Miss Seeton Undercover--book seventeen in the series--does not disappoint. The village of Plummergen and its rival village-Murreystone--are readying themselves for the competition of a Produce show at which fisticuffs emerge, Miss Seeton is substitute teaching again, a crime wave hits the area in the form of homes and antiques stores being robbed and a murder occurring, and to top it all off the crew and star of a popular television cooking program are in town!

I did not finish this book as I did not engage with the story or the characters.

As the series continues, it focuses less on crimes, although they are there, and more on village life. This entry is no exception. It's October and time for both the Produce Festival and the Harvest Blessing in the church. Unhappily for the residents of the village, their arch rival village will be joining them for the Festival because there hall was damaged. Needless to say this is causing much concern because their rivals are known for cheating.

Life is more complicated by the presence of a TV crew on the trail of an elusive apple and locations for their upcoming show.

Sounds pretty crime free, right? Wrong. Behind the scenes and of concern to cops and citizens are two rashes of burglaries. In one, the Ram Raiders, antique shops are broken into and their best stuff stolen. In the other, houses are broken into and great pieces of furniture and knick-knacks are stolen. Miss Seeton is asked by Scotland Yard for her insights into the Rammers.

Things of course come to a head around the Festival and Miss Seeton's scattered way of speaking spooks a bad guy. Almost slapstick action ensues, the crimes are solved.

The solution to some of the crimes here is a bit too pat for me and, as a result, I didn't like it as much. Even so it has some of the best writing on village life in the series and some passages of real insight into Miss Seeton and the dichotomy between how she sees herself and what her extraordinary gift brings to her life.

As always, I loved it and look forward to the next one.

Miss Seeton Undercover by Hamilton Crane continues the Miss Seeton series started by Heron Carvic. Miss Seeton sews confusion in her village of Plummergen as a TV crew visits to film the village's unique recipe. The police use her unique drawing skills to find clues about a gang who plunders antiques from homes; Mrs. Seton with her famous umbrella and skewed but informative drawings untangles the mystery while thinking she is simply a retired but genteel drawing mistress. Amusing puzzles and interesting village characters Read and enjoy.

A intersting story with a lot of details, good to read