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Lane Winslow #8
A Lethal Lesson
Shortlisted for the 2022 BC and Yukon Book Prizes' Bill Duthie Booksellers' Choice AwardAn Indigo Top 10 Best Mystery of 2021A Globe and Mail bestseller#1 Bestselling New Release in Canada
Lane Winslow trades crime solving for substitute teaching in the eighth installment of this mystery series that Kirkus Reviews calls “riveting”.
Back home in the Kootenays after her Arizona honeymoon, Lane offers her assistance when neither the outgoing teacher, Rose, nor her replacement, Wendy, show up at the local schoolhouse one blizzardy Monday in December. But when she finds the teachers' cottage ransacked with Rose unconscious and bleeding, and Wendy missing, Lane delivers Rose to the hospital in Nelson and turns the case over to her exasperated husband, Inspector Darling, and his capable colleagues, Sergeant Ames and Constable Terrell.
Never one to leave a post unmanned, Lane enlists as substitute teacher for the final two weeks before the Christmas holidays, during which time she discovers a threatening note in the teachers' desk and a revolver in the supply cupboard. But these clues only convolute the case further. Who has been tormenting these women, and where has Wendy gone?
Meanwhile, Darling finds the body of a hit-and-run victim in a snowbank miles outside of Nelson, the residents of King's Cove are preoccupied by the possibility of a new neighbour, and Sergeant Ames is as confused as ever by the inimitable Tina Van Eyck.
Lane Winslow trades crime solving for substitute teaching in the eighth installment of this mystery series that Kirkus Reviews calls “riveting”.
Back home in the Kootenays after her Arizona honeymoon, Lane offers her assistance when neither the outgoing teacher, Rose, nor her replacement, Wendy, show up at the local schoolhouse one blizzardy Monday in December. But when she finds the teachers' cottage ransacked with Rose unconscious and bleeding, and Wendy missing, Lane delivers Rose to the hospital in Nelson and turns the case over to her exasperated husband, Inspector Darling, and his capable colleagues, Sergeant Ames and Constable Terrell.
Never one to leave a post unmanned, Lane enlists as substitute teacher for the final two weeks before the Christmas holidays, during which time she discovers a threatening note in the teachers' desk and a revolver in the supply cupboard. But these clues only convolute the case further. Who has been tormenting these women, and where has Wendy gone?
Meanwhile, Darling finds the body of a hit-and-run victim in a snowbank miles outside of Nelson, the residents of King's Cove are preoccupied by the possibility of a new neighbour, and Sergeant Ames is as confused as ever by the inimitable Tina Van Eyck.
392 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 27, 2021
88 people are currently reading
443 people want to read
About the author
Iona Whishaw
16 books398 followersIona Whishaw has been a youth worker, social worker, teacher and an award winning High School Principal, who continued with her writing throughout her working life. Receiving her Masters in Creative writing from UBC, Iona has published short fiction, poetry, poetry translation and one children's book, Henry and the Cow Problem. The Lane Winslow mystery series is her first foray into adult fiction.
Iona was born in Kimberley BC, but grew up in a number of different places, including a small community on Kootenay Lake, as well as Mexico and Central America, and the US because of her father's geological work. She took a degree in history and education from Antioch College, and subsequent degrees in Writing at UBC and pedagogy at Simon Fraser University. Her own writing output took a brief back seat during her teaching career, but she shared her passion for writing by nurturing a love of writing in the students in English, Creative Writing, and Spanish classes. During the course of her career as a Principal in Vancouver she was awarded the Woman of Distinction in Education by the YWCA in 2010 and a Canada's Outstanding Principals award in 2012.
Her hobbies have included dance, painting, reading, and gardening. She currently is a vocalist for a small Balkan dance band in Vancouver, and is patiently waiting for her next opportunity to engage in her current pash, long distance, cross country rambling in England.
She is married, has one son and two grandsons, and lives in Vancouver with her artist husband, Terry Miller.
Iona was born in Kimberley BC, but grew up in a number of different places, including a small community on Kootenay Lake, as well as Mexico and Central America, and the US because of her father's geological work. She took a degree in history and education from Antioch College, and subsequent degrees in Writing at UBC and pedagogy at Simon Fraser University. Her own writing output took a brief back seat during her teaching career, but she shared her passion for writing by nurturing a love of writing in the students in English, Creative Writing, and Spanish classes. During the course of her career as a Principal in Vancouver she was awarded the Woman of Distinction in Education by the YWCA in 2010 and a Canada's Outstanding Principals award in 2012.
Her hobbies have included dance, painting, reading, and gardening. She currently is a vocalist for a small Balkan dance band in Vancouver, and is patiently waiting for her next opportunity to engage in her current pash, long distance, cross country rambling in England.
She is married, has one son and two grandsons, and lives in Vancouver with her artist husband, Terry Miller.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 142 reviews
July 11, 2022
The gun! What happened with the gun found at the school? The teacher kept forgetting to report it to the police and then when she did tell about it there was no mention in the novel that it was picked up. So half the book i kept wondering about the gun, surely they could have treated it as clue. Serial numbers on guns goes back to the late 1800s. If there was ever a Chekov Gun that was it.
The story about the hit-and-run didn't make sense; i can't say more without giving away a key plot. Also quite puzzling how a rich person knew where to buy a house. It seemed to take an inordinate amount of time to check on a license plate number; surely that would have ony taken minutes even manually, in a town of a few thousand vehicles.
