Thank you NetGalley and Inkubator Books for the eARC.
This third is another great addition to the series, I enjoyed it a lot.
Liz McLuckie and her adorable dog Nelson are sleuthing again. This time it's the case of the dead Mayor of Whitby as well as, shortly thereafter, the death of his wife. These books are so cozy, with an interesting cast of characters and a wonderful setting; you can sink into them knowing you're not going to be creeped out, just highly entertained.
I'm sure even surly Dora will eventually be won over by Liz!
Of course Liz, with help from the bravest dog in Yorkshire. solves the case and all is well again. But what about Liz's love life? Hopefully we'll find out more in the next book. Can't wait!

Liz McLuckie amazes me. That's both good and bad. Good because she's smart, plucky, and makes connections others miss. She's loyal to her friends and loves her dog. On the other hand, she's impulsive and doesn't seem to always think things through before blundering into situations that could be dangerous. Her persistence in asking "rude" questions is just one example of that although, I have to admit, visualizing her on the exercise machines while she tries to pry information from a potential suspect is rather amusing. So, too, was the, sigh, tug-of-war she gets into over a Christmas tree which, unfortunately, puts Nelson, her English Bull Terrier in jeopardy. She's....human. Impulsive, smart, deserving of eye rolls at times, but I like her.

Author Jan Durham does an excellent job introducing new readers to the series (I read book 1 but not book 2) and revealing how they are intertwined and connected as well as setting the scene. Whitby is a real place, by the way. It was the birthplace of explorer Captain Cook, not to mention helped inspire Bram Stoker's "Dracula". There's even a connection to Queen Victoria but I'll leave that for readers to discover on their own. It sounds like an interesting small town fishing village, an excellent setting for a mystery series.

As for the murder mystery itself, although you'll find the plot detailed elsewhere, I will note that it sounds simple on the surface. Who killed Mayor Neil Grogan? Why didn't his Epi-pen help? Was it an accident? How did sesame oil get into the food? That's when things begin to get, well, weird. Why would anyone steal the mayor's body the night before the funeral? Did the wife do it? I mean, the spouse is usually the first suspect. Why is Liz tasting possibly tainted coffee? Will Liz ever learn to be more subtle in her questioning? Oh, probably not. Will she survive her visit to the gym after years without exercise? Will Liz and Benedict ever figure out if they're "just friends" or more? Oh, what's this? Another romance blossoming? And, uh, how does one "un-steal" a body? And, oh, wait. Nope. Not sharing any more. You're just going to have to read the book for these answers and more. Despite the slow to me start, the mystery was intriguing with several funny scenes to visualize as they happen, not to mention as you wonder if Liz, who admits how much she enjoys investigating, will survive to sing in that year's Christmas service. Well, that's assuming it even happens. Give it a read!

Thanks to #NetGalley and #InkubatorBooks for inviting me to visit Liz in Whitby again. Can't wait to see how her shaky efforts to become friends with Dora work in the next book.

Shady Shenanigans…
Another wonderful read and the third in this enormously enjoyable series set in Whitby. Christmas is just around the corner and preparations are underway. There is trouble afoot, however, when the Mayor is struck down and Mags is blamed but with a second murder coming close behind there may be double murderer in town. Needless to say, Liz and Nelson are on the case with shady shenanigans aplenty. Warm and engaging (despite the murders!) cosy mystery with an endearing, yet feisty and smart, protagonist in Liz and a colourful cast of supporting characters - not least of which is Nelson, quite possibly the bravest dog in Yorkshire. The setting of Whitby and environs is atmospheric, perfectly painted and well depicted - working perfectly as a backdrop to the mystery. The plot is well worked and intriguing, suspects numerous and red herrings well planted. A thoroughly enjoyable and entertaining mystery which was, again, gratefully devoured in one straight sitting. A further meeting with Liz, the noble Nelson and the rest of the cast, is very much anticipated.