A Review of Dee MacDonald's Kate Palmer Series by E. B. Davis

Dee MacDonald writes two genres, both of which I love. The first genre, if it truly is a genre, are feel-good books about second chances for the senior set, usually long tread-upon women who finally find happiness in their golden years. They are fun adventure books via physical travel and inward journey.

 

The second genre—the cozy mystery. By birth, Dee is from Scotland, but she now lives in Cornwall, England where she sets the Kate Palmer series. The first four books are: A Body in the Village Hall, A Body in Seaview Grange, A Body at the Tea Rooms, and A Body at the Altar. Next month, the fifth book, A Body on the Beach, will be released. It’s no wonder Dee told me she was too busy for an interview, which is why I decided to review the series, instead.

 

Kate Palmer, divorced, and her sister, Angie, widowed, retire to Cornwall where they share happy memories of childhood vacations and where together they buy a house, Lavender Cottage. The cottage has ocean views and a lavender border, but it is in more disrepair than they thought. Kate’s retirement as a practice nurse (which I think is like a nurse practitioner here) is short-lived due to the repair costs. While Kate is efficient and reality based, Angie has retired from acting after a lackluster career. She has more money and time than Kate, but Angie has a drinking problem. Unlike Kate’s sleuthing, which Angie ridicules, Angie’s hobbies are unsuccessful. In an effort to build healthy habits and a regular routine for Angie, Kate rescues a springer spaniel only to take care of Barney herself.

 

Her work at the clinic and, at times, in people’s homes, provides the backdrop for her discovering bodies and trying to solve cases. She is practiced at sleuthing by way of determining what ails her patients. She listens to them, asking them questions, and finds out much more than their ailments when they all have theories of whodunit. For a tucked away village, sexual infidelity and drugs run rampant.

While walking Barney, Kate meets Detective Inspector “Woody” Forester, an American who has lived in England most of his life and is nearing retirement. Together Kate and he solve mysteries and become significant others. Try these mysteries—a lovely series.

 

(Did I mention all of them are on Kindle Unlimited? I try and fail miserably to use coupons at the grocery store, but, I take advantage of Kindle Unlimited shamelessly. For $10.66 per month (including taxes), I read more books than I could possibly buy for that amount of money. Did I happen to mention that many of Jeanne M. Dams’ Dorothy Martin series are also now on Kindle Unlimited?)