3.5 stars. Torben Helle is back trying to solve a death with the help of his conveniently trained friends Leyla (barrister) and Ruth (police) - his mentor Dame Charlotte Lazerton is found at the bottom of her stairs at home, gnawed on by her Irish Wolfgound, Mortimer. At first only Torben suspects anything is amiss, but gradually he persuades those around him to investigate.

It’s again a slower pace for most of the book, until it all speeds up and resolves at the end - so bear this in mind if you like your mysteries more evenly paced. But the characters are pretty likeable and the writing humorous, so I’d recommend it as a series.

I received a free ARC copy of this via NetGalley and the publishers in return for an unbiased review.

If you are looking for a witty, entertaining and rather charming murder mystery featuring a reluctant sleuth and a desperate dog, look no further.

When the police determine that Lady Charlotte Lazerton's death was due to natural causes (though the situation was certainly not helped by her dog Mortimer eating part of her!), her protege Torben Helle finds himself in an awkward position when he begins to suspect otherwise.

Inevitably, this leads to a further investigation by Torben, who teams up with an unlikely ally in his search for justice for his mentor. There's plenty of action to come, including some red herrings served on a platter, with a satisfactory conclusion for all concerned. This is an enjoyable and satisfying read and gets 3. 5 stars.

Oh this is good! Cosy crime but some really good mystery elements in two. It's very funny too in parts and just a really good read. I liked the first and I loved the second!