Mitchell & Markby 15

Enjoyably readable. Solid workmanship with some great writing sequences, though unimpressed with aspects of the plot and a weak ending. The main characters, Meredith and Alan (Markby) have made a good basis for a strong storyline throughout this series. It is quite unsettling where the author has left them at the end. I expected more closure if the stories were to end. ( )

I think this book is the last in the Mitchell and Markby series as it was released in 2004 and no new books in this series have come out since. That's not to say it's the last of Ann Granger's books or series, as she has many other series in her backlist. I must say I'm sorry to see the end of Meredith and Alan Markby. I have enjoyed them and their sleuthing as well as their rather complicated and prolonged love life. At the end of this book, they are happily looking forward to their marriage and to their new home at the old vicarage. But first they have to solve a crime that appears to start from poison pen letters and an old 25-year-old murder that was never solved. Markby is asked by Meredith to look into the letters that have been sent to Alison Jenner, but before they can get very far forward with that, one of the members of the Jenner household is found dead face down in their ornamental pond. It soon becomes apparent that the old case is still very much in someone's mind, Dirt has be dug up, hatchets have to be buried, and the police need to take a fresh look at an old case before this one can be closed. I'm going to miss the Village of Bamford, and I'm going to miss Meredith and Alan - two of the most likeable sleuths out there. ( )

When Alison Jenner opened the mail and found the poison pen letter, she was taken aback. Way back, 25 years to be exact to when she was acquitted of murdering her aunt Freda Kemp in Cornwall. When her husband confronts her with the malicious missive, he insists on having the police look into it. The investigation stirs up a hornets nest and two more murders occur right in the Jenner's back yard so to speak. The search for the poison pen writer and murderer leads investigations to Cornwall and back. Attempt at murder number three is the undoing of the perpetrator.
A plot of murder motivated by greed, resentment and revenge makes this a highly recommended novel. If you like British based mysteries with a little amateur help thrown in by the Inspector's fiance and some truly believable supporting characters, then this is the book for you. ( )

Comments soon, catching up.