I've enjoyed several novels by Deryn Lake and her alter ego Dinah Lampitt but this one, which I found in the Dogs Trust charity shop in Wetherby this afternoon, appears to be from a series I haven't come across before. Looks good!

Amazon Editorial Review: "A new puzzle for the Reverend Nick Lawrence . . .
It is May in the sleepy village of Lakehurst, Sussex, and Nick Lawrence has organised a Medieval Fair, complete with maypole dancing, archers and Mr Grimm’s men, a group of Morris dancers. The fair is enjoyed by all and a great success, but once the village green is deserted a horrific event takes place that shocks the whole village. A young orphan, Billy, is shot through the heart with an arrow and his body covered with the ribbons from the maypole.
It is up to Nick and Detective Inspector Dominic Tennant to try and find out who would commit such a horrific crime – and why?"

All sorts of sinister folklore traditions, from maypole and morris dancing to wicca and devil-worship via scarecrows, are referenced in this unpleasant yet gripping tale of child murder.

To plum-crazy when we met, complete with husbands, for lunch, chat and book swapping in the Brigantes pub, York today. Great to see you, lass!

Rec'd from Nu-knees at our lunch meet up - thank you! Folklore & traditions have always fascinated me & I love a murder so I'm sure I'll enjoy this ☺

This murder is listed as a Nick Lawrence mystery however he didn't seem to do anything on the investigative front - whether that's usual or not I don't know as it's the first I've read in this series! From the setting...& given Nick's vocation...I was expecting this to be a "cosy" murder & while it certainly leans towards that genre, there are one or two slightly gruesome scenes - cat lovers beware!

It's an easy read which encompasses a variety of folk traditions into the setting of what seems to be the quintessential English village along with the the usual mix of ...dare I say...rather stereotypical characters. It's a pleasant enough read (should a murder be pleasant?!) but felt it a bit dated somehow, especially in the dialogue (I've never heard a thirty-year-old address people as "My dear" as Nick often did - maybe it's something they learn at Clerical College).

Overall a decent story but my main criticism is the way everything was wrapped up. The conclusion was rather unsatisfactory with the "reason" for the murders being given as a rather sweeping generalisation & as such, one or two things were left unexplained.

Added to Flutterbie9's Crime/Mystery bookbox

Released as part of THE SEPTADS CHALLENGE (#8)

Taken from the crime /mystery bookbox

This is quite a slow paced story but I still thought it exciting. I did identify the murderer quite early on but that didn't spoil it. I agree with Plum-crazy about the stereotypical characters.

A themed book for my Samhain exchange partner

Thank you for the Samhain exchange! You drew me for both exchanges!

I loved the cards, bookmarks, chocolates, frame & fortune telling game.

This looks really good! :)