A DECEPTIVE DEVOTION
Another fantastic entry in the unique and compelling Lane Winslow series! Filled with intrigue, deception, twisted loyalties, and a touch of romance, readers will stand up and cheer.
—Anna Lee Huber, author of the Lady Darby Mysteries and the Verity Kent Mysteries
A wedding is on the horizon for Lane Winslow and Inspector Darling. As one of the few Russian speakers in her community, Lane is obliged to act as translator and hostess for Countess Orlova, an elderly Russian woman who has tracked her missing brother to the Nelson area. Nelson PD investigates, but then the murder of a lone hunter in the hills above King’s Cove takes top priority.
Darling works the case with a Constable Oxley—a newcomer to the area, assigned in Constable Ames’ temporary absence—and a British agent contacts Lane to warn her to be on the lookout for a fleeing Russian defector. Bound by the Wartime Secrets Act, Lane is conflicted about keeping the information from Darling, especially when it begins to put a strain on their relationship.
“A nostalgic look at postwar Canada melds with a riveting tale of old and new Russia as its deeply nuanced characters lurch from one dangerous situation to the next.” –Kirkus Reviews
“I am an avid fan of [this] mystery series . . . it is terrific.” –CBC Ontario Morning
“Another fantastic entry in the unique and compelling Lane Winslow series! Filled with intrigue, deception, twisted loyalