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Dorothy Martin #1
The Body In The Transept
Dorothy Martin, new widow moved to England, enjoys the Christmas service in Sherebury Cathedral until she trips over the body of Canon Billings. With handsome Chief Constable Alan Nesbitt, neighbor Jane, cat Emmy, and amusing hats, she sorts through suspects: pompous dishonest verger Wallingford, fired student Nigel, philandering George - to the truth.
224 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published December 1, 1995
1863 people are currently reading
1993 people want to read
About the author
Jeanne M. Dams
46 books216 followersJeanne M. Dams lives in South Bend, Indiana. The Body in the Transept, which introduced Dorothy Martin, won the Agatha Award for Best First Novel. Dams is also the author of Green Grow the Victims and other Hilda Johansson mysteries published by Walker & Company.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 320 reviews
December 30, 2020
*3-3.5 stars. Jeanne M. Dams is from South Bend, IN and a graduate of the University of Notre Dame. She is a self-confessed lover of the English mystery and she sets this first book in the Dorothy Martin series in Sherebury, England, a fictitious college town outside of London. Dorothy, an American transplant, has moved there after the death of her husband, the professor, and is trying to adjust to her new life.
After attending the crowded Christmas Eve service at the local cathedral, she decides to leave by a side door and literally stumbles over the body of Canon Billings. Being the one to have found the body and being naturally inquisitive, she finds herself drawn into the murder investigation led by Chief Constable Alan Nesbitt. The cleric it seems is one of the least liked men in town, so the list of possible suspects is long.
It's easy to surmise that Ms Dam has imagined herself as this character as the author has a love for elaborate hats and all things English, perhaps even transporting the likes of the University of Notre Dame and its politics to this London locale in her imagination. Dorothy is a charming woman who laughingly says, 'I realize I'm the only non-royal woman in England who still wears hats.' She is intelligent and sharp but perhaps a bit too inquisitive for her own good...
I found this mystery at a used-book sale after learning about the author during a visit to South Bend. It's a nicely-written cozy mystery with an interesting setting and cast of characters. The solution was rather easy to guess but then again, I'm a life-long mystery reader so it might be getting hard to fool me with red herrings.
After attending the crowded Christmas Eve service at the local cathedral, she decides to leave by a side door and literally stumbles over the body of Canon Billings. Being the one to have found the body and being naturally inquisitive, she finds herself drawn into the murder investigation led by Chief Constable Alan Nesbitt. The cleric it seems is one of the least liked men in town, so the list of possible suspects is long.
It's easy to surmise that Ms Dam has imagined herself as this character as the author has a love for elaborate hats and all things English, perhaps even transporting the likes of the University of Notre Dame and its politics to this London locale in her imagination. Dorothy is a charming woman who laughingly says, 'I realize I'm the only non-royal woman in England who still wears hats.' She is intelligent and sharp but perhaps a bit too inquisitive for her own good...
I found this mystery at a used-book sale after learning about the author during a visit to South Bend. It's a nicely-written cozy mystery with an interesting setting and cast of characters. The solution was rather easy to guess but then again, I'm a life-long mystery reader so it might be getting hard to fool me with red herrings.
unfinished
December 20, 2021The Body in the Transept is a cozy mystery that starts off with a body being discovered following a midnight Christmas Eve Catholic church service. Dorothy Martin, the protagonist, is an older widow who came to England with her professor husband and remained in the quaint town after his death close to a year ago. She had the misfortune of stumbling upon the body. The police interview all involved parties immediately but are not calling this a murder…yet.
In the 30% that I’ve read, it seems like a good story but not one that I will likely rate higher than three stars. The church scenes kept slowing my reading down with terms (for Catholic clergy and architecture) that were unfamiliar to me. My interest gained momentum again but was diverted periodically with unnecessary descriptions of room furnishings, door knockers, and various inane things.
It is in my best interest to set this one aside for another book that will hold my full attention. Fans of British cozy mysteries may find it enjoyable.
