Publication Sept. 26, 2022
Having just finished a book where everything came at you fast and furious, I have to admit that I thoroughly appreciated the more leisurely pace of "Daggers at the Country Fair". Set in the past after the war, there is a bit of an ol' fashioned feel to the tale. Martha Miller herself notes that it still feels odd to see road mileage markers as they had been removed during the war as a precaution should England be invaded.
I haven't read book one but that didn't seem to matter as I quickly figured out who was who and what had happened earlier. Martha had helped solve a murder in her home village with the help of local vicar Luke. Now she's been invited to open a neighboring fair in honor of her exploits. The people about them were interesting, from rapid-fire talker Annie to Luke's ol' friend Freddie's quips about Luke’s university days, to the fair itself. Then, there is a murder.
I won't detail the plot, it's easily available elsewhere, but will note that one needs to remind oneself that this story is not set in modern days. Nor are social norms the same as they are nowadays. Why would someone murder a young girl? Maybe more important, at least initially, why? As Martha delves into the mystery, she finds herself shutting out Luke. Doesn't she trust him? Why is she so reluctant to share? How do the dynamics of the various families involved play out? What the heck happened to Martha's husband, Stan, anyway? Who killed the housekeeper and shoved her over a wall? Why? Heck, could it be someone intent more upon ruining Annie's reputation as fair planner than not? Why....oh, enough teasers. Check out the book if you're in the mood for a more leisurely, ol' fashioned tale.
Thanks #NetGalley and #BoldwoodBooks for inviting me to the fair. It was fun to meet Martha and Luke even tho' I'm fearful the rigid era they live in has things stacked against them. Will love conquer all?
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