The Snow Job (Century Cottage Cozy Mysteries)
Cozy Mystery 3rd in Series
Setting - Fenwater, a fictional small to in the province of Ontario in Canada during the early 1980s.
Independently Published (December 13, 2023)
Paperback : 310 pages
ISBN-13 :979-8871249321
Digital ASIN B0CQ3DJL3F
A Scottish shindig, a pretty pin, a cold corpse. When a well-liked and respected townsman is murdered on a snowy street in Fenwater, it’s up to Lois Stone to sift through a multitude of motives to find the killer.
Middle-aged widow Lois is beginning to feel part of the Fenwater community, and as winter sets in, she is getting ready for the town’s biggest Scottish event, the annual Burns Night supper. But when one of the committee members dies in suspicious circumstances, Lois has more to worry about than the fate of this year’s celebration. She tried unsuccessfully to revive the man and her friend Marge worked with him. So, they want to find his killer even though Lois promised her partner Bruce that she would stay out of police matters. But, what’s the harm in asking a few questions? Such as does someone want to safeguard their inheritance or give their business a boost? Will finding the motive for the murder lead them to the killer or maybe more?
And so begins a fortnight of slippery sidewalks, angst about ancestors, capable firemen and cunning firebugs, unreliable records, swirling Scottish music and swinging tartan kilts, calico cats and smouldering spooks set against the backdrop of snow glistening under streetlamps on serene streets, the comfort of ritual in a cold churchyard, the swish of skate blades in crisp night air and the tang of mouthwatering meatloaf in rural Canada in 1984.
The Century Cottage Mystery series is mainly set in rural Ontario, Canada during the early 1980s.
A tale for fans of Cindy Bell, Leighann Dobbs, Dianne Harman and Kathi Daley.
Dianne Ascroft writes the Century Cottage Cozy Mysteries, set in rural Canada, and The Yankee Years historical sagas, set in WWII Northern Ireland. She has a passion for Ireland and Canada, past and present. An ex-pat Canadian, Dianne lives on a small farm with her husband and an assortment of strong-willed animals.
Her previous fiction works include An Unbidden Visitor (a tale inspired by Fermanagh’s famous Coonian ghost); Dancing Shadows, Tramping Hooves: A Collection of Short Stories (contemporary tales), and an historical novel, Hitler and Mars Bars, which explores Operation Shamrock, a little known Irish Red Cross humanitarian endeavor.
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THE SNOW JOB EXCERPT
Lois smiled thinking about her house. She had only moved into it six months ago but she loved the historic grey stone cottage. It had been built just over a hundred years ago and therefore qualified for the designation ‘century house’. The house she was looking at right now was probably a similar age to her own so it would also be a heritage property. Before she moved to Fenwater last summer she knew little about heritage houses but she had done a lot of research into the history of her house and became fascinated by the architecture of the period when it was built.
At the end of the block, she emerged onto Haughton Road, a wider thoroughfare that bisected the residential street. Glancing in both directions, she prepared to cross the larger street, but as she looked to the left, she heard a voice coming from the opposite direction.
“Bit nippy tonight, Lois.”
A middle-aged woman wrapped in a deep royal blue parka strode up to her, pulled along by a white terrier.
“Hi, Connie. It certainly is. But I don’t really mind it. I love the way the snow glistens under the streetlights. It’s so pretty.”
Her neighbour Connie Harris stopped beside her, nodding agreement as she inclined her head toward the dog who was still pulling at its leash, intent on continuing its walk. “Yeah, and slippery if you’re not careful. This one has almost pulled me off my feet a couple times tonight. He doesn’t give me much time to enjoy the scenery. It flies by.”
Familiar with the energetic dog, Lois chuckled. “Yes, I can imagine.”
“Do you want to finish our walk with us? It would give us a chance to catch up. I haven’t seen you since Christmas.” Connie nodded toward the next intersection. “I’m just going to cut down there to St Andrew’s, head along the main street and then back up our street to home.”
Lois shook her head. “Thanks for the invitation but I’m going to take the direct route home tonight. Any other time I’d say yes, but I’ve been at Marge’s all evening and I really should get home. I’ve got a few things to do and the cats will wonder where I’ve got to.” Lois laughed self-consciously at herself for letting her two adorable pets dictate her activities.
“That’s okay. We’ll catch up another time. How’s Marge?”
“She’s fine – her usual self. She’s all fired up about the Burns Night supper.”
“I’ll bet. It’s always fun. You’re coming, aren’t you?”
“Yes, I promised Marge, and besides, I’m playing with the pipe band. I take it you’re going too?”
“Oh, definitely. I never miss it. Snowy, sit.” Connie jerked the leash and gave the dog a stern look before she returned her gaze to Lois. “What’s your family tartan?”
Lois shrugged. “Uh, I don’t have much of a Scottish connection. I doubt I have a family tartan.”
“If you have Scottish ancestors, you probably do. You should check it out. I always wear my Harris Royal Blue tartan skirt to the supper.”
Lois shoved her gloved hands into her pockets, nodding without replying. She would prefer to avoid discussing anything to do with her Scottish ancestry. If she just kept quiet it shouldn’t be long before Snowy did something to distract its owner and rescue her from the topic.
As if the dog could read her mind, at that moment Snowy tugged at the leash again and Connie raised her eyebrows in an apologetic gesture. “I better get going.”
“Sure. Pop over for a coffee whenever you like and we’ll catch up.”
“Will do. See you later.” Connie raised her hand in farewell and continued along the street, pulled along by the dog’s unflagging energy.
Lois watched Connie and her dog until they were halfway down the block. Then, shivering in the chilly night air, she turned and checked for traffic once more before she hurried to the opposite side of the road.
“Snowy, stop that. Come here!”
Connie’s sharp cry made Lois glance over her shoulder at her neighbour. Connie was struggling with her dog. It frantically pulled to the left to head up the next street as Connie tugged the leash to turn the animal in the opposite direction. Lois chuckled. The little dog was surprisingly strong and determined. It was unlikely that Connie’s quick circuit of the block would go as planned.
As Lois watched, the dog jerked the leash and pulled Connie off balance. She stumbled after the dog onto the side street. Lois wondered if she should offer to help but the dog hadn’t escaped its leash so there wouldn’t be a wild game of tag up and down the street tonight. Connie should soon get the situation under control again without her help.
Still chuckling, Lois entered the section of Maiden Lane where she lived. Connie certainly had her hands full with that dog. It made her glad that she had cats. With half a block left to go, she would be home to them soon. She wouldn’t be surprized if Ribbons were sitting in the front window watching for her return. The sleek calico cat was highly intelligent and seemed to anticipate her actions.
Behind her, Lois heard a shriek followed by frantic barking. What on earth has Snowy done now? She stopped walking and listened. The noise continued. I better go and see if Connie is alright.
Lois spun around and raced toward the street where her friend had disappeared.
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