehow connected to a murder that happened in the distant past - 50 years ago!
Unfortunately, the two murders are also connected in some way to Anna and Tansy's friend, Isadora.
Complex mystery with a satisfying conclusion.
Unfortunately, the two murders are also connected in some way to Anna and Tansy's friend, Isadora.
Complex mystery with a satisfying conclusion.
February 17, 2024
Enjoyed this even more than the first book. Felt like a lot of loose threads were tied up, the characters continued to delight, and the plot felt fresh and kept a good pace.
Read
August 4, 2024Sorry, I can't write a review because I don't remember it very well. Which might say something about the book--or maybe just about me. It was entertaining but just not my cuppa, sorry.
March 12, 2016
This is an intriguing and well written mystery set in Oxford and featuring the three friends - Anna, Tansy and Isadora and of course the dogs, Bonnie and Hero. The book starts off with a murderous attack on Professor James Lowell - who Anna discovers is an old friend of Isadora's. Isadora herself ha s received a threatening anonymous letter and prompted by this and the death of James Lowell she tells Anna and Tansy the story of her life in the 1960s when she was a member of the Oxford Six- a spy ring controlled by the mysterious Tallis.
It starts to become clear that the remaining members of the Oxford Six could be in danger and Anna, Tansy and Isadora must try and outthink an unseen enemy to protect the life of their friend. I wasn't sure whether I was going to enjoy this story but as I got into it I found myself totally absorbed in the battle of wits to protect the remaining members of the Oxford Six and to perhaps uncover what happened to one of their number who was murdered more than fifty years ago.
The author skilfully weaves together past and present and I liked the whole atmosphere of the book and the way the author is developing the characters of the three friends and the way they are dealing with the various problems in their lives. This is a mystery which can be read as a standalone novel or as part of a series. I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley for review.
It starts to become clear that the remaining members of the Oxford Six could be in danger and Anna, Tansy and Isadora must try and outthink an unseen enemy to protect the life of their friend. I wasn't sure whether I was going to enjoy this story but as I got into it I found myself totally absorbed in the battle of wits to protect the remaining members of the Oxford Six and to perhaps uncover what happened to one of their number who was murdered more than fifty years ago.
The author skilfully weaves together past and present and I liked the whole atmosphere of the book and the way the author is developing the characters of the three friends and the way they are dealing with the various problems in their lives. This is a mystery which can be read as a standalone novel or as part of a series. I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley for review.
April 29, 2016
This took me a long time to finish the review. Well, this will be just a short one.
First, I was excited to read it because the title was very intriguing. It got me so interested and putting my expectations a little bit too high. Though the prologue was engaging, the first chapter left me quite bored. It's not that bad as it mostly gave me background to the characters; however, the mood became monotonous and far from thrilling.
Anyways, I quite enjoyed it as I continued to read. The writing was smart and deep. But I can't say that it's not at all different from other books of this genre.
PS., stories based on places far from USA always confuse me. WHY?!
*arc provided via netgalley in exchange for an honest review*
First, I was excited to read it because the title was very intriguing. It got me so interested and putting my expectations a little bit too high. Though the prologue was engaging, the first chapter left me quite bored. It's not that bad as it mostly gave me background to the characters; however, the mood became monotonous and far from thrilling.
Anyways, I quite enjoyed it as I continued to read. The writing was smart and deep. But I can't say that it's not at all different from other books of this genre.
PS., stories based on places far from USA always confuse me. WHY?!
*arc provided via netgalley in exchange for an honest review*
May 20, 2022
SPOILER ALERT
I thoroughly enjoy this series, this installment being sophisticated and fascinating. Anna Hopkins, as an administrator at Walsingham College in Oxford, is familiar with James Lowell a professor who is brutally murdered. Coincidently so does Isadora Salzman. Through the course of the story she will relate to her friends, including Tansy Levelle (aka McVeigh, her father a known criminal) her part in a group called the Oxford Six during the Sixties.