In the 30% that I’ve read, it seems like a good story but not one that I will likely rate higher than three stars. The church scenes kept slowing my reading down with terms (for Catholic clergy and architecture) that were unfamiliar to me. My interest gained momentum again but was diverted periodically with unnecessary descriptions of room furnishings, door knockers, and various inane things.
It is in my best interest to set this one aside for another book that will hold my full attention. Fans of British cozy mysteries may find it enjoyable.
February 25, 2021
I don’t want to read any more of this.
• It doesn’t feel like the first book in a series… there are too many references to things that happened in the past that I feel like I should know about and I don’t.
• Who in the world drops in on their next-door-neighbor for a spur-of-the-moment visit after getting soaking wet while walking home in the fog and changes out of her wet clothing and into a borrowed dressing gown and after waiting for her clothes to dry she puts them back on AND THEN GETS ALL WET WHILE WALKING THE SHORT DISTANCE TO HER HOME and has to change all over again plus dry her hair because she has an unexpected visitor who is surprisingly NOT wet? And I would really like to know just how wet most people get while walking in English fog? Because I don’t remember Sherlock Holmes being drenched all the time and he was frequently strolling around in dense London fog.
• I am sick to death of reading about her cat.
Bailed on page 59
• It doesn’t feel like the first book in a series… there are too many references to things that happened in the past that I feel like I should know about and I don’t.
• Who in the world drops in on their next-door-neighbor for a spur-of-the-moment visit after getting soaking wet while walking home in the fog and changes out of her wet clothing and into a borrowed dressing gown and after waiting for her clothes to dry she puts them back on AND THEN GETS ALL WET WHILE WALKING THE SHORT DISTANCE TO HER HOME and has to change all over again plus dry her hair because she has an unexpected visitor who is surprisingly NOT wet? And I would really like to know just how wet most people get while walking in English fog? Because I don’t remember Sherlock Holmes being drenched all the time and he was frequently strolling around in dense London fog.
• I am sick to death of reading about her cat.
Bailed on page 59
August 21, 2019
An entertaining cozy mystery set in an imaginary small cathedral town in modern-day England. It features Dorothy Martin, an American recently moved to England as the story's protagonist, and in this book, the recently widowed Dorothy exercises her sleuthing skills for the first time.
Dorothy is a 60-something-year old former school teacher who had decided to make the move to England after, Frank, her husband died. It had been the plan that the two of them would do so; Dorothy follows through with that plan on her own. She's not yet made many friends in her new home; much of her time is spent at home with Esmerelda, her cat.
On Christmas Eve Dorothy attends midnight service at the cathedral not far from her own home. After the service, she stumbles, quite literally, into a dead body in a little-used portion of the cathedral. The plot moves forward from there at a nice pace.
Dorothy is a 60-something-year old former school teacher who had decided to make the move to England after, Frank, her husband died. It had been the plan that the two of them would do so; Dorothy follows through with that plan on her own. She's not yet made many friends in her new home; much of her time is spent at home with Esmerelda, her cat.
On Christmas Eve Dorothy attends midnight service at the cathedral not far from her own home. After the service, she stumbles, quite literally, into a dead body in a little-used portion of the cathedral. The plot moves forward from there at a nice pace.
February 14, 2021
I tried it. It is a bit different for a cozy as the woman is a American widow who gets herself involved in solving a murder in this fictional village in SE England. It is a Christmas themed story and is interesting in some ways. Just not my cup of tea, so won't look for more from the series.
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December 18, 2021
This is a book I selected to meet a challenge and I needed a book set at Christmas.
Box ticked nicely thank you! In this story Dorothy Martin is a retired American academic whose goal was to move to the UK with her academic husband Frank. The story begins with Dorothy having been widowed for a year, attending a Christmas church service in the UK where she has been living for several months. From here an incident finds Dorothy at the centre of a murder with her discovery of a body in the church transept.
