2.5-3 starsI truly enjoyed having husband Alan Nesbitt along for this mystery. He and Dorothy are very good together, and they play well off of one another. And I enjoyed that the story setting took place back in Dorothy's hometown -- she was able to put a few of the last ghosts of Frank to rest, including his lab at the University and the home Frank & Dorothy shared.The premise is good: an old professor friend, Kevin Cassidy, dies of pneumonia. Along with notification of his death, Dorothy receives an interesting summons: return to her hometown in Indiana within 30 days of his death to receive the bequest her beloved friend has left for her - $5,000 + all-expenses paid for her trip. But when Dorothy and Alan arrive, they also find a note from Kevin insisting that if she's received the money and this note, that someone has killed Kevin. And Kevin Cassidy wants Dorothy to find his killer.My disappointment was in the obvious red herrings and the manner in which the final scene plays itself out. The killer's motives seemed too slim to me... but maybe it's just me. And the way that the killer is "caught" is a bit too melodramatic, as is Dorothy's recovery from the final scene.The author can't seem to make up her mind what age Dorothy and Alan are. In previous stories, they seemed to be late 50s. Dorothy constantly refers to herself as "middle-aged". (OK, 50s isn't middle-aged, but I can see one thinking of oneself as middle-aged at that age.) On previous covers, Dorothy's hair was dark, and she looked late 50s, early 60s. On this cover, Dorothy's hair is grey and she looks every bit late 60s, which - SURPRISE - Dorothy and Alan seem to be... And for being kind and gentle about mentions of their sex life, there seems to be a lot of sex between Alan and Dorothy in this book. Good for them, but again, it seems to be a change from previous patterns. Then the puzzle of the hotel room and a few other minor details that seem juxtaposed or simply not well explained.Oh well... it's a gentle, cozy mystery with main characters I've come to appreciate. Guess I'll give the author a break!
Some readers following the Dorothy Martin series rated this installment lower than others. Yes, it does take place in the United States (Indiana)--a bit of a departure. However, I thoroughly enjoyed reading about how Dorothy and her husband, Alan Nesbitt, working together to solve a crime with no clues and very little information to start with. The story provided so many insights into Dorothy and Alan's relationship.Opening Lines:"Alan, look at this"I waved the letter I held in my hand. One of the nice little benefits of living in England is the mail. It arrives early enough in the morning to be consumed with breakfast, and with a predictable regularity that is unknown in America.On notebooks...I bought four of them, thick ones with subject dividers. I have a thing for spiral notebooks, and I can't find the kind I like in England....sat down with one of my bright shiny new notebooks. All that virgin paper was revving my mind.On book shopping..."Remind me never to take you shopping again." I shifted my awkward burden. A striped tail poked me in the eye."Oh, but you will, the next time you visit a mysterty bookshop. You can't carry fifty or sixty books yourself.A cat description......a huge black and white specimen of what a friend of mine calls a "Holstein cat"...
What do You think about Killing Cassidy (2000)?
Killing Cassidy by Jeanne M. Dams.Dorothy Martin and husband Alan Nesbitt are on a vacation of sorts. They're visiting Dorothy's hometown Hillsburg, Indiana. It's not just another vacation in which they can put their feet up and take it easy. It seems Dorothy's old and dear friend Kevin Cassidy has died and left her in his will. that's not all he's left her.Kevin Cassidy has also left a letter for Dorothy regarding his murder. He believed someone was trying to kill him and he wanted Dorothy to investigate.This mystery had my interest from page one. the author brought me directly into a murder investigation and one that was more than intriguing. Highly enjoyable.
—Ellen