Isadora, along with Hetty Vallier, Robert Keane, Piers Courtenay, Catherine Hetherington and James Lowell were recruited to spy on their fellow students whom MI5 believed were involved with Russia, specifically passing sensitive information. At the time Isadora was only 17. Their handler was Matthew Tallis, a ruthless and nasty man, who in the end proved to be corrupt, benefiting from knowing the man who was passing information and blackmailing him. Hetty finds out and she is killed. James was in love with her, and followed her to her last job, only to push her in their argument. He thinks he killed her. Tallis comes in after that, finds Hetty coming to and realizes he has the perfect cover to get rid of her. He enlists the help of Catherine who was Tallis' lover. They frame another man from the Foreign Service, Alec Rupert Faber, whose life is ruined; he becomes homeless, losing his family, his inheritance and his fiancee. Tallis breaks up the group swearing them to secrecy and telling to never contact one another again. One of the other unknown was that Hetty had had a child. Iona Grace was born at a convent and Hetty had left her there. She had later had a child, Sabina, who has found Isadora, and has been sending the threatening notes to the remaining Six.
Move forward to the present day, and Anna and her friend Jake McCaffrey with Isdora and Tansy see Catherine at James funeral. Tallis is also there, along with Robert Keane. Keane commits suicide shortly after, finding himself near bankruptcy and guilty for his part in the Six. Believing that Catherine may be next in the killing, they track her down. She is now Sister Mary Catherine and working at a hospice. Tallis is also there. He is holding their secrets over her. She spills the truth. Isadora is attacked. Once the secret is out, they believe that Alec Faber may be the one who is going after them. When Anna runs into Roop, a gardener from the college he invites her for a New Years drink and she goes. She looks at one of his books and realizes who he is, Alec Faber. He has been taking his revenge on the remaining Six. He takes her to the top of The Tower intending for them to both die. She has left her phone on and Jake hears. Bonnie, her white shepherd finds her. They save her life as she tries to keep Roop from falling. He lets go.
Jake and Anna realize their love for one another, and their dog. He gives her a picture of the young boy who had owned Bonnie, aka Farishta (Angel in Farsi) in Afghanistan, and been found guarding Emal's body. She gave him a book of dogs. Isadora forgives Sabina and they stay friends.
I thoroughly enjoy this series, this installment being sophisticated and fascinating. Anna Hopkins, as an administrator at Walsingham College in Oxford, is familiar with James Lowell a professor who is brutally murdered. Coincidently so does Isadora Salzman. Through the course of the story she will relate to her friends, including Tansy Levelle (aka McVeigh, her father a known criminal) her part in a group called the Oxford Six during the Sixties.
Isadora, along with Hetty Vallier, Robert Keane, Piers Courtenay, Catherine Hetherington and James Lowell were recruited to spy on their fellow students whom MI5 believed were involved with Russia, specifically passing sensitive information. At the time Isadora was only 17. Their handler was Matthew Tallis, a ruthless and nasty man, who in the end proved to be corrupt, benefiting from knowing the man who was passing information and blackmailing him. Hetty finds out and she is killed. James was in love with her, and followed her to her last job, only to push her in their argument. He thinks he killed her. Tallis comes in after that, finds Hetty coming to and realizes he has the perfect cover to get rid of her. He enlists the help of Catherine who was Tallis' lover. They frame another man from the Foreign Service, Alec Rupert Faber, whose life is ruined; he becomes homeless, losing his family, his inheritance and his fiancee. Tallis breaks up the group swearing them to secrecy and telling to never contact one another again. One of the other unknown was that Hetty had had a child. Iona Grace was born at a convent and Hetty had left her there. She had later had a child, Sabina, who has found Isadora, and has been sending the threatening notes to the remaining Six.
Move forward to the present day, and Anna and her friend Jake McCaffrey with Isdora and Tansy see Catherine at James funeral. Tallis is also there, along with Robert Keane. Keane commits suicide shortly after, finding himself near bankruptcy and guilty for his part in the Six. Believing that Catherine may be next in the killing, they track her down. She is now Sister Mary Catherine and working at a hospice. Tallis is also there. He is holding their secrets over her. She spills the truth. Isadora is attacked. Once the secret is out, they believe that Alec Faber may be the one who is going after them. When Anna runs into Roop, a gardener from the college he invites her for a New Years drink and she goes. She looks at one of his books and realizes who he is, Alec Faber. He has been taking his revenge on the remaining Six. He takes her to the top of The Tower intending for them to both die. She has left her phone on and Jake hears. Bonnie, her white shepherd finds her. They save her life as she tries to keep Roop from falling. He lets go.