This was quite an enjoyable read, but not engaging enough for me to want to continue with the series at this point in time. I may revisit it one day.
Box ticked nicely thank you! In this story Dorothy Martin is a retired American academic whose goal was to move to the UK with her academic husband Frank. The story begins with Dorothy having been widowed for a year, attending a Christmas church service in the UK where she has been living for several months. From here an incident finds Dorothy at the centre of a murder with her discovery of a body in the church transept.
This was quite an enjoyable read, but not engaging enough for me to want to continue with the series at this point in time. I may revisit it one day.
December 27, 2024
I believe I now have yet another series that I want to read my way through, if volume one is any indication. I really like the main character, Dorothy Martin, the American woman transplanted to the English town of Sherebury. It was very smart of the American author not to attempt to write an Englishwoman and very probably screw up the job. For we North Americans, it's difficult to get the details right.
This is a cozy mystery series, so it still surprises me how much I enjoyed it. There is, of course, a significant cat, a focus on food, and a police officer taking a personal interest in the widowed Dorothy. It all worked for me. I also liked the academic environment and the allusions to English mystery novels. I chose it this month for its Christmas connection, which is prominent without overwhelming the mystery. It proved to be a perfect Boxing Day occupation.
For a thirty year old novel, I felt it held up quite well. Some might find Dorothy's church going habit unusual, but I thought Ms. Dams gracefully made it part of Dorothy's life without over-explaining. I also appreciated the treatment of widowhood. She is still struggling with her emotions and other people (her American friends in particular) are ready for her to move on. Everyone else is more ready for the grieving person to “get back to normal" than they usually are. I'll be interested to see how this issue gets treated in future volumes.
This is a cozy mystery series, so it still surprises me how much I enjoyed it. There is, of course, a significant cat, a focus on food, and a police officer taking a personal interest in the widowed Dorothy. It all worked for me. I also liked the academic environment and the allusions to English mystery novels. I chose it this month for its Christmas connection, which is prominent without overwhelming the mystery. It proved to be a perfect Boxing Day occupation.
For a thirty year old novel, I felt it held up quite well. Some might find Dorothy's church going habit unusual, but I thought Ms. Dams gracefully made it part of Dorothy's life without over-explaining. I also appreciated the treatment of widowhood. She is still struggling with her emotions and other people (her American friends in particular) are ready for her to move on. Everyone else is more ready for the grieving person to “get back to normal" than they usually are. I'll be interested to see how this issue gets treated in future volumes.
September 25, 2017
The Body in Transept by Jeanne M. Dams.
The first in the Dorothy Martin series.
After already having read a few in this marvelous series I decided to go back and read the first. This author is never a let down, a totally gifted writer.
Dorothy and her (late) husband are lovers of England and have decided to move there. Suddenly her husband dies and Dorothy is left alone. Surviving or rather going through the motions which have not been the most pleasant for Dorothy. She chooses not to dwell on self-pity. Dorothy takes the bull by the horns and goes it alone with her head held high...supported by good friends.
The Cathedral Church of St. Peter & St. Paul is having their Christmas service and Dorothy wouldn't want to miss it. She attends alone and is having a frustrating time trying to secure a seat. She finally does find a place for herself and right next to Alan Nesbitt, the Chief Constable.
Alan and Dorothy strike up a conversation and learn that each have lost their beloved partners in life. And so begins the growing relationship between Dorothy and her future husband Alan Nesbitt. Just in time since the first murder victim turns up as Dorothy is finding her way out of the church at the end of the service.
And excellent story beautifully written with clear details on the cathedral and each personality.
The first in the Dorothy Martin series.
After already having read a few in this marvelous series I decided to go back and read the first. This author is never a let down, a totally gifted writer.
Dorothy and her (late) husband are lovers of England and have decided to move there. Suddenly her husband dies and Dorothy is left alone. Surviving or rather going through the motions which have not been the most pleasant for Dorothy. She chooses not to dwell on self-pity. Dorothy takes the bull by the horns and goes it alone with her head held high...supported by good friends.
