Undue Influence: A Florence Shaw Mystery

This appealing series launch from British author Masters (the Priscilla Piercy series) introduces good-hearted nurse Florence Shaw, who has befriended an elderly patient, widow Nora Selleck, in the market town of Stone. Florence becomes alarmed when a strange young man, Ben Evans, moves in with Nora and discourages her from getting medical care. Florence suspects Ben is taking advantage of Nora in some fashion, but nobody else seems concerned, including Nora’s doctor. When Nora disappears and the police don’t take seriously Florence’s claims that Nora may have fallen afoul of a criminal, Florence persuades Nora’s son, Jack, newly arrived in town, to try to save his mom. Their investigation takes a dark turn after the unlikely sleuths find themselves pitted against some serious bad guys. The close relationship that develops between the compassionate, intuitive Nora and the quiet, uptight Jack helps keep the pages turning as the increasingly tense plot builds to a surprise ending. Fans of lighter mysteries will hope Florence soon returns for an encore. (Jan.)