About the Author

Jeanne M. Dams lives in South Bend, Indiana. A Notre Dame graduate and retired teacher, Ms. Dams is also the author of The Body in the Transept, winner of the Agatha Award for Best First "Malice Domestic" novel, and Trouble in the Town Hall. She is currently at work on Dorothy Martin's next investigation.

Reviews

"Dams brilliantly crafts a mystery that defies the usual category."-- "The Chicago Sun-Times""A tightly paced, thoroughly entertaininng tale... Dorothy establishes herself as a fresh, commanding--and always genteel--presence."-- "Publishers Weekly""Dorothy is a dear."-- "NewYork Times Book Review""[Featuring] a modern day Miss Marple...[This] heroine and her outrageous hats... keep us entertained until the very end."-- "Murder Ink"

Dorothy Martin, known for her eccentric hats and snoopy nature, returns (from Holy Terror in the Hebrides, 1997) to delight cozy fans anew. Martin, who moved from America to England after she was widowed, has married Alan Nesbitt, Chief Constable of Sherebury, and is adjusting to wedded bliss in her 17th-century cottage. Then their charwoman, Ada Finch, begs Dorothy to help clear her son, Bob, who has been arrested for theft. Bob, who works as a gardener at Brocklesby Hall, is accused of stealing an antique miniature tea set from the Miniatures Museum there. Agreeing to investigate, Dorothy finds that the Hall harbors not only the enchanting Museum but a collection of assorted oddballs, foremost of whom is Sir Mordred Brocklesby, obsessed with his miniature houses and furnishings. Bob is cleared of theft, but is eyed as a suspect again when Brocklesby's domineering housekeeper is murdered. Another murder complicates the case‘and Dorothy's home life with her copper husband. No garden variety ex-pat herself, the 60-ish Martin manages to get around the British reserve of most of the villagers as she steers this tightly paced, thoroughly entertaining tale to its unpredictable finale, and despite some damage done to herself in the process, celebrates a memorable Thanksgiving. (Nov.)