This is the second in Dams' charming Dorothy Martin series. American ex-pat Dorothy, now a widow of one year, has grown increasing closer to Chief Constable Alan Nesbitt while establishing a new life in the shadow of England's fictional Sherebury Cathedral. While out walking (she still has trouble adapting to England's driving habits) one day, Dorothy happens to notice movement in the town's deserted old town hall, prompting her to enter and to meet charwoman Ada Finch, leading (of course) to the discovery of a dead body in a closet. Since the ancient town hall is the subject of a tug of war between developers and preservationists, suspects and possible motives abound. Naturally, Dorothy is drawn into investigating the death.
Dams (who does NOT live in the UK!) has a way of interweaving so many details of small-town English life into her novels that you would swear you were actually in Sherebury. Readers are almost able to feel the rain relentlessly dripping down their necks or pounding on the roof or to taste the chocolate biscuits and piping hot tea. Dams creates an almost flawless sense of place in her mysteries. As for characters, Dorothy is level-headed, age appropriate in her behavior and dress, and emotionally realistic while Alan is gentlemanly and intelligent. There are few "Perils of Pauline" type adventures here and the realism adds immeasurably to the appeal of this series. I can't wait to order some more!
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