During World War II, Lane Winslow worked for British Intelligence. War-weary, she decides to settle in interior
British Columbia in the tiny community of King’s Cove. Her plans for a quiet life are disrupted when
a man’s body is found on her property. A
piece of paper with her name on it is found on the murder victim’s body. Though she tries to assist Inspector Darling
and Constable Ames of the Nelson police department with their investigation,
she soon finds that she is the prime suspect.
Convinced that someone in King’s
Cove is responsible, she sets out to prove her innocence and identify the
murderer.
Since this is the first in the series, there is focus on character
development. Lane is self-sufficient and
thoughtful. It is obvious that her
wartime experiences have shaped her. I
liked how in the course of the novel she learns about some past mistakes. The other inhabitants of King’s Cove are
differentiated so there is no difficulty remembering who is who.
There are some issues with uneven pacing and point of view shifts. The novel begins slowly, primarily to provide
background on the characters. The
investigation is not hurried, but perhaps too much information is given too
early so that the solution is predictable.
Then, the ending seems rushed, so much so that it feels choppy. At the beginning, the third person limited omniscient
point of view is used, but then it switches to third person omniscient. There are several flashbacks to both World
War I and World War II.
There is one major coincidence that may give the reader pause: the victim, with a very particular past, ends
up in the remote area where Lane has chosen to live. Though I haven’t read any other books in the
series, I wonder whether King’s Cove will come to have Cabot Cove syndrome.
In some ways, this book reminded me of the Miss Fisher Murder
Mysteries. The protagonists are both
young, in their late 20s. Phryne is
wealthier but Lane is financially independent.
There is an attraction between Lane and Inspector Darling as there is
between Phryne and Inspector Robinson. And
there are similarities between Constable Ames and Constable Collins.
This is what I consider a cozy historical mystery; it will not appeal
to readers who prefer action-packed crime thrillers. Though this debut novel is flawed, it is
sufficiently good that I will read at least the second in the series.
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