WWII weekend murder linked to missing masterpiece
A Study in Gold A contemporary British mystery set in Oxford by Annie Dalton Severn House Mystery & Thrillers Pub Date 01 Sep 2017
Review
Annie Dalton is an amazing writer. I’ve enjoyed her entire Dog Walking Detectives series, and feel that A Study in Gold in particular is exceptional. The introduction puts the readers off guard. Initially I didn’t know that the murder was present day. The flavor was entirely 1940s. Into the first chapter, the reader discovers that Anna, Isadora and Tansy have agreed to take part in a 1940s mystery weekend -culminating in a celebration and an actual dead body.
Initially Anna, Isadora and Tansy have no plans to investigate the murder. It is only a series of coincidences beginning with a witnessed argument at the art auction house previously owned by Anna’s father that causes the trio to be drawn into two mysteries. An elderly Jewish man claims that an unknown masterpiece A Study in Gold was stolen from his family during the war, and that Anna’s father had knowledge of the masterpiece. As Anna digs, she discovers connections between the murdered woman and the man looking for the painting. Is it possible that A Study in Gold is the reason behind her family’s murder?
I was glued to the page from start to finish. I had to find out what happened next. It is nice to see Anna confronting her demons, developing as an individual and furthering her relationship with Jake. Unlike the leads in many series, Anna, Isadora and Tansy are not static. They are human. And of course Bonnie, the white shepherd, is wonderful as always.
Annie Dalton’s books are far more serious than standard dog mystery fare. They will definitely appeal to a wide range of readers, including fans of Clea Simon. I highly recommend these mysteries even to those who aren't dog lovers.
5 / 5
I received a copy of A Study in Gold from the publisher and Netgalley.com in exchange for an honest review.
-Crittermom
Description
A Second World War-themed murder mystery weekend ends in murder for real. Having reluctantly agreed to make up the numbers at a World War II-themed murder mystery weekend at Mortmead Hall, Anna Hopkins and her fellow dogwalkers, Isadora and Tansy, enjoy themselves far more than they’d expected. Not for long. The weekend’s festivities come to an abrupt halt when a body is discovered floating in the ornamental pond. Who was the mysterious woman in the red dress who attended the event without a ticket? As Anna and her friends delve further, they find themselves caught up in a web of intrigue that leads to a lost painting and a devastating wartime secret: a secret that involves Anna’s own family. Was her late father really guilty of a monstrous crime …?
