Death in the Garden City

I absolutely love this long-running cozy series featuring American turned Brit, Dorothy Martin, and her British husband, Alan, a retired policeman. Part of why I love this series is their home setting, I especially like when they "stay at home" in their small English village. Lately, though, they've been traveling and, in this particular instance, a trip to Canada, namely Victoria, BC, was an intriguing locale for a Dorothy Martin mystery.

The crimes may seem petty at first but things soon intensify and Dorothy and Alan need to start using their strong sleuthing skills to help the RCMP aka, the Mounties. Along the way, we learn about Canada's First Nations people, falconry, and gardens. As is typically true, I learn a lot from a Jeanne Dams mystery.

Once again, this is an outstanding mystery with charming characters and a delightful setting.

Long may this series run. Highly recommended!!

I have enjoyed this series since the first day.back in 1996. Some were stronger than others, some I enjoyed more than the rest but this one, #22, goes to the list of most enjoyable of the series. While I love England and all of the mysteries set there, this one is set in my back yard and it showed all of the delights and short comings of Victoria and the rest of Vancouver Island. This one works well as a stand alone and if you get the time, please spend some time on the Island to visit all of the places Dorothy and Alan enjoyed. Just don't get involved with uncovering a killer.
As a retired police officer, Alan is contacted by an RCMP officer with a request to come to Victoria and assist with a series of seemingly unrelated petty incidents. Friends of Dorothy and Alan who are also connected to the RCMP officer offer to foot the bill to fly them to Victoria and they are then offered the use of a condo and a car. They may be a long way from home (eight time zones) but they have a good support system to guide them around the island. Soon things move from petty crimes like tossing paint on the tents in the homeless camp and stealing plants from Butchart Gardens to homicide. I'll say no more to prevent a risk of spoilers.
I came away from this mystery having enjoyed the puzzle to solve and the armchair revisit to a city and Island that I will never tire of. A win-win. My thanks to the publisher Severn House and to NetGalley for giving me an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.