She enjoys her business, keeps busy but sometimes helps Inspector Cowgill solve local crimes. Gran and her husband do not approve of her meddling. Derek calls it "ferretin". The Top Cop, Inspector Cowgill, has a strong partiality for Lois Meade, which is well known at the police station. He enjoys Lois's help in any crimes in his area and does not hesitate to ask for her help.

The beautiful Mill House Hotel is the scene of the murder of a young woman found strangled with a silver necklace. Not far from her body was a bag filled with costume jewelry. Sylvia Fountain, the victim, was known to be a frequent visitor at the hotel and always came with a gentleman. The jewelry was traced back to the Brigham Luxury Jewelry. Donald Black who represents Brigham Jewelry became the prime suspect.

Aurora Black, his wife, is the owner of the Brigham Bakery where she makes crusty homemade bread the old fashioned way. Aurora loves kneading by hand, baking the bread in the old ovens that had been there for years and her freshly baked breads are sold out every day. She and Lois are good friends, having a drink together at the Mill House Hotel when they see the body of Donald Black drowned in the Mill Pond. His past is investigated and it becomes clear he was a serial Don Juan, who someone felt needed killing. Who done it.?

This whodunit seemed obvious to me early on and I stuck with my pick for the killer and was correct. Several interesting twists and lots of descriptions of bling and jewelry parties. Gram was a humorous character that I enjoyed and I always like a fluffy white dog, like Jemima, that adds fun to the chase. SUSPICION AT SEVEN is the 14th Lois Meade Mystery from Ann Purser and I will await the 15th coming soon, me thinks. Fun, Fast and enjoyable read.

Book Summary