Sexist.

I had to check. This book was first published in 2003, but save for the odd mention of mobile phones it might as well have been set in 1963.

Spoiler

The reason Prue ended up in hospital is definitely 1963 not 2003.

Lois set up a cleaning business and wants to hire some staff. One of her applicants is a man. A man! Her husband says she should put him on the ‘no’ pile for that reason alone. (Pretty sure discrimination on gender is against the law too in Britain.) Surely a man cannot be a cleaner. And no one says the obvious: why not? He’s got two hands and opposable thumbs. What more do you think he needs to hold on to a duster or broom?

The story grew on me after a while (perseverance and all that), but the omniscient narrator that told me way more than Lois could ever find out, but then conveniently not tell things to create more of a mystery, did annoy at times.

As did the secret rendez-vous Lois kept having with inspector Cowgill to share information. Why not share this information over the telephone? Why share information at all? Some of the information Lois shares the police should have found out on their own.

Not a cozy and not my thing.