A False and Fatal Claim: A Lane Winslow Mystery

A False and Fatal Claim: A Lane Winslow Mystery

“Iona Whishaw is an absolute treasure! Her books are instantly charming, instantly immersive, and readers will instantly fall under the spell of her captivating storytelling. No matter where you start in this entertaining series, Whishaw's considerable skill at creating a satisfying traditional mystery with well-drawn characters we adore—not to mention a gorgeous and authentic setting— provides a delightful experience. And for effortless and engaging dialogue, there is no one better. For anyone who loves Jacqueline Winspear and Louise Penny, Iona Whishaw will be your new favorite author.” —Hank Phillippi Ryan, USA TODAY best-selling author of All This Could Be Yours Lane Winslow struggles to tell friend from foe in a captivating new mystery from the series Publishers Weekly calls “highly entertaining.” Lane Winslow is known in her idyllic British Columbia laketown of King's Cove for a bad habit of finding dead bodies. This time, all she’s found is a suspiciously well-made hat abandoned in the brush, but she’s certain there’s a mystery afoot. While Lane is overtaken by the urge to snoop around for clues, her husband, Inspector Darling, and his team at the Nelson Police Station find their straightforward case of a stolen boat suddenly complicated when a fourteen-year-old boy is reported missing from the local school. When the search for the boy, the hat’s mysterious owner, and the boat lead them to the sudden disappearances of the local café cook, a visiting wealthy investor, and seventy thousand dollars in cash, the case quickly turns into a snarled tangle of missing people and scant, circumstantial evidence. Desperate to keep a vulnerable and possibly violent young boy safe, Lane recruits the neighbours as Darling, Ames, Terrell, and April scour the local towns and wildernesses for answers—all while Ames struggles to focus through wedding jitters, and April and Terrell chafe under the questionable advice of meddlesome old “friends.” At first, the daily dramas of King’s Cove unfold uninterrupted around the simmering questions at the heart of this far-reaching mystery, but as the case reveals its roots in both the glitzy high society and criminal underground of 1920s Toronto, it soon becomes clear all hands will be needed on deck to get everyone to the coming wedding alive in one piece. Praise for A False and Fatal Claim A pure delight! Deftly drawn characters, a peaceful post-war village upended by a twisty plot of greed, betrayal, and murder, social inequities laid bare. And binding it all together is the charm, wit, and humanity of the indomitable Lane Winslow. No better friend to have in your corner.” — Barbara Fradkin, author of the award-winning Inspector Green and Amanda Doucette mysteries “Iona Whishaw does for the West Kootenay what Louise Penny did for Quebec. The Lane Winslow series offers the same literary tourism that readers associate with Penny—evocative setting, charming local characters, and a gripping mystery propelling readers through the journey. A False and Fatal Claim will live up to the high expectations of Whishaw’s growing legions of fans, while being sure to win her more readers. Whishaw has done it again! A False and Fatal Claim is the treasure of a writer at the top of her game." — Angie Abdou, award-winning author of This One Wild Life and In Case I Go “Missing people, a drowned body, confused identities, and past indiscretions — all lead to delightful mayhem in the idyllic village of King’s Cove. The dialogue is witty and pitch-perfect, the setting bucolic, and the suspense mounting. Lane Winslow and Inspector Darling are ideal crime-solving foils and the couple you wish lived next door. Whishaw is at the peak of her writing prowess, and A False and Fatal Claim is proof positive. Grab a cup of tea, put on a fire, and settle in; cozy mystery lovers are in for an entertaining read from one of Canada’s best.” — Brenda Chapman, best-selling author of the Stonechild and Rouleau, and Hunter and Tate mysteries “Iona Whishaw is an absolute treasure! Her books are instantly charming, instantly immersive, and readers will instantly fall under the spell of her captivating storytelling. No matter where you start in this entertaining series, Whishaw's considerable skill at creating a satisfying traditional mystery with well-drawn characters we adore—not to mention a gorgeous and authentic setting— provides a delightful experience. And for effortless and engaging dialogue, there is no one better. For anyone who loves Jacqueline Winspear and Louise Penny, Iona Whishaw will be your new favorite author.” — Hank Phillippi Ryan, USA TODAY best-selling author of All This Could Be Yours Praise for the Lane Winslow Mysteries Winner of the 2021 Bony Blithe Light Mystery Award for A Match Made for Murder (#7) Finalist for the Left Coast Crime “Lefty” Awards (2019, 2024) Finalist for the Canadian Crime Writers of Canada Awards (2023, 2024) Finalist for the Bill Duthie Bookseller