The Irving File

Aunt Bessie Cold Case Mystery #9

by Diana Xarissa

It’s time for Bessie and her friends to consider another cold case. This time, one of Andrew’s work colleagues has come over to the island to observe the cold case unit at work. He’s going to be starting his own unit soon, and he wants to learn all that he can about what makes the unit on the island so successful.

As it’s the beginning of tourist season on the island, Bessie has trouble helping Andrew’s friend find a place to stay. Eventually he ends up in a small hotel in Lonan, one that is owned by one of Bessie’s friends. But there’s a stranger staying at the hotel, a man who claims to be a long-lost relative of the owner. Bessie can’t help but suspect a con.

Can the cold case unit solve another case and keep their perfect record intact? Can Bessie investigate her friend’s “nephew” without upsetting that friend? And does Andy Caine really want to buy a mansion with twelve bedrooms when he’s going to be living alone?

Genres: Mystery, Cozy Mystery

212 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 10, 2023

About the author

Diana 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.

Reviews

[☼Bookish in Virginia☼]

Like the series but this isn't one of my favorites.

[Lizabeth Tarr]

Great read

It was fun having two unrelated mysteries/issues going on throughout the whole story. I really enjoy Bessie and the gang!

[Elainebowden · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful

Another wonderful book about the cold cars unit the characters are really well written and the description of the places , I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys cosy mystery stories.

[Karen Bennett · Rating 5 out of 5]

Twisty

So many threads that all come together brilliantly at the end. A nice catch up with other characters too. Great that Andy is back

[A G A VAN DEN BOS · Rating 1 out of 5]

Another typical book with insufficient material to sustain even one story. Instead, the reader is confronted with three, with the main topic making up less than a third of the dialogue. Add to this the typical separation of groups, which then requires the necessity to repeat what has already previously been shared, and voila, we have the self-prescribed compulsive pre-requisite book volume. Even the cold case team are “heard” to express that the case is “going in circles” and they were “stumbling around in the dark”. An apt self-description of the book.
Incorrect and misleading information also bears witness to the lack of background research done. New Zealand’s emergency number is not (and has never been) 999. Neither are people with a Private Pilot's License permitted to land at Wellington Airport.
The one (and probably only) good outcome of this particular story is that the New Zealand Police are on this occasion not seen as being as incompetent as their counterparts in other countries, which is why they solved the case and not the team.

[Michele Livesay · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Wonderful Addition to the Series

One of the reasons I love this series is the location. Another reason is Bessie and the team. I feel like I could go there and, of course, stay at the Seaview. I could meet everyone and be a part of something special. Honestly, the cold cases are just added goodness to the mix. The side quests are a thread that weaves throughout the series and also give me a contented feeling every time they are solved. The next book comes out in June and I have already pre-ordered it.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Five years ago, in Wellington, New Zealand, Larry Irving was found strangled in his bed. The chief suspects were Larry's wife Amelia; her boss/lover Eric; Larry's brother James; Larry's boss Oscar; and Larry's next-door neighbor Herbert.

Can the cold-case unit wade through the confusing details to figure out what actually happened, who did it, and why?

[Jeannie and Louis Rigod · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was written to keep the reader fully engaged in the mystery! What can I say other than, Aunt Bessie remains my favorite character in a series! I just kept reading until the end in one sitting.

I eagerly await the next episode!

[Michele bookloverforever · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting.

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

two mysteries solved, good book...

[Charline Romine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Who done it?

Three different scenarios to try and figure out. Of course, two of the three turned out fine. The third is pending. Good story.

[Voirrey · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have to admit that I find the on-island storylines at least as interesting as the cold cases 😊

[Alayne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another excellent mystery for the cold case unit to solve. Very enjoyable.