Reader Reviews
I love to hear from my readers, and have received kind notes from many of you. Here, I am happy to share some of those comments.
If you would like to share your thoughts, please feel free to send them via the webform on my Contact page.
If you would like to share your thoughts, please feel free to send them via the webform on my Contact page.
- "Five stars . . . loved this book." --Sharon Gilmour, Amazon.ca
- "Quickly becoming a favourite female detective who is on par with Alexander McCall Smith's Precious Ramotswe and Alan Bradley's Flavia de Luce." --j2, Amazon.ca
- "She did it again. Can't put these spellbinding books down."
- --Sue, Amazon.ca
- "Enjoyable mystery with a strong female protagonist!" --Eva, Goodreads
- "Terrific writing! Psychologically riveting -- a super read with fascinating subtexts." --Colleen B., Amazon
Death in a Darkening Mist (#2)
"Great mystery read. I loved the character driven plot with the strong sense of a community with all its local colour, human flaws included. Highly recommended."
--Terry Miller, Amazon
"This is the second in a series about a woman who moves to a rural part of British Columbia just after the end of WWII. She's a former spy; this adds to the intrigue of this "cozy" murder mystery. The story is well-written, has a complex character as its heroine, and a strong sense of place. Those who enjoy the cozy mystery genre will enjoy [Death in a Darkening Mist]." --voraciousreader1, Amazon
"Just finished Death In A Darkening Mist, which was meant to be a summer read but was instead devoured in two days! Another wonderfully engaging story, and a really effective use of flashbacks blended with the contemporary story. I also really enjoyed how you juggled so many many narrative threads this time, and then tied them up at the end; nice too that not quite everything is resolved, but enough to be satisfying. And of course, being a Film Studies teacher as well as an English teacher, I really felt that aside from being a great novel, this particular book has a strong cinematic flourish - strong imagery, intriguing characters, and nicely established settings (in both the past and the present). Really excited about the next book, and hoping the inevitable relationship between Lane and Darling moves forward with a bit more purpose!" —JF in Vancouver
"What an interesting series . . . I'm definitely going to continue reading further books by this talented writer." —Goodreads reviewer, Bev, Goodreads
"Just finished Death In A Darkening Mist, which was meant to be a summer read but was instead devoured in two days! Another wonderfully engaging story . . . Thanks for another marvellous read, Iona." —J. Foster
"I love Lane Winslow and how smart, independent, fearless and determined she is. I like the slow build of her relationship with Inspector Darling - it is the 40's after all. The author seems to be slowly peeling back the layers of both those characters with regards to their wartime backstories. All-in-all, a fun new series."
--Michelle, Goodreads
"Thoroughly enjoyed this second book in the series and am looking forward to reading her next book." --Sheila, Goodreads
"I can't begin to tell you how much I am enjoying it—plot as well as the incredible accuracy of your details. I came here in 1963, just after the ferry was replaced by a bridge, and even then the road to Ainsworth was enough to take one's breath away. The Russian names are so accurate, your description of Queen's Bay leaves room for literary alteration, and your appreciation of 1946—a time of my childhood—is meticulous." —FN
"Ms. Whishaw does a wonderful job of writing a great cozy mystery with likeable characters. Lane Winslow is likeable strong and a bit vulnerable, very human. Waiting not-so-patiently for book 3!" --Anonymous, Amazon
"Great mystery read. I loved the character driven plot with the strong sense of a community with all its local colour, human flaws included. Highly recommended."
--Terry Miller, Amazon
"This is the second in a series about a woman who moves to a rural part of British Columbia just after the end of WWII. She's a former spy; this adds to the intrigue of this "cozy" murder mystery. The story is well-written, has a complex character as its heroine, and a strong sense of place. Those who enjoy the cozy mystery genre will enjoy [Death in a Darkening Mist]." --voraciousreader1, Amazon
"Just finished Death In A Darkening Mist, which was meant to be a summer read but was instead devoured in two days! Another wonderfully engaging story, and a really effective use of flashbacks blended with the contemporary story. I also really enjoyed how you juggled so many many narrative threads this time, and then tied them up at the end; nice too that not quite everything is resolved, but enough to be satisfying. And of course, being a Film Studies teacher as well as an English teacher, I really felt that aside from being a great novel, this particular book has a strong cinematic flourish - strong imagery, intriguing characters, and nicely established settings (in both the past and the present). Really excited about the next book, and hoping the inevitable relationship between Lane and Darling moves forward with a bit more purpose!" —JF in Vancouver
"What an interesting series . . . I'm definitely going to continue reading further books by this talented writer." —Goodreads reviewer, Bev, Goodreads
"Just finished Death In A Darkening Mist, which was meant to be a summer read but was instead devoured in two days! Another wonderfully engaging story . . . Thanks for another marvellous read, Iona." —J. Foster
"I love Lane Winslow and how smart, independent, fearless and determined she is. I like the slow build of her relationship with Inspector Darling - it is the 40's after all. The author seems to be slowly peeling back the layers of both those characters with regards to their wartime backstories. All-in-all, a fun new series."
--Michelle, Goodreads
"Thoroughly enjoyed this second book in the series and am looking forward to reading her next book." --Sheila, Goodreads
"I can't begin to tell you how much I am enjoying it—plot as well as the incredible accuracy of your details. I came here in 1963, just after the ferry was replaced by a bridge, and even then the road to Ainsworth was enough to take one's breath away. The Russian names are so accurate, your description of Queen's Bay leaves room for literary alteration, and your appreciation of 1946—a time of my childhood—is meticulous." —FN
"Ms. Whishaw does a wonderful job of writing a great cozy mystery with likeable characters. Lane Winslow is likeable strong and a bit vulnerable, very human. Waiting not-so-patiently for book 3!" --Anonymous, Amazon
A Killer in King's Cove (#1)
"As a voracious reader . . . found you and really enjoyed your first book (not my last!). I lived my summers, growing up, in the Okanagan (Kalamalka Lake). What a great surprise to see the interior of B.C. in a book! Thank you and I look forward to the continuing saga of Lane." —CE, Edmonton, AB
"You may consider this a fan letter. I just finished your book. I loved it! I am an inveterate mystery reader and I found your book as good as any and a whole lot better than most. Your characters were well drawn and you certainly have good ear for dialogue. The story was also very well plotted and the arrangement of the flashbacks definitely added to the suspense and texture of the story, and I thought you captured the sense of the times very well." —S. Lasseter, Tucson, AZ
"It is all your fault that I did not get to the gym this morning, as I stayed in bed too long reading your book. I had to finish it!" —K. Gerson, Vancouver, BC
"I loved your book and I truly, truly hope that the next one is a sequel. I am so enamoured of all your characters. I can't believe how much you captured the expat community and their vocabulary." —Meg Hickling, author, Order of Canada recipient for outstanding work in the field of sex education, Vancouver, BC
"Loved this new vintage mystery." --Elinor Florence, Amazon
"Set near Nelson B.C., just after the end of World War II, this is a good first novel. The characters are distinct and believable, and the plotting is competent and well-executed. The setting is particularly vivid and compelling. The flashbacks could have been a bit more distinct from the current-day story narrative, but that was minor issue. I look forward to what I hope will be more novels in this series." --McQueen, Amazon
"I have just finished reading your first novel in the Lane Winslow Mystery series, and I felt compelled to thank you for such an enjoyable read. . . . I felt motivated to thank you for creating such a strong, intelligent character, set in Canada and written by a Canadian female author. Thank you. I am very much looking forward to reading the next book." —M. Price, Ottawa, ON
