The Cipher Garden: A Lake District Mystery: 2 (Lake District Mysteries) - Tapa blanda

""Fans of the British village mystery who are very particular aboutsetting should trek to THE CIPHER GARDEN (Poisoned Pen, $24.95), Martin Edwards's sequel to ""The Coffin Trail."" Like its predecessor, this whodunit derives its appeal from the fey charms of the LakeDistrict. Not that the residents of Old Sawrey are themselvescharming. With the exception of Daniel Kind, an inquisitive historiandoing research on the oddly disharmonious garden of the old cottage herecently bought, no one seems to have any hobbies or personalinterests outside of bedding one another's spouses. Indeed, the galloping adultery is central to the plot, which turns on the unsolved homicide of a local landscaper, a randy old goat who was chopped down by his own scythe. But if the characters are bland, the locale is stunning - high and windblown, a bit wild. A nice spot to commit murder."" -- Marilyn Stasio, New York Times (11/27/05) "Fans of the British village mystery who are very particular aboutsetting should trek to THE CIPHER GARDEN (Poisoned Pen, $24.95), Martin Edwards's sequel to "The Coffin Trail." Like its predecessor, this whodunit derives its appeal from the fey charms of the LakeDistrict. Not that the residents of Old Sawrey are themselvescharming. With the exception of Daniel Kind, an inquisitive historiandoing research on the oddly disharmonious garden of the old cottage herecently bought, no one seems to have any hobbies or personalinterests outside of bedding one another's spouses. Indeed, the galloping adultery is central to the plot, which turns on the unsolved homicide of a local landscaper, a randy old goat who was chopped down by his own scythe. But if the characters are bland, the locale is stunning - high and windblown, a bit wild. A nice spot to commit murder." -- Marilyn Stasio, New York Times (11/27/05) Praise for The Coffin Trail "With its twisty plot, atmospheric setting, and typical English-village characters, this new series from British crime novelist Edwards will appeal to Peter Robinson and Reginald Hill devotees." --Library Journal "Fans of the British village mystery who are very particular aboutsetting should trek to THE CIPHER GARDEN (Poisoned Pen, $24.95), Martin Edwards's sequel to "The Coffin Trail." Like its predecessor, this whodunit derives its appeal from the fey charms of the LakeDistrict. Not that the residents of Old Sawrey are themselvescharming. With the exception of Daniel Kind, an inquisitive historiandoing research on the oddly disharmonious garden of the old cottage herecently bought, no one seems to have any hobbies or personalinterests outside of bedding one another's spouses. Indeed, the galloping adultery is central to the plot, which turns on the unsolved homicide of a local landscaper, a randy old goat who was chopped down by his own scythe. But if the characters are bland, the locale is stunning - high and windblown, a bit wild. A nice spot to commit murder." -- Marilyn Stasio, New York Times (11/27/05)

Warren Howe is surprised by a hooded visitor while working in a garden in Old Sawrey, a lovely village in England's Lake District. Soon it is Warren who is dead-murdered with his own scythe. The police identify several suspects but lack the evidence to make an arrest. Years later, an anonymous tip sparks the interest of DCI Hannah Scarlett, who heads the local Cold Case Review Team. Warren's wife Tina is accused of killing her husband, although she had an alibi. Hannah's sergeant, Nick Lowther, involved in the original investigation, seems disturbed by her determination to look again at the old crime. And Daniel Kind, the historian, wants to uncover the secret of the strange garden at his own cottage. Enlisting the help of Warren's former business partner, garden designer Peter Flint, he is drawn into the mystery of the murder. Daniel and Hannah find old sins cast long shadows as they search for the truth. Then there is another horrifying death. Now Daniel and Hannah must piece together the clues that lead to a shocking revelation. But by the time the puzzle is solved, Hannah's life has changed forever. The first of Martin Edwards' eight novels, All the Lonely People, nominated for the CWA's John Creasey Memorial Dagger, introduced lawyer Harry Devlin. Martin has also written a stand-alone, Take My Breath Away, and completed The Lazarus Widow by the late Bill Knox. His ten non-fiction books include Urge to Kill, a study of homicide investigation, and he has contributed to such reference books as The Oxford Companion to Crime and Mystery Writing.