Kirkus
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It takes a village to catch the thief who burgled the most beloved person in Sherebury. American transplant Dorothy Martin and her husband, former Chief Constable Alan Nesbitt, have solved dozens of mysteries, but never one closer to their hearts than the problems that bedevil their beloved neighbor Jane Langland. Former teacher, master gardener, bulldog lover, and baker extraordinaire, Jane is a rock—so it’s quite a shock when she has a stroke and goes to rehab to recover. Dorothy and Alan are amazed at the number of people worried about her, and disturbed because they can see that Jane’s trying to tell them something even though she can’t yet talk or write. They’re worried about the security of her house even though they don’t imagine she owns anything of great value, but when Dorothy searches Jane’s house, she uncovers a cache of gold coins. When Jane’s reaction tells them the coins are not what she’s worried about, Alan asks a police officer who’s renowned for finding hidden things to check the house in his off hours. Wild barking from their dog, Watson, alerts the sleuthing couple to a break-in at Jane’s. Nothing’s been taken, but Dorothy continues to worry about her inability to discover what Jane’s so upset about. Despite their friendship, Dorothy knows little about Jane’s background. Looking into the past, she discovers that Jane’s parents were suspected collaborationists during World War I. Her discovery that the family switched from selling antiques to books gives her the clue she needs. The bookshop’s current owner, Roger Palmer, who worked with Jane’s parents—and to whom Jane just gave the shop after they died—tells Dorothy that Jane kept only a valuable four-volume 1890 set ofNorthanger Abbey andPersuasion for herself. The disappearance of those volumes redoubles their determination to find the thief. One of the warmest and most down-to-earth mysteries in a charming, popular series. Copyright © Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.