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Isle of Man #15
Aunt Bessie Observes
Aunt Bessie observes almost everything.
Elizabeth Cubbon, known as Bessie to nearly everyone, doesn’t miss much as she makes her way around the island that has been her home for all of her adult life.
Aunt Bessie observes less than her friend Janet Markham.
Bessie’s friends Janet and Joan Markham are happy to be back on the island for a visit. When Janet peeks in a window and spots a dead body, the sisters’ holiday becomes a lot more complicated.
Aunt Bessie observes another body.
Two dead men, a charity fundraiser that’s in desperate need of help, and dozens of unanswered questions leave Bessie and her friends struggling to find a murderer before he or she can strike again.
Elizabeth Cubbon, known as Bessie to nearly everyone, doesn’t miss much as she makes her way around the island that has been her home for all of her adult life.
Aunt Bessie observes less than her friend Janet Markham.
Bessie’s friends Janet and Joan Markham are happy to be back on the island for a visit. When Janet peeks in a window and spots a dead body, the sisters’ holiday becomes a lot more complicated.
Aunt Bessie observes another body.
Two dead men, a charity fundraiser that’s in desperate need of help, and dozens of unanswered questions leave Bessie and her friends struggling to find a murderer before he or she can strike again.
238 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 19, 2017
242 people are currently reading
97 people want to read
About the author
Diana Xarissa
250 books265 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 - 24 of 24 reviews
December 26, 2023
The fifteenth book in the Isle of Man series which means I have eleven more to go. I do love a prolific author and Diana Xarissa is certainly one. As well as this 26 book alphabetical series she has written other series which I will try out one day.
Aunt Bessie observes a lot of things in this book beginning with a dead body in one of the holiday lets along the beach. John and Doona and Hugh join her in investigating, most of which is done over plates of biscuits or Chinese takeaways. Lots of comfort food in a book which is the equivalent of comfort reading - just enough intrigue to keep the reader interested but never overstressed.
I seem to be reading at least one of these books a month and I look forward to each one.
Aunt Bessie observes a lot of things in this book beginning with a dead body in one of the holiday lets along the beach. John and Doona and Hugh join her in investigating, most of which is done over plates of biscuits or Chinese takeaways. Lots of comfort food in a book which is the equivalent of comfort reading - just enough intrigue to keep the reader interested but never overstressed.
I seem to be reading at least one of these books a month and I look forward to each one.
October 31, 2024
Two charming charlatans from across (or what we would call from England) arrive at the Isle of Man ready to repeat their usual grift of volunteering to help out a charity while stealing the proceeds. But one of the pair is found murdered in a rental cottage on Laxey Beach.
No one seemed to know that the men were on the island with criminal intent, so why would anyone kill them? Naturally, the locals want to think the killer’s an outsider, but Aunt Bessie (what nearly everyone in Laxey calls Elizabeth Cubbon) thinks someone on the charity’s committee is a more likely suspect.
After several subpar novels, author Diana Xarissa has redeemed herself with this 15th entry in this uneven cozy mystery series. Glad to see both a good ending and the return of Janet and Joan Markham, sisters we first met in Aunt Bessie Decides.
No one seemed to know that the men were on the island with criminal intent, so why would anyone kill them? Naturally, the locals want to think the killer’s an outsider, but Aunt Bessie (what nearly everyone in Laxey calls Elizabeth Cubbon) thinks someone on the charity’s committee is a more likely suspect.
After several subpar novels, author Diana Xarissa has redeemed herself with this 15th entry in this uneven cozy mystery series. Glad to see both a good ending and the return of Janet and Joan Markham, sisters we first met in Aunt Bessie Decides.
November 2, 2017
I think Diana Xarissa is running out of plots so she has brought in characters from other series and even more eating than usual. (Is that possible?) It wasn't a bad mystery, but the villain was easy to figure out, and the Isle of Man should have zero tourists considering that in just over a year, there have been at least 15 bodies! All the usual characters put in an appearance plus the 'Foodie Four' are temporarily the 'Foodie Six'. Obviously this book is a set-up for a visit across to Joan and Janet's B & B in the near future.
March 23, 2018
Janet and Joan Markham were first seen in a previous Aunt Bessie book and now have a series of no-murder cozy mysteries, and I enjoyed watching them team up with Bessie. In the Markham Sisters mystery The Jackson Case, a pair of con-men swindled a charity out of its proceeds from a charity auction. and in Aunt Bessie Observes, both found murdered. I'm not really sure what Bessie observed, other than the horrifically garish theme cottage that neighbor Maggie fixed up (which made me laugh out loud!) but this was still an entertaining and enjoyable read with a fascinating cross-over mystery.
