Title: An Old Remedy: A Peak District Mystery (The Peak District Mysteries Book 7)
Author: Jo A. Hiestand
Genre: British Mystery, Mystery
Book Blurb:
Year after year, the villagers near Stanton Moor celebrate May Day with bonfires and the laying of rowan branches to seek protection for home and cattle. But the men who gathered this May evening hadn’t come for blessings. They had come for murder.
The dead body is discovered on a lonely moor, decapitated in the fashion of a sacrificial killing of sheep or chickens.
The members of the Derbyshire Constabulary’s Murder Team are called in to investigate, and soon a series of decapitated animals appears on the moor.As fear over a second murder grips the villagers, the Team discovers this dead man may have had connections with an organization that smuggles illegal products into Britain. That’s bad enough, but the smuggling turns from a mere criminal case to something that hits closer to home for Brenna.
In the midst of the tangle of smugglers, murder, and village secrets, Brenna struggles to keep focused on the case and nab the one person who may be responsible for the trail of villainy that threatens to engulf everyone⎯cop and villager alike⎯connected with the moorland murders.
My Review:
A murder victim’s body parts are strewn across the moor, causing police and villagers to fear for what’s to come. Can Det. Sgt. Brenna Taylor solve this gruesome crime before there are more victims? An Old Remedy is a riveting mystery from start to finish. While the author is one of my favorites, I’ve never read this earlier series. The descriptive narration is immersive and plunges the reader into the investigation. The setting is a village/small town in Britain. The plot twists had me trying to figure out what would happen next. The characters, though, are what make An Old Remedy such an enjoyable read.
Let’s start with the characters, because they are the lifeblood of any mystery. Det. Sgt. Brenna is a fascinating character. She’s the main investigator and she’s got an innate sense when it comes to murder. She doesn’t get squeamish at the sight of blood or even body parts. Instead, she visualizes the crime scene like a puzzle. She’s the perfect detective for this mystery.
The cast of characters is quite large, many of them suspects. The more I read, the more I ferreted out who’s telling the truth and who is lying. Jo A. Hiestand takes her skills for characterization and creates relatable characters the reader can identify and possibly relate to.
The plot is complex with dead ends, false clues, and a detailed investigation. This is where Jo A. Hiestand shines. The writing is classic mystery with a few twists.
If you’re a mystery reader, give this book a try. In fact, this whole series is a worthwhile reading endeavor.
My Rating: 5 stars
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Author Biography:
A month-long trip to England during her college years introduced Jo to the joys of Things British. Since then, she has been lured back nearly a dozen times and lived there during her professional folk singing stint.
Jo’s insistence for accuracy--from police methods and location layout to the general “feel” of the area--has driven her innumerable times to Derbyshire for research. These explorations and conferences with police friends provide the details filling both her McLaren mystery series.
In 1999 Jo returned to Webster University to major in English. She graduated in 2001 with a BA degree and departmental honors.
Jo lives in the St. Louis area with her cat, Marlowe, and way too many kilts.
Social Media Links:
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Website: http://www.johiestand.com
Reviewed by: Nancy