Hangman’s Row is owed by Theodore Roussel who is mostly a recluse, but once had had a relationship with Deirdre.  Theodore’s affairs are now run by the oddly named Beattie Beatty who runs his life with an iron fist, but seems to have delusions of become Mrs. Roussel one of these days.

When Gus’s elderly neighbor Mrs. Blake is murdered, her daughter Miriam is the main suspect as they had a less than cordial relationship. As each are looking for a diversion to occupy their free time, Gus, Ivy and Deirdre decide to team up to form a detective agency and the trio begins to investigate the victim and who might have wanted her dead.  As she and her husband never spent a lot of money, there are rumors afoot that there must be money hidden in the cottage, adding to the suspects, which also include Theodore Roussel who might want to raise the rent on the cottages a bit.  

There are many secrets in this small, quiet English town, and Gus, Ivy and Deirdre are just the three to ferret them out. 

The Hangman’s Row Enquiry is the first in a new English village cozy by Ann Purser.  She creates a warm and inviting setting in Barrington and fills it with delightfully eccentric characters, introduced slowly throughout the story. Ivy is a crusty sort who proclaims not to like very much, but she does have a softer side; Deirdre misses her husband and is trying very hard to find a friend in her elderly cousin and tries to see that Ivy is being well cared for.  Gus is a bit of a man of mystery, but straight-forward Ivy will have his story out in no time. 

Mrs. Blake’s death offers many suspects with a variety of motives and it is up to the three new detectives to sort things out before more tragedy occurs in the small town of Barrington. Fans of Purser’s Lois Meade mystery series will not want to miss this new series.                                                  

--Jennifer Monahan Winberry