By
Victoria Tait

A fraught family reunion. A corpse by the coast. Can an amateur sleuth crack this egg-xtraordinary mystery or be left scrambling for answers?

Spring signifies new beginnings, yet rookie antiques expert, Dotty Sayers, feels uncertain about her future. A colleague’s invitation to Northumberland, in search of hidden family treasure, offers a fresh start. Once there, she immediately befriends her neighbour and assists with a prestigious project at a nearby castle. But when her mentor vanishes, and a body washes up in a secluded cove, Dotty wonders why so many people she knows end up dead.

Determined to assist, this budding amateur detective is hopping mad when the police ignore her insights. With the inquest approaching, Dotty must decide if she’s ready to crack open the case, even if it makes the local police inspector as mad as a March hare.

Can Dotty put aside her doubts and pull a rabbit out of the hat to ensure justice prevails?

As this book opens, Dotty is contemplating her next move as she observes the weather with her cat Earl Grey. Gemma has returned from her maternity leave early and Dotty’s assistance here at Yoredale Hall is no longer required. Her Aunt Beanie calls her and catches her up on family news advises her she needs the plans with regard to her cottage in Cotswold in a month.

As she’s thinking of her options, she receives a text from Zack asking if she’d like to join him in his next step in his family treasure hunt. This time it’s in Northumberland and he’s rented a house in Alnwick which he believes may be close to his goal. He also mentions no strings attached, which puzzles her as they are friends and were coworkers. She decides that might be just the place to take a break and make decisions.

Upon arrival she is greeted by Nigel and Hazel Turner, Zack’s neighbors. Almost immediately Hazel starts to recruit her aid in a project she’s undertaken at Alnwick Castle. Which of course Dotty accepts. Zach joins them and then takes Dotty to get settled in the house. Once ready to head to dinner she calls her parents who are thrilled she’s so close to Edinburgh and make arrangements to visit.

As they walk to dinner, Zach leads her through the main shopping street, passed pubs, hotels, and a theatre to Barter Books. Dotty was impressed by the entry with bookshelves, leather armchairs, a fireplace, even a model train running along the tops of the shelves. The main part contains row after row of books on display. It’s a delightful and informative dinner at the Dirty Bottle Pub and Restaurant as Zach tells her of his visit home and his break with Hannah before turning the tables on her and asking of her admirers.

The next day they begin the search for the property hinted at in the last clue Zach found. A path that leads to many historical properties.

Dottie’s parents visit and that reveals a sad truth and future plans for another visit which would include her older brother.

She begins work with Hazel, impressed by the castle, it’s history and also the expansive gardens. She also assists Nigel and his son Tim with the antiques in their warehouse.

The next visit with her parents and her brother is disturbing to Dotty and it gets worse once she returns to the house to find that Hazel has gone missing. Zach, Nigel Tim and Dotty call everyone they can think of trying to locate someone who’s seen her to no avail. The next morning after once again checking with hospitals Nigel calls the police.

Nigel and Hazel’s cleaning person Clara also cleans the police station, and she tells Dotty an abandoned wheelchair has been found in Craster.

Dotty goes along with Zach looking for the property in the clue, exploring the coastline filled with historical significance and then heading to Craster itself for a meal.

This is a favorite scene.

Only local residents, delivery vehicles, and the emergency services were allowed to drive into Craster itself. All visitors had to park in a disused quarry on the edge of the coastal village.

“This is a good idea,” said Zach, returning with his parking ticket, which he placed on the Jeep’s dashboard. “It must be bad enough if you live here having people wandering about, without cars blocking the roads.”

Following the designated path, they were welcomed to the village by the pervasive smell of smoked fish.

But as soon as they stepped onto the main street, outside The Jolly Fisherman inn, Dotty became aware of an uneasy atmosphere with elements of both anticipation and trepidation. It was soon clear why when they passed a huddle of people talking in low voices and looked down the hill towards the harbour.

The village’s natural harbour had been reinforced with stone walls which extended into two piers. These ended either side of a narrow sea entrance.

On the far side of the harbour, below a row of houses, blue and white police tape cordoned off an area. Several police vehicles were parked nearby.

“That must be where the wheelchair was discovered,” whispered Zach, as a couple stopped and stood next to them.

“I really want to go down and find out what’s going on.” Dotty clenched her hands into tight fists.

“I know, but I’m hungry and you should eat, too. Why don’t I buy takeaway fish and chips from The Jolly Fisherman inn? Then we can wander casually down to the harbour, find a bench, and eat our lunch while watching the sea, and any other activities which happen to be going on.”

Dotty smiled gratefully at Zach. She continued to watch the harbour area until Zach reappeared carrying two cardboard takeaway boxes.

As they approached the harbour, it was clear others had had the same idea. All the benches were full and several people had even set up their own canvas camping chairs.

“How about that rock?” suggested Zach, inclining his head towards a prominent rock positioned at the bottom of a strip of sloping rock garden. It was one of the gardens further along which the police had cordoned off.

