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.