The Cathedral Church of St. Peter & St. Paul is having their Christmas service and Dorothy wouldn't want to miss it. She attends alone and is having a frustrating time trying to secure a seat. She finally does find a place for herself and right next to Alan Nesbitt, the Chief Constable.
Alan and Dorothy strike up a conversation and learn that each have lost their beloved partners in life. And so begins the growing relationship between Dorothy and her future husband Alan Nesbitt. Just in time since the first murder victim turns up as Dorothy is finding her way out of the church at the end of the service.
And excellent story beautifully written with clear details on the cathedral and each personality.
July 25, 2016
Boring, stilted writing. Unimaginative and illogical descriptions, such as a "silent fanfare". Weak characterization.
January 31, 2015
The Dorothy Martin character was mentioned in another series I read (Penny Brannington) and remembered this book and gave it a try. Not sure what to think of it. On one hand, I liked the characters well enough and it was an intriguing plot. On the other hand, the writing was a little...overstated at times. The choice of wording had me rolling my eyes in a few places, and he utterly ridiculous ending was nearly too much to bear. Still, it has some charm to it, and if I ever stumble across the next book in the series, I'll give it a try, but I'm not bang on board with it just yet.
December 30, 2014
This is a nice cozy mystery set in a typical British village. I enjoyed the overall book. At times the main character did annoy me but that may just be me. ;) For the most part I found the characters colorful but not necessarily believable. The plot was easy to follow but did drag in a couple spots. I did guess the murderer before the reveal but that isn't a turn off for me. Overall, I enjoyed it enough to give the second book in the series a try in the future.
October 5, 2018
A cute cozy mystery series. Although I have to admit it did take me a few chapters to get into the rhythm. Dorothy is an American widow who moved to a village with a college in England
July 28, 2021
If a story of murder can be described as nice then after reading three Novak and Mitchell stories I can say this is a nice and gentle murder story. A retired widow recently settled in a Cathedral town stumbles over a body in the Cathedral on Christmas Eve and so can't help but get involved in trying to find out whodunit. She thinks she has few friends but it turns out she has more than she thought and she also strikes up a friendship with the Chief Constable as Christmas progresses. The writer has a nice easy style and while not crammed full of mystery and intrigue there is enough to keep the reader interested.
September 24, 2013
Narrator, newly bereaved American Dorothy Martin, enjoys the Christmas service in Sherebury Cathedral until she trips over the body of Canon Billings and screams, comforted by chief constable Alan Nesbitt, handsome, friendly, also widowed. Too logical what happens between them, too many questions elsewhere. Empty, shallow, bland, serious.
Dorothy repeatedly sees a hooded monk, local ghost. Why supernatural pother? Why does Dorothy's cat Emmy lap up the poisonous antifreeze? Humor non-existent - mentions of Dorothy's hats too brief to count. The convoluted solution climaxes in suitably dark, lonely, lucky chase around the deserted church.
Dorothy's spinster neighbor Jane Langland dispenses tea and pronoun-less conversation, does not show "mind of diamond and heart of custard" p 4. They decide student Nigel's good looks prove his innocence, so defend the suspect, fired by Billings, and Nigel's sweetheart Inga, last to leave Billings' house. Billings knew George Chambers (Dorothy nicknames "White Rabbit" from Alice in Wonderland) cheated on his wife Alice, and knew pompous verger Robert Wallingford stole thousands from the church collections over the years.
Dorothy repeatedly sees a hooded monk, local ghost. Why supernatural pother? Why does Dorothy's cat Emmy lap up the poisonous antifreeze? Humor non-existent - mentions of Dorothy's hats too brief to count. The convoluted solution climaxes in suitably dark, lonely, lucky chase around the deserted church.
