In late autumn of 1941, a medium comes to the village of Pipley and makes a shocking announcement: the HMS Bartholomew has sunk, taking with it the souls of two young men from the village. Shortly thereafter, at a séance she hosts, she dies, presumably poisoned.
This is the third mystery in the Olive Bright series, and it certainly throws a lot at the reader. Not only does Olive have to solve a murder, she also has to take care of a flock of pigeons to support the war effort, prove to her superiors that her work is in fact vital, and manage a fake relationship that is beginning to feel a little too real. The narrative moves back and forth between the various stories, and while it does leave the reader waiting, it’s nevertheless satisfying wherever it lands.
I found this book to be thrilling, charming, and funny by turns. Olive is a delightful heroine, with spunk and vulnerability in equal measure. I’m eager to pick up the previous two books in the series while I wait to see if there will be a fourth.
