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Aunt Bessie Cold Case Mystery #8
The Howard File
Police Inspector Andrew Cheatham is back on the island with another murder investigation for the cold case unit. On paper, it seems as if the case should have been solved decades earlier. Craig Howard was stabbed to death in a small pub, leaving behind only four possible suspects in the case.
Elizabeth Cubbon, Bessie to her friends, finds the new case frustrating. As if that weren't enough to worry about, her friend Maggie Shimmin is convinced that someone is trying to kill her. Maggie knows exactly who is behind what she insists are attempts on her life, but Bessie isn’t anywhere near as certain.
Can Bessie and the cold case unit find Craig’s killer? Can Bessie convince Maggie to go to the police with her suspicions? And, after eight months of working together, can Bessie and her friends actually start to get to know Charles and Harry, the other two members of the unit?
Elizabeth Cubbon, Bessie to her friends, finds the new case frustrating. As if that weren't enough to worry about, her friend Maggie Shimmin is convinced that someone is trying to kill her. Maggie knows exactly who is behind what she insists are attempts on her life, but Bessie isn’t anywhere near as certain.
Can Bessie and the cold case unit find Craig’s killer? Can Bessie convince Maggie to go to the police with her suspicions? And, after eight months of working together, can Bessie and her friends actually start to get to know Charles and Harry, the other two members of the unit?
- GenresMystery
214 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 12, 2022
412 people are currently reading
22 people want to read
About the author
Diana Xarissa
222 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 - 12 of 12 reviews
October 23, 2022
Another wonderful cozy!
I always look forward to the latest Aunt Bessie book! Even though the subject matter is murder, I feel like I’m revisiting old friends. It’s a new and interesting development having Andrew’s daughter in the story. I’m looking forward to the next book.
I always look forward to the latest Aunt Bessie book! Even though the subject matter is murder, I feel like I’m revisiting old friends. It’s a new and interesting development having Andrew’s daughter in the story. I’m looking forward to the next book.
October 18, 2022
Another hit!
I always enjoy Aunt Bessie. I liked Hellen and that Charlie and Harry are begging to thaw, they seem to enjoy more the Island and the other investigators and really pay attention to Bessie’s input. I just didn’t see any point in Maggie’s problem I just saw her as an attention seeker. I’ll be sad to see Pat Leave. Can’t wait for the next!
I always enjoy Aunt Bessie. I liked Hellen and that Charlie and Harry are begging to thaw, they seem to enjoy more the Island and the other investigators and really pay attention to Bessie’s input. I just didn’t see any point in Maggie’s problem I just saw her as an attention seeker. I’ll be sad to see Pat Leave. Can’t wait for the next!
October 18, 2022
A considerable improvement on previous books of the same series and others by the same author. This particular story does in fact predominate through the entire book, rather than an additional event amidst other crises created to add volume. It is, uncharacteristically, a story which appears to have been well thought out and presented rather than a rushed dialogue to meet a deadline.
What holds it back from a greater rating (other than the suspicion that there may yet be a return to the former style of presentation) is the continuance of content padding involving endless recycling of thought structure and character details presented in every previous book of the series. Indeed, the reader could start with Chapter 3, and not miss anything pertaining to the actual story.
What holds it back from a greater rating (other than the suspicion that there may yet be a return to the former style of presentation) is the continuance of content padding involving endless recycling of thought structure and character details presented in every previous book of the series. Indeed, the reader could start with Chapter 3, and not miss anything pertaining to the actual story.
August 13, 2022
On January 9, 1971, a man named Craig Howard was stabbed to death in the Goose and Grouse pub in Edinburgh. There were only five other persons in the pub at the time, but every one of them claims to have seen nothing and to know nothing.
With no perceptible results after thirty years, Inspector Rory Rogers turns the Howard File over to Andrew Cheatham's cold case unit. Can Bessie Cubbon and her friends develop new insights into a baffling case that is almost the equivalent of a 'locked-room' murder?
*Read as an ARC August 10-13, 2022*
With no perceptible results after thirty years, Inspector Rory Rogers turns the Howard File over to Andrew Cheatham's cold case unit. Can Bessie Cubbon and her friends develop new insights into a baffling case that is almost the equivalent of a 'locked-room' murder?
*Read as an ARC August 10-13, 2022*
October 31, 2022
Introducing Helen
A good mystery but there were too many witnesses/suspects to follow. The Cold Case team finally found the link that solved the case. Bessie meets Andrew’s daughter Helen and I think she will be a welcome addition to the lineup of characters.
A good mystery but there were too many witnesses/suspects to follow. The Cold Case team finally found the link that solved the case. Bessie meets Andrew’s daughter Helen and I think she will be a welcome addition to the lineup of characters.
May 5, 2023
Busy Times for Murder!
The team starts to spend more time together. It makes a difference for this month's crime. Arther's daughter Helen comes with him this time and bonds with Bessie. Lots going on and I love it. I hope this series keeps going for a long, long time.
The team starts to spend more time together. It makes a difference for this month's crime. Arther's daughter Helen comes with him this time and bonds with Bessie. Lots going on and I love it. I hope this series keeps going for a long, long time.
October 14, 2022
Another cold case successfully resolved!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 19, 2022
Great read
As always, I enjoyed this book and the group of friends who work together to solve cold cases and put away the bad guys! Ingenious writing!
As always, I enjoyed this book and the group of friends who work together to solve cold cases and put away the bad guys! Ingenious writing!
October 27, 2022
interesting case...
November 16, 2022
I always enjoy Diana Xarissa books.
December 16, 2023
This had a very interesting twist. Each book has had a different finding as far as the crime is concerned I love it that the team is getting more acquainted with each other.
April 15, 2024
This case was quite different from the previous 7, and very puzzling, but eventually the team was able to work it out. Very good reading.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews