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Isle of Man #18
Aunt Bessie Remembers
Aunt Bessie remembers nothing about the party that Elizabeth Quayle insists she invited Bessie to attend.
Elizabeth Cubbon, known as Bessie to nearly everyone, is confident that she would have remembered being invited to take part in a murder mystery evening. After everything she’s been through over the past eighteen months, it doesn’t sound the least bit enjoyable to her.
Aunt Bessie remembers thinking the whole thing was a bad idea.
And when someone at the party ends up dead, it looks as if she was right.
Aunt Bessie remembers as much as she can as she tries to help Inspector John Rockwell work out exactly what happened at Thie yn Traie.
But can she remember enough to put a murderer behind bars before he or she kills again?
Elizabeth Cubbon, known as Bessie to nearly everyone, is confident that she would have remembered being invited to take part in a murder mystery evening. After everything she’s been through over the past eighteen months, it doesn’t sound the least bit enjoyable to her.
Aunt Bessie remembers thinking the whole thing was a bad idea.
And when someone at the party ends up dead, it looks as if she was right.
Aunt Bessie remembers as much as she can as she tries to help Inspector John Rockwell work out exactly what happened at Thie yn Traie.
But can she remember enough to put a murderer behind bars before he or she kills again?
240 pages, Paperback
Published July 18, 2018
About the author
Diana Xarissa
296 books272 followersDiana 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.
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.
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
November 2, 2024
Book eighteen in the Isle of Man series. Getting very close to #26 now. It's a good thing the author has also written another series for me to read next.
In this book Aunt Bessie remembers nothing about being invited to a party she really does not want to to. However it is a murder/mystery party at her friend Mary's house and she makes the effort to go along. Unfortunately one guest is found stabbed in the back and John Rockwell and his team are called in to investigate. Bessie probably wishes she had stayed at home but of course she ends up helping the police and contributing to the final arrest of the culprit. As usual many biscuits are consumed.
I really enjoy the setting of the Isle of Man and am very much looking forward to a holiday I have planned for 2025 where the island is part of the itinerary.
In this book Aunt Bessie remembers nothing about being invited to a party she really does not want to to. However it is a murder/mystery party at her friend Mary's house and she makes the effort to go along. Unfortunately one guest is found stabbed in the back and John Rockwell and his team are called in to investigate. Bessie probably wishes she had stayed at home but of course she ends up helping the police and contributing to the final arrest of the culprit. As usual many biscuits are consumed.
I really enjoy the setting of the Isle of Man and am very much looking forward to a holiday I have planned for 2025 where the island is part of the itinerary.
November 26, 2024
Manx native Elizabeth Cubbon — usually called Aunt Bessie — reluctantly agrees to come to her friend Mary Quayle’s mansion on a night when Mary’s daughter Elizabeth is throwing a murder mystery party (which were so popular in the 1990s and 2000s). Elizabeth hopes it will help her build her new event planning business.
Well, the game turns into a real murder. That’s not a spoiler, or otherwise there wouldn’t be a cozy mystery, would there? No spoilers on who literally gets the knife, but I enjoyed this 18th entry in the series thoroughly.
Well, the game turns into a real murder. That’s not a spoiler, or otherwise there wouldn’t be a cozy mystery, would there? No spoilers on who literally gets the knife, but I enjoyed this 18th entry in the series thoroughly.
July 25, 2018
I love the Aunt Bessie books & have read them all (in order, of course). The recurring characters have become friends, the plots are clever & well-thought, and the Isle of Man setting/history is fascinating. Four stars instead of five because the author doesn't use Amazon's Xray feature (which is useful when there are so many new characters in each novel), and because the books need more careful copy editing (lots of grammar mistakes). What I DON'T like about this series? Finishing the story then waiting for the next installment! Looking forward to book 19 in October 2018!
July 25, 2018
Not as well constructed as other books in this series. It was a fun read but not up to the standards I've come to expect.
