AN OLD, COLD GRAVE
A fascinating picture of a life in which many people spent every waking hour working and a disturbing look at the fate of orphaned children raise this mystery above the ordinary.
–Kirkus Reviews
Even the smallest, most idyllic communities have dangerous secrets. When the Hughes ladies—King Cove’s favourite mere et filles–discover the skeletal remains of a child in their root cellar, everyone is shocked and gripped by difficult and painful questions. Who could the child be? Why were they not buried in the local cemetery? Has a murderer been living amongst them for decades?
Despite Lane’s desire to distance herself from her wartime career as British Intelligence, and the dashing Inspector Darling, she is recruited to aid in the decades-old cold case, tasked to discover all she can about the community around the time of the incident. But Lane’s instincts may be too good. When a sudden realization spurs her to act quickly—and without backup—she discovers more than she bargained for and finds herself in grave danger.
“Lane Winslow, the intrepid sleuth of King’s Cove, is back in her third adventure and, like the first two, it’s a charmer. Once again, British Columbia’s own Iona Whishaw’s delightful modern gloss on the venerable British cozy provides a perfect weekend getaway . . . a cleverly plotted story with a delightful setting and amusing characters. Once again, Whishaw keeps us guessing to the end.” –Margaret Cannon, Globe and Mail
“Well-drawn, pleasantly complex characters and a clearly developed, believable, and intriguing setting both add to the appeal of this book . . . Recommended for mystery lovers, and for fans of books set in the post-war era.” —Historical Novel Society
“Lane Winslow is a strong, independent woman. She may not be an official “detective” by profession (she’s an ex-British intelligent officer), but in many ways she reminds me of Jacqueline Winspear’s Maisie Dobbs. Lane is smart and sympathetic, and determined to solve this mystery . . . a satisfying historical mystery featuring a strong female protagonist. I can’t wait to catch up on this series.” –Hidden Staircase
“If you enjoy a puzzle set in 1947, rural B.C. community, with dialogue that reaches into the soul and a sense of place that is integral to the mystery, then An Old, Cold Grave is a summer read for you . . . In short, sin, plot, dialogue and place: all the requisite elements for an award-winning novel. It’s easy to imagine a fourth in this increasingly fine series.” –Bay Observer
“An Old, Cold Grave–Iona Whishaw’s compelling third novel–gives us a gentle rural setting, a body in a root cellar, and, of course, Lane Winslow, the best new amateur sleuth to come along in quite some time. Plot, dialogue, and place: all the requisite elements for an award-winning novel.” –Don Graves, Canadian Mystery reviews
“This series, with a strong and likeable female protagonist . . . continues to get better and better. The novels not only use the past as a setting, but there are lessons about history–and how the consequences of past actions always catch up, sooner or later, with those involved.” –Reviewing The Evidence
