Many of the locals are concerned for the traffic and extra people the faire will bring, disrupting their usual summer festivities of dog shows, art shows and the tidiest cottage judging. While others see this as an opportunity to grow their businesses. American ex-pat Lori Shepherd is pleased about the faire, knowing her six-year-old twins Will and Rob will delight in the pageantry, even more so when they are chosen to ride their horses in King Wilfred’s daily parade.

Lori, who is often given to flights of fancy, seeing mysteries where there are none, has promised husband Bill she will go to the faire and enjoy all the sights and sounds without looking for trouble. Of course, her promise is short-lived. At the opening of the faire, King Wilfred falls off his parapet and then is nearly decapitated by a flying sandbag during the pre-joust events. Try as she might, Lori suspects someone is out to murder King Wilfred and put an end to the faire for good.

She suspects the faire’s handyman, who would have access and the ability to sabotage props, and who is in love with a young madrigal singer who does not appear to be returning his affections. Donning her wench’s garb, Lori insinuates her way unnoticed among the faire players where she thinks she has uncovered a plot to do in the King—but then again, the entire faire is one big play, so maybe this is just part of an act.

Unsure what to make of what she has seen, Lori turns to her old friend Aunt Dimity. Dimity was Lori’s mother’s best friend who, upon her death, willed her Cotswold cottage to Lori. Once living in the cottage Lori discovered a diary. When she opens the book, Aunt Dimity writes her words of wisdom, giving Lori great comfort.

As always, Aunt Dimity proves to be the epitome of cozy mysteries. Usually on the twee side, this episode is very lively with the splendor and grandeur of the faire. It is depicted vividly and it’s fun to see the more staid residents of Finch getting caught up in the excitement. Lori’s imagination often runs wild, as her husband reminds her perhaps once too often about a recent vampire episode. However, usually where there’s smoke there is fire and though she gets the who and why wrong, Lori is satisfied that she was able to save King Wilfred so all’s well that ends well.

--Jennifer Monahan Winberry