August 11, 2018
This has to be one of the most boring in the series. They kept repeating and repeating and repeating what happened at the party, and in great detail. The Foodie 4 did their usual analysis along with so many others that I just wanted to scream, "Get on with it!" If Susan (the planner) didn't know what she was doing, she certainly wasn't the only one in this contrived catastrophe!
July 23, 2018
Aunt Bessie Remembers: An Isle of Man Cozy Mystery Book 18 is by Diana Xarissa. This latest in the Aunt Bessie mysteries is very good. It keeps your attention so that it is difficult to put down.
Elizabeth has decided to do party planning and she wants to add murder mysteries to her parties available. She talks her Mother into inviting a few friends and she invites some from London to come too. Elizabeth invites Aunt Bessie who at first refuses to go; but changes her mind when Mary suggests they sit it out and just talk while the murder mystery is going on. The cast of characters is definitely eclectic. Elizabeth has Susan Haymarket come over from London to help her. Susan supposedly has done these before and she brings an Inspector with her to help out. Things don’t go according to plan and the Inspector is killed. With a houseful of suspects, John Rockwell begins his investigation. Who killed the Inspector? How did they kill him in a locked room? This is a fun book to read.
Elizabeth has decided to do party planning and she wants to add murder mysteries to her parties available. She talks her Mother into inviting a few friends and she invites some from London to come too. Elizabeth invites Aunt Bessie who at first refuses to go; but changes her mind when Mary suggests they sit it out and just talk while the murder mystery is going on. The cast of characters is definitely eclectic. Elizabeth has Susan Haymarket come over from London to help her. Susan supposedly has done these before and she brings an Inspector with her to help out. Things don’t go according to plan and the Inspector is killed. With a houseful of suspects, John Rockwell begins his investigation. Who killed the Inspector? How did they kill him in a locked room? This is a fun book to read.
March 10, 2019
Great series
This series is very well developed. Read book one and follow in order. Once I start a book by this author I cannot put it down.
This one is a lot of fun. I really wasn't sure if the murderer. I thought Susan, then Madison, then Richard. Then maybe Madison and Richard. So, you never know until the end.
The secret doors was a bit of overkill; didn't have to go there lol
This series is very well developed. Read book one and follow in order. Once I start a book by this author I cannot put it down.
This one is a lot of fun. I really wasn't sure if the murderer. I thought Susan, then Madison, then Richard. Then maybe Madison and Richard. So, you never know until the end.
The secret doors was a bit of overkill; didn't have to go there lol
November 12, 2019
Aside from the fact that the number of murders occurring in Laxey is five times greater than the actual murder capital of the world, the story gives a murder mystery dinner quite a different spin and makes for a "cozy mystery". Very welcomingly gone (for the second consecutive time now in the series) is the endless repetitions of earlier books which enables the reader to work along with Aunt Bessie in resolving the latest murder.
February 17, 2020
I have had fun over the past few days catching up with Aunt Bessie, and this was a real mystery - I did enjoy the idea of it being a murder-mystery party and it was fun to see Mona from the Ghostly Mysteries making a guest appearance.
The clues were all so nicely placed, too - I went back and looked again for them once the mystery was solved.
I rather like the developing romance that has a minor bearing on the plot , too.
The clues were all so nicely placed, too - I went back and looked again for them once the mystery was solved.
I rather like the developing romance that has a minor bearing on the plot , too.
August 20, 2021
A murder mystery party at Thie yn Traie turns deadly when the man who was cast in the role of the "police inspector" is found murdered in a seemingly locked room.
Everyone in the house is a possible suspect.
Inspector John Rockwell is baffled by the case, until Aunt Bessie remembers hearing something that may crack it wide open ...
Everyone in the house is a possible suspect.
Inspector John Rockwell is baffled by the case, until Aunt Bessie remembers hearing something that may crack it wide open ...
