The Corpse of St. James's

September 3, 2012
Dams’s underwhelming 12th mystery featuring American-born, English-residing amateur sleuth Dorothy Martin (after 2011’s The Evil That Men Do) takes Dorothy and her husband, former Chief Constable Alan Nesbitt, to London to attend a ceremony honoring their friend Jonathan Quinn, a Scotland Yard inspector, for rescuing a child from a burning building. Strolling afterwards in St. James’s Park, the three discover a young woman’s body. Only after Dorothy has reported their gruesome find to the police does Jonathan admit that he knows the victim, Melissa Higgins. Jonathan is worried, though, that drawing attention to Melissa’s illegitimate birth could cause Melissa’s mother, Jemima, his close friend, to lose her job at Buckingham Palace. Dorothy thus decides to investigate the death on her own. A heroine who continually complains about her enviable travels may annoy some readers, though London’s picturesque sights lend some flair to this cozy before a disappointingly rushed resolution. Agent: Kimberley Cameron, the Kimberley Cameron Agency.

October 1, 2012
A trip to Buckingham Palace turns into a nightmare murder investigation. American expat Dorothy Martin and her husband, retired Chief Constable Alan Nesbitt, have been invited to Buckingham to see their friend Jonathan Quinn, former Chief Inspector of Scotland Yard, receive the George Cross. Jonathan was badly injured when he saved a child trapped in a burning building. The child survived, but not Jonathan's promising career. On their way out, they run into Jemima, an honorary cousin of Jonathan who works in the palace. As they take a turn in St James' Park, they discover a body under a bush in an area that's supposed to be closed to the public. When Chief Superintendent Carstairs takes over the case, the ever-curious Dorothy thinks her involvement has ended until a call from Jonathan changes her mind. Jonathan had recognized the body as that of Jemima's daughter, Melissa, who had lived with his honorary Aunt Letty, a woman to whom he owed much that was good in his life. Afraid that identifying the body would cost Jemima her job at the palace, he said nothing. Forced by Dorothy and Alan to reveal all, however, he makes himself the chief suspect. Although she's duly warned off by the police, Dorothy's not about to give up looking for the killer, especially after Jonathan, worn down with pain and worry, takes an overdose. Was the killer a random stranger, or does the answer to the puzzle lie in the past? The latest for Dorothy (The Evil That Men Do, 2012, etc.) is one of Dams' better mysteries, packed with the details sure to delight anglophiles.

COPYRIGHT(2012) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

November 1, 2012

Once again, Dorothy stumbles--literally--into a murder investigation. This one might have royal connections. Her 12th case (after The Evil that Men Do) is perfect for those seeking British-infused cozies. [See Prepub Alert, 7/2/12.]

Copyright 2012 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

October 1, 2012
Dorothy Martin, the American-born schoolteacher and amateur sleuth who makes her home in England, returns in this new entry in a popular series. On a visit to Buckingham Palace, Dorothy and her husband, Alan, a retired chief constable, discover a dead body in a private section of St. James's Park. As it turns out, Dorothy and Alan's friend, a former chief inspector, knew the victim, and the friend asks Dorothy if she could, discreetly, try to find out what happened to the victim. Fans of British cozies will enjoy this one very much (although readers who prefer more action might find it a bit lethargic. Martin isn't quite as engaging a character as Hilda Johansson, heroine of Dams' other series, and the contemporary setting isn't quite as compelling as Hilda's early-1900s environment, but Martin's fansof all her workshould be pleased.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2012, American Library Association.)