Dorothy's spinster neighbor Jane Langland dispenses tea and pronoun-less conversation, does not show "mind of diamond and heart of custard" p 4. They decide student Nigel's good looks prove his innocence, so defend the suspect, fired by Billings, and Nigel's sweetheart Inga, last to leave Billings' house. Billings knew George Chambers (Dorothy nicknames "White Rabbit" from Alice in Wonderland) cheated on his wife Alice, and knew pompous verger Robert Wallingford stole thousands from the church collections over the years.
May 20, 2015
This series is an anglophile's daydream. Well-off American widow moves to England and finds wonderful cottage in relatively unspoiled cathedral/university town. She has charming neighbors, wizardly gardener, inherits cat and cottage garden, strikes up romance with non-aristocratic upper class Detective Superintendent, is liked by everyone, is more British than the British, and has a penchant for hats. She is a whiz at detecting, charmingly incompetent behind the wheel of a car, and in economically depressed Britain, finds a job.
Ah, to day dream so well!
The murder is appropriately tragic, the villains appropriately villainous, and the ending appropriately neat.
It is a pleasant day's reading, with no thought required. Perfect with a cup of tea and a plate of cookies.
Re-reading May 2015 ~ Still an enjoyable light read. And I'd forgotten exactly which suspect did it, so that was nice too.
First read in August 2011
Ah, to day dream so well!
The murder is appropriately tragic, the villains appropriately villainous, and the ending appropriately neat.
It is a pleasant day's reading, with no thought required. Perfect with a cup of tea and a plate of cookies.
Re-reading May 2015 ~ Still an enjoyable light read. And I'd forgotten exactly which suspect did it, so that was nice too.
First read in August 2011
February 25, 2015
Possibly the worst writing I have ever come across in a mystery series - with the exception of books that have recipe or craft sections at the end. It risked becoming the third book in my life that was just so awfully done that I could not get through it.
The characters have not been defined at all and are all over the map. That's the most aggravating part of the book.
One thing I am grateful for though is that the author is actually American. I had thought it was a British series and had that reinforced when the American characters didn't behave like Americans at all.
So British literary standards are still safe.
As this is an older book maybe I'll jump ahead a decade and see if the author has gotten things in order. The plot had hope, but again, the characters were ridiculously terrible.
The characters have not been defined at all and are all over the map. That's the most aggravating part of the book.
One thing I am grateful for though is that the author is actually American. I had thought it was a British series and had that reinforced when the American characters didn't behave like Americans at all.
So British literary standards are still safe.
As this is an older book maybe I'll jump ahead a decade and see if the author has gotten things in order. The plot had hope, but again, the characters were ridiculously terrible.
August 9, 2020
This was recommended to me quite awhile ago by a Goodreads friend, and I'm glad I finally managed to locate a copy to read. It's a thoroughly enjoyable light mystery, a "gentler" kind of story as opposed to some of the gritty and more explicit thrillers I've read lately. It was nice to relax and become acquainted with Dorothy Martin, an American widow who relocates to Sherebury, a small village in southeast England. While attending Christmas Eve service at the local cathedral, she discovers the body of a much disliked cleric, Canon Billings, but this is just the first murder, and the one which introduces Dorothy to the attractive Chief Constable. The setting and characters are totally lovable, especially her cat, and I'm looking forward to reading more in the series.
November 6, 2020
Dorothy, a retired American teacher, has moved to the cathedral town of Sherebury after the death of her professor husband. It had been their plan to retire to England together and Dorothy is following the plan, despite her loneliness. An Anglophile and also a lover of golden age British mysteries, Dorothy stumbles across a body when leaving the cathedral on Christmas Eve and soon decides she must investigate. The Anglophilia actually came in a little strong but Dorothy isfunny and clever and the plot was relatively well constructed. Dorothy’s references to her favorite mystery novels, including a reference to herself as Mrs. Pollifax, is fun if you are likewise a fan. Nothing super remarkable but fun to read.
