Not quite so, Judith quickly learns. With cousin Renie Jones and her husband Bill, the four head to the town where the castle is actually perched on a cliff on an island onthe North Sea and are not met with a warm reception.  Mrs. Gibbs, the housekeeper, is not very welcoming, her grandson Harry most standoffish, and there is a little mischievous young man, Chuckie, playing tricks and pranks on the guests. 

While Judith and Renie explore St. Fligma, the men go on a fishing trip with the local constabulary only to return home to find Judith and Renie with yet another dead body.  An explosion kills Harry Gibbs, making his wife a widow for the second time and an obvious suspect.  Given her past history, Judith cannot help herself and starts poking around quickly learning that the villagers are quite tight-lipped when it comes to local affairs. Still, life in the northern town is not as simple and bucolic as it appears and there is a murderer among the close knit villagers.  

As always, Mary Daheim’s mysteries are filled with humor, plenty of good suspects and clues and delightful characters.  Judith and Renie are a solid detecting team with over 20 capers to their credit.  Chuckie adds to the atmosphere as does the reserved Mrs. Gibbs.  A fun trip for Judith, Renie and all their fans who know that wherever the two cousins go, trouble and murder cannot be far behind.                                

--Jennifer Monahan Winberry