Reviewers said:

"Five stars! Delightfully entertaining, rich characters, suspenseful, charming all in one; anxiously awaiting the next one!"

"a fascinating tale set in England in the 1930s. This 'cosy crime' novel, with its measure of burgeoning romance, is a good read; something to entertain and satisfy in front of a burning log fire in the dark days of winter. The settings and period detail are excellent...The denouement is swift, tense and satisfying..."

"I was worried to read this as I didn't think it would be as good as the Criss Cross series... but I needn't have fussed as it was again simply brilliant."

"Dottie Manderson is a gorgeous character...A great read and I'm looking forward to catching up with more of Dottie."

The Mantle of God: Dottie Manderson mysteries book 2: a romantic traditional cosy mystery

Can a tiny piece of faded cloth really be worth killing for? Is the past ever truly forgotten? A friend asks Dottie Manderson to find out more about a scrap of fabric found in a dead man's pocket. But as soon as she starts to ask questions, things begin to happen. It's not long before someone dies, and Dottie wonders if she may be next. Can the insignificant scrap really be a clue to a bloody time of religious hatred and murder?

Join Dottie as she works to uncover the truth of a distant past, whilst uncovering secrets held by her own closest friends and family. Can Inspector Hardy put the murderer behind bars before it's too late? Setting aside his own personal tragedy, Hardy has to get behind the polite façade of 1930s London society to find a killer.

Introducing a new 1930s female sleuth in a traditional, cozy mystery series set in Britain between the two World Wars, from

Caron Allan, the writer of Criss Cross, Cross Check, and Check Mate, a murderous contemporary series.

BuyThe Mantle of God: Dottie Manderson mysteries book 2 for a romantic, suspenseful read in the traditional amateur detective sleuth genre.

Extract from The Mantle of God: Dottie Manderson mysteries book 2:

Hardy went into the sitting room and found the Major there, standing by the window looking out, his thin shoulders heaving with the weight of his grief. There seemed nothing to say. Hardy's very presence told him everything. Hardy stood in the doorway and wondered what to do next.

'How?'

Hardy cleared his throat, and said softly, 'I'm afraid it appears she was hit over the head.'

Medhurst nodded. After a pause he said, 'These little hats the girls all wear nowadays, no protection.'

'No indeed, ' Hardy replied, belatedly remembering to remove his own hat. He took a seat. The chessboard had been set up again, a match was already in progress. No doubt a new game had been started after he had taken his leave the previous evening.

'When can I see her?' Hardy was startled when Major Medhurst spoke suddenly right beside him. Tears ran unchecked down the man's face. He was wringing his hands, his fingers restless and trembling.

'Not today, ' Hardy said.