July 2, 2024
Another enjoyable visit with Aunt Bessie and her friends on the Isle of Man. This time she reluctantly attends a murder mystery party organised by a friend and neighbour, with a group of people from “across”. One of them is murdered, and Bessie remembers something that leads to identifying the murderer.
July 22, 2018
If you've read one...
...then you've basically read them all. A mystery is always solved, in-between the majority of the books spent on tea and biscuits and pudding, and more tea and more biscuits and always more pudding.
...then you've basically read them all. A mystery is always solved, in-between the majority of the books spent on tea and biscuits and pudding, and more tea and more biscuits and always more pudding.
July 26, 2018
Aunt Bessie does it again.
Another wonderful sleuthing adventure from Dianna Xarissa. I have taken part in a murder mystery evening and it was so much fun. This one, of course, was just a jumbled mess! But Aunt Bessie had the clue that counted. Enjoy the read. I did.
Another wonderful sleuthing adventure from Dianna Xarissa. I have taken part in a murder mystery evening and it was so much fun. This one, of course, was just a jumbled mess! But Aunt Bessie had the clue that counted. Enjoy the read. I did.
August 4, 2018
Stunning
I love these books they are really well written and enjoyable to read, I have enjoyed the way the characters are written and the places that are described brilliant ly. I would recommend these books to anyone who enjoys cozy mysteries.
I love these books they are really well written and enjoyable to read, I have enjoyed the way the characters are written and the places that are described brilliant ly. I would recommend these books to anyone who enjoys cozy mysteries.
August 8, 2018
Not my favorite Aunt Bessie book. This is the second one where a re-enactment is done to solve the mystery, and it got very repetitive and tiresome. I hope this isn't going to be a pattern in the series.
September 8, 2018
Adore
I just adore the “Aunt Bessie” series. The mysteries are always very well done and, by now, I feel like the main characters are friends I know. This book involves a “Murder Mystery” dinner party that goes a bit off-script.
I just adore the “Aunt Bessie” series. The mysteries are always very well done and, by now, I feel like the main characters are friends I know. This book involves a “Murder Mystery” dinner party that goes a bit off-script.
September 12, 2018
Cute
It was a pleasant book. I enjoyed the plot and characters but thought it dragged a bit in places. Nice recipe at the end. I would have liked a guide to pronouncing the Manx words used in the book.
It was a pleasant book. I enjoyed the plot and characters but thought it dragged a bit in places. Nice recipe at the end. I would have liked a guide to pronouncing the Manx words used in the book.
May 22, 2020
The story in this one isn't as well-developed as the others (though I do enjoy the glimpses of Aunt Mona from the Ghostly Cozy series!). It would have been only 3 stars, but the author has included Aunt Bessie's shortbread recipe! I'm anxious to give it a try!
August 21, 2024
Love Aunt Bessie.
As I get to the later books in the series I realize I will really miss Aunt Bessie. I love the books and the story characters have become like family imaginary but family.
As I get to the later books in the series I realize I will really miss Aunt Bessie. I love the books and the story characters have become like family imaginary but family.
July 30, 2018
Aunt Bessie is one of my "go to" when I need a sure thing. This one didn't disappoint, I look forward
to all of my visits to the Isle of Man...
to all of my visits to the Isle of Man...
August 8, 2018
Another great Aunt Bessie mystery
I did not solve this mystery before the end. It has a lot of suspects and there is a murder in the middle of a murder mystery.
I did not solve this mystery before the end. It has a lot of suspects and there is a murder in the middle of a murder mystery.
June 20, 2019
Love all the Aunt Bessie books
September 8, 2023
An intriguing plot with plenty of suspects and a murder in a locked room - very enjoyable!
November 7, 2023
Book #18 of the series
Read
September 12, 2022Bessie's young neighbor Elizabeth is trying to get her party -organizing business going, and is testing a theme party idea made popular in the US. Bessie finds the idea of a murder mystery party an appalling idea because of her experiences with real murders. Nevertheless, she attends the event and, of course, she soon regrets her decision. Before the party is over, everyone regrets having attended.
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews