by JEANNE M. DAMS (Author) 

A Book Review by Jackie Houchin

  DEATH IN THE GARDEN CITY is the 22nd installment in the Dorothy Martin Mysteries. Dorothy, an American, has been married to a retired British Chief Inspector for a number of years, and they tour around solving murder mysteries in their “spare” time. Alan takes care of the facts and police-thinking, while Dorothy simply chats up people and learns all kinds of things, some helpful to an investigation and some that get her into trouble.

In this book they have been asked by friends to help out someone in Victoria, British Columbia, where the famous Butchart Gardens are located (hence the book title). As the settle in and meet with the retired friend they learn that a lot of “mischief” has been taking place in the Garden City – such as poisonous plants being dug up and taken from the famous garden, mean graffiti & vandelism, etc.  A hermit’s prize hunting falcons are even disturbed. But nothing  like murder….yet.

But eventually a beautiful young Alaskan native girl with a promising future to help her people is found dead. Dorothy and Alan help the local Victoria Police, but themselves get attacked and threatened as well. It takes will power for the two retired mystery solvers to stay the course, but eventually a horrible plot is reveled.

I’ve read many of Jeanne M. Dams’ mysteries, and it seem as if the later ones don’t have the sharpness as the earlier ones.  I love visiting the places they go (I will be in Victoria later in September), but the story seems to lag now and then. And there is an awful lot of moaning about their being older and tireder and lamer and achier, and needing something to eat to gain strength, and a maybe drink or two to get going.

The setting is great, the mystery intriguing, but the story-telling needs a zap.

3.5 STARS

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