Fingers of One Foot

Cozies don't come much milder than this possible first in a new series from British veteran Hammond (Well and Good). Roland Fox, a writer with one book to his credit who's just moved to the quiet town of Newton Lauder near the Scottish Borders, meets an attractive vet, Jane Highsmith, after his dog is stung by a wasp. The next day, Jane enlists Roland's help in investigating the fatal fall from a secluded path of her beloved great-grandfather, photographer Luke Grant. Doubting the official verdict of accident, Jane and Roland soon find evidence that a device was rigged with fishing line to knock Grant to his death. Their burgeoning romance advances with their discoveries of further clues, aided by some heavy-handed plot devices that bring them closer together. The amiable leads will appeal to romance fans, but those who read crime fiction for a realistic portrayal of detection or for a clever final reveal will be disappointed.