Bobbie Blandford, a young policewoman is embarking on her second year in Stony End as this story opens, set in 1961. This novella covers some quite serious issues, including the struggle of women to be accepted as equals to men.

Bobbie gets involved in a murder investigation, which she thinks may be linked to an unsolved mystery from the past. However this isn’t just crime fiction; alongside Bobbie’s work is her romantic involvement with Leo, the local doctor.

Sally Quilford has a gift of creating memorable and likeable characters. It’s over two years since I read the first book in the series, ‘The Last Dance’, but it quickly felt as if I were meeting an old friend. However it’s not necessary to have read the earlier book as this one stands alone.

The settings feel realistic, and the pace of the book is good. The mysteries aren’t full of red herrings and clues; but for people who like crime stories featuring a low-key romance, and some great characterisation (albeit with a few caricatures), I would recommend this. ( )