The Dead Man in the Garden

The Dead Man in the Garden / Marthe Jocelyn
TO: Tundra, c2021
368 p.

Taking a break from older classics to catch up on the Aggie Morton series! I really enjoyed the first two novels in this series, The Body Under the Piano and Peril at Owl Park, so when this one was available I thought it was the perfect time to take a break with some delightful middle grade mystery. This series features a young girl inspired by Agatha Christie, and for adult readers and Christie fans, there are lots of subtle references to her works to enjoy in each book.

Moving from the Christmas setting of the Owl Park volume, in this adventure, Aggie and her friend Hector are at a resort hotel in Yorkshire so her newly widowed mother can rest. Aggie and Hector, as usual, get up to mischief investigating rumours of a dead body, and then discovering a second corpse themselves. They are assisted in their investigations by Grannie Jane and their new friend George, a resident of the hotel who is in a wheelchair. His situation provides them with some great angles to snoop and explore, and Aggie uses all those opportunities to their fullest. 

This restful interlude at the spa hotel turns less restful and more dangerous and the three young people poke and prod and uncover corruption, conspiracy, and cold-blooded murder. 

The pace and characterizations in this volume are all really well done. George is a clever new addition to the main characters, and adds more complexity to their interactions. The mystery is well developed and makes sense when all is revealed, which I always appreciate in a mystery novel no matter which age it is written for. And the conclusion is quite thrilling and uses the setting to its fullest advantage. 

Another title in this series that I can highly recommend. Very enjoyable, and I have the fourth volume in the series to look forward to shortly.