"Foul Play At Four"

I've been on vacation for the last week enjoying the state of my birth, Kansas.  I found time to read a couple of books flying in and out of the state and this was the first one--another Lois Meade mystery by Ann Purser, "Foul Play At Four."

One thing I like about Purser's series is the continuation of characters from book to book.  Magistrate Mrs.Tollervey-Jones is a key character in this particular novel and she is having to make some difficult choices.  She has money problems and can no longer keep up with the costs of running a large estate and her bank has told her in no uncertain terms that she must make some changes.  Her only son lives in the city and neither he nor his family are interested in living in the country.  What is Mrs.Tollervey-Jones to do?

Although Lois sends extra cleaners and her husband along to help Mrs. Tollervey-Jones as she makes a transition, her mind is focused on solving a string of robberies that have been occurring in the area.  When they affect her daughter while working in her shop, it becomes a priority for Lois.  Of course, her husband wants her to stay out of it even though he is also affected personally by the thieves.

However, as always, Lois has a mind of her own and again seeks the assistance of one of her cleaning crew to help her solve the case but not before a murder occurs.  I love Purser's series -- light sleuthing at its best.  pazt