The Evil that Men Do

December 12, 2011
Dams’s mild 11th Dorothy Martin mystery (after 2011’s A Dark and Stormy Night) takes American-born Dorothy and her British husband, retired chief constable Alan Nesbitt, to the Cotswolds, where they stumble on a body in an abandoned quarry. After reporting their grim find to the police, they’re nearly run over by a disheveled, blood-splattered young man on a motorcycle, who apologizes, then vanishes. Convinced that this nervous gentleman is somehow connected with the body in the quarry, Dorothy begins to do what she does best: pose as a bemused American tourist looking for information. Her queries, punctuated by endless cups of tea, lead her to a women’s shelter, isolated farmhouses, and eventually into grave danger. The lush Cotswolds scenery and the cast of intriguing locals will appeal to Anglophiles, but the mystery itself is vague, illogical, and far too bland—like a scone without its clotted cream. Agent: Kimberley Cameron.

January 1, 2012
A retired Chief Constable and his American spouse are enjoying the beauties of a holiday in the Cotswolds when they stumble upon a body. Despite Alan's Nesbitt's unofficial status, he and Dorothy Martin are no strangers to sleuthing (A Dark and Stormy Night, 2011, etc.). So it's no surprise that while they're staying in a B&B in the picture-perfect English village of Broadway and enjoying hiking the countryside, they find a body in a quarry. The couple becomes concerned about Paul Jones, a young fellow guest who seems to be in fear of something. Hoping that he has nothing to do with the death of the seemingly blameless farmer, Dorothy decides that they must investigate when Paul vanishes. The sleuths meet Jo Carter, who claims to be an old family friend of Paul, and eventually learn that the young man, under a different name, is a budding pop star whose family once had to go into hiding to escape from a particularly nasty and abusive ex-husband and stepfather. Paul recognized him but has no idea what name he may be using or whether he even lives in the Cotswolds. Although Paul is eventually found, Jo disappears. Has she too become a victim? Renting a cottage as a base for exploration, the couple takes in a lost and starving dog, who provides a handy excuse to visit outlying farms looking for Jo. Although the police are searching, Dorothy is the one who faces the greatest danger. Anglophiles and series fans will forgive the fact that Alan and Dorothy spend a lot more time extolling the beauties of the English countryside than solving the crimes.

(COPYRIGHT (2012) KIRKUS REVIEWS/NIELSEN BUSINESS MEDIA, INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.)

February 1, 2012

A Cotswolds vacation turns into a busman's holiday for Dorothy Martin and her husband, retired Chief Constable Alan Nesbitt (A Dark and Stormy Night), when they discover a corpse in a quarry and Dorothy suspects murder. A pleasing traditional cozy for Anglophiles. [See Prepub Alert, 8/2/11.]

Copyright 2012 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

January 1, 2012
American ex-pat Dorothy Martin and her British husband, retired chief constable Alan Nesbitt, are on holiday in the Cotswolds. While hiking and enjoying the beautiful scenery near the village of Broadway, they discover the body of a man at the bottom of a quarry. The police learn that the victim, a local farmer, was probably pushed over the edge, but they have no suspects. Dorothy's curiosity gets the better of her, and despite Alan's admonition to leave it alone, she begins asking questions. A young man whom they met before discovering the body makes her suspicious. (No shrewd sleuthing there, as he was covered with blood.) Quickly it becomes clear that the insular locals do not appreciate Dorothy and Alan asking questions, which, of course, makes our heroes more determined than ever to solve the crime. Dams sticks a little too close to formula here, but she does it with style, and British cozy fans will enjoy the idyllic Cotswolds setting.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2012, American Library Association.)