There was mystery within mystery that kept me turning the pages. A 4.5 rating rounded down to 4 for the stretches in plot.
The story about the hit-and-run didn't make sense; i can't say more without giving away a key plot. Also quite puzzling how a rich person knew where to buy a house. It seemed to take an inordinate amount of time to check on a license plate number; surely that would have ony taken minutes even manually, in a town of a few thousand vehicles.
There was mystery within mystery that kept me turning the pages. A 4.5 rating rounded down to 4 for the stretches in plot.
September 6, 2021
So frustrating that the book has so many bursts of brilliance and pleasure, but also so much unneeded repetition and careless copyediting/continuity mistakes
I wish I could have gotten my hands on a draft and helped with the editing process. I don't think a lot would have been needed to make the book that much better. It's just difficult, because I can SEE that better book and I wish I could have read it.
I wish I could have gotten my hands on a draft and helped with the editing process. I don't think a lot would have been needed to make the book that much better. It's just difficult, because I can SEE that better book and I wish I could have read it.
August 31, 2021
I knew with #1 that there was something special here, and I have not been disappointed. I have read all 8 now, in chronological order. I even BOUGHT #7 and gave it to the library down the road because they had #8 on order, 1-6 in the stacks, and ZIP on #7
Needless to say, I have enjoyed these books immensely. The permanent characters (I hope Miss Keeling of #8 becomes one) have nicely fleshed out personalities, histories, some even Mums! and have their roles in the books.
The joy of the books is the portrayal of a rural community in British Columbia, the interaction of the people and reactions to each others' foibles. Family and village psychology; race, ethnic, and class interactions; the harshness of winter and early spring; the difficulties of the crimes, minor, major, social, emotional, political provide much fodder for wide-ranging believable stories.
The sparkler in each story is Lane Winslow, the WW2 counter-intelligence retiree (young). How she manages to settle (jobless) in Nelson (the village), how she is perceived and how she perceives the villagers: wonderful. (As well as how she becomes involved!!!!)
I really hope Ms Whishaw will continue to provide us Lane Winslow stories. No babies too soon, please, and don't let fame and success change anythign.
Needless to say, I have enjoyed these books immensely. The permanent characters (I hope Miss Keeling of #8 becomes one) have nicely fleshed out personalities, histories, some even Mums! and have their roles in the books.
The joy of the books is the portrayal of a rural community in British Columbia, the interaction of the people and reactions to each others' foibles. Family and village psychology; race, ethnic, and class interactions; the harshness of winter and early spring; the difficulties of the crimes, minor, major, social, emotional, political provide much fodder for wide-ranging believable stories.
The sparkler in each story is Lane Winslow, the WW2 counter-intelligence retiree (young). How she manages to settle (jobless) in Nelson (the village), how she is perceived and how she perceives the villagers: wonderful. (As well as how she becomes involved!!!!)
I really hope Ms Whishaw will continue to provide us Lane Winslow stories. No babies too soon, please, and don't let fame and success change anythign.
July 11, 2022
This is the only book in this series that I have read. I found it interesting that it is set in the interior of British Columbia which I do not know well but I do live in S.W BC. I enjoyed reading about the area and the small towns that existed just after the Second World War. The heroine and amater detective worked in the Resistance during the war and has no doubts about getting involved with solving crimes along with her policeman husband. I will definitely read more in the series.
December 20, 2021
Another excellent instalment of the Lane Winslow series!!
August 25, 2021
I have enjoyed reading the Lane Winslow series, partly as it reminds me of the stories my father told about growing up in a small town in British Columbia, although he was a little closer to the Alberta border. He was not a big fan of school and I remember his stories about the schoolhouse in the 1930s that swayed when it was very windy out and how the students were worried it would fall over completely! The schoolteachers were almost always young girls and it was a struggle to teach a class of varying ages and abilities I'm sure. There were some male teachers in rural B.C. though, as my father's aunt married one of them!
That said, I was a little disappointed at discovering two glaring errors near the end of the book where the person being talked about was not the correct character (in Chapter 28, "Miss Keeling rushed to the front door" when it should read "Lane rushed to the front door" and a little later on Darling muses "Who would kidnap Mrs. Devlin?" when it should read "Who would kidnap Miss Keeling?"). I've been enjoying the relatively error-free writing in this series so was sad to see these were missed. Lately I've been finding more and more errors like that in new books, even ones from reputable publishing houses. Wondering how the mistakes get past all the proofreaders?? It is jarring to me and takes me out of the story. I also find the flipping back and forth in time a little hard to follow at times although I think it does add to the story. Perhaps it could be done a bit more in a chronological order, as another reader suggested? I have to admit for the first book I made an actual character list to try and figure out who everyone was that was being mentioned. And I was way too excited to find out the first names of Darling and Ames in later books!
I do adore the cover art which the author often mentions in the thanks portion of the book. I'm hoping the author will write #9 and then release a poster of the covers!
