Warning at One [Mass Market Paperback]

This is Lois Meade's eighth outing as a sleuth, working (often reluctantly and usually awkwardly) with the police inspector who has an unrequited crush on Lois, the owner of a thriving cleaning business.

Lois's cleaners have access to all kinds of unusual goings-on in the towns and villages where they work, so this is a good plot device. In this case, Lois is caught up in the mystery of Gordon Street, where she owns a house (purchased in the wake of a lottery windfall in a prior book.) At first, the only problem appears to be the presence of Clem Fitch's rooster, the aptly-named Satan, who has driven out Lois's tenants by doing what roosters do at dawn every day of the week. But there are other, more ominous, doings afoot on Gordon Street. Lois's team begins working for a mysterious elderly and blind (possibly?) woman who moves into "Braeside" across the street from Clem (why does the heavyset man who is her son yell at her, the cleaners worry?); while a reclusive skinny man living on the other side of Clem behaves very suspiciously. A murder ignites a two-track investigation; the police on one side and Lois on the other.

The plot in this book is solid, full of twists and turns. The characters are predictable; the outspoken, energetic and intelligent Lois, her stolid and loving husband; their three children; the hapless police detective; the members of the cleaning staff, etc. (For the reference of those who enjoy this book, Ann Purser was once referred to as the new Miss Read for a series of non-mystery novels revolving around rural characters; these actually are better-written, in my opinion and well worth seeking out; titles include Orphan Lamb and Thy Neighbor's Wife.) A character from that non-mystery series, Ivy Beasley, makes a guest appearance in this and some other Lois Meade books.

The case is eventually resolved with the help of Douglas, Lois's eldest son, who moves into the empty house next to Clem and the rooster and finds love with Clem's grandaughter along the way. This is a book to read more for the characters than the plot, however.

One note: the titles (which began with days of the week and now appear to be moving on to numbers) have less and less to do with the plots. I believe in the first book there was a murder on monday, but I can't figure out what "warning at one" has to do with the plot at all. *Shrug*

I am puzzled by the people who said Purser left loose ends. I think it is very clear who did what and why. I won't give the story away by detailing it all here. If you like a British cozy, this book is an excellent read. I've read at least 2 or 3 other books by Ann Purser and I feel this book was her best Lois Meade mystery yet.

I am generally a great fan of Ann Purser's Lois Meade mysteries, they are entertaining and offer a great, quick read for a cozy weekend at home. However, this latest installment leaves me scratching my head at several loose ends. First of all, she never really addressed who stole the items from the supermarket, unless I missed something, or it was implied that the villian, Alistair (John) Smith and his cohorts did the deed. Also, like reviewer aboleyn, I would like to know the significance of the pork chops in the stream. There are just too many things left undone in this book, and because if this, I had a hard time following the book at times. I will read the next installment, but I hope it doesn't leave so many pertinent items out of the story.