This is Bk. #1 in Ann Purser's (A Lois Meade Mystery) series of 14 books. It's copyright is 2002. For fans of the British cozy, here's one with a different twist.

Purser's heroine is not one of the "traditional" apple-cheeked, white haired village snoops...the identity of the killer-and the motive-will be a shocker. This story is fresh, engaging, and authentically British.

Ann Purser, the author, was born in Market Harborough in Leicestershire, England, and has lived most of her life in villages. She has turned her hand to many things, including journalism, keeping hens and donkeys, running an art gallery, clerical assistant in a village school, novelist, mother of three, grandmother of three, wife of Philip Purser, critic, and writer. She is an avid reader of detective stories. Busy lady!