Aunt Bessie Joins

Isle of Man #10

by Diana Xarissa

Aunt Bessie joins the planning committee for Manx National Heritage’s new fundraiser, "Christmas at the Castle."

Bessie is delighted that her friends, Marjorie Stevens and Mary Quayle, are also both on the committee. Carolyn Teare is a less welcome addition. When Carolyn insists on hiring Christopher Hart, an expensive designer, to “improve” everything, Bessie is even less happy.

Aunt Bessie joins Mary and Marjorie in fighting against Mr. Hart’s suggested changes to the beautifully decorated rooms.

But when the man ends up dead, not liking his design style seems a pretty slim motive.

Aunt Bessie joins forces with Inspector John Rockwell and his Douglas counterpart, Pete Corkill, as an act of vandalism and a second dead body threaten to get "Christmas at the Castle" cancelled altogether.

Genres: Mystery, Cozy Mystery, Christmas, Cozy, Ebooks, British Literature

246 pages, Paperback

First published July 15, 2016

About the author

Diana started self-publishing in 2013 and over a decade later she now has over a hundred books available for readers. Writing remains her passion and she has no plans to stop writing in the foreseeable future.

Diana grew up in Erie, Pennsylvania, and earned a history degree from Allegheny College. She met her husband, an Englishman, while living and working in Washington, DC. Following their marriage, she moved to Derbyshire. A short while later, the happy couple moved to the Isle of Man.

During their years on the island, Diana and her husband welcomed two children, and Diana completed a master’s degree in the history of the island. In 2008, the family made the decision to move to the US. Now empty-nesters, Diana and her husband are living in the suburbs of Buffalo, New York, and contemplating moving somewhere that doesn’t get snow.

Diana also writes mystery/thrillers set in the not-too-distant future as Diana X. Dunn and Young Adult fiction as D.X. Dunn.

Reviews

[Phrynne · Rating 4 out of 5]

This series is my literary equivalent of comfort food. I can be sure each book will be safe, cosy, reassuring and warm even if the pace is slow and the stress level is zero. Sometimes it is just nice to sit back and chill.

At the end of the previous book Bessie was asked to join the Manx National Heritage Society and in Aunt Bessie Joins she can be found working with the Planning Committee and preparing the castle for a special event entitled "Christmas at the Castle." It all sounds delightful as various organisations prepare a room, each in a different Christmas theme.

Of course there is a spanner in the works in the form of the designer who is supposed to be coordinating the work. Then there is a death, closely followed by another one and Bessie finds herself caught up in another murder investigation. As usual details of Bessie's wonderful daily life steer the narrative and the only minor worry is when Hugh is going to finally get round to proposing the Grace.

I loved the Christmas atmosphere with plenty of shopping, wrapping presents, cooking and of course eating. I think every meeting in the book is done around food. Do not read this book when you are hungry.

Anyway I loved it as usual and have the next one already lined up.

[Ivonne Rovira · Rating 3 out of 5]

Aunt Bessie — what everyone in the village of Laxey calls Elizabeth Cubbon — joins a fundraising committee in which charities take on a room each to decorate in Rushen Castle. One committee member — a very wealthy, very pushy woman — insists on involving her hipster interior decorator, the unbearable Christopher Hart. No prizes for predicting Hart’s demise. But rude, insulting persons are a dime and dozen, and few end up dead. Why murder Hart?

The ending of this novel was completely implausible, and it only appears 30 pages from the end. Too bad because author Diana Xarissa had been doing a nice job with this tenth entry in this enjoyable series set on the Isle of Man.

[Voirrey · Rating 5 out of 5]

I find myself saying almost the same things for each of the books as I review them; as someone who lives on the island, and in the 1990s when the series is set I was actually based in Laxey, I love them.

Although Diana's Laxey is a little larger than the genuine article it is still very much 'right'. The rest of the island was also very much as it seems in these books.

I see people complain of typos, but I very rarely see one and, believe me, I very rarely miss one if it is there. So, either these were corrected for the kindle version, or the comments are from Americans who don't read the note that says the books are written in actual British English as Aunt Bessie would expect nothing less. So please don't be put off by any mention of typos.

This is, in effect, my review of the whole series.

[☼Pam Might Read Too Much ☼ · Rating 2 out of 5]

I've read over a dozen of the Aunt Bessie books (is it really 20?) and have enjoyed all of them. This one though had a particularly ill done reveal. In fact, it was stupid/lame/fill-in-blank.

