"This is a brilliant detective agency or investigation bureau, no case is too small."
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Annie's Haunting Memoirs and The ABC Detective by Joy Reid Trafford Publishing
book review by L.A.Webb
Reid is back with her third installment in the Annie Butcher series. Her latest collection of short British cozies is sure to delight readers on both sides of the pond. Annie, a teacher and amateur detective, finds herself embroiled in kidnappings, murder, and international intrigue. With the help of family, friends, and a doting Chief Inspector of Police, Annie is on the trail to solve some of England's biggest (and smallest) capers.
Annie's Haunting Memoirs opens up with a visit to her friend's newly inherited property, Greenwood Manor. Relaxing and enjoying the English valley is not to be had when five bodies are discovered on the property. The bodies are "THE FIVE," a London mystery that has haunted police for years. Five people from a North London suburb simply vanished leaving no clues behind. Annie just can't help herself and starts to snoop around.
The caper concludes in The ABC Detective Agency. Annie's uncanny ability to take completely unrelated events and somehow put the pieces together leads her to start her own detective agency. She ultimately solves the mystery of "THE FIVE," along with locating a kidnapped child, finding cherished missing teddy bears, and discovering who damaged sports equipment. Reid has created a lovable character with Annie Butcher. Annie's sleuthing is contagious and her friends are not immune to helping her piece together the clues. Reid's collection is filled with plenty of characters and plot lines that will keep readers intrigued to the very end.