BOWNESS BEQUEST

Dark secrets are unearthed in the Lake District and as Winter settles in Windermere, it hails the death of Frances Henderson, long-time friend to Persimmon 'Simmy' Brown and her family. Coupled with the grief of losing such a beloved woman, Simmy has to cope with the increasing antagonism and confusion of Frances's remaining family after being bequeathed something in her Will. Then a violent murder is discovered and Simmy must face the fact that the family she was once so close to as a child holds some dark and sinister secrets. Her efforts to avoid the investigation are frustrated when people from the past resurface, rumours of infidelity in the Henderson household abound, and her friends Ben and Bonnie try some detecting themselves. The violent murder of Frances's husband has the modern day Miss Marple coping with the loss of an important figure from her childhood and confused at the bequest. 318pp in paperback.