Warning at One: A Lois Meade Mystery

by: Ann Purser

Published by: Berkeley Publishing Group

Reviewed by Sharon Broom

Lois Meade uses her cleaning company as a front to spy on people. Well, she’s naturally curious, has a nose for mystery–and then there’s the local police who urge her on in her investigations when it suits them.

Lois Meade and her husband had a bit of luck when they won some money in a lottery. They purchased a house with the funds and now the tenants are leaving because the rooster of nasty next door neighbor, Clem Fitch, wakes them early every morning. And Clem isn’t about to get rid of his best friend just because people are complaining.

The house isn’t to be vacant long, however. Lois Meade’s son, Douglas, is coming home. He’s got a new job in Tresham and will rent the house from his parents.

Something ‘fishy’ is going on in the area. There’s a new woman (Mrs. Blairgowrie) in town who may or may not be blind, a grocery store is robbed, and then Clem and the rooster are found dead and Lois’ son, Douglas is a suspect. If things are to be sorted out and Douglas saved, it’s up to Lois to solve the crime.

I generally love British mysteries and I liked Warning at One. It’s fun, it’s clever and is a quick read. That said, I didn’t much care for Lois Meade. She seems a bit cranky and out of sorts much of the time and that diminished the read for me. I want my protagonists to be likeable.

The mystery itself was good enough though that I would take a chance on another of Ann Purser’s novels.

Armchair Interviews says: A good novel that would have been better with a more likeable leading lady.

Author’s Web site: http://www.AnnPurser.com