Cozies don't come much milder than this possible first in a new series from British veteran Hammond (Well and Good). Roland Fox, a writer with one book to his credit who's just moved to the quiet town of Newton Lauder near the Scottish Borders, meets an attractive vet, Jane Highsmith, after his dog is stung by a wasp. The next day, Jane enlists Roland's help in investigating the fatal fall from a secluded path of her beloved great-grandfather, photographer Luke Grant. Doubting the official verdict of accident, Jane and Roland soon find evidence that a device was rigged with fishing line to knock Grant to his death. Their burgeoning romance advances with their discoveries of further clues, aided by some heavy-handed plot devices that bring them closer together. The amiable leads will appeal to romance fans, but those who read crime fiction for a realistic portrayal of detection or for a clever final reveal will be disappointed. (Oct.) Copyright 2009 Reed Business Information.

Readers who enjoyed Hammond's previous books featuring Jane Highsmith will relish her latest adventure. Jane is now a qualified vet with a new practice in the Scottish Borders village where her beloved great-grandfather, GG, lived. Tragically, GG has recently died under what Jane claims are suspicious circumstances. The old man slipped off a footbridge, fell into a stream, and drowned. But Jane maintains GG was sure-footed and knew the footbridge path like the back of his hand. Enter Roland Fox, a handsome young man with a very sick dog. The only available vet is Jane, and once she treats Roland's dog, the two discover they have a lot in common. Somewhat reluctantly, Roland finds himself helping Jane look into GG's death. As the two amateur sleuths investigate, they learn about a mysterious legacy that GG supposedly left. But what was this legacy, and could it have been valuable enough to be a motive for murder? Solid writing, engaging characters, and a vivid picture of life in a rural Scottish village make this an appealing read for all fans of gentler mysteries.--Melton, Emily Copyright 2009 Booklist

Further proof that dogs and murder are the best ways to meet your new neighbors. Recently qualified veterinarian Jane Highsmith can't believe that her great-grandfather (GG) Luke Grant, 90 but still spry, accidentally fell to his death from a bridge he'd crossed every day for years. But the number of neighbors in Newton Lauder who share her opinion, she tells newcomer Roland Fox while she treats his ailing golden retriever, can be counted on the fingers of one foot. Luckily for her, Roland, whose only employment is working on his second novel, is as poor as Jane is, as open to barter for what he can't purchase and as willing to pursue the investigation DI Ian Fellowes has declined to pursue. With the expert assistance of butler/tracker Ronnie Fiddler, the pair quickly satisfy themselves that GG was indeed murdered. On the wings of the gossip villagers assiduously exchange every time they walk their dogs, that news swiftly leaks out, and someone destroys the evidence. Worse, Jane and Roland are both sidelined with unrelated maladies, one accidental, one not. They're summoned from adjoining hospital beds to a reading of GG's will, which threatens to open an instant rift between Jane and her sister Violet (who's already married Jane's ex-fianc) and kicks off an amusing hunt for a treasure that may be anything but treasurable. The low-stress detection leads to two separate perpetrators, neither of whom Hammond (Crash, 2008, etc.) makes as memorable as the local canines. The hero and heroine, though, are charming. Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.