Six Degrees of Separation - January 2018

Today, I'm joining in Six Degrees of Separation starting with the first in the well loved series No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency by Alexander McCall Smith with its wonderful character, Mma Ramatswe.

I didn't think I'd read many series of books with strong female protagonists, but it turns out I have, starting with A Killer in King's Cove by Iona Whishaw, the story of former British spy and current amateur sleuth Lane Winslow in post-WWII British Columbia, which leads to:

Black Roses by Jane Thynne, a series featuring Clara Vine, British actress and part-time spy living in pre-WWII Berlin, and on to:

A change from those darker series with The Lanvin Murders by Angela M. Sanders.  This series brings its readers to the world of vintage fashion in Portland, Oregon with heroine Joanna Hayworth.

Next we move to the historical fiction genre and Evelyn Anthony's oldie-but-goodie series about Russian Tsarinas, starting with Rebel Princess, the story of Catherine the Great.

A fine example of dystopian fiction/sci-fi from the brilliant Margaret Atwood is the MaddAdam trilogy: Oryx and Crake is the first in the series.

And finally, the bring this full circle, let's go back to Africa, South Africa this time with Sally Andrew's wonderful Tannie Maria mystery series Recipes for Love and Murder


Six Degrees is courtesy of:  Books are My Favorite and Best

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.