Jake and Anna realize their love for one another, and their dog. He gives her a picture of the young boy who had owned Bonnie, aka Farishta (Angel in Farsi) in Afghanistan, and been found guarding Emal's body. She gave him a book of dogs. Isadora forgives Sabina and they stay friends.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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April 10, 2022The murder of a college professor has its roots in the Cold War: the new Oxford Dogwalkers mystery from award-winning YA writer Annie Dalton."
Shortly before Christmas, Professor James Lowell is found brutally attacked in his rooms at Walsingham College, where Anna Hopkins works as an administrator. Baffled as to why anyone would wish to harm such a gentle, scholarly man, Anna discovers that Lowell had a connection with her fellow dogwalker, Isadora Salzman, who knew him as an undergraduate in the 1960s, a co-member of the so-called Oxford Six. It turns out that Isadora has been keeping a surprising secret all these years. But someone else knows about Isadora s secret: someone who has sent her a threatening, frightening letter.
Could the attack on Professor Lowell have its roots in a 50-year-old murder? And who is targeting Isadora and the surviving members of the Oxford Six? Anna, Isadora and Tansy, the dogwalking detectives, make it their business to find out.
Very good.
Shortly before Christmas, Professor James Lowell is found brutally attacked in his rooms at Walsingham College, where Anna Hopkins works as an administrator. Baffled as to why anyone would wish to harm such a gentle, scholarly man, Anna discovers that Lowell had a connection with her fellow dogwalker, Isadora Salzman, who knew him as an undergraduate in the 1960s, a co-member of the so-called Oxford Six. It turns out that Isadora has been keeping a surprising secret all these years. But someone else knows about Isadora s secret: someone who has sent her a threatening, frightening letter.
Could the attack on Professor Lowell have its roots in a 50-year-old murder? And who is targeting Isadora and the surviving members of the Oxford Six? Anna, Isadora and Tansy, the dogwalking detectives, make it their business to find out.
Very good.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 27, 2022
Amazing dogs and the Very Amazing Women who love them
First book starts out with terror and how three women of different ages and places in life bond . I love the setting and careful descriptions of each women who have unusual and old secrets. I read the first book in one day, staying up late to finish it. Started the second one and found it even more exciting then the first. Happy sections two the three womens stories. This is a series I recommend and cannot wait to read the 3rd book.
First book starts out with terror and how three women of different ages and places in life bond . I love the setting and careful descriptions of each women who have unusual and old secrets. I read the first book in one day, staying up late to finish it. Started the second one and found it even more exciting then the first. Happy sections two the three womens stories. This is a series I recommend and cannot wait to read the 3rd book.
September 18, 2022
I really enjoyed this book
I did not read the first two books of the series and it probably would have helped if I had but I still enjoyed the book. It was hard to keep track of the characters and the plot because the plot jumped back and forth timewise, but I enjoyed the interesting characters. The author has a great way with descriptions. I could almost actually see and hear sights and sounds as they were being described. I think I learned a bit about life in England and the customs there as I read. I will definitely try the next book in the series.
I did not read the first two books of the series and it probably would have helped if I had but I still enjoyed the book. It was hard to keep track of the characters and the plot because the plot jumped back and forth timewise, but I enjoyed the interesting characters. The author has a great way with descriptions. I could almost actually see and hear sights and sounds as they were being described. I think I learned a bit about life in England and the customs there as I read. I will definitely try the next book in the series.
January 6, 2023
I read this 2nd book in the series after quite a hiatus and found it difficult to follow at first since time had obscured my memory of the first and there was not a clear presentation of what had happened before, only an allusion. I love the characters and eventually I found myself back in the plot. While the plot was compelling, there were entire chapters that really slowed it down due to excessive descriptions. In this genre, I believe it's important to keep things moving. This being said, I enjoyed the story enough to begin the next book in the series.
May 13, 2022
Great suspense!
This is truly a cozy mystery. The characters are so well formed one can imagine them as people you may have known or do know. The story is built like a well made roller coaster with twists., turns, suspenseful climbs, and few sheer drop, plus a few places to catch your breath.
Highly recommend to anyone who loves a cozy myster.
This is truly a cozy mystery. The characters are so well formed one can imagine them as people you may have known or do know. The story is built like a well made roller coaster with twists., turns, suspenseful climbs, and few sheer drop, plus a few places to catch your breath.
Highly recommend to anyone who loves a cozy myster.
August 12, 2022
This is the second in what I hope will be a long series. I really enjoy all the characters, each with their own, very different quirks and personalities. This is a cosy mystery but somehow it seems to be more than that and I am looking forward to finding out more about the lives of the three ladies and their friends.
