BRAN NEW DEATH shows Merry persevering and getting directions from the sheriff to Wynter Castle. Although she's had it on the market, nobody has offered, and when she arrives she can see why. Not only is it run down and Gothic, someone unknown has been digging large holes on the grounds. Her real estate agent explains that there is a legend that a former owner killed a local man and buried him. Maybe the holes are connected.

The town baker, a busy woman, is an expert at focaccia and ciabatta but refuses to stoop to baking muffins. Merry can bake those, if not much else. Before long she's landed work making batches of muffins for seniors. The castle has potential as an inn, so the kitchen has been modernised at least. For serving lunch to hardworking people, Merry makes up cheddar-bacon muffins, for the seniors, banana- bran ones. If she gets the kitchen commercially licensed it will help sell the property... but someone seems determined to put a halt to proceedings, even if violence is involved, and then the matter gets personal.

I always look forward to reading a Berkeley Prime Crime mystery and this cosy crime story is a good example. There's plenty to learn and plenty of interesting characters. Small-town residents like to pass the time imagining murders where nothing so dramatic occurred, we're told, but the residents in the senior care home have some old-time stories they love telling. I did find Merry's introduction of herself somewhat involved as it took up most of the first chapter, instead of which she could have discussed her life with other characters during the story. There's a wonderful ginger cat called Becket, who defends his territory even against people.

With a few mouth-watering savoury recipes for soup and muffins at the end, Victoria Hamilton's BRAN NEW DEATH is a real feast for mystery fans.

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