Another great mystery featuring the women of WISE Enquiries
The Case of the Missing Morris Dancer: A cozy mystery set in Wales
by Cathy Ace
Severn House
Mystery & Thrillers
Pub Date Feb 1, 2016
Review
Anyone who enjoys classic British cozies will adore The Case of the Missing Morris Dancer. Cathy Ace's second novel featuring the Women of WISE Enquiries Agency is a refreshing departure from standard mystery fare.
One thing that makes these novels special are the central characters, the women who run WISE Enquiries. Despite differences in background and talent, they are close friends who work well together. Cathy Ace does a remarkable job making them three dimensional and believable, from the heavily pregnant Carol (the Welsh part of WISE) to the outspoken and somewhat clumsy Annie (the English part of WISE).
Another departure from the norm is that their case is not a murder, but a missing persons case, more in line with what actual private detectives face. Mavis (the Scotch part of WISE), the erstwhile leader of the group repeatedly explains that they are real detectives who follow the rules, rather than the gumshoes of the novels Annie likes to read.
The upcoming nuptials of the 18th Duke of Chellingworth is a time for celebration in Anwen-by-Wye, and tradition plays an important role. Chief amongst these is the procession of the Anwen Morris Dancers. Days before the wedding, however, one of the Morris men and the artefacts essential to the dance go missing. The Dowager Duchess Althea asks Mavis and the other women of WISE to look into the disappearance, and find a way to save the wedding.
The Case of the Missing Morris Dancer is a clever and entertaining mystery that any lover of cozies or British mysteries will adore. After reading The Case of the Dotty Dowager, I had high hopes for the series, and I am pleased to note that Cathy Ace has more than fulfilled my expectations.
5/5
The Case of the Missing Morris Dancer is available for preorder and will be released February 1, 2016.
I received a copy of The Case of the Missing Morris Dancer from the publisher and Netgalley.com in exchange for an honest review.
--Crittermom
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Description
The Women of the WISE Enquiries Agency are back in a witty and intriguing new mystery.
The Anwen Morris Dancers are to play a pivotal role in the imminent nuptials of Henry, eighteenth Duke of Chellingworth. But it looks as though the wedding plans might go awry unless Mavis, Annie, Carol and Christine can help Althea, the Dowager Duchess, by finding a missing Morris man and a set of ancient and valuable artefacts in time for her son’s wedding.
Anwen-by-Wye might look like an idyllic Welsh village where family values reign and traditions still mean something in a modern world, but what will the WISE women find when they peer behind the respectable net curtains?