"I just finished A Killer in King's Cove and loved it! I'm getting ready to start Death in a Darkening Mist and am looking forward to continuing the Lane Winslow adventures! . . . Keep writing these wonderful novels, please!" —K. Lilley
"A Killer in King's Cove is absolutely fantastic. Your mastery of language affords captivating descriptions of people and places. The novel brings me back to the summers of my childhood when I used to devour the books my P. G. Wodehouse and Agatha Christie, enjoying not only the stories, but also the mood and the style. I know I'll be spending a better part of this coming weekend in a lawn chair with a cup of tea and Death in a Darkening Mist." —Christin
"I love the vintage look and feel of the cover. I might even buy the paperback version so I can leave it artfully lying around!" --Elinor, Goodreads
"A good blend of historical fiction and murder mystery set in 1946 Canada. . . A prequel would make good reading, and the sequel to this book is a definite “want to read”. . . . I give this book a highly recommended rating." --Brian Williams, Goodreads
"A vintage detective story a la Miss Marple only with a younger British sleuth in the fictional King's Cove located in the beautiful area near Nelson, BC. Thoroughly enjoyed the read." --Diana Simpson, Goodreads
"A pleasure to read and I look forward to the next instalment." --Peggy, Goodreads
"As a voracious reader . . . found you and really enjoyed your first book (not my last!). I lived my summers, growing up, in the Okanagan (Kalamalka Lake). What a great surprise to see the interior of B.C. in a book! Thank you and I look forward to the continuing saga of Lane." —CE, Edmonton, AB
"You may consider this a fan letter. I just finished your book. I loved it! I am an inveterate mystery reader and I found your book as good as any and a whole lot better than most. Your characters were well drawn and you certainly have good ear for dialogue. The story was also very well plotted and the arrangement of the flashbacks definitely added to the suspense and texture of the story, and I thought you captured the sense of the times very well." —S. Lasseter, Tucson, AZ
"It is all your fault that I did not get to the gym this morning, as I stayed in bed too long reading your book. I had to finish it!" —K. Gerson, Vancouver, BC
"I loved your book and I truly, truly hope that the next one is a sequel. I am so enamoured of all your characters. I can't believe how much you captured the expat community and their vocabulary." —Meg Hickling, author, Order of Canada recipient for outstanding work in the field of sex education, Vancouver, BC
"Loved this new vintage mystery." --Elinor Florence, Amazon
"Set near Nelson B.C., just after the end of World War II, this is a good first novel. The characters are distinct and believable, and the plotting is competent and well-executed. The setting is particularly vivid and compelling. The flashbacks could have been a bit more distinct from the current-day story narrative, but that was minor issue. I look forward to what I hope will be more novels in this series." --McQueen, Amazon
"I have just finished reading your first novel in the Lane Winslow Mystery series, and I felt compelled to thank you for such an enjoyable read. . . . I felt motivated to thank you for creating such a strong, intelligent character, set in Canada and written by a Canadian female author. Thank you. I am very much looking forward to reading the next book." —M. Price, Ottawa, ON
"I just finished A Killer in King's Cove and loved it! I'm getting ready to start Death in a Darkening Mist and am looking forward to continuing the Lane Winslow adventures! . . . Keep writing these wonderful novels, please!" —K. Lilley
"A Killer in King's Cove is absolutely fantastic. Your mastery of language affords captivating descriptions of people and places. The novel brings me back to the summers of my childhood when I used to devour the books my P. G. Wodehouse and Agatha Christie, enjoying not only the stories, but also the mood and the style. I know I'll be spending a better part of this coming weekend in a lawn chair with a cup of tea and Death in a Darkening Mist." —Christin
"I love the vintage look and feel of the cover. I might even buy the paperback version so I can leave it artfully lying around!" --Elinor, Goodreads
"A good blend of historical fiction and murder mystery set in 1946 Canada. . . A prequel would make good reading, and the sequel to this book is a definite “want to read”. . . . I give this book a highly recommended rating." --Brian Williams, Goodreads
"A vintage detective story a la Miss Marple only with a younger British sleuth in the fictional King's Cove located in the beautiful area near Nelson, BC. Thoroughly enjoyed the read." --Diana Simpson, Goodreads
"A pleasure to read and I look forward to the next instalment." --Peggy, Goodreads
