A torrential rain threatens to strand everyone, but one last, not entirely welcomed guest arrives: Moira, Rex’s former girlfriend who hasn’t quite grasped the concept of former. The next morning, the phone lines are cut, all tires have been slashed, the roads barely passable from the mud and Moira is found dead, naked, in the Loch. With the police busily searching for the Moor Killer, Rex dons his deerstalker cap to try and uncover who murdered Moira.

In the tradition of the English cozy, Murder on the Moor moves the action north to the Scottish Highlands. The cut phone lines, missing cell phones and slashed tires seem a little over the top and there are not a terrible lot of believable suspects in this closed room mystery. Even after Moira’s murderer is unveiled (twice), Rex is still not satisfied and makes one last stab at truly solving the case.

Helen is patient and gracious and secure enough with her and Rex’s relationship to put up with Moira’s arrival and then Rex’s subsequent attempt to solve her murder rather than insisting he turn the investigation over to the police. A very short mystery, parts of the plot could have been written out to provide more suspects and motives. Still, the loch and surrounding area are beautifully described, making readers long to go walking through the heather on the hill with Rex and Helen (as long as they bring their Wellies to stay dry!).

--Jennifer Monohan Winberry