by Iona Whishaw (Author), Marilla Wex (Narrator), TouchWood Editions (Publisher)

An audiobook

This is the best Lane Winslow book in the series I’ve read so far, even though they all are really good. I’ve enjoyed watching the small romance bud between the totally self-sufficient (ex-WWII spy) Lane Winslow and the capable, no-nonsense Canadian Chief Inspector Frederick Darling.

(Yes, I smile every time I read his name! Imagine a policeman having that name today!)  But the story takes place just after the war’s end and is set in the backwoods of British Columbia, so I guess you can get away with “Inspector Darling.”

The two have been moving towards confessing their mutual love. But there are complications. Lane loves her cabin in the mountains with a view of the water, and Darling does not want to give up his job in the small city 30 miles away.  How can the problem be solved, at least temporarily?  Send them both back to jolly olde England.

Darling must return to answer some grave questions about a war crime.  Lane waits as long as she can and then decides to visit her grandparents in Scotland (as an excuse to be with Darling.)  By the time she arrives in London, whoa!  The circumstances have gotten very dire indeed for Darling, and she, with her brilliant mind and observant eyes, sets about to help him. 

Some friends and acquaintances lend a hand, and a few “official” people are willing to help, but in reality, the problem is square in Lane’s lap. Eventually, we see that ONLY she can “fix” everything that has gone wrong. But at what cost?

Sargent Ames is left in charge of the station back in Canada and feels quite insecure. But a murder needs to be solved, and he attempts it on his own. Okay, he gets a bit of help from Lane before she leaves and even more via “trunk calls” from England.  The young sergeant also gets help from a policeman in London, and they become pals. But, the experience Ames has had with Darling and his own quick wits help him solve this very twisted mystery.

It sounds like a lot of fun, right?  But there is serious suspense all through this book. Yes the situations lend themselves to a kind of fear, but author Iona Whishaw masterfully writes nail-biting tension in to each chapter.  Well done!   The ending to IT BEGINS IN BETRAYAL is very suitable and satisfying. 

Narrator Marilla Wex is top-notch as well.