I suppose after so many books it's not surprising that one is a klunker.

[Mystereity Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

See this and more of my reviews at Mystereity Reviews

The Manx Heritage Society (No, I don't know why people on the Isle of Man are called Manx. I thought it was a kind of cat) is making preparations for the Christmas at the Castle fundraiser. Several charities around the island have set up Christmas themed displays to be auctioned off on Christmas Eve. When a committee member brings in a disagreeable designer who manages to upset and anger several people, it comes as no surprise when he's found murdered in his hotel room. Bessie's friend Inspector Corkill is on the case and they team up to find a killer.

The enjoyable plot followed Bessie's investigation into the murder of designer Christopher Hart. He is thoroughly unlikable, so it's not hard for Bessie to uncover several likely motives and suspects. While perhaps not the most intricate plot, it was engrossing and the lovely world the author has created on the Isle of Man is definitely the big draw for this series. I love going along with Bessie on her blustery walks down the beach past the holiday cottages to Thien Yn Trae, on her cab rides to shop in Douglas, and settling down for a good read in her cozy, book-filled cottage. I loved the Christmas at the Castle idea, it sounded so cute! A big old castle, decorated for Christmas with cute displays, I would be there in a heartbeat. I loved the room where kids could write letters to Father Christmas, what a great idea!

Aunt Bessie Joins can be read as a standalone, but there are a few minor plot threads that run through the series, so they're better enjoyed in order (and really, this is such a cute series, why wouldn't you want to read all of them?)

Overall, another enjoyable stay on the Isle of Man and I don't hesitate to recommend the series to cozy mystery fans.

[Lloyd G. Kay · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm the male version of Betsy it's amazing I'm 81 but I do all the things that she does to and I like the same thing she does

I've read all of the books up to this point and I'm looking forward to book number 11 on October 14 when it comes out and Bessie knows

[Christine Goodnough · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyable, but I found the pace a little slow

The story starts out with the quintessential self-centered temperamental artist annoying everyone and later his body being found, with no clues as to whodunit.
I found the story average as cozy mysteries go, but some nonessential discussions could have been shortened. While I enjoy the homey feel of the series, and this book, too, I thought there was too much middle "filler" about home baking, American versus British Christmas treats, etc. And having long discussions going around in foggy circles about whodunit slowed the pace down. By the time I was 75% through I was ready to skip to the end.
The basic mystery was well set up and compelling, though. The end setting with the blab by the guilty party seemed rather unrealistic.

[Patricia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bessie is fully immersed in the Christmas season when she joins a committee that is staging the first Christmas at the Castle fundraiser. Various charities, paid staff, and volunteers come together and Bessie strives to soothe egos and mediate differences of opinion.
Early on, one character is clearly portrayed as bad tempered, egotistical, and downright hateful, so the ensuing murder is not as shocking as it might have been. To add to the dislike, the character seems to be a vegetarian. I don't know why that was added. Huge meals are a big part of the gatherings of the series characters, but this is the first time a vegetarian was vilified.

[Christina Cueto · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was a little bit lonely for me as it was Christmas time, but Bessie wasn't with her usual group of friends. They didn't really appear until halfway through the story. Also, there seemed to be a lot of tension due to the fact that there were so many unlikeable characters that created negativity. It wasn't as enjoyable as the other books in the series. It's still worth reading, just not what I'm used to.

[Crystal Toller · Rating 5 out of 5]

Aunt Bessie Series

Aunt Bessie is on a volunteer committee for Castle Rushen, Christmas at the Castle. One of the members hires a designer from England to help with the decorating but he gets killed before the event opens to the public. How Bessie, with the help of Doona, John Rockwell and Pete Corkill discover the murderer makes for a great mystery. Highly recommend this book and the series.

[Helen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another excellent and different book in an enjoyable series, which gives such an insight into life on the Isle of Man. This one has a Christmas theme. Aunt Bessie, as usual, works in Sync with the local police to solve the murder of a very unpleasant interior designer, called in to help (or hinder) a large-scale community fundraiser in one of the castles on the island.

[Mary Byrnes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great story

I enjoyed this book immensely. I love anything Christmas and design shows. This combined the best of both. . The mystery kept me guessing until the end. Looking forward to the next book in the series.

[Pam Fairchild · Rating 5 out of 5]

Aunt Bessie gets better every letter!

The time of year is magical in this Aunt Bessie book! Christmas time with her friends and a murder mystery sounds terrible but Diana ties it all together and creates a wonderful story.