As Dotty stabbed a limp chip with a two-pronged wooden fork, she thought how peaceful the scene would be if it weren’t for the police’s presence.

Zach nudged her and whispered, “Here comes Inspector Thorn.”

The police inspector pulled at his stubbly chin and Dotty thought he actually looked young to be in charge of such a potentially serious investigation. But if Hazel had disappeared under suspicious circumstances, perhaps the case would be handed over to a regional team.

Dotty stared at the water in the harbour as the inspector, wearing a yellow hi-vis jacket, wandered past them. Relieved she hadn’t been spotted, she breathed out before returning to tackle her piece of beer-battered haddock.

Inspector Thorn stopped and turned towards them. He demanded, “What are you two doing here?”

“We’ve been walking further down the coast and came here for lunch.

Why are the police here?” Zach asked innocently. “Has someone fallen into the sea?”

“Why would you think that?” the inspector asked sharply.

“Well, the harbour walls are steep, but that low rope fence isn’t much of a deterrent against a child or anyone else who wants a closer look at the water.”

The inspector turned to consider the edge of the harbour and admitted, “I see what you mean. But we’re not sure if someone has fallen in.”

Dotty was dying to ask why there were so many police, but she doubted she had as good a poker face as Zach. Besides, the inspector would probably ignore any question she asked.

Zach and Dotty waited for the inspector to continue, but instead he looked back at the cordoned off area and appeared to be making up his mind. Without saying another word, he strode back the way he’d come.

“I don’t like lying to the police,” Zach said in a serious tone. He pushed at his piece of fish with his wooden fork.

“You didn’t actually lie,” Dotty reassured him. “We have been walking, and you did want lunch. So did I, for that matter.” She popped a chip into her mouth.

Dotty’s attention moved away from the police as she watched the people around her and the scene at the harbour.

When they’d finished eating, Zach asked, “Do you still want to walk to Dunstanburgh Castle, even though it’s rather windy?”

“More atmospheric,” Dotty replied, standing up. In truth, she’d become uncomfortable sitting on the rock.

Disposing of their cardboard containers and wooden forks in a dustbin, they walked back towards the village and then took the road above the rock gardens. As they passed the area of police activity, Dotty spotted the wheelchair.

She gripped Zach’s arm and bit her lip to stop herself from crying out. It did look like Hazel’s.

The walk across the fields to the prominent castle ruins was hard as they battled against the wind. But Dotty didn’t feel like speaking, as her earlier excitement about visiting Craster had turned to unease, and she had a worrying sense of foreboding.

When they finally trudged up the slope to the towering ruins of the castle’s entrance tower, Zach said, “This really is impressive. Far older than anything we have.”

Dotty read the information plaque. Earl Thomas of Lancaster started building Dunstanburgh Castle in 1313. But he was executed in 1322 and the castle passed to John of Gaunt, who strengthened it against attack by the Scots.

But it was during the War of the Roses that it saw its fiercest fighting and changed ownership from the House of Lancaster to the House of York, after which it was abandoned.

As Dotty and Zach walked up to the remains of a tower on the northern wall, Zach remarked, “This must have been pretty impressive. The guide told me that it might have been built in defiance of the king who held Bamburgh Castle, which you can see over there.”

Dotty could see another castle standing prominently on the coastline to the north.

Zach walked the lower wall back towards the entrance while Dotty wandered down the central grass path. It felt bleak, and she thought life must have been tough for those who’d worked and lived in the castle centuries earlier.

They strode quickly back towards Craster, and their walk was easier as the wind had dropped. Dotty suddenly felt compelled to return to Alnwick to check on Nigel and Tim.

As she and Zach approached the village, a group of people were gathered at the edge of the field, watching three cows step over rocks beside the sea.

One of the group stepped closer to the rocks. Suddenly, the figure shouted and started waving their arms.

Zach looked at Dotty, and they both started running.
Tait, Victoria. Daffodils And Deadly Deeds: A British Cozy Murder Mystery with a Female Amateur Sleuth (A Dotty Sayers Antique Mystery Book 9). Kindle Locations (1318-1376). Kanga Press. Kindle Edition.

With the discovery of Hazel’s body, Nigel and Tim become the prime suspects. Dotty is determined to prove their innocence and as we follow this investigation, we also learn much more about this area.

Nothing is straightforward and there are many twists and surprises as the investigation continues. Clues also come from a most unexpected source.

I love the way Victoria brings all these places to life for me. It’s traveling without leaving my chair.

I can’t wait to read the next book in this series.

5 Contented Purrs for Victoria!

Victoria Tate

I was born and raised in Yorkshire, England, and never expected to travel the world. I’ve drawn on my life’s experiences of following my military husband, and a love of Agatha Christie, Dorothy L. Sayers, and Murder She Wrote, to write British-based cozy mysteries.

My determined and hard-working female sleuths are joined by colourful but realistic teams of helpers, and my settings are vivid and evocative. As you’re compelled to keep turning the pages, you’ll be irresistibly drawn into a world of intrigue, surprises, and humour, as well as a delectable helping of mystery, because tea and intrigue are a perfect blend.