That said, I was a little disappointed at discovering two glaring errors near the end of the book where the person being talked about was not the correct character (in Chapter 28, "Miss Keeling rushed to the front door" when it should read "Lane rushed to the front door" and a little later on Darling muses "Who would kidnap Mrs. Devlin?" when it should read "Who would kidnap Miss Keeling?"). I've been enjoying the relatively error-free writing in this series so was sad to see these were missed. Lately I've been finding more and more errors like that in new books, even ones from reputable publishing houses. Wondering how the mistakes get past all the proofreaders?? It is jarring to me and takes me out of the story. I also find the flipping back and forth in time a little hard to follow at times although I think it does add to the story. Perhaps it could be done a bit more in a chronological order, as another reader suggested? I have to admit for the first book I made an actual character list to try and figure out who everyone was that was being mentioned. And I was way too excited to find out the first names of Darling and Ames in later books!
I do adore the cover art which the author often mentions in the thanks portion of the book. I'm hoping the author will write #9 and then release a poster of the covers!
June 17, 2021
Absolutely tip-top. The best so far. I could not put it down.
November 23, 2022
I feel like I pick up these books and can’t put them down. I’m really enjoying watching Constable Terrell make his way, and Amesy maturing. Also just the continuing love affair between Lane and Darling and how lovely and sweet it is. This one has enormous snow, and Lane doing a stint as a school teacher, which she turns out to be surprisingly good at, and a lot of twists and turns that comment well on contemporary issues even as they illuminate the past.
April 14, 2021
Lane Winslow and company are back in the latest installment in the series of cozy mysteries featuring the ever resourceful heroine. Set during a frigid and snowy Canadian winter, the close-knit community of King’s Cove is once again in the midst of it when a teacher is found lying unconscious in her home and her replacement has gone missing. I thoroughly enjoyed this whodunit with its twisty plot that kept me guessing right to the very end. While Lane is integral to the storyline, I felt most of the sleuthing was left to the police. I enjoyed the interactions amongst the locals and how they helped out when needed. I even enjoyed reading about the snow and freezing temperatures, phenomena that is so rare in my part of the world. An appealing read for anyone who enjoys cozy mysteries.
May 1, 2021
This book is part of one of my favorite cozy mystery series. I was worried after introducing a marriage into the series the dynamics between the characters would change. I'm so happy to report everyone has been remaining true to themselves. This was such a delight to read. Even if it was a bit painful for this Midwesterner to read about snowstorms in the beginning of May.
January 20, 2023
I liked the ways that this book continues Lane and the rest of the King’s Cove crew’s stories, but the actual mysteries (because there were basically 2 of them) felt a little all over the place. Other installments in the series have done a better job connecting seemingly random threads than this book in my opinion. But as always I was happy to revisit this series and am sticking with it!
December 3, 2022
I'm reading this in December, and the book is sent in very cold British Columbia December as well, so I felt the chill right to the bone of the cold in this story. I love the stories with Lane and Darling together - they have such a lovely relationship. This story involves quite a few threads and movement through time that was a bit tricky to follow at times but Whishaw brings it all together quite well in the end. Great winter's tale!
May 7, 2025
I am enjoying this series and look forward to Lane Winslow's next adventure with her new husband, Inspector Darling.
November 29, 2023
This was my favourite one so far in part because it was like the Little House on the Prairie book where she teaches at the schoolhouse, and in part because it’s a christmassy book and I’m in a christmassy mood right now. And thirdly because the cover is beautiful.
October 12, 2021
I enjoyed the suspense and intrigue in this latest book in the Lane Winslow series.
April 24, 2024
Book 8 in series, I’m really enjoying this series, each book gets better
January 30, 2022
This is #8 in the Lane Winslow series and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I feel like in the last three books the author has really hit her stride. My intro to the series was actually book 7 - a random library pick that I enjoyed so much I went back and started on reading the entire series.
Iona Whishaw has created a vibrant post world war two community of characters in the Kootenay region of BC with the centre being the fictional village of Kings Cove (based on real life Queens Bay). The cove falls under the jurisdiction of the Nelson (a real city) police department. Lane Winslow is a former Bristish intelligence agent who has moved to the cove to escape her wartime past and seek out a peaceful existance. Except she keeps finding dead bodies, much to the chagrin of the local Nelson police inspector who at this point in the series, is also now her mildly frustrated husband!
Whishaw has a deft way of weaving BC's history into her mysteries and I find the writing rich and intriguing. Her plotting is exceptional and there are enough clues that you get a sense of where it's going to go but, there are also enough twists and turns to keep it interesting and that's exactly what a Lethal Lesson has to offer. I would not classify the series as cozy - there is some violence and the author explores a lot of deep themes in all the books - this one in particular deals with forced plural marriages, child abandonment and neglect, sexual assault and mental illness. But the core group of characters are kind, generous and optimistic enough that it stops the books from becoming too heavily weighed down in darkness.
This has become one of my all-time favourite mystery series and I almost put it on par with Sue Grafton's alphabet series (very different series but the writing and character development are on the same level). I really enjoy the mix of mystery and history and for those not familiar with the Kootenay region of BC, it is truly one of the most spectacularly beautiful settings in a province full of beautiful scenery. I'm looking forward to book 9 this spring and I'm also really hoping the author weaves Japanese internment into one of her books soon give that this was a significant event in the areas history during the time frame of the series.
I will just note, however, that the editing in the last 70 pages of the book was atrocious - like the proof-reader/editor team were so excited to see how everything turned out that they forgot to do their job! That is what kept me from assigning it 5 stars. Otherwise it was one of the best I've read in the last few years.
Iona Whishaw has created a vibrant post world war two community of characters in the Kootenay region of BC with the centre being the fictional village of Kings Cove (based on real life Queens Bay). The cove falls under the jurisdiction of the Nelson (a real city) police department. Lane Winslow is a former Bristish intelligence agent who has moved to the cove to escape her wartime past and seek out a peaceful existance. Except she keeps finding dead bodies, much to the chagrin of the local Nelson police inspector who at this point in the series, is also now her mildly frustrated husband!
Whishaw has a deft way of weaving BC's history into her mysteries and I find the writing rich and intriguing. Her plotting is exceptional and there are enough clues that you get a sense of where it's going to go but, there are also enough twists and turns to keep it interesting and that's exactly what a Lethal Lesson has to offer. I would not classify the series as cozy - there is some violence and the author explores a lot of deep themes in all the books - this one in particular deals with forced plural marriages, child abandonment and neglect, sexual assault and mental illness. But the core group of characters are kind, generous and optimistic enough that it stops the books from becoming too heavily weighed down in darkness.
This has become one of my all-time favourite mystery series and I almost put it on par with Sue Grafton's alphabet series (very different series but the writing and character development are on the same level). I really enjoy the mix of mystery and history and for those not familiar with the Kootenay region of BC, it is truly one of the most spectacularly beautiful settings in a province full of beautiful scenery. I'm looking forward to book 9 this spring and I'm also really hoping the author weaves Japanese internment into one of her books soon give that this was a significant event in the areas history during the time frame of the series.
I will just note, however, that the editing in the last 70 pages of the book was atrocious - like the proof-reader/editor team were so excited to see how everything turned out that they forgot to do their job! That is what kept me from assigning it 5 stars. Otherwise it was one of the best I've read in the last few years.
January 8, 2023
4 bright stars for book 8 in this enjoyable historical mystery fiction series. This book can be read as a stand alone, but I have read the previous 7 books. This book has 3 mysteries:
A man is found dead, buried in snow, possibly a victim of a hit and run accident
The local schoolteacher Wendy Keeling has gone missing and Rose Scott, the teacher who was about to depart, is found unconscious.
Lane Winslow, now Mrs. Darling, is married to Nelson Police Inspector Frederick Darling finds Rose and takes her to the hospital. Lane, Inspector Darling and his team of officers do solve these mysteries.
A quote from Constable Terrell: "It's like putting a jigsaw puzzle together."
There are several suspects and red herrings in a satisfying plot with characters I now see as old friends.
If you like mysteries with believable characters, satisfying plots, and a strong independent woman protagonist, then this series is for you. Both my wife and I enjoy this series and recommend it.
This was an Amazon Kindle purchase.
A man is found dead, buried in snow, possibly a victim of a hit and run accident
The local schoolteacher Wendy Keeling has gone missing and Rose Scott, the teacher who was about to depart, is found unconscious.
Lane Winslow, now Mrs. Darling, is married to Nelson Police Inspector Frederick Darling finds Rose and takes her to the hospital. Lane, Inspector Darling and his team of officers do solve these mysteries.
A quote from Constable Terrell: "It's like putting a jigsaw puzzle together."
There are several suspects and red herrings in a satisfying plot with characters I now see as old friends.
If you like mysteries with believable characters, satisfying plots, and a strong independent woman protagonist, then this series is for you. Both my wife and I enjoy this series and recommend it.
This was an Amazon Kindle purchase.
May 18, 2021
Two weeks before Christmas, a local teacher Rose who has given up her job is found unconscious in her ransacked home. But where is her replacement Wendy? Is she guilty of this crime or is she another victim?
Lane Winslow is an amateur sleuth who is smart and resourceful. Married to Inspector Darling, he advises her to leave the investigating to the police. While Lane tries to stay out of this puzzling mystery, she volunteers to temporarily take over as the town's teacher, but soon has more questions than answers.
Sometimes, a well-written cozy mystery is just what the book doctor ordered. This one had some intriguing characters and a very well-plotted mystery that kept me guessing whodunnit and why. I had no issue reading A Lethal Lesson as a standalone. I am sure though that I would have better understood the main characters if I had started at the beginning.
Lane Winslow is an amateur sleuth who is smart and resourceful. Married to Inspector Darling, he advises her to leave the investigating to the police. While Lane tries to stay out of this puzzling mystery, she volunteers to temporarily take over as the town's teacher, but soon has more questions than answers.
Sometimes, a well-written cozy mystery is just what the book doctor ordered. This one had some intriguing characters and a very well-plotted mystery that kept me guessing whodunnit and why. I had no issue reading A Lethal Lesson as a standalone. I am sure though that I would have better understood the main characters if I had started at the beginning.
April 11, 2022
2.5 stars. A confusing story of parallel stories within the main narrative. A pantomime and hard to keep track of with mothers who leave families, absent fathers who aren’t biological fathers, vindictive wives from gangster families, political aspirations, two teachers who disappear and of course Lane who as usual saves the day. Even Inspector Darling has difficulty keeping track of characters and events.
I’m not a fan of how the back stories or surprise new characters are added in most chapters. I’m not even sure why each chapter is distinct yet made up of disparate sections nor the change in chronology so in evidence. They all blend into one mess. IMHO not a good story as too confusing for words and as per the norm for this author the conclusion is wishy washy. Who did kill the drunken obnoxious father? Frustrating storyline told unsuccessfully.
I’m not a fan of how the back stories or surprise new characters are added in most chapters. I’m not even sure why each chapter is distinct yet made up of disparate sections nor the change in chronology so in evidence. They all blend into one mess. IMHO not a good story as too confusing for words and as per the norm for this author the conclusion is wishy washy. Who did kill the drunken obnoxious father? Frustrating storyline told unsuccessfully.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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June 14, 2025A fun ride, as usual. Probably a little more consistent than its immediate predecessor. Pleasant to be back in B.C. for most of the novel. By this point (novel #8) Whishaw has about a dozen or more recurring characters in addition to the leads, Winslow and Darling, and she continues to develop each of them, a bit at a time. In this volume, I especially enjoyed the development of Terrell, the Black, Nova Scotian policeman in small-town B.C. The intricacies of what people may want to hide from and why play a large part in this story, which experiments somewhat with a reversal of expectations in that, usually, all threads within the Lane Winslow novels come together, but, in some respects, in this one what seems to start together (schoolteachers sharing a house) slowly diverges.
July 23, 2022
so as I was reading this I was like huh… this has the potential to be the best / most coherent of these… and then the denouement with Rose came and I was like 🥴 guess that was a pipe dream
“oh she just happened to go downhill and break everything” WHAT WHY I NEED MORE CONTEXT!!!!!!!! What really caused this aside from her interaction with that guy? Not denying it would be traumatic but it just didn’t feel like Enough
but I really liked the cute marital dynamics 🥹 as well as more of Ames’ perspective
“oh she just happened to go downhill and break everything” WHAT WHY I NEED MORE CONTEXT!!!!!!!! What really caused this aside from her interaction with that guy? Not denying it would be traumatic but it just didn’t feel like Enough
but I really liked the cute marital dynamics 🥹 as well as more of Ames’ perspective
March 4, 2024
I liked this installment, but I felt the secondary teacher storyline was not really needed. I got confused a few times trying to keep up with the backstories because they seemed to be so closely related. Maybe it was just me. Good, but not my favorite. 3/5 stars.
August 8, 2022
In Book 8 in the Lane Winslow series, the Darlings have returned from their honeymoon and are starting their lives together in King’s Cove when – of course – mysteries begin. As Christmas approaches, a local schoolteacher is found unconscious amidst the wreckage of her own house while another teacher and a local parent are missing. As the police tease out the details of these various crimes and misdemeanours, Lane tries (but fails) to stay out of the line of fire by taking on the teaching responsibilities for the last few weeks of the year.
This book has a lot going on, and I think suffers a bit from so many divergent and complex story lines. The back story for one of the teachers, involving several confusing parental lines, an obscure strict religious (and bigamist) sect, some remarkable accomplishments for a runaway, and a gangster-politician plot line, could have made a novel all on its own. The story of the other teacher (the unconscious one) is perhaps similarly complex but is not explained nearly as well. The ultimate resolution of the plots and crimes feels rushed and somewhat unbelievable, and so less tidy than many of the previous books. I would also have enjoyed a bit more of the stories and lives of some other characters, especially Sergeant Ames and Constable Terrell; while integral to the police stories, there were insufficient glimpses and hints at the rest of their lives, and so another element that was unsatisfying.
Also less clear is the historical theme in the background. In previous books, Whishaw has drawn on some element of Canadian or BC history for part of the story, including women in WWII, Russian immigrants and Soviet spies, Home Children, displaced persons, racial and ethnic discrimination, and emancipation of women. While there are elements here that continue the emancipation theme, and some other elements related to this (threats of sexual violence for single women), the many details and plot elements necessary for the main story allow little room for anything else.
As with the past books, the ending includes a moment of poignancy that is so sweet and endearing that one can’t help but love Lane and Darling and their King’s Cove neighbours.
Unlike with past books, this one suffers from a lack of attention to detail, which I put as a flaw with the editing rather than the author. I marked four instances where something was amiss to the point that I had to reread and flip back a few pages to make sure I hadn’t missed something. With the complexity of the story and timelines, these errors made for unnecessary confusion for the reader. These were not major errors but distracting enough to note.
As the Darlings settle in for a quiet Christmas and New Years at home, one can imagine this being the end of the series. However (and thankfully) there is one more book and I’m already looking forward to diving into that one soon. What more can Lane get up to?
This book has a lot going on, and I think suffers a bit from so many divergent and complex story lines. The back story for one of the teachers, involving several confusing parental lines, an obscure strict religious (and bigamist) sect, some remarkable accomplishments for a runaway, and a gangster-politician plot line, could have made a novel all on its own. The story of the other teacher (the unconscious one) is perhaps similarly complex but is not explained nearly as well. The ultimate resolution of the plots and crimes feels rushed and somewhat unbelievable, and so less tidy than many of the previous books. I would also have enjoyed a bit more of the stories and lives of some other characters, especially Sergeant Ames and Constable Terrell; while integral to the police stories, there were insufficient glimpses and hints at the rest of their lives, and so another element that was unsatisfying.
Also less clear is the historical theme in the background. In previous books, Whishaw has drawn on some element of Canadian or BC history for part of the story, including women in WWII, Russian immigrants and Soviet spies, Home Children, displaced persons, racial and ethnic discrimination, and emancipation of women. While there are elements here that continue the emancipation theme, and some other elements related to this (threats of sexual violence for single women), the many details and plot elements necessary for the main story allow little room for anything else.
As with the past books, the ending includes a moment of poignancy that is so sweet and endearing that one can’t help but love Lane and Darling and their King’s Cove neighbours.
Unlike with past books, this one suffers from a lack of attention to detail, which I put as a flaw with the editing rather than the author. I marked four instances where something was amiss to the point that I had to reread and flip back a few pages to make sure I hadn’t missed something. With the complexity of the story and timelines, these errors made for unnecessary confusion for the reader. These were not major errors but distracting enough to note.
As the Darlings settle in for a quiet Christmas and New Years at home, one can imagine this being the end of the series. However (and thankfully) there is one more book and I’m already looking forward to diving into that one soon. What more can Lane get up to?
April 12, 2021
Lane Winslow is one of my favorite amateur sleuths. She’s smart, resourceful, and compassionate. This series is truly a favorite of mine and always a delight for me to return to the small town of King’s Cove and it’s latest mystery. A Lethal Lesson transported me to a winter wonderland, with King’s Cove facing winter storms and the anticipation of the holiday season.
In this particular outing, there is a lot going on. The local teacher has resigned, but right when she’s due to leave she’s found unconscious in her ransacked home, and it’s discovered that her replacement is missing. Soon after, a man is found dead on the side of the road, a hit-and-run. Are they connected, or just unfortunate timing? Inspector Darling and his team have their hands full looking into all three crimes.
Lane is doing her best to stay out of crime solving, but when she volunteers to fill in as a temporary teacher, she finds herself once again in the middle of a mystery.
As always, I love the characters and their continued development. If you’re new to the series, you can absolutely start with this mystery. While it is part of a series, the mystery itself is standalone. If you like the characters (like I do!), go back and start at the beginning to get their full story.
As for the narrative, Ms. Whishaw’s books are a little different than your traditional mystery read. Ms. Whishaw uses dual timelines to expertly weave the history of the victim with the current case. As the book unfolds, the reader gets greater understanding to the psychology and motivations of the crime as the clues are uncovered.
Highly recommended for those who enjoy historical fiction/mystery, strong female leads (think Maisie Dobbs!), and mysteries that dive into not just the whodunit but the why? And really, anyone who just enjoys a good mystery. A Lethal Lesson is brimming with great characters and many questions as we try to solve not one mystery, but three!
A HUGE thank you to TouchWood Editions for sending me an Advance Reading Copy of A Lethal Lesson. As always, the cover is absolutely gorgeous and this book was pure joy for me to read.
Review published at Hidden Staircase.
In this particular outing, there is a lot going on. The local teacher has resigned, but right when she’s due to leave she’s found unconscious in her ransacked home, and it’s discovered that her replacement is missing. Soon after, a man is found dead on the side of the road, a hit-and-run. Are they connected, or just unfortunate timing? Inspector Darling and his team have their hands full looking into all three crimes.
Lane is doing her best to stay out of crime solving, but when she volunteers to fill in as a temporary teacher, she finds herself once again in the middle of a mystery.
As always, I love the characters and their continued development. If you’re new to the series, you can absolutely start with this mystery. While it is part of a series, the mystery itself is standalone. If you like the characters (like I do!), go back and start at the beginning to get their full story.
As for the narrative, Ms. Whishaw’s books are a little different than your traditional mystery read. Ms. Whishaw uses dual timelines to expertly weave the history of the victim with the current case. As the book unfolds, the reader gets greater understanding to the psychology and motivations of the crime as the clues are uncovered.
Highly recommended for those who enjoy historical fiction/mystery, strong female leads (think Maisie Dobbs!), and mysteries that dive into not just the whodunit but the why? And really, anyone who just enjoys a good mystery. A Lethal Lesson is brimming with great characters and many questions as we try to solve not one mystery, but three!
A HUGE thank you to TouchWood Editions for sending me an Advance Reading Copy of A Lethal Lesson. As always, the cover is absolutely gorgeous and this book was pure joy for me to read.
Review published at Hidden Staircase.
January 1, 2022
Book #8
The last book sees Lane in the same place, but in a much more comfortable position. Now married to that potential partner I mentioned above, it’s just a few weeks before Christmas, and another mystery is unfolding in King’s Cove. After a particularly bad blizzard the local school teacher does not show up for class, and worried about her safety, Lane drives to her house to see if anything is the matter. Once she arrives she finds a turned-out house with no school teacher, but her roommate fallen unconscious with a bad knock on the head. Springing into action Lane takes the roommate to the hospital and scours the house for clues. Her husband, the police inspector in nearby Nelson takes on the case along with his entertaining group of officers, each with a memorable personality that shines in this story. And as much as Lane tries to stay out of trouble, she offers to fill in at the local school house until a replacement can be found (she does have a degree from Oxford) but manages to stumble upon further clues, much to her delight and her husband’s annoyance.
Because I’ve only read two of the eight books, there is no doubt the relationship between Lane and her new husband will continue to develop and change, but even in this one book, it’s obvious he isn’t always as pleased with Lane’s independence and her uncanny ability to solve crimes. Although they find themselves leaning on each other for advice at night by the fire, I suspect Whishaw is setting these characters up for some future strife when it comes to Lane’s special talents – her husband is ahead of his time in many ways (Lane decided to keep her last name after getting married for instance) but it appears as though his progressive views may be limited when it comes to his career’s reputation and his wife’s ability to solve mysteries faster than him.
Reading this book so close to Christmas added to its cozy atmosphere, mainly because the snow described in-between its pages matched what I saw outside my window. The clues are slowly revealed to the reader alongside the characters so we all realize who the culprit is at the same time. A little unravelling happens after the secrets are revealed; characters are rescued or locked up, and the mystery is thoroughly explained to everyone before it enters the lore and gossip ring of King’s Cove. In this, the latest installment, I read references to books past, but I’ve already forgotten those town scandals so I can easily make my way backwards in the series and still be surprised.
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The last book sees Lane in the same place, but in a much more comfortable position. Now married to that potential partner I mentioned above, it’s just a few weeks before Christmas, and another mystery is unfolding in King’s Cove. After a particularly bad blizzard the local school teacher does not show up for class, and worried about her safety, Lane drives to her house to see if anything is the matter. Once she arrives she finds a turned-out house with no school teacher, but her roommate fallen unconscious with a bad knock on the head. Springing into action Lane takes the roommate to the hospital and scours the house for clues. Her husband, the police inspector in nearby Nelson takes on the case along with his entertaining group of officers, each with a memorable personality that shines in this story. And as much as Lane tries to stay out of trouble, she offers to fill in at the local school house until a replacement can be found (she does have a degree from Oxford) but manages to stumble upon further clues, much to her delight and her husband’s annoyance.
Because I’ve only read two of the eight books, there is no doubt the relationship between Lane and her new husband will continue to develop and change, but even in this one book, it’s obvious he isn’t always as pleased with Lane’s independence and her uncanny ability to solve crimes. Although they find themselves leaning on each other for advice at night by the fire, I suspect Whishaw is setting these characters up for some future strife when it comes to Lane’s special talents – her husband is ahead of his time in many ways (Lane decided to keep her last name after getting married for instance) but it appears as though his progressive views may be limited when it comes to his career’s reputation and his wife’s ability to solve mysteries faster than him.
Reading this book so close to Christmas added to its cozy atmosphere, mainly because the snow described in-between its pages matched what I saw outside my window. The clues are slowly revealed to the reader alongside the characters so we all realize who the culprit is at the same time. A little unravelling happens after the secrets are revealed; characters are rescued or locked up, and the mystery is thoroughly explained to everyone before it enters the lore and gossip ring of King’s Cove. In this, the latest installment, I read references to books past, but I’ve already forgotten those town scandals so I can easily make my way backwards in the series and still be surprised.
To read the rest of my reviews, please visit my blog:
https://ivereadthis.com/
Sign up for my newsletter here: https://ivereadthis.com/subscribe/
Or follow me on social media!
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Ivereadthis/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/ivereadthisblog
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ivereadthis
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCD6E...
November 18, 2023
This series is so brilliant I can't even...
I'm so attached to Lane Winslow and her 'Darling' Inspector Detective that I'm ready to hunt down a time machine and transport myself back into post war King's Cove and share in their adventures. And this one is very much a Christmas countdown as well as a mystery. But it's an old time, just coming out of the war (1947) gentler holiday. Not the commercialized hype we're so used to nowadays. Much simpler, and that was refreshing and worked for the story.
Loved seeing Lane in the role of teacher as she fills in at the one room school house when the teacher goes missing. And the way she still manages to stumble onto clues and ferret out information. The mystery is solid, and complicated and I enjoy the way the author gives us glimpses into the past that help us make sense of the present. It's very cleverly done so that in the beginning, I couldn't figure out how a little snippet from the 1930s fit into the current mystery. But, as the story progressed and more snippets appeared, I was slowly able to build a backstory that lead to some 'aha; crime solving moments....along with quite a few wrong turns and some surprises. Such a fun armchair sleuthing read!
I listened to the audible edition of this eighth Lane Winslow mystery novel and enjoyed Manilla Wex's narration -- she has definitely become Lane's voice for me as she's narrated all of the novels to date.
I'm so attached to Lane Winslow and her 'Darling' Inspector Detective that I'm ready to hunt down a time machine and transport myself back into post war King's Cove and share in their adventures. And this one is very much a Christmas countdown as well as a mystery. But it's an old time, just coming out of the war (1947) gentler holiday. Not the commercialized hype we're so used to nowadays. Much simpler, and that was refreshing and worked for the story.
Loved seeing Lane in the role of teacher as she fills in at the one room school house when the teacher goes missing. And the way she still manages to stumble onto clues and ferret out information. The mystery is solid, and complicated and I enjoy the way the author gives us glimpses into the past that help us make sense of the present. It's very cleverly done so that in the beginning, I couldn't figure out how a little snippet from the 1930s fit into the current mystery. But, as the story progressed and more snippets appeared, I was slowly able to build a backstory that lead to some 'aha; crime solving moments....along with quite a few wrong turns and some surprises. Such a fun armchair sleuthing read!
I listened to the audible edition of this eighth Lane Winslow mystery novel and enjoyed Manilla Wex's narration -- she has definitely become Lane's voice for me as she's narrated all of the novels to date.
July 3, 2021
She's done it again! Another great story by Iona Whishaw.
