Death in a Darkening Mist

On a snowy day in December 1946, Lane Winslow—a former British intelligence agent who’s escaped to the rural Canadian community of King’s Cove in pursuit of a tranquil life—is introduced to the local hot springs. While there, she is astonished to overhear nearby patrons speaking Russian. When one of the speakers is found dead in the change room, Lane’s linguistic and intelligence experience is of immeasurable value to the local police force in solving the murder.
The investigation points to the Soviet Union, where Stalin’s purges are eliminating enemies, and the reach of Stalin’s agent snakes all the way into a harmless Doukhobor community. Her complicated relationship with the local police inspector, Darling, is intensified by the perils of the case—and by the discovery of her own father’s death during the war.
The case comes to a frantic and shocking end with a perilous nighttime journey along treacherous snow-covered roads.

“Death in a Darkening Mist (#2) "The late L. R. Wright's marvellous mysteries set on British Columbia's Sunshine Coast remain some of my favourite Canadian books. But this second novel by Iona Whishaw, also set in BC, is every bit as good. Both writers know how to make a book's setting as important a factor as the plot line or the characters . . . [an] excellent chapter in what appears to be a terrific series." --Margaret Cannon, Globe and Mail "An absolute winner [that] moves the notch up several levels when it comes to mystery writing with a historical twinge. The highlight of the writing is the seamless blend of the sense of place into the storyline. The impact of both world wars settles into the essence of any place, and this is a sterling example of how place impacts both events and people." --Don Graves, Canadian Mystery Reviews blog "Set in 1946, this series cleverly combines both elements of a cozy and a spy thriller, with a heroine who is tough and independent, but harboring secrets of her own . . . The local townspeople are quirky and a nice addition, reminding the reader of another Canadian writer, Louise Penny, who populates her town with interesting characters . . . a series I hope to continue reading." --ReviewingtheEvidence.com Praise for the Lane Winslow Mysteries "The 'find of the year', Iona Whishaw's Lane Winslow series is a real treat. Set after WWII, Lane has left England for Canada . . . settling in the small village of King's Cove. With a quaint cast of characters and the feel of Louise Penny's Three Pines, the independence and quick wit of Kerry Greenwood's Phryne Fisher and the intelligence of Jacqueline Winspear's Maisie Dobbs, this mystery series has it all!" --Murder by the Book, Texas "Relentlessly exciting from start to finish." -- Kirkus Reviews "An engrossing tale of murder, Russian assassins, British spies and local Canadian constabulary" --Shelf Awareness "Iona Whishaw is a writer to watch." -- Globe and Mail "There's no question you should read it--it's excellent." -- Toronto Star "Iona Whishaw's writing is worthy of taking its place alongside the works of Agatha Christie and Dorothy L Sayers. . . deftly crafted and briskly paced." --Fiona Valpy, author of The Dressmaker's Gift "An intriguing mix of character, plot, time, and place. Highly recommended." --Ian Hamilton, author of the bestselling Ava Lee novels "Another fantastic entry in the unique and compelling Lane Winslow series!" --Anna Lee Huber, author of the Lady Darby Mysteries "Most excellent . . . It's always a pleasure to return to King's Cove and be swept away by another Lane Winslow tale." --Kerry Clare, author of Mitzi Bytes "Complex, suspenseful, and deeply felt, this is a smart series for the ages." --Francine Mathews, author of the Nantucket Mysteries "Exquisitely written, psychologically deft." --Linda Svendsen, author of Sussex Drive "Iona Whishaw has again raised the bar . . . This is seriously good storytelling." --Don Graves, Canadian Mystery Reviews "In the vein of Louise Penny . . . a compelling series that combines a cozy setting, spy intrigue storylines, and police procedural elements--not an easy task, but one that Whishaw pulls off." --Reviewing the Evidence "The setting is fresh and the cast endearing." --CrimeReads "An enthralling mystery." --Historical Novel Society "This series . . . continues to get better and better." --Reviewing the Evidence "A simply riveting read by a master of the genre." --Wisconsin Bookwatch "A series that's guaranteed to please." --Mercer Island Books, Washington "Full of history, mystery, and a glorious bc setting . . . a wonderful series." --Sleuth of Baker Street, Ontario”

Praise for Death in a Darkening Mist (#2)

An April 2017 Lone Star Top 10 Pick

"The late L.R. Wright's marvellous mysteries set on British Columbia's Sunshine Coast remain some of my favourite Canadian books. But this second novel by Iona Whishaw, also set in B.C., is every bit as good . . . [an] excellent chapter in what appears to be a terrific series." --Globe and Mail

"This series cleverly combines both elements of a cozy and a spy thriller, with a heroine who is tough and independent, but harboring secrets of her own." --Reviewing the Evidence

"An absolute winner [that] moves the notch up several levels when it comes to mystery writing with a historical twinge. The highlight of the writing is the seamless blend of the sense of place into the story line." --Don Graves, Canadian Mystery Reviews

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 Booksellers' Choice Award (2022)

