Murder of a Recluse
by Jeanne M. Dams

Who killed the reclusive Agatha Dobbs? Newly married Elizabeth Wilkins is determined to prove Agatha’s niece’s innocence in this compelling 1920s mystery.

October, 1926. Newly married Elizabeth Wilkins is ready for whatever life throws at her and her lawyer husband, Fred. So when Fred comes home anxious about his client, Caroline Dobbs, Elizabeth can’t help getting involved. Caroline is suspected of murdering her elderly aunt Agatha at Agatha’s farm on the outskirts of Oak Park, and was seen arguing with her on the day she died by neighbour and local gossip-monger, Mrs Edwards, yet Fred seems convinced of Caroline’s innocence.

Elizabeth joins the influential local Nineteenth Century Woman’s Club as she attempts to find out more about the reclusive Agatha Dobbs, and soon uncovers astonishing secrets. Can she unravel the mystery in time to save Caroline from a terrible fate?

A page-turning and warm-hearted 1920s mystery featuring a strong-willed and courageous heroine, perfect for fans of Frances Brody and Victoria Thompson.

Genre: Historical Crime & Mystery

Reviews

“A vivid picture of village life and social customs in the 1920s, a keep-‘em-guessing plot, and a memorable cast of characters. Fans of historical cozies will enjoy this one”

Booklist

“Dams really gives the reader a good feel for what life in 1926 might have been like . . . A pleasant read with characters I was overjoyed to meet up with again”

Deadly Pleasures Mystery Magazine

“An adventurous tale”

Kirkus Reviews on Music and Murder

“A heroine with plenty of scope for changing her life, which plays out against a fascinating time period”

Kirkus Reviews on Murder in the Park

“A tenacious heroine [and] an involving plot that reveals the deep prejudices and divisions in 1920s society”

Booklist on Murder in the Park

“Fans who want . . . [an] old-fashioned story will find Dams’s latest appealing”

Library Journal on Murder in the Park

“Dams really is a fine character builder . . . Thoroughly engaging, with plenty of twists and a solid dark streak running through it”

Booklist on The Bath Conspiracy

Jeanne M. Dams

Jeanne M. Dams, an American, is a devout Anglophile who has wished she could live in England ever since her first visit in 1963. Fortunately, her alter ego, Dorothy Martin, can do just that. Jeanne lives in South Bend, Indiana, with a varying population of cats.

View author page

Editions

Murder of a Recluse by Jeanne M. Dams is available in the following formats

Hardback97814483147754th March 2025144 X 222mm208$29.99
Hardback97814483147754th March 2025144 X 222mm208£21.99
Ebook97814483161064th March 2025N/A208$24.99
Ebook97814483161064th March 2025N/A208£20.99
Hardback - Large Print978144831781325th November 2025144 X 222mm368$38.99
Hardback - Large Print978144831781325th September 2025144 X 222mm368£23.99
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