R.R. Shelly

Move over Miss Marple and make way for 30-something Olivia Hazlehurst. When this recent widow hires the handsome and much younger Perry, a slightly, mentally handicapped handyman, the two have no idea murders are about to forever change their lives. After the death of husband Charles, all Olivia wants is to live in the quaint village of Slapton-Under-Wychwood. However, she doesn’t count on there being “quaint” murders there. Neither does she realize the dark-haired, blue-eyed Perry will rekindle once-buried feelings.

Martin Buxley, bell ringer, is found hanging in a church steeple. At first thought to be suicide, Olivia Hazlehurst discovers he had every reason to live. Then Maria Pillcot, owner of the village art gallery, is seen by Perry, Olivia’s mentally handicapped handyman, at Martin’s house. Why is she at a dead man’s home? Olivia is intrigued and so becomes involved. She finds herself facing an odd assortment of suspects. The local vicar behaves oddly. He’s “not his usual self,” as the gossipy owner of the bakeshop, Martha Barker, declares, who is also a suspect. Moreover, there is Henrietta Farnsworth, the victim’s girlfriend, David Pillcot and Norah Dixon, the other two bell ringers. All of these could be suspects, as well.

However, “Hen” is soon crossed off the list when Olivia finds her strangled in her car. At the scene of Hen’s murder, Olivia first meets the prickly detective, Phyllida Vincent. There are other complications as Olivia attempts to solve the murders. She is increasingly attracted to young Perry, despite her best efforts. She must deal with Phyllida Vincent, who seems to resent her. Perry falls under suspicion of murder. A mysterious painting disappears. Always there is the pressing need to find the murderer before the killer decides to find her. Dead Ringer, a cozy murder mystery set in a contemporary bucolic village in the Cotswold area of England.