Review: THE CASE OF THE MISSING MORRIS DANCER, Cathy Ace

• 
  This edition published in The WISE Enquiries Agency Murder Mysteries Box Set: Books 1-4
  
  
• Made available on Kindle (Amazon)
• BOOK 2: THE CASE OF THE MISSING MORRIS DANCER
  
• ASIN ‏ : ‎ B09SZLBH5T
• Publisher ‏ : ‎ Joffe crime thriller and cozy mystery (February 20, 2022)

Synopsis (Amazon)

BOOK 2: THE CASE OF THE MISSING MORRIS DANCER
Henry, eighteenth Duke of Chellingworth, is about to marry Stephanie Timbers in a grand ceremony at his Welsh estate. But one of the Morris dancers, who must lead the wedding party through the village, is missing. Along with the troupe’s kit of exquisite sixteenth-century silver bells and engraved sticks. Can the ladies of the WISE Enquiries Agency track him down and save the day? 

My Take

Oh what have I let myself in for?

This delightful series continues in a second book. Hot on the heels of their success in THE CASE OF THE DOTTY DOWAGER, the ladies of the WISE Enquiries Agency have moved from London to the Welsh countryside, in particular the Chellingworth estate, and the nearby village. In particular Mavis has become live-in companion to Althea, the dotty dowager herself, their office is in one of the estate building, Annie has a cottage in the village centre, Carol and husband David have their own house near the village, and Christine has an apartment at the Hall.

So it is a month or so into the next year and elaborate preparations are underway for the Duke's wedding. Then Aubrey Morris who is meant to be leading the Morris dancers in their procession at the wedding goes unexpectedly missing. Normally the quietest and yet most reliable of chaps, a local handyman, Aubrey doesn't turn up for an appointment he has made to to transport the Morris dancers. In addition their regalia has gone missing, and his van can't be found. It comes out that Aubrey was planning to go away, but not until the week after the wedding. The Duke wants him found.

What I am enjoying about these books is the development of each of the characters and the fleshing out of how they work as a team. Little traits are being added to each of them. Althea, the Dowager Duchess, as made an honorary member of WISE, and Alexander Bright, Christine's new "friend" becomes very useful indeed.

I'm hooked!

My rating: 4.5

I've also read

Book 1: THE CASE OF THE DOTTY DOWAGER