October 24, 2017
Aunt Bessie, Tea, Biscuits and Puddings
I have read all of the Aunt Bessie mysteries, so far. She is a great sounding board and server of tea with biscuits on a plate. She lives on the shore in a small cottage and walks the beach every day. Her mysteries pertain to murder and generally she is on the scene of discovery. Her assistance in solving the case seems to come down to a good gossip with other older ladies and gentlemen on the island. She shares her gleanings with the local police. A good, clean read.
I have read all of the Aunt Bessie mysteries, so far. She is a great sounding board and server of tea with biscuits on a plate. She lives on the shore in a small cottage and walks the beach every day. Her mysteries pertain to murder and generally she is on the scene of discovery. Her assistance in solving the case seems to come down to a good gossip with other older ladies and gentlemen on the island. She shares her gleanings with the local police. A good, clean read.
October 23, 2017
unt Bessie Observes: An Isle of Man Cozy Mystery Book 15 is by Diana Xarissa. Once more, Diana takes us to the Isle of Man with an adventure with Aunt Bessie. This time, Aunt Bessie is along for the ride.
Aunt Bessie is expecting company, Joan and Janet Markham, who are coming on a vacation and also to attend a conference at the Manx National Heritage where Aunt Bessie is presenting her paper on wills. She is looking forward to going with them to see the sights that the Island has to show. While waiting for her friends to appear, she does some shopping for them so they don’t have to worry about that. She runs into Maggie Shimmin, who rents the cottage her friends are staying in. Maggie has a negative feeling aobut the cottage and the renters and wants to avoid them. Aunt Bessie doesn’t like negative vibes so she leaves in the other direction.
Bessie is thrilled to have her friends with her. As they walk along the beach, they talk about the new houses which have grown up while they were gone. Bessie tells them about the last cottage where Thomas decorated it with a Hollywood theme. It even has a Vegas bedroom. Since there are no tenants in the house, Janet wants to peek in the bedroom window. What she finds scares her dreadfully. There was a dead man in there.
Once more, Aunt Bessie is involved with a murder. Can she stay away and let John find the murderer?
Aunt Bessie is expecting company, Joan and Janet Markham, who are coming on a vacation and also to attend a conference at the Manx National Heritage where Aunt Bessie is presenting her paper on wills. She is looking forward to going with them to see the sights that the Island has to show. While waiting for her friends to appear, she does some shopping for them so they don’t have to worry about that. She runs into Maggie Shimmin, who rents the cottage her friends are staying in. Maggie has a negative feeling aobut the cottage and the renters and wants to avoid them. Aunt Bessie doesn’t like negative vibes so she leaves in the other direction.
Bessie is thrilled to have her friends with her. As they walk along the beach, they talk about the new houses which have grown up while they were gone. Bessie tells them about the last cottage where Thomas decorated it with a Hollywood theme. It even has a Vegas bedroom. Since there are no tenants in the house, Janet wants to peek in the bedroom window. What she finds scares her dreadfully. There was a dead man in there.
Once more, Aunt Bessie is involved with a murder. Can she stay away and let John find the murderer?
November 13, 2021
An interesting mystery mixed with bit of Manx tourism and general human interactions. I enjoyed the story for the most part, and the cast of characters, though one character was quite obviously going to be the guilty one. It's amazing that so little preparation is done before the very last week of an event, too -- but it needed to be so for this story.
Because I have followed the Markham sisters mystery series, I enjoyed the tie-in with them. In fact I chose to read this book after having read The Kingston Case because it referred to their recent episode with Aunt Bessie on the Isle of Man.
I know this series is finished now, so editorial comments won't help, but I'm wondering what Bessie and the sisters could do to fill in their time besides eating every couple of hours. (Or maybe it just seemed that way?) Perhaps they could have discussed Bed & Breakfast guests, or good books they've read? Joan is very fond of classics; Bessie and Janet like mysteries.
Because I have followed the Markham sisters mystery series, I enjoyed the tie-in with them. In fact I chose to read this book after having read The Kingston Case because it referred to their recent episode with Aunt Bessie on the Isle of Man.
I know this series is finished now, so editorial comments won't help, but I'm wondering what Bessie and the sisters could do to fill in their time besides eating every couple of hours. (Or maybe it just seemed that way?) Perhaps they could have discussed Bed & Breakfast guests, or good books they've read? Joan is very fond of classics; Bessie and Janet like mysteries.
November 4, 2017
I love Aunt Bessie and the Isle of Man. These books make me want to visit the Isle, and wish I had an Aunt Bessie to be friends with.
As always, an awesome cozy mystery with a great group of main characters (although I really wish Diana would get John and Doona together...it's on my Christmas list, Ms. X!). Many twists and turns, and was surprised by the ending. As always!
