DANGEROUS PURSUITS

Victorian-era detective Rose McQuinn may not be the cleverest sleuth in fiction, but she’s lively and charming as depicted by narrator Hilary Neville. In this mystery set in the hills above Edinburgh, Scotland, Rose makes forays into detecting after she discovers a female corpse on a morning walk. The story has a fine sense of place, and Neville ensures that we feel a part of the scene. Her accents, dramatic delivery, and characterizations are solid. The descriptions of banquets are especially well done, and read with authority. This ladylike mystery is pleasantly told, and the plot twist at the end adds a dash of suspense. D.L.G. © AudioFile 2008, Portland, Maine [Published: AUGUST 2008]