Author: Traci Hall
Genre: Mystery
Trade Paperback; Digital Book
ISBN #: 9781496726018
Kensington Publishing
304 Pages
$14.49; $9.99 Amazon
May 25, 2021
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In the charming Scottish shire of Nairn, sweater shop owner Paislee Shaw must root out a garden variety killer...
Paislee's custom sweater and yarn business, Cashmere Crush, is the sole support for not only the single mum and her ten-year-old son Brody, but also her eccentric Gramps and Wallace, their black Scottish terirer. So when her landlord, Shawn Marcus, serves her an eviction notice and then pulls a disappearing act, she'll go to any lengths to find the man and reason with him.
Shawn is heir to the Leery Estate, which Brody's class will be visiting on a field trip. So Paislee volunteers to chaperone in the hopes of tracking down Shawn and killing two birds with one stone. Unfortunately, the only one killed is a man Paislee sees falling out of the hedges after being shot. It's not her missing landlord, but Lady Leery's nephew, Charles Thomson. Gruff DI Mack Zeffer is on the case, but Paislee also has a stake in flushing out the shooter. With suspects sprouting up like weeds, Paislee may need to hedge her bets until she can determine who is trying tl lead her down the garden path....
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Paislee Shaw owns a yarn shop named Cashmere Crush, which she inherited from her late grandmother. It's the sole source of income for her and her ten-year-old son, Brody. Recently, her grandfather has come to live with her, and he helps with both the shop and Brody, which allows her to go on a field trip with Brody's class and keep the shop open.
Paislee's landlord has given everyone on the block eviction notices, and she doesn't want to move. Therefore, when she goes to the Leery Estate to see the gardens, she intends to talk with Shawn Marcus, Lady Leery's son. But shortly after arriving, she sees a man fall from the bushes, apparently dead. At first she thinks it's Shawn, but later discovers it's his cousin Charles Thomson. Little does Paislee know that this one act can embroil her in several uncomfortable situations, not the least among them of the possibility of losing both her shop and her home.
When another opportunity arrives to see Shawn, she jumps at it and in doing so draws herself even farther into the murder investigation, to the consternation of DI Zeffer, who wants her to steer clear completely. But Paislee has a stake in the game, and she's not going to let a little thing like a murderer on the loose stop her...
This is the second book in the series, and I enjoyed it quite as much as the first. I love the small village of Nairn and the closeness of its residents. It's hard in this day and age to find somewhere where people care and look out for each other. It gives a warm feeling inside. Paislee does not go looking for trouble, nor is she what I would consider nosy. She's caring. She sees people with problems and tries to help them if she can. When she is thrust into the investigation, she naturally wants to get to the truth, and people talk to her while they won't talk to DI Zeffer.
She has a loving relationship with her son, and a growing one with her grandfather, who's only been in her life a short while. You can feel the relationship growing, and you can tell that they care about one another, not only in banter but in actions.
To the things I don't really care for: I understand Paislee's reluctance to get involved with anyone, but in my mind I see her old and alone (since Brody will grow up, leave her, and more than likely marry) just sitting in a chair and knitting with gnarled hands. Now, I crochet and I do many other crafts, but I give my hands a rest so as not to develop arthritis in my fingers. All she does is laundry and knitting. How satisfying a life is that? I would like to see her at least try to wade into the waters of dating someone, or even just having coffee or lunch with them once in a while.
Anyway, the mystery is intriguing, with her trying to pin down Shawn, but he is also one of the murder suspects, along with everyone else in the house, including the servants. There are plenty of red herrings, and plenty of problems for Paislee, though she doesn't allow any of them to stop her. When the ending comes and we discover the murderer, it all comes together in a turn of events that's both satisfying and leaves us wanting more. I enjoyed this mystery and look forward to the next in the series. Recommended.
More on Traci Hall's Books: https://www.fantasticfiction.com/h/traci-hall/
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