A bit slow at times. I stuck it out because I have heard the second one is better. ( )

What drew me to this mystery is that it's set in 1946 in the interior of British Columbia, the province where I live, in fact, in the exact area where I live. In the early part, Whishaw's language is oddly drawn out and formal, avoiding contractions and using sentences such as 'Let us get down to business' before becoming more comfortable on the page. The protagonist - and at one time a suspect - moved from England and her job in the secret service at the end of the war to live in a distant rural community. When a man is found murdered in her well, she finds herself in the middle of an investigation with wide-ranging links. It's the first in a series. Recommended for fans of Maisie Dobbs. ( )

I'm so delighted to have another stellar mystery series to read -- I love the characters, from Lane's independent spirit to the unexpected ghost. I love the setting -- rural BC just after World War II. I love the dream of a house of one's own and a small living and a view over the hills. That's the fantasy that fills my cup nowadays, and I wonder how the series will continue. I don't really think of it as a cozy mystery -- it's a bit too bleak and realistic for that, but that could just be the very convincing leftover toll that the 2 World Wars have had on the community. ( )

i really liked the characters here, and enjoyed spending time with them. some of the writing was great, but at other times it was clunky. i found the same to be true of the story itself, and the time hops. but i also had fun with the book, even when i wasn't feeling like it was as good as i wanted it to be.

i bet those issues get cleaned up in future books, and that this ends up being a fun series to read. her dialogue is snappy and fun, and that's not always easy to achieve. this didn't have the feel of maisie dobbs or three pines (as it says on the back of the book) but that's ok because it has its own feel. i think she created a nice little community in british columbia (where i can't imagine any more murders taking place) all its own. ( )

Lane Winslow has just moved to the remote village of King's Cove, British Columbia, and is settling into her new home, trying to forget the war and her role as a spy. When the water shuts off, she and a neighbor check the creek for problems. Lo and behold there is a dead body in the sluice. Moreover the dead man has her name written on a scrap of paper in his pocket. The handsome young detective suspects she must have something to do with it, and Lane must prove her innocence.

As far as mysteries go, I had solved this one about half way through and spent the rest of the book mentally urging the characters to make the obvious connections. This is the author's first adult book, and it is apparent in the writing, especially at the beginning of the book. Sentences like "After looking inquiringly at the kettle to see if she could hear it heating up, she took a delicious amble through the rooms" had me laughing out loud. The main character is sympathetic though, and I was curious to learn more about her work during the war, which is alluded to, but never made explicit. ( )