I really don't want the alphabet to end. That means there are only 11 more Aunt Bessie books? Start with numbers after the alphabet. Please??
As always, an awesome cozy mystery with a great group of main characters (although I really wish Diana would get John and Doona together...it's on my Christmas list, Ms. X!). Many twists and turns, and was surprised by the ending. As always!
I really don't want the alphabet to end. That means there are only 11 more Aunt Bessie books? Start with numbers after the alphabet. Please??
October 29, 2017
I love the Aunt Bessie books. Bessie is a wonderful character surrounded by a cast of interesting and likeable people. The Isle of Man setting is a plus as well. In this book Bessie is joined by two sisters from across. This means that the regulars of the series are not as prominent as usual. But, the book was still charming, interesting and well worth reading. I highly recommend Aunt Bessie Observes as well as all the other books in the series. They are all wonderful!!
August 22, 2019
One of the better paced books of the series with progress continuing right through. Sadly, it also, there appears to be a return to frequent grammatical errors, suggesting that this particular story may have been written and published in a rush. One also begins to wonder if Laxey is one of the most violent places in the UK, or if the fact that there being at least one murder a month for an (expected) two-year period is bit of an overkill.
March 7, 2024
A man is found dead in an empty holiday cottage by Aunt Bessie’s visiting friends from across. They realise he was one of the men who scammed a charity they were working with. Worse than that, he has been pretending to help a charity on the island, under an alias. How did he come to get killed on the island? Bessie and her friends, as usual, support the police to solve the mystery. Another good story with plenty of island colour and a great cast of characters.
October 24, 2017
Thank you Diana Xarissa for another splendid book
I truly enjoy the Aunt Bessie series. Not only do we get a cracking good mystery, but we learn a bit of Manx history and geography. As always proof that a book doesn't have to contain extreme violence or profanity to be an excellent read.
I truly enjoy the Aunt Bessie series. Not only do we get a cracking good mystery, but we learn a bit of Manx history and geography. As always proof that a book doesn't have to contain extreme violence or profanity to be an excellent read.
October 27, 2017
Or cosy?
The language is not always clearly Brutish ( many readers will know that Wellingtons are boots ) but we still enjoy the Manx flavour. Plot and characters are in unfailingly pleasant with enough variation to hold interest. 3.5 stars would be the best I could do, given the competition.
The language is not always clearly Brutish ( many readers will know that Wellingtons are boots ) but we still enjoy the Manx flavour. Plot and characters are in unfailingly pleasant with enough variation to hold interest. 3.5 stars would be the best I could do, given the competition.
April 15, 2020
These cozy mysteries are more about the characters than the mystery. I like that. They seem more and more like real people with each new book in the series. The style of writing is easy and written to keep the reader drawn in. That's what makes the editing errors so absolutely difficult to tolerate. The further in the series, the worse the editing.
July 29, 2023
I am really enjoying reading the Aunt Bessie mysteries. This one again was great fun, and I guessed the murderer halfway through. The only problem I have is that the characters are always eating, cakes, biscuits and delicious "puddings" and ham and cheese toasties etc. Why they aren't the size of houses I don't know, because I would be!
January 10, 2018
Enjoyable
I always enjoy the escapades of “Aunt” Bessie and her friends, as well as learning a little bit about The Isle of Mann. A good mystery is always provided to bring the other two together.
I always enjoy the escapades of “Aunt” Bessie and her friends, as well as learning a little bit about The Isle of Mann. A good mystery is always provided to bring the other two together.
January 22, 2018
I am addicted to the Aunt Bessie series. This was a very good mystery. The plot was a really interesting setting and it had many characters who could have been the murderer. I recommend this book and the entire series.
August 10, 2019
Bessie's friends, Janet and Joan, are visiting but instead of the relaxing time they were looking for they get pulled into a murder investigation. The usual eating, walking, and reading occurs throughout the investigation. The solution seemed a bit obvious but these books are comfort reads and not meant for deep thinking.
October 28, 2017
Loved it as I do all of Dianna’s books.
November 4, 2017
really enjoyed the book and tie in with the Markham sisters The Jackson Case
March 24, 2018
Good easy read.
August 9, 2020
Another wonderful Aunt Bessie story
I keep reading these and always enjoy each one. Perfectly written, the characters are like good old friends. Just relax and enjoy the f6n.
I keep reading these and always enjoy each one. Perfectly written, the characters are like good old friends. Just relax and enjoy the f6n.
September 4, 2023
Enjoyable cosy mystery set on the Isle of Man. The plot was a bit predictable and the murderer quite easy to identify but the characters are likable and it was an easy read.
June 3, 2024
Book #15 of the series
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews