Dead in the Pond

Dead in the Pond (2018) Dahlia Donovan (Grasmere Cottage Mystery)

The first book ended with Valor and Bishan learning their beloved housemaster from Harrow–and a note that book two was going to end on a cliffhanger.

So I bought book two AND book three, because I wasn’t going to be messing around when cliff hangers are involved.

At one point towards the end of this book, my husband walked over to me and I just put my hand up, palm out, and ignored whatever it was he wanted, because HOLY CATS. CLIFFHANGER.

This book is told mostly from Bishan’s point of view, which is really very interesting, since Bishan doesn’t see things the way most of us do.

Spurling held the bag up for the second time. “Do you know what my nan will do to me if I don’t deliver this to you?”

“No. What?” Bishan asked seriously.

Spurling stared at him.

“Oh, a joke.” Bishan kicked himself mentally for not catching it.

and

The trouble with the subtle approach was Bishan didn’t read tone or body language at all. He couldn’t. Sunesh had dedicated almost an entire year to try to teach him— and it ended with him finally dumping a tub of yoghurt over his brother’s head in frustration.

Although this is a cozy, there is a good deal of murder in this series, and what Valor has to deal with from his family is pretty rough, although much of it is him telling us how unpleasant his discussions are, rather than having to read racist, homophobic rants.

There’s an interesting bit that goes through all three books, about how Val and Bish feel about marriage.

“You hate marriage.”

“I dislike my parents’ idea of it.” Valor lifted one of the rings between two of his fingers. “Hate is such a strong word.”

“You said you did.” Bishan remembered the conversation perfectly. “Why’ve you changed your mind?”

“I love you.”

“Did you not love me before?” Bishan frowned at their clasped fingers.

It’s odd to me, how different people view marriage.

I am offended by people who get married and divorced and married and divorced rather than by people who prefer a committed relationship without marriage. But the story also clearly makes the point of the problems that can arise when partners don’t have some kind of legal documents.

One of the scenes I really loved was when Bish and Val argued.

That is a genius method of argument.

And as supposed, I finished the second book and IMMEDIATELY started the third. And then stayed up entirely too late just to make sure that things were going to at least be mostly alright. But I really do hate cliffhanger endings.

Publisher: Hot Tree Publishing
Rating: 7/10

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