‘A Body at Lavender Cottage’ By Dee MacDonald

Published by Bookouture,
2 November 2022.
ISBN: 978-1-80314853-3 (PB)

Kate Palmer and her sister Angie had moved to the North Cornwall coast a few years ago. Kate had fallen in love with Lavender Cottage and had spent the last few years renovating her cozy, clifftop cottage with its gorgeous views of the sparkling Cornish sea. Kate had also fallen in love with the recently retired Inspector Woody Forrest.

This morning feeling all of her 61 years Kate has been woken early by Barney their springer Spaniel scratching madly at the back door. Kate crossly opens the door and peers out at the October gloom.  Having omitted to bring in the washing from the clothesline the night before she now sets about it. Oddly she couldn’t locate Woody’s dark blue tie bearing the crest of the Metropolitan Police in London with whom he had served for many years before retiring down to Cornwall. With Barney still barking at the back of the garage she goes to investigate and is stunned to find a scruffy jeans clad man lying in  a bed of nettles. As a trained nurse she knew he was very dead. 

The noise had woken Woody, and he instantly telephoned the glamorous Inspector Charlotte Martin who replaced him when he retired. Now taking a closer look Woody realises that the corpse is Frank Ford, a petty criminal and his old nemesis. He learns that Frank had only recently come out of jail after serving 20 years for killing his wife. 

Kate knows that the man she loves is not a murderer and is determined to prove his innocence. But who would want to kill Frank and frame Woody? As Kate investigates, Frank’s family seem to be the obvious suspects. Could it be Jason Ford, the youngest son, who has an odd obsession with birdwatching? Sid Kinsella, the angry father-in-law? Or Sharon Mason, the troublesome daughter? 

While Woody acquaints Charlotte with the news Kate muses on their perfect life in Cornwall where they had decided to live out their old age.

When another member of the Ford family is killed while Woody is tending his allotment, it becomes clear to Kate that the killer is determined to bury Woody’s reputation. But a chance conversation provides Kate with a clue. She needs to find a woman named Rose.

Kate needs to act fast as Charlotte is already questioning Woody. Can Kate save him, before he is thrown in the jail.

A marvellous entry in this enjoyable series. Recommended.
--------
Reviewer: Lizzie Sirett

Dee MacDonald left Scotland and headed for London at the beginning of the swinging sixties. For eight years she was an air stewardess on long haul routes with BA (then BOAC). After that she did market research at Heathrow for both the government statistics and for BA. She became a sales rep and was the receptionist at the Thames Television Studios in Teddington. She then ran a small B&B for ten years in Cornwall, where she now lives with her husband. Dee has now written seventeen novels.

https://www.facebook.com/dee.macdonald.