Lane is back home in King's Cove after returning from her honeymoon with her new husband, Inspector Darling. When the local teacher fails to show up for school, Lane decides to investigate and finds the woman lying on the floor and the place ransacked. The new teacher is also missing but everything in her room is neat and tidy. She's just 'gone'!
Miss Scott has suffered a head injury and is unable to tell the officers what happened to her. Lane decides to volunteer to teach the children for the last couple of weeks before the Christmas break but then she discovers a ominous note and a revolver!
The officers can't figure out where the new teacher, Miss Keeling might have gone. Was she the one who attacked Miss Scott and if she did, why?
Two cars are missing, one is Miss Scott's and then Lane asks her husband to check up on a young boy as he hasn't been to school. He discovers he has been left alone and his father is missing, as is his car.
Lots of players in this episode to make the plot more interesting! Love Inspector Darling's interactions with Sergeant Ames, made me smile every time. He gets exasperated with his sergeant but by now, Ames has learned it's just his way.
A great plot! Just two errors I found though; on page 365 and 371, both had the wrong names.
Lane is back home in King's Cove after returning from her honeymoon with her new husband, Inspector Darling. When the local teacher fails to show up for school, Lane decides to investigate and finds the woman lying on the floor and the place ransacked. The new teacher is also missing but everything in her room is neat and tidy. She's just 'gone'!
Miss Scott has suffered a head injury and is unable to tell the officers what happened to her. Lane decides to volunteer to teach the children for the last couple of weeks before the Christmas break but then she discovers a ominous note and a revolver!
The officers can't figure out where the new teacher, Miss Keeling might have gone. Was she the one who attacked Miss Scott and if she did, why?
Two cars are missing, one is Miss Scott's and then Lane asks her husband to check up on a young boy as he hasn't been to school. He discovers he has been left alone and his father is missing, as is his car.
Lots of players in this episode to make the plot more interesting! Love Inspector Darling's interactions with Sergeant Ames, made me smile every time. He gets exasperated with his sergeant but by now, Ames has learned it's just his way.
A great plot! Just two errors I found though; on page 365 and 371, both had the wrong names.
January 5, 2025
Set in 1947 in wintry rural British Columbia. Lane (former wartime intelligence officer) and her police inspector husband - whose surname is very aptly ‘Darling’ - are newly wed and settled in their small country community. A local schoolteacher goes missing, her predecessor (and housemate) is found battered and suffering from a stroke and the house is trashed, and the police have a hit and run victim to identify. Lane steps in to mind the school while the police - with her help - gradually unravel the mysteries.
This is the first one from this series that I have read. While I wasn’t completely sold, I’d probably pick up some of the earlier ones to get a better sense of the main characters. It would also make it easier to follow who all the local residents are - there are many and I got very confused at times! I hope that the others don’t all follow the same formula of jumping between current time and revealing the backstories for several characters though, as it makes the narrative quite choppy. The setting and time period are lovely though and I liked the rural school setting. The children were also charming. The plot had a few good twists and turns, some of them unexpected, which kept me reading to find out how everything came together.
This is the first one from this series that I have read. While I wasn’t completely sold, I’d probably pick up some of the earlier ones to get a better sense of the main characters. It would also make it easier to follow who all the local residents are - there are many and I got very confused at times! I hope that the others don’t all follow the same formula of jumping between current time and revealing the backstories for several characters though, as it makes the narrative quite choppy. The setting and time period are lovely though and I liked the rural school setting. The children were also charming. The plot had a few good twists and turns, some of them unexpected, which kept me reading to find out how everything came together.
July 12, 2021
4/5
Nelson, a quiet BC community in the Kootenays, is rocked with a another crime.....and of course it finds former war-time agent Lane Winslow.
Like her previous books in the series, I found Iona's world building and cozy crime the reason for me NOT putting this book down until it was finished. We get to see more storylines for the side characters like Constable Terrell - a black Nova Scotian transplant to BC, a woman doctor, and a little bit from a woman mechanic!
Now, one of my main worries with Lane getting married a couple books ago was her character taking the back seat in the crime-solving while her Inspector husband gets the action. Unfortunately, I found this to be the case in this book....clues and information was just thrown Lane's way. It's a bit frustrating, especially knowing Lane's is more than formidable on her own.
I hope to see more government conspiracy going forward! More diverse settings! I find it interesting that the books setting is in rural British Columbia but we haven't seen or heard of any First Nations characters or issues!
Another delectable historical mystery in the Lane Winslow world - you won't be disappointed😊
Nelson, a quiet BC community in the Kootenays, is rocked with a another crime.....and of course it finds former war-time agent Lane Winslow.
Like her previous books in the series, I found Iona's world building and cozy crime the reason for me NOT putting this book down until it was finished. We get to see more storylines for the side characters like Constable Terrell - a black Nova Scotian transplant to BC, a woman doctor, and a little bit from a woman mechanic!
Now, one of my main worries with Lane getting married a couple books ago was her character taking the back seat in the crime-solving while her Inspector husband gets the action. Unfortunately, I found this to be the case in this book....clues and information was just thrown Lane's way. It's a bit frustrating, especially knowing Lane's is more than formidable on her own.
I hope to see more government conspiracy going forward! More diverse settings! I find it interesting that the books setting is in rural British Columbia but we haven't seen or heard of any First Nations characters or issues!
Another delectable historical mystery in the Lane Winslow world - you won't be disappointed😊
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