Cathy C. (cathyskye) - , reviewed on 4/5/2010 + 2309 more book reviews

First Line: "Hello?"

The villagers of Long Farnden don't quite know what to think of the Abrahams of Carthanger Mill. Wits have likened the Mill to a setting straight from the Hammer horror films, and rumors have always surrounded the Abrahams. But... when Enid Abraham applies for work at New Brooms, Lois Meade decides to give her a try.

While Lois is making sure her two new employees meet her exacting standards, Lois's husband begins receiving anonymous letters insinuating that his wife is having an affair with a local policeman. People begin disappearing and strange things begin to happen, and Lois wonders if Carthanger Mill holds the key to a terrible secret.

I enjoy this series. Lois is a wild child who grew up, settled down, and now has children who are giving her grief. The Meades are a loving family, and Lois extends that caring behavior to the people who work for her.

It's fun to see this series mature. When I read the first book, I saw it painting itself into a corner by having Lois cleaning the houses in just one village. The second book in the series had her broadening her horizons, but it presented another problem: constantly meeting the policeman in the woods to pass along the information she'd gleaned. This third book in the series addresses that. (You simply cannot get away with something like that when you live in a village!) I'm definitely looking forward to book four. Lois is becoming one of my favorite characters.

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