February 13, 2023
Follows up somewhat on the first in this series Murder on Port Meadow but not enough that it would cause any issue if you did not read the first one. This has a cast of current characters that are a part of something that took place 50 years ago. As it turns out, several of them meet each other again and several start having accidents that end in death. Is this something that is still a part of a 50 year ago adventure or just a coincidence.
August 1, 2023
I really enjoyed this book. Like the first one it started a little slowly but built to a slow burn. I like the characters and the relationship between these three very disparate women. Anna deserves some happiness and it’s nice to see her push through. I’m surprised some readers don’t like the characters or the mystery. I thoroughly enjoy them. Looking forward to book 3.
September 29, 2019
An amazing who done it mystery!
Have really enjoyed this book. Great follow up to The White Shepherd. Praise to Annie Dalton as a writer. Looking forward to the next book in the series.
Have really enjoyed this book. Great follow up to The White Shepherd. Praise to Annie Dalton as a writer. Looking forward to the next book in the series.
December 5, 2019
Liked it, but didn't enjoy it as much as the first book. The characters still rock, but structurally, it just didn't work for me as much. The back and forth between then and now...didn't love that. So many characters and connections and storylines made it feel muddy to me.
March 8, 2022
As promised, I found the next in Annie Dalton's series. It is good to read the series in order. In fact, it may be necessary. This one not quite as strong as the first, but more characters as introduced, which is fine.
April 9, 2022
well written escapism
Well written but very convoluted. Interesting, likable characters, especially the dogs. A nice way to escape some of the harsh realities in which we currently live
Well written but very convoluted. Interesting, likable characters, especially the dogs. A nice way to escape some of the harsh realities in which we currently live
April 14, 2022
What Tangled Webs We Weave…..
This second book was even more complicated than the first book! I like the cast of characters, Anna and her friends Isadora and Tansy, and their accompanying family and friends. All I can say about the plot is Wow!
This second book was even more complicated than the first book! I like the cast of characters, Anna and her friends Isadora and Tansy, and their accompanying family and friends. All I can say about the plot is Wow!
August 3, 2022
Enthralling
It took a while to fully understand the plot but once it became clear it was difficult to put down. It contained lots of intriguing characters that were well drawn by the author 😀. On the whole it made interesting reading .
It took a while to fully understand the plot but once it became clear it was difficult to put down. It contained lots of intriguing characters that were well drawn by the author 😀. On the whole it made interesting reading .
October 14, 2022
The premise of this book was a bit of a stretch, but otherwise the mystery and story were good. A friend of Isadora's is beaten and eventually dies. Turns out there is an old connection between the two. Anna and her friends need to solve the mystery and protect Isadora. Like the characters.
November 9, 2022
Not bad at all I’d say - Christmassy not so cosy mystery set in gorgeous Oxford with characters I felt engaged with. Not so much a whodunnit as a gentle thriller as there’s no way to work it out until at least 75% in, but quietly enjoyable.
February 3, 2023
Nice story but.....
This is a nice story and I really like the characters. There is just too much redundant talk with the characters. The story doesn't flow. At times it was just boring .
This is a nice story and I really like the characters. There is just too much redundant talk with the characters. The story doesn't flow. At times it was just boring .
lost-interest
February 9, 2024I've been going through my shelf on Netgalley and saw I got approved for this one a while ago. Didn't realize it was a second book in the series and have since lost interest in reading this one. So shelving this one as lost interest and don't plan to read this one.
December 22, 2020
Dogs, Oxford, murder, secrets from the past, and quirky characters; what's not to like?
April 1, 2022
a good read
Both of the books by Annie and Maria Dalton just seemed to hit a longed for sweet spot with me - not quite a tear but close!
Both of the books by Annie and Maria Dalton just seemed to hit a longed for sweet spot with me - not quite a tear but close!
April 17, 2022
A mystery and more
Believable characters that you come to know and like. Well-written. Beautiful setting in Oxford, which is a character in its own right!
Believable characters that you come to know and like. Well-written. Beautiful setting in Oxford, which is a character in its own right!
April 28, 2022
Fair
Nothing special. If you have some extra time on your hands, it is good for dog lovers. Might try the next one at some point.
Nothing special. If you have some extra time on your hands, it is good for dog lovers. Might try the next one at some point.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 48 reviews