Loan Stars Top 10 Pick (2017, 2020, 2022)

"Iona Whishaw's Lane Winslow series is a real treat. With a quaint cast of characters and the feel of Louise Penny's Three Pines, the independence and quick wit of Kerry Greenwood's Phryne Fisher and the intelligence of Jacqueline Winspear's Maisie Dobbs, this mystery series has it all!" --Murder by the Book, Texas

"Highly entertaining . . . fans and newcomers alike will find lots to love." --Publishers Weekly, STARRED review

"Relentlessly exciting from start to finish." --Kirkus Reviews

"Well plotted and laced with dry wit, Lane's adventures are entirely satisfying summer reading." --Shelf Awareness

"Whishaw goes all out on the historical bits and it's all great fun." --Globe and Mail

"The setting is fresh and the cast endearing." --CrimeReads

"Brave, bold and brilliant, Lane Winslow is a force to be reckoned with." --Toronto Star

"As always, Whishaw's characters are the heart of the whodunit--we adored spending time with Lane and her entourage, from the wisecracking Inspector Darling to his quirky but highly skilled crew of constables." --Apple Books

"Reliable bestsellers." --Quill & Quire

"It's the perfect series for fans of Miss Fisher and Maisie Dobbs." --Zoomer Magazine

"Very charming and delightful. If you like Louise Penny's novels, this is right up your street." --CBC Ontario Morning

"It Begins in Betrayal has a wonderfully complex plot with threads that eventually resolve most satisfactorily." --Maureen Jennings, author of the Murdoch Mysteries series

"Iona Whishaw's writing is worthy of taking its place alongside the works of Agatha Christie and Dorothy L Sayers. . . deftly crafted and briskly paced." --Fiona Valpy, author of The Dressmaker's Gift

"Another fantastic entry in the unique and compelling Lane Winslow series!" --Anna Lee Huber, author of the Lady Darby Mysteries

"An engaging, superbly crafted page turner of a mystery." --Alan Hlad, international and USA Today bestselling author of The Long Flight Home

"I absolutely love the modern sensibility of these novels, of their feminism, sense of justice, their anti-racism, their progressiveness, which somehow never seems out of place in a tiny BC hamlet in 1948." --Kerry Clare, author of Mitzi Bytes, Waiting for a Star to Fall, and Asking for a Friend

"What a delight! . . . crafted with such charming finesse that readers will fall in love as I did." --Genevieve Graham, #1 USA Today bestselling author of Bluebird

"Stellar . . . " --Eliza Knight, USA Today bestselling author of Starring Adele Astaire

"Whishaw is a master of the historical mystery." --Sam Wiebe, award-winning author of Sunset and Jericho and Hell and Gone

"Richly conjured and Whishaw's trademark examination of the mores of the day add depth and enjoyment to another deftly plotted puzzler . . . this series just keeps getting better!" --Catriona McPherson, award-winning author of the Dandy Gilver series

"An intriguing mix of character, plot, time, and place. Highly recommended." --Ian Hamilton, author of the bestselling Ava Lee novels

"Iona Whishaw has again raised the bar . . . This is seriously good storytelling." --Don Graves, Canadian Mystery Reviews

"A compelling series that combines a cozy setting, spy intrigue storylines, and police procedural elements--not an easy task, but one that Whishaw pulls off." --Reviewing the Evidence

"An enthralling mystery." --Historical Novel Society

"A simply riveting read by a master of the genre." --Wisconsin Bookwatch

"A series that's guaranteed to please." --Mercer Island Books, Washington

"Full of history, mystery, and a glorious BC setting . . . a wonderful series." --Sleuth of Baker Street, Ontario

"Each book in the series is an impressive combination of mystery, history, and a little bit of romance." --Lethbridge Herald

Iona Wishaw is a former educator and social worker whose mother and grandfather both worked as spies in wars. She lives in Vancouver, British Columbia, with her husband.

The second instalment in the Lane Winslow mystery series; for fans of the Maisie Dobbs and Bess Crawford series. On a snowy day in December 1946, Lane Winslow--a former British intelligence agent who's escaped to the rural Canadian community of King's Cove in pursuit of a tranquil life--is introduced to the local hot springs. While there she overhears nearby patrons speaking Russian. When one of those patrons is found dead in the change room, Lane's linguistic and intelligence experience is of immeasurable value to the local police force in solving the murder. The investigation points to the Soviet Union, where Stalin's purges are eliminating enemies, and the reach of Stalin's agent snakes all the way into a harmless Doukhobor community. Winslow's complicated relationship with the local police inspector, Darling, is intensified by the perils of the case--and by the discovery of her own father's death during the war. The case comes to a frantic and shocking end with a perilous nighttime journey along treacherous snow-covered roads. "Iona Whishaw is an exciting addition to Canada's fine roster of mystery writers. I'm already planning to read [Killer in King's Cove] again, and this time I'll read the teaser for Whishaw's next novel provided at the end. A debut mystery by an author destined for awards." -Don Graves, Canadian Mystery Reviews blog

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