In this second novel in the Dales Detectives series, Samson O’Brien and Delilah Metcalfe team up to solve a murder at the village retirement home. The peaceful community is shaken when an elderly woman is found dead, and then two others come close to death. The investigation reveals hidden secrets, grudges and motives among the locals. At the same time, they must solve the theft of Ralph the ram. The mix of humour and intrigue is page-turning and how could I not love a book where you drink strong tea on every page and even eat Hobnobs. It was a really nice moment to spend time in this book.
“Throat thickening, Samson took a swig of tea and for the first time since his return to Bruncliffe, he was glad of the harsh flavour as it cut through the nostalgia and made him cough.
Ida laughed, a brash bark of sound. “Tha’s not toughened up yet, then, lad?”
“Not yet,” he said. “Reckon it’ll take a while.”
“A couple of years at least,” she said.
He nodded, not wanting to tell her that he wouldn’t be around that long. He’d be back in London before his taste buds had been damaged forever by the local brew. Feeling another wave of sadness at the thought, he took refuge in the questions he’d come to ask.”