Were the Good Old Days All That Good?

Title:  An Old, Cold Grave

Author:  Iona Whishaw
Edition:  Touchwood Editions, 2017
Setting:  A Village in British Columbia, Canada
Genre:   Mystery

Were the "good old days" really all that good?  That's one of the questions Lane Winslow, a former British spy living in a village in rural British Columbia in the aftermath of World War II is asking herself.  Sure, the villagers have electricity now, and running water and telephones, but back in 1910 when the village was new, it was a different story.  Life was hard, especially if you were a young child or a poor family.  

Lane has other questions, too.  What is the identity of the skeleton found buried in her neighbor's root cellar?  How did the person die and why?  And who buried the body there?

And then there's Inspector Darling.  He and Lane definitely have chemistry, but they've both been quite literally through the war.  Should she open up to him?  Or is she better off living the quiet country life she has planned?  Lane finds herself wondering:  "There was simplicity in her existence now. Just her, her house, this green valley and cool lake, and a few friends who would make no inroads into her deeper self.  The utter quiet." 

Those who enjoy a strong female protagonist will greatly enjoy Lane Winslow.  She's an independent woman who nonetheless has forged strong relationships with the very interesting cast of characters who live in the village of King's Cove.  King's Cove itself is a character in this series, and Whishaw writes vividly about its charms: " It was a fine day, the air redolent with the green smell of earth and new growth, and she relished walking along the paths and byways...".

Of course, in any mystery story, you want a strong mystery.  And this is where this novel shines.  It's hard to imagine the villagers being involved in the death and burial, and indeed, they pull together with Lane and Inspector Darling to try to figure it out.  There are a few twists, some tense, suspenseful action, and the resolution is both strong and interesting.

This is the third in a mystery series featuring Lane Winslow, and it is the best.  The story is deeper, with themes of identity and belonging and survival in hard times that are quite moving.  I look forward to reading the next Lane Winslow mystery and can wholeheartedly recommend this to those who enjoy the cozy mystery genre.

Briefly Reviewed

Title: The Last Lost Girl

Author:  Maria Hoey
Edition: Poolbeg Crimson;  July, 2017
Setting:  Ireland, 1960s
Genre:  Mystery

 
This is the story of an Irish family (mother, father, and three sisters) whose lives change forever in the summer of 1976.   A dual timeline story, it follows the three girls in 1976 as the summer progresses toward the social event the eldest (Lilly) looks forward to.  Lilly is 15 and pushing boundaries.  Gayle, the middle daughter desperately seeks approval from everyone.  Jacqueline, the youngest, spies on her sisters.  Dad drinks more than he should, and the mother has aspirations to a better life.  All of this leads toward a family tragedy that Jacqueline tries to unravel as an adult.  This was a very well-written book - the sisters' characters are sharply defined as early as the first chapter - with lovely prose.  The story kept my attention; I burned through it over a weekend.  I didn't find the characters unlikeable; I found them to be deeply human with the strengths and faults so many people have.  I received a copy from the publisher.

Title: The Marriage Bureau

Author:  Penrose Halson
Edition: HarperCollins Publisher, May 2017
Setting: Britain
Genre:  Non-Fiction

This non-fiction book was a very enjoyable read. It's the story of two friends who started a marriage bureau in London just before the outbreak of WWII. Using material from a company archive (and how fortunate that these materials had been saved!), the author presents matchmaking stories that are funny, sad, touching, and occasionally outrageous or heartrending. The ins and outs of how the matchmakers dealt with their clients - and what a variety of clients they were - is fascinating. And the matchmakers themselves were quite unusual characters too. If you enjoyed Call the Midwife or Home Fires, this is the book for you. I received a copy from the publisher.