“Murder at Maypole Manor” - L. B. Hathaway

 

(Posie Parker book 3)

🍾 There’s nothing too deep here. I enjoy the Posie Parker series because the characters are likable, the historical detail is engaging, and the plots are interesting enough. But make no mistake, these are cozy mysteries that aren’t particularly complex. Don’t expect to be blindsided by revelations and plot twists you didn’t see coming.

🍾 MMM picks up the theme that despite global relief at the cessation of WWI hostilities, and the numerous treaties now in place, tensions continue to simmer between Germany and Britain. This was touched upon in the second Verity Kent book as well. No matter how inconceivable another conflict after the “War to End All Wars” was, trouble was indeed brewing. The inter-war period is fascinating to me. Were there missed signs? Was there any possibility of averting conflict?

🍾 MI5 and Scotland Yard emerge a bit bumbling, missing rather obvious signs of trouble. They have joined forces to stage an elaborate NYE party at a strategically located country estate as a pretext for a handoff of top-secret documents. MI5 plans are almost bungled by two murders at the estate. Inspector Lovelace and Posie are forced to reexamine all the party attendees that had allegedly been vetted by MI5. Someone is not who they say they are.