by Richard Osman, 2021, Penguin Books

The book is about a group of individuals living in a new community in England who decide to try to solve murders that the police seem to be struggling with. In this case a developer’s partner is murdered and his partner is suspected of doing the deed. The initial murder is followed by the suspicious death of the developer. Tied to these murders is the discovery of a skeleton in a graveyard that is found on top of a casket in a grave.

The characters in the book are well done. One of them, Joyce, provides the reader with excerpts from her diary, some of which are very cute. The problem is that the plot begins to spin out of control. There are numerous subplots that go nowhere and only serve to distract the reader. The eventual solution to all of these murders is somewhat of a letdown. There doesn’t seem to be any suspense.