The Corpse of St James's (Dorothy Martin Series #12)

by Jeanne M. Dams

Overview

Fans of Agatha Christie and Dorothy L. Sayers will enjoy this very traditional British cozy Booklist

Dorothy Martin and her husband, retired Chief Constable Alan Nesbitt, have just visited Buckingham Palace, where Alan was awarded the George Cross, when they and a friend, retired Chief Inspector Jonathan Quinn, stumble across the body of a young girl hidden in St James' Park. Wondering what led to the unfortunate girl's demise, Dorothy can't help but get involved in the case when Jonathan calls the next day and admits he knew who the victim was . . .

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781847514400
Publisher:	Severn House
Publication date:	07/01/2013
Series:	Dorothy Martin Series , #12
Pages:	224
Product dimensions:	5.40(w) x 8.40(h) x 1.00(d)

About the Author

Jeanne M. Dams, an American, is a devout Anglophile who has wished she could live in England ever since her first visit in 1963. Fortunately, her alter ego, Dorothy Martin, can do just that. Jeanne lives in South Bend, Indiana, with a varying population of cats.

Editorial Reviews

“Fans of British cozies will enjoy this one very much”

Booklist

“Fans of British cozies will enjoy this one very much”

Booklist

"The latest for Dorothy (The Evil That Men Do, 2012, etc.) is one of Dams’ better mysteries, packed with the details sure to delight anglophiles."
Kirkus Reviews on The Corpse of St James's

Dams’s underwhelming 12th mystery featuring American-born, English-residing amateur sleuth Dorothy Martin (after 2011’s The Evil That Men Do) takes Dorothy and her husband, former Chief Constable Alan Nesbitt, to London to attend a ceremony honoring their friend Jonathan Quinn, a Scotland Yard inspector, for rescuing a child from a burning building. Strolling afterwards in St. James’s Park, the three discover a young woman’s body. Only after Dorothy has reported their gruesome find to the police does Jonathan admit that he knows the victim, Melissa Higgins. Jonathan is worried, though, that drawing attention to Melissa’s illegitimate birth could cause Melissa’s mother, Jemima, his close friend, to lose her job at Buckingham Palace. Dorothy thus decides to investigate the death on her own. A heroine who continually complains about her enviable travels may annoy some readers, though London’s picturesque sights lend some flair to this cozy before a disappointingly rushed resolution. Agent: Kimberley Cameron, the Kimberley Cameron Agency. (Nov.)

Publishers Weekly

Once again, Dorothy stumbles—literally—into a murder investigation. This one might have royal connections. Her 12th case (after The Evil that Men Do) is perfect for those seeking British-infused cozies. [See Prepub Alert, 7/2/12.]

Library Journal

A trip to Buckingham Palace turns into a nightmare murder investigation. American expat Dorothy Martin and her husband, retired Chief Constable Alan Nesbitt, have been invited to Buckingham to see their friend Jonathan Quinn, former Chief Inspector of Scotland Yard, receive the George Cross. Jonathan was badly injured when he saved a child trapped in a burning building. The child survived, but not Jonathan's promising career. On their way out, they run into Jemima, an honorary cousin of Jonathan who works in the palace. As they take a turn in St James' Park, they discover a body under a bush in an area that's supposed to be closed to the public. When Chief Superintendent Carstairs takes over the case, the ever-curious Dorothy thinks her involvement has ended until a call from Jonathan changes her mind. Jonathan had recognized the body as that of Jemima's daughter, Melissa, who had lived with his honorary Aunt Letty, a woman to whom he owed much that was good in his life. Afraid that identifying the body would cost Jemima her job at the palace, he said nothing. Forced by Dorothy and Alan to reveal all, however, he makes himself the chief suspect. Although she's duly warned off by the police, Dorothy's not about to give up looking for the killer, especially after Jonathan, worn down with pain and worry, takes an overdose. Was the killer a random stranger, or does the answer to the puzzle lie in the past? The latest for Dorothy (The Evil That Men Do, 2012, etc.) is one of Dams' better mysteries, packed with the details sure to delight anglophiles.

Kirkus Reviews