With a job offer, Elspeth’s friend from London has come to stay, and Peter yearns for the excitement of the Wychwood case. I have to confess that I did, too, as I am not a romance fan and just wanted to read a spooky detective story. Of course, this is present as well, albeit at a more leisurely pace. The sleuths have a lot of suspects to sift through, ranging from a café waitress with a mysterious secret, the new owners of the manor house and their rebellious daughter, the local historian and the festival’s organizers.

If you want a comparison think Midsomer Murders crossed with Kate Ellis or Elly Griffiths. Expect an exciting denouement and more skeletons being unearthed than just those of the witch, and you have a good yarn for a dark autumn evening. I like the ambiguous feeling that there might or might not be a supernatural angle; you don’t have to be a woo-woo reader to enjoy this book.

Reviewers Note: A couple of slightly gory descriptions

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