A nasty old man who everyone hated is found drugged and strangled in his kitchen. After everyone finishes dancing, they decide to call the cops. DI Harry Falconer gets the call. Unfortunately for him, a lot of people are on vacation (it’s July). So he’s stuck with “Acting” DS Carmichael, who doesn’t appear to be the sharpest crayon in the box. He’s also a really bad dresser, at least in Falconer’s eyes.
The tiny village of Castle Farthing is home to the murder, as well as a bunch of tangled webs that have been woven between the inhabitants. It’s up to Falconer and Carmichael to untangle them. And Carmichael also has to be careful not to fall in love with one of the suspects. It’s hot, everyone’s cranky, and it’s looking like things aren’t going to be solved without a whole lot of luck.
No cozy mystery would be complete without misunderstandings, and a few more deaths. Sometimes I wonder how there’s anyone left in the English countryside. The story is an amusing beginning to the series, I’m sure I’ll be tackling more of the Falconer stories in future.