Death Plays with Fire: A Cotswold Crimes Mystery

Maddie McGuire, the effervescent American transplanted to England, is back with a rollicking, sometimes-scary adventure as she joins an archeological dig. She interacts with vibrantly-drawn secondary characters as she blunders into one bit of trouble after another. The setting is cool, the plot is hot, but the one thing that distinguishes Lynn’s series from other great cozies is Maddie’s personality, which emerges from the page into honest-to-goodness, unforgettable delight.—Saralyn Richard, author of Bad Blood Sisters and Mrs. Oliver’s Twist

This third book in A Cotswold Crimes Mysteries series showcases author Sharon Lynn’s ability to ramp up angst, crime, and danger. As American student Maddie McGuire stumbles upon multiple crime scenes, she starts wondering with good cause if England has it out for her. It doesn’t help that a snarky detective named Douglass thinks she’s guilty of every transgression—from the stabbed, charred body inside a wicker man, to the theft of an ancient gold coin, to the withholding of vital evidence. And more.

Amateur sleuth and archaeologist Maddie must prove herself innocent of crimes, avoid antlers, zip ties, knives, and fire, search for a phenomenal treasure, pinpoint killers, determine Scottish boyfriend Edward’s level of commitment, and learn if her employers at The Roman Baths will extend her internship. Whew! The plot's and characters' intensity and scads of Briticisms make this reader hope for many more page-turning books in the series.

Sharon Lynn has written a charming mystery, DEATH PLAYS WITH FIRE. It is set in the Cotswolds part of England. Her feisty and funny protagonist, Maddie, is a student with a short-term fellowship to help uncover ancient Roman ruins. Her colleagues are a professor, grad students, friendly locals, and other workers. Plus a very likable boyfriend. While on the dig, Maddie’s obnoxious roommate is stabbed, encased in wicker, and set on fire. It looks like the kind of human sacrifice that Julius Caesar wrote about. Maddie must find out who the murderer is, get her work term extended, and decide what she will do about the handsome Scottish man she is in love with. Despite the burned corpse, the book is not dark and gruesome. It has a nicely light tone and you will cherish the characters.  Lynn is adept at accents and colloquial phrases and makes all her characters distinctive. I particularly found Maddie’s voice captivating. Her funny actions and observations make it fit for any age. I really enjoyed DEATH PLAYS WITH FIRE and recommend it to anyone who would like a fun mystery with a satisfyingly happy ending.