December 20, 2020
Wonderful!
July 23, 2021
The solution was rather obvious
February 11, 2012
The Body in the Transept by Jeanne M Dams. I found The Body in the Transept . . . no, let me rephrase that, I found Jeanne M Dams' mystery through a useful service the Spokane Public Library provides through their catalog (see yesterday's post.) I had not heard of Dams, though she has been writing since the mid-90s. And I'm glad to hear of her now as this, her first Dorothy Martin mystery, is quite good.
Dorothy is an American, a widow who has moved to a cathedral town in England. She knows a handful of people from the days when she accompanied her husband as he did research at the local red brick university. But now she feels a bit isolated, is not really making friends, and is still grieving for her beloved husband.
After midnight services at the cathedral a man who was seated next to her during the service offers to walk her home and while he is off to find her coat and scarf she stumbles over a corpse, in the north transept. The man turns out to be Chief Constable Alan Nesbitt, a widower.
At first Dorothy talks to her acquaintances about the murder - it of course turns out to be a murder. But she soon finds the likely suspects are among her few acquaintances in town and she begins to dig deeper into the case in hopes of finding that these people have alibis or that their motives are weak.
Dorothy Martin has a good deal of charm and is clever and discerning. As she decides to stay in England at the end of the book we readers feel confident that she is beginning to make friends in her new home. Let's hope not too many of them are killed off in the forthcoming books in this series.
2012 No 23
Dorothy is an American, a widow who has moved to a cathedral town in England. She knows a handful of people from the days when she accompanied her husband as he did research at the local red brick university. But now she feels a bit isolated, is not really making friends, and is still grieving for her beloved husband.
After midnight services at the cathedral a man who was seated next to her during the service offers to walk her home and while he is off to find her coat and scarf she stumbles over a corpse, in the north transept. The man turns out to be Chief Constable Alan Nesbitt, a widower.
At first Dorothy talks to her acquaintances about the murder - it of course turns out to be a murder. But she soon finds the likely suspects are among her few acquaintances in town and she begins to dig deeper into the case in hopes of finding that these people have alibis or that their motives are weak.
Dorothy Martin has a good deal of charm and is clever and discerning. As she decides to stay in England at the end of the book we readers feel confident that she is beginning to make friends in her new home. Let's hope not too many of them are killed off in the forthcoming books in this series.
2012 No 23
November 24, 2020
This mystery has everything a cozy reader wants: a quaint English village complete with cathedral, a bossy but lovable cat, a widow who needs something to do, a crotchety neighbor with a good heart, the merest hint of a romantic interest, and suspects aplenty.
When Dorothy Martin stumbles over a dead body in the town cathedral following the Christmas Eve service, she has no idea how her life is to change and to what lengths she will go to help figure out who killed the canon and why. Though the canon was a generally disliked by everyone who knew him, there's someone out there who clearly had a special hatred for him. Dorothy is by turns headstrong and inquisitive, and her endearing ways are enough to make me pick up the next book in the series.
Highly recommend!
When Dorothy Martin stumbles over a dead body in the town cathedral following the Christmas Eve service, she has no idea how her life is to change and to what lengths she will go to help figure out who killed the canon and why. Though the canon was a generally disliked by everyone who knew him, there's someone out there who clearly had a special hatred for him. Dorothy is by turns headstrong and inquisitive, and her endearing ways are enough to make me pick up the next book in the series.
Highly recommend!
November 16, 2017
I really wasn't fond of the main so it was a tad bit of a slog for me but I wanted to get through to the end to find out if I was correct about the killer (I was). I don't think I'll be reading any more in the series, not poorly written just a personal dislike of the character herself.
November 11, 2018
This series I GREAT, especially if you love books set in England. Definitely read in order.
December 10, 2020
Great fun
I just found this new series and I am thrilled with it! The characters are brilliant and the mysteries are interesting and will keep you on the edge of your seat.
