The Corpse of St James’s: A Dorothy Martin Mystery

Dams’s underwhelming 12th mystery featuring American-born, English-residing amateur sleuth Dorothy Martin (after 2011’s The Evil That Men Do) takes Dorothy and her husband, former Chief Constable Alan Nesbitt, to London to attend a ceremony honoring their friend Jonathan Quinn, a Scotland Yard inspector, for rescuing a child from a burning building. Strolling afterwards in St. James’s Park, the three discover a young woman’s body. Only after Dorothy has reported their gruesome find to the police does Jonathan admit that he knows the victim, Melissa Higgins. Jonathan is worried, though, that drawing attention to Melissa’s illegitimate birth could cause Melissa’s mother, Jemima, his close friend, to lose her job at Buckingham Palace. Dorothy thus decides to investigate the death on her own. A heroine who continually complains about her enviable travels may annoy some readers, though London’s picturesque sights lend some flair to this cozy before a disappointingly rushed resolution. Agent: Kimberley Cameron, the Kimberley Cameron Agency. (Nov.)