[Serina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Christmas Best

This was the best Aunt Bessie book so far. Murders, mysteries and so much Christmas love. The cast of characters were combined together to make a wonderful group, just like a small community should.

[Michele Livesay · Rating 5 out of 5]

Christmas Can Be Fatal

Aunt Bessie is busy with her volunteer work at Christmas time. Unfortunately, there are some people who do not appreciate the season. Tempers flare and harsh words are spoken. Things turn deadly, and people look to Aunt Bessie for help.

[Jacob · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was really disappointed in this one. It was full of typos and the ending was pretty terrible.

[Tracy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoy these books and plan on reading the whole series :) Great for a Winter's night reading tucked up in bed.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this book for it had a 👍 end to it.☺

[Alayne · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very interesting read, although I guessed "whodunit" halfway through the story.

[jeryl thompson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Christmas with Bessie

These books are simple, but I love being involved in Bessie's life. I now want to visit Isle of Man.

[Anita Lina · Rating 5 out of 5]

aunt Bessie

The most wonderful series to read and enjoy again and again. I hope we get many many more Aunt Bessie stories!

[Stacy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bessie has joined a couple of her friends in helping with a fundraiser called Christmas at the Castle. When the obnoxious designer that was brought in to consult is found dead there are plenty of suspects since he managed to offend almost everybody he met. Bessie and friends do their part to help solve the crime.

[Jon McClintock · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great holiday read

The minute you begin to read you become a part of Bessie's world. Maybe the best yet. My only complaint is that there are so many typos, not only in this book but in all. Another authors name was misspelled in the last one I read. Enjoy the cultural differences incorporated.

[Miriam · Rating 5 out of 5]

Aunt Bessie Joins: Bessie joins the committee to raise money for charity at the Manx National Heritage’s new fundraiser, "Christmas at the Castle." Some of her friends (Marjorie Stevens and Mary Quayle) are on the committee and she is looking forward to working with them on the project. A wealthy socialite donates the services of an interior designer who is hard to work with. But really, was it necessary to kill him to get him off the project?

I love all the Manx National Heritage things in these books.

These are all cozy mysteries. The titles are in alphabetical order, which is cute. They are cozy and there is no sex in them. No graphic violence, although there are times that Bessie is in danger.

[Pam · Rating 5 out of 5]

Aunt Bessie Joins: An Isle of Man Cozy Mystery Book 10 is by Diana Xarissa. Another fantastic Aunt Bessie book.
Christopher Hart, interior designer, was going through the Christmas at the Castle is having a last trial. Christopher is throwing his weight around telling them this room neded something, this room needed to be finshed, this room needed to be completely redone. Nothing was good enough for him. He was arrogant and unkind. He had some of the creators in tears and others simply broken. It was time for Aunt Bessie to step up is the “Christmas at the Castle” Committee and stop Hart. Can she stop him before he ruins the festivities? Who would kill him or would they?

[Betsy · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really had hopes for this one because of the Christmas theme, which was probably the best part. Other than that, it was mediocre and dragged in too many places. Worst of all, the murderer was practically announced from the house tops. The ending left much to be desired so I suspect Xarissa couldn't figure out any other way to announce the guilty party.

As always, food plays a major part in the story. I just wish Hugh would show some spunk, and stop waiting for the perfect moment. That story line is getting incredibly tiresome.

[Donald C White Sr · Rating 5 out of 5]

Aunt Bessie Joins is another

delightful book that feels all warm and comfortable. I always feel as if I were there on The Isle of Man, observing all that is taking place. I will sign up for a pre-purchase as soon as it is offered. Treat yourself to all the "Aunt Bessie" books. They will be more enjoyable if read in order as the plot lines of the former book meshes with the next book.

[Margaret · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have read all of the to-date Aunt Bessie mysteries. This series is delightful and cozy. The characters are believable and interesting. Aunt Bessie has lived most of her life on the Isle of Manx. She lived in the U.S. briefly as a teen-ager, but moved back to the Isle of Manx with her family. The stories take place in the late 1990s when Aunt Bessie is a senior citizen.
I do highly recommend this series if you like a good mystery, an interesting setting, and believable characters.

[L Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

A real cozy

Always a marvelous mystery. Always interesting facts learned in the midst of solving the mystery about the Isle of Man. And all the wonderful characters, who by now all seem like my friends as well as Bessie's. Love the series.

[Melody Dodd · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love all of Diana Xarissa's books, especially the Aunt Bessie series. This was no exception.