Miss Riddell has returned home to nurse her sick parents. Her cousin and her first love is murdered. He was a small-time crook but Miss Riddell doesn't believe that is why he was murdered.
With her hometown awash with crime, a sleuth must solve a slaying. Can she save her family from a treacherous plot?
Yorkshire, England, 1962. Miss Riddell definitely isn’t having a merry Christmas. With her mother sick and brother pestering her to investigate a forged will, the worst winter in decades has her longing to return to regular life. And just as a series of ugly incidents in the village pushes the pressure to a boiling point, things take a deadly turn when her cousin is brutally murdered.
Convinced there’s a devious link between the fraud and the death, Miss Riddell puts her sharp mind to work uncovering clues. But with the unscrupulous culprit evading police, she’ll have to put everything on the line to corner the killer.
Can Miss Riddell wrap up the case without becoming the next frozen corpse?
Professional Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars Murder and mystery in the English countryside.
This latest cozy mystery featuring amateur sleuth Pauline Riddell is set nearly 30 years before the previous one. This time we see her attempting to resolve a series of unpleasant events back in early 1960's rural England, where she grew up.
Set against a wintry backdrop, Pauline returns to her aging parents' farm, where circumstances are far from idyllic. Suffice to say, murder soon raises its ugly head, and Pauline sets out to unmask the culprit.
Riddell is an intriguing character. Her incisive mind is paired with a sharp, uncompromising tongue, making her more than a match for any wrongdoer. I believe fans of cozy mystery should enjoy this new adventure, as well as the authentic feel of 1960's England.
the reluctant Detective strikes again.
Miss Ridell gets dragged into another murder by her family in the middle of a Christmas holiday home. It seemed like such a little thing at first. But of course, as we know, nothing is ever as it seems at first glance. Even a will that isn't as straightforward as it should be. Death is complicated, but then again, a suspect's motives usually are not.
Overall, a delightful, easy read. Very enjoyable to sit by the fire with a drink in hand getting lost in Miss Ridell's antics once again. I'm truly enjoying the series.
I couldn't put it down! Love Miss Riddell!
Miss Riddell is at it again and carries us along for a wintery mystery at Christmas. She spends her hard earned vacation working to solve a painful mystery of a teenage sweetheart's death. Though he turned black sheep, the slaying of the man who bestowed on Miss Riddell her first kiss presses her into service amidst the worst winter in years. We meet her family and the farm where she grew up. The ending? I didn't see it coming, but I should have! Enjoy a good read and prepare to drop everything once you start!
Pastor Preston Woods who has been hurt so much in the past is seeking a fresh start in the small town of Pinecrest. But when he arrives, he finds himself in the middle of a town struggling with deep-rooted corruption, and a community divided by secre
