week of March 21.
The first book I read this week was The Bluff by John Dedakis.
Another in the Lark Chadwick series. Lark in invited to anchor a news show at the local television station at the same time one of the students in her journalism class is hired by editor Lionel. They are assigned a land scam story in which a large number of senior have been defrauded of plots of land.
As they investigate, Lark begins to read the diary left by Lionel’s daughter Holly. Both Lionel and his wife Muriel were devastated by Holly’s death in a climbing accident.
But Lark begins to suspect the accident was really murderer.
The characters are well drawn and the mysteries are captivating. Recommended.
The second book I read is Betrayal at Ravenswick.
Fiona Figg works for British Intelligence during World War I. She is sent to Ravenswick in disguise as a man, Dr Vogel, to confirm whether a man staying there is actually a German spy. Shortly after his/her arrival, a murder occurs at the ‘Big House”. Fiona can’t help herself. Despite being told not to involve herself in local matters, she begins to investigate.
Because of her interference, she becomes a suspect and has to be extracted by way of a phony arrest.
Glad to return to her woman’s role, she continues her volunteer work at the hospital. Captain Clifford, on the scene at Ravenswyck and now also assigned to British intelligence, displays an interest in Fiona. She is able to manipulate him into finding evidence and clearing the accused innocent man.
My main problem is that the mystery at Ravenswyck disappears when Fiona returns to London and is only reintroduced towards the end. It felt like another book was sandwiched into the middle.
Next week, I will be discussing the books of my panelists. I will be moderating a panel: Historical; the Rapture of Research, at Malice Domestic on April 22. The conference, the first in=person since 2019, will run from April 21 through April 25. I am looking forward to it. I always love finding new authors and what could be better than talking about books?