Review: TROUBLE IN THE TOWN HALL, Jeanne M. Dams

• 
  this edition an e-book on Kindle (Amazon) 
  
• Dorothy Martin Mystery Book 2
• ASIN ‏ : ‎ B08KSCY1P5
• Publisher ‏ : ‎ Joffe Books cozy mysteries (5 October 2020)
• originally published: HarperPaperbacks (7 January 1998) 
• Print length ‏ : ‎ 260 pages

Synopsis (Amazon)

A DEAD BODY IN THE CLOSET AND A LEAKING ROOF KEEP DOROTHY BUSY.

Dorothy Martin is still learning her way around the charming English cathedral town which she moved to a year ago from America.

But she recognizes a dead body when she sees one. The historic town hall is closed with its future hanging in the balance. Dorothy is visiting when the cleaner finds the dead body of a young man in a closet.

Her passion for mysteries is as hot as ever, of course. Despite warnings from her dear friend Chief Constable Alan Nesbitt not to get in the way of the official investigation, Dorothy simply can't resist taking a look around.

There are plenty more skeletons in local closets, enough to keep an amateur sleuth on her toes — unless the hands of a murderer reach her first. And not to mention her lovely house has water coming in through the roof!

Can she find a murderer and a decent builder?

My take

Over 6 months has passed since the events in #1 in this series, THE BODY IN THE TRANSEPT. 

Dorothy is thrust into world of building by the state of the roof of her cottage, and also by the local controversy over what will be happening to the town hall now that the Town Council has moved to new premises on the outskirts of the town. 

Since the last book Dorothy has acquired another cat and has been developing her friendship with the Chief Constable Alan Nesbitt. Despite Alan's warnings to take things carefully and circumspectly, Dorothy attends a town meeting when discussion about turning the old Town Hall into a shopping mall becomes very heated. 

Dorothy discovers the body of a young man in a cupboard in the Town Hall, and then becomes curious about why a work colleague becomes faint every time the incident is mentioned.

Eventually Dorothy predictably outs herself in danger yet again, and another work colleague is murdered.

If you enjoy cozies you will probably enjoy this series, but make sure you read them from the beginning.

My rating: 4.4

I've already read  THE BODY IN THE TRANSEPT