Peril in the Parish - Florence Norris Mystery by Dorothy Cannell Paperback

About the Book

Florence Norris and George 'Birdie' Bird are planning their low-key wedding at the parish church in their beloved village of Dovecote Hatch. When a mysterious stranger seeks George out in The Dog & Whistle, with talk of a buried body and murder, an ominous feeling falls over the happy couple. Can they solve the mystery and walk down the aisle?

Book Synopsis

Secrets, mystery and wedding bells at Dovecote Hatch!

1933, Dovecote Hatch, England. Florence Norris knows she has found a good man in George 'Birdie' Bird, the landlord of the local pub, The Dog & Whistle. They are set to marry in the parish church of their beloved village of Dovecote Hatch. But when a mysterious stranger seeks out George, sharing family secrets and talks of an illegal burial years ago, an ominous dread falls over the happy couple.

Meanwhile, Agnes Younger, a local recluse whose health is ailing, calls upon her cousin Sophie Dawson to come home. Sophie is relieved to be escaping a scandal, not of her making, but is soon in the thick of something far more dramatic! There may just be a link between Agnes's imminent demise and the poor soul who was buried illegally.

As Florence and George are pulled reluctantly into this mystery, they uncover unpleasant truths and dark entanglements in this idyllic English village. Not everyone is as they seem . . . Will Florence and George have the beautiful church wedding they long for, or will the truth stand in the way of their well-deserved happily ever after?

Review Quotes

Cannell offers an Agatha Christie-like whodunit with touches of Olde World England and a soupçon of romance. With a multistranded plot, strong characters, and echoes of Rebecca, this mix of romance and crime will appeal to a wide range of readers.-- " Booklist on Murder at Mullings "

"Downton Abbey fans will pick up on the tone immediately: imagine the ever-reliable Mrs. Hughes narrating a mystery. Stepping away from her long-running Ellie Haskell series, Cannell has created a fascinating and leisurely paced historical, excelling at period details and class distinctions."-- " Library Journal on Murder at Mullings "

A haunting tale of love, death, and obsession-- "Kirkus Reviews"

A strong cast of village characters and an intricate plot will keep cozy fans turning the pages-- " Publishers Weekly on Death at Dovecote Hatch "

Agatha Christie meets Downton Abbey in Florence's second case, a charming reminder of all the country house murders of Britain's golden ages-- " Kirkus Reviews on Death at Dovecote Hatch "

Fans of traditional British mysteries will find much to like-- "Publishers Weekly"

About the Author

Dorothy Cannell was born in Nottingham, England, and moved to the US in 1963. She became an aspiring writer after taking an English class at Illinois Central College. Seven years later, she sold her first short story. Dorothy enjoys collecting sea glass and beach stones in Maine, collecting vintage hats and Apostle Teaspoons, and going on reading binges.