Smoke Without Fire (Andrew Basnett, 6) Paperback – August 2, 2022

I almost finished this book I one sitting, so good! I do love this entire series because it takes me back with characters and setting from mid 20th century England. Bassnett as an elder is an unusual sleuth with a light touch but he never avoids the bitter truth.

The setting is pure Golden Age — a country house at Christmas time. But the relationships and sentiments are modern. Elizabeth Ferrars published this book in 1990 at age eighty-three, after decades of writing classic British mysteries.Andrew Bassett, retired professor in his mid-seventies, has been invited by his very old friends the Cahills to spend Christmas with them. The festive atmosphere dies a quick death when their neighbor is blown up by a bomb in the road. Another murder follows.There’s a lot of illicit love in the air — but who’s in love with whom is not at all straightforward.Andrew, a bit of an amateur sleuth, attracts confidences and is often asked for advice — for some reason he can’t fathom. Although he thinks his memory is slipping, in fact he remembers every detail of what’s happening all around him. He is the one who sees through the miasma of deception unfolding and identifies the murderer.The plot has a element of sadness, which is why I give it four stars, though objectively, as a fine piece of mystery writing, it probably deserves five.

We never tire of her works - always interesting and carries you right to the end which is what you never expected !

Andrew is visiting friends for Christmas when a bomb explodes outside their house blowing up a car with a former judge who lives next door in it. The judge has been writing his memoirs (whom everyone agrees is dull as all get out) but he's made enemies along the way. He's not the only one murdered. Soon there's another one and Andrew who is in his 70's but very spry starts investigating on his own. Andrew is very likeable and the book was full of surprises. A really good story and the ending will stun you!

Such a waste of time; could not get past first few pages. Look, clothes, food, shopping for food and more of such padding. Pad, pad and repeat!