Dorothy and Alan have been invited to visit Grasmere in the Lake district by Alan's former police friend Christopher. They decide to drive there and book a room at the Inn at Grasmere. The first full day they do a local tour and attend a party at Christopher's home. Dorothy meets an American woman, Ruth, who has recently moved to Grasmere. When Donald and Sarah arrive, no one seems to want to talk with Donald, a politician, and seems to be disliked by everyone, but Ruth says Sarah is her best friend.

On Sunday after church they go to sports day. The final activity is a race for seniors. They see Donald take off at the front of a large group of runners, but when everyone else has returned, Donald has not. Alan and Christopher go to gather a search group, and finally find him fallen on his face dead and off the track. After the autopsy, they find that there was nitroglycerine in the sun ointment Donald had applied which had seriously lowered his blood pressure. Now Dorothy and Alan with Christopher's help have a murder case to solve. It appears that Donald had very few friends, and was very controlling with his wife Sarah, although she appears to be the only person who loved him.

The book is very well written, and keeps the interest of the reader. I thank Netgally and Severn House for an ARC so that I could read the book before publication.

Dorothy and her retired police husband Alan are visiting Alan’s old friend in the Lake District. Invited to a party, they find everyone is friendly, except for one man whom it was obvious that no one liked. He is arrogant, conceited, and verbally and emotionally abusive to his wife. His death at a running event is originally considered a natural death, but it soon becomes clear that he was murdered. The problem is that there are so many suspects. He also was skimming money from his clients. Was he killed for his abuse, for money, or some other reason?
This is a fun cozy mystery and I like Dorothy and Alan’s characters. They may be older and not able to physically do as much as when they were younger, but they cope and are quite capable. The Lake District was a beautiful setting. I enjoyed this story and continue to enjoy Dorothy’s exploits.
Thank you to Severn House and NetGalley for the ARC.

A book clearly written for the American market where the Anglophile American author clearly explains the British way of life and demonstrates as Winston Churchill said two nations divided by a common language . This is a pleasant cosy mystery and shows the Lake District off to its best. The author has done her research about the party politics of the victim which is impressive. I feel a moderate book can become a good book with an excellent ending but a good book can be ruined by a poor ending and sadly this is the case here. The author appeared bored with her own book and desperate to finish it. Would I read another, probably, would I purchase another definitely not

Dorothy and Alan are visiting an old police friend of Alan's when they get roped into helping solve a murder. Fortunately the victim was universally despised so there are a lot of suspects. This is a classic cozy set in a British village with a lot of charm. The plot got a bit bogged down with little progress for several chapters, but justice is suitably provided at the end. This is the 26th in a series but can be read as a standalone. Thanks to Severn House and NetGalley for the ARC.

Thank you NetGalley and the publishers, Severn House, for an eARC of this novel in exchange for my unbiased opinion.

This is the 26th novel featuring Dorothy Martin and her husband, former Chief Constable Alan Nesbitt. Dorothy is a retired American schoolteacher living in the UK with her British husband Alan. Alan is recently retired from his position as Chief Constable and has many friends and connections retired and still serving in the UK police services. One of those, Christopher Prideaux, lives in the Lake District and has invited Dorothy and Alan for a weekend. But no weekend away for Dorothy is complete without a murder. It just so happens the victim was introduced to Dorothy and Alan at a drinks party held by Christopher. The victim was arrogant, egotistical, a womanizer, and held political ambitions. There are more than a few suspects.

These are such well written cozies. Dorothy and Alan are my kind of people, and I'd just love to meet them at a drinks party. Dorothy susses out the inner workings of village life using a mix of schoolmarm firmness and American directness. Alan approaches the puzzles through his connections and his reliance on traditional police work. The entire series is very good. While I really enjoyed this book I found the ending rushed and I'm not sure I'm entirely on board with who the murderer was. For that reason I'm giving it a 3 out of 5 stars, however I really do recommend the series and you should start as early on in it as possible.

Village Politics Can Be Murder is the 26th book in this cozy mystery series set in a various locations in England, this time the Lake District home to William Wordsworth. I enjoy reading this series when I’m in the mood for an Agatha Christie style mystery featuring an American woman and her ex-policeman British husband. This book checks all the boxes of a classic cozy mystery including a murder that takes place “off page”, well developed characters, and descriptions of British life.

Beguiling Backdrop..
The hugely anticipated twenty sixth outing in the Dorothy Martin series of mysteries finds Dorothy and Alan taking a holiday in the Lake District. Anyone who has enjoyed this series already will know that whenever this pair attempt to enjoy a holiday things usually turn deadly. This occasion is no different when a rather odious would-be politician drops dead during a Fell race. As Dorothy and Alan dig deep into the mystery and join forces with local police, scandal and secrets may well emerge. An enjoyable entry to this long running series with a deftly drawn cast of eclectic characters, a beguiling backdrop, a solid mystery at its very heart and a pair of likeable protagonists - although it must be said that Dorothy herself becomes ever more sanctimonious with every new mystery!