Daffodils And Deadly Deeds:
A British Cozy Murder Mystery with a Female Amateur Sleuth
(A Dotty Sayers Antique Mystery)
by Victoria Tait
About Daffodils And Deadly Deeds
Daffodils And Deadly Deeds:
A British Cozy Murder Mystery with a Female Amateur Sleuth
(A Dotty Sayers Antique Mystery)
Cozy Mystery
9th in Series
Setting – Northumberland UK
Publisher : Kanga Press (March 15, 2024)
Number of Pages c. 240
Digital ASIN : B0CJYLPWKY
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?
Dollycas’s Thoughts
Dotty Sayers’s life is in flux at the moment. She has completed her assignment in Yorkshire and doesn’t know what she wants to do next. Zach who also was working at Yoredale Hall has moved on in his quest for his grandfather’s treasure to Northumberland and has invited her to come for a visit. She knows she has to make a decision about her cottage in the Cotswolds but she would be close to her parents in Northumberland so she accepts Zach’s invitation. Upon arrival she meets his neighbors, Nigel and Hazel Turner. She and Hazel hit it off right away and soon Dotty has been recruited to help Hazel with an important project at a nearby castle.
A few days later Hazel disappears. Later her body is found in the water in a secluded cove. Dotty decides to use what she has learned in previous investigations to find out what happened to Hazel and who was responsible. Unlike previous times, the local police have no desire to work with her or listen to her theories. Well, that is not stopping her. She plans to get justice for her new friend and short-time mentor.
The beautiful location of this story is what grabbed me right away. Ms. Tait’s wonderful descriptions took me there. The castle, its gardens, the field of daffodils, the trails Zach and Dotty followed, the homes of Zach and the Turners, and every place in between. I wanted to grab my husband, pack our bags, and go there immediately. Sadly, that will never happen, but I sure enjoyed seeing it through Dotty’s eyes.
Dotty Sayers continues to grow in each story, more confident and wise. She is such a kind human being and always willing to help anyone in need. Like me, Hazel was disabled. She didn’t let that hold her back. She used a wheelchair for long treks but loved to go to shore and get to the water on her crutches. She also ran a business with her husband and stepson and took on prestigious redecorating jobs. Her husband is pretty easygoing as is their son. They welcomed Dotty right into the family as they had done with Zach. Dotty’s parents come to visit a couple of times as does the brother she hasn’t seen in years. All are strong well-developed characters. I was sad that Hazel was the victim.
The mystery was very well-plotted. Dotty knew the local inspector, a very testy individual, with a clear prejudice against women, was going down the wrong track and she was determined to prove it. She got some help from unexpected sources to help her do that. Dotty has such a keen sense of observation. She ties little would-be clues together better than any inspector. It is a lot of fun to tag along with her and see her process what she sees and hears.
While the mystery was top-notch, what I really enjoyed about this story was the presence of family. Nigel, Hazel, and Tim were a strong supportive family unit that worked hard at their business but really enjoyed each other’s company. The arrival of Hazel’s children immediately following her death was hard for Nigel and Tim to handle, as was knowing they were being looked at hard as suspects, but Zach and Dottie were there to help. Dottie’s parents arrived with sad news but they pulled together to cherish the things they did together. Her brother coming to visit added another strong element even when at first he is a real jerk. Family is a theme with this author but it isn’t just the people that are related by blood, it is the people you meet in your life that take up a place in your heart. The door is always open, that table always has room for another chair, and if you are ever in trouble someone is around to rally the troops to help in every way possible. That is what keeps me coming back for every book in this series and every mystery Victoria Tait writes. I am invested in her characters and what to know what happens next in their lives and how they are going to handle whatever is thrown at them.
Daffodils And Deadly Deeds is a smart addition to this series. Wonderful characters, a perplexing mystery, set in a charming place that I would love to visit.
I am over the moon excited that Dotty travels to Ireland in the next book . I do have a bit of Irish blood in me. 🙂 It will be released on September 13, 2024.
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About Victoria Tait
Victoria Tait was born and raised in Yorkshire, England. After following her military husband around the world, she drew on her life’s experiences, and a love of Agatha Christie, Father Brown, and Murder She Wrote, to write British based cozy mysteries.
Her determined female sleuths are joined by colourful and quirky teams of helpers, and her settings are vivid and realistic. As you’re compelled to keep turning the pages, you’ll be irresistibly drawn into a world where you’ll experience surprises, humour and sometimes, a tug on your heartstrings.
Do you like tea, mysteries, and books? Then why not join Victoria’s TeaCozy Club for regular news and updates, and download the free prequel to the Dotty Sayers Antique Mysteries series as a gift by visiting VictoriaTait.com
Who doesn’t like tea, cake, and a slice of murder!
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Also written by Victoria Tait
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Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. Receiving a complimentary copy in no way reflected my review of this book. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
Sounds like a great book.