Saturday, December 24, 2011

A Killer's Christmas in Wales

As the townsfolk of the Welsh valley town of Llanelen settle in for the snowiest winter in twenty-five years, an American stranger arrives. Harry Saunders charms the ladies, one of them in particular: Evelyn Lloyd, the town’s former postmistress, who was left comfortably off after the death of her husband. After Mrs. Lloyd invests a good deal of money with him, Harry goes missing, as does her money. His body is soon discovered outside the walls of Conwy Castle, and Mrs. Lloyd is implicated in the murder.
Although Penny Brannigan and her business partner, Victoria Hopkirk, are busy overseeing the grand opening of their new spa, that doesn’t stop Mrs. Lloyd from desperately seeking Penny’s help to prove her innocence. It’s quite possible that Harry made other enemies while in Llanelen and Penny’s investigation unfolds while she juggles her work at the spa, her growing relationship with Detective Inspector Davies, and the Christmas window competition that she signed up to judge.

It's rare nowadays that I buy hardcovers, but I bought this one as soon as it came out because of the COVER!!! The little skull marshmallows just kill me!!! And happily the story inside is just as delightful. It's the 3rd in the series, but I didn't get confused picking up the series without reading the first 2. I was stumped as to the identity of the killer, as well. I loved the short scene with Penny and Victoria judging the Christmas window contest. I could picture the mouse family scene in the dressmaker's window. I really enjoyed the characters of Mrs. Lloyd and her companion Florence. Terrific holiday mystery.

1 comment:

Elizabeth Duncan said...

Thanks so much Melissa. I agree the cover is absolutely brilliant!