DOROTHY MARTIN MYSTERIES


The newest editions to my COVID reading list is a series with a retired schoolteacher, Dorothy Martin as its main character. Dorothy grew up in a small Indiana town, became a grade schoolteacher and married Frank Martin, a college professor. The Martins had spent time in England while Frank was teaching at a small English College. They absolutely fell in love with England and decided to retire there; unfortunately, Frank passed away before they could move. Dorothy decided to move anyway. She purchases a 17th century cottage in a town that’s a hour-ish outside of London. It’s here that she starts her retirement escapades as a solver of crimes. Dorothy has an attraction for wearing hats, some of them are quite unique and each book mentions one or more of the hats in her repertoire. Along the way the author describes events in British historical events and landmarks located near the site of the murder or places encountered along the way.  There are also continual English to American comparisons regarding cultural and social habits, foods and clothing.

There are, as of 2021, twenty-four books in this series. So far I have enjoyed every book.

The Body in the Transept-Book One-by Jeanne M. Dams

Dorothy has lived in England for only a short time; however, she knows many people in Sherebury because of her visits there when her husband Frank taught at the University. She goes to the Cathedral for Midnight mass on Christmas Eve, Due to the number of people attending she has to sit in the choir loft. Sitting next to her is the Chief Constable for the Township, Alan Nesbit who offers to escort Dorothy home after the service. While Alan goes to retrieved Dorothy’s coat from the front entrance coatroom, Dorothy stumbles over a dead body. The rest of the book involves many twist and turns as Dorothy works to discover who the murderer is.

This story is well written, engaging and maintains mystery regarding the murderer until the end of the book. Each of the characters is realistic and strong despite this being the first book in the series.  

 

More in this series:

Trouble In the Town Hall

Holy Terror in The Hebrides

Killing Cassidy

A Dagger Before Me

Sins Out of School

A Dark and Stormy Night

The Corpse of St James

 

 

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