I just found this new series and I am thrilled with it! The characters are brilliant and the mysteries are interesting and will keep you on the edge of your seat.
May 3, 2022
Disappointing - Boring and silly.
December 11, 2022
It was a disappointing read. The plot is weak and there is not much character development to keep it interesting. The ending encounter seems quite implausible giving it a rating of 2 stars.
December 28, 2022
Mrs Martin, the widow of a professor has moved to England as she and her husband had planned. She moves to a cathedral town that has a university
Where her husband and she spent sabbaticals and enjoyed very much. It is much harder to do by herself but she is slowly settling in and does know a few people she has met over the year. On Christmas Eve she finds herself a bit late for midnight mass and so is unable to sit with her neighbour. She finds herself in the choir seated next to a nice man who offers to see her home after mass. Whilst she waits for him to collect their coats and umbrellas so they can go out a side door she trips over the body of one of the cannons. A man no one liked. And it turns out her seat mate in mass is the chief constable. An interesting mystery, well written, interesting character and of course a spectacular if imaginary location.
Where her husband and she spent sabbaticals and enjoyed very much. It is much harder to do by herself but she is slowly settling in and does know a few people she has met over the year. On Christmas Eve she finds herself a bit late for midnight mass and so is unable to sit with her neighbour. She finds herself in the choir seated next to a nice man who offers to see her home after mass. Whilst she waits for him to collect their coats and umbrellas so they can go out a side door she trips over the body of one of the cannons. A man no one liked. And it turns out her seat mate in mass is the chief constable. An interesting mystery, well written, interesting character and of course a spectacular if imaginary location.
March 15, 2021
First in a series that now runs to some two dozen entries. Like many beginnings, this one is awhile getting up to speed, much time spent introducing personae and setting scenes which will figure going forward; but there’s not a lot of plot to sprinkle in anyway. That said, it was a pleasant enough diversion, I’ll look for the next and hope for better then.
Dorothy Martin has retired, lost a husband only a year ago, and decided to continue with their former plan to retire to England. While it’s both good and bad, on balance it’s a positive, until she loses her balance and trips over the body of Canon Billings in the transept of the Cathedral at Sherebury. It is murder, and Mrs. Martin gets involved, even as she begins to develop a friendship with Alan Nesbitt, who as Chief Constable is involved with the early investigation of said murder.
Worth a read for mystery fans looking for a series to begin.
Dorothy Martin has retired, lost a husband only a year ago, and decided to continue with their former plan to retire to England. While it’s both good and bad, on balance it’s a positive, until she loses her balance and trips over the body of Canon Billings in the transept of the Cathedral at Sherebury. It is murder, and Mrs. Martin gets involved, even as she begins to develop a friendship with Alan Nesbitt, who as Chief Constable is involved with the early investigation of said murder.
Worth a read for mystery fans looking for a series to begin.
April 16, 2022
It’s really 3.5 stars in terms of being a very good cozy mystery. The only reason it isn’t a 4 star is because the last unveiling of the murderer, which of course puts the heroine in danger, is a little too fantastical.
But I loved the descriptions of an English cathedral town, I very much liked the heroine, Dorothy, although I am not sure just how old she is. I originally thought mid 60s but then wondered if she’s perhaps mid 50s based on some of the things she gets up to that I certainly couldn’t!
And I very much enjoyed the cat, Esmeralda aka Emmy.
I have brought three of the series with me on my holiday and whenever I get too anxious about all the travel uncertainties, I will dip back into the next one. They are quite soothing.
But I loved the descriptions of an English cathedral town, I very much liked the heroine, Dorothy, although I am not sure just how old she is. I originally thought mid 60s but then wondered if she’s perhaps mid 50s based on some of the things she gets up to that I certainly couldn’t!
And I very much enjoyed the cat, Esmeralda aka Emmy.
I have brought three of the series with me on my holiday and whenever I get too anxious about all the travel uncertainties, I will dip back into the next one. They are quite soothing.
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