“The sixth fantastically original detective novel starring the outstanding Amateur detective Kate Shackleton!
A lady with a secret

Kate Shackleton’s reputation for bold research catches the attention of the venerable Lady Coulton. In her past hides a daughter born out of wedlock and given to another family. Now Lady Coulton is determined to find her and involves Kate in the matter.

Secret execute in the basement of the library

But as Kate delves deeper into Lady Coulton’s past, she soon finds herself embroiled in a scandal much closer to home. When the body of the respected Horatio Potter is found in the basement of the Leeds library, the quiet literary community is suddenly shaken by suspicions, accusations and, to Kate’s surprise, the appearance of a particularly clever Capuchin monkey!

The most confusing matter in Kate’s history to date

Convinced that an innocent man is to blame, Kate is sent to discover the truth. Who wants Dr. Potter dead? Is Lady Coulton’s not found daughter a vital piece of evidence? As the stories begin to appear in the seemingly quiet Leeds library, Kate quickly realizes that, in this matter, she cannot judge the book by its cover. . .”

The Publisher sent me a copy of this book, and this is my honest opinion about the book.

Kate Shackleton is engaged to Lady Coulton to find her long-lost daughter, who was put up for adoption more than 20 years ago. Kate soon discovers that her investigation has come to a standstill, but her attention is diverted to another matter that is closer to home. A body is found in the Leeds library and Kate finds herself investigating the passed away, and soon wonders if the two matters are related.

This is Kate Shackleton’s sixth novel and the first I’ve read. Kate Shackleton’s novels are marketed as “cozy” puzzles, and since I’m a lover of these books, I was eager to read this one. “Cozy” mysteries are, as the name implies, execute mysteries. These are snuggle books and tend to be less severe and gloomy than regular crime dramas, often with touches of humor.

The action of this book took place in Leeds, and since she was familiar with the city, she added a little fun to the story by getting to know the places discussed and described.

I found it to be a well-written story, fascinating, very easy to read and perfect for snuggling up to. I liked the main characters, especially Kate, and found them all well balanced and interesting. In fact, he hoped that the relationship of Kate and Inspector Wallis would develop even more in future novels.

I loved the decor from the 1920s, and I could easily imagine scenes in my imagination while reading, foggy streets, open cars and even Midwives patrolling the corridors of a local hospital.

Although this was the sixth book in the series, I didn’t feel disadvantaged by not reading the rest. In fact, I’m going to go back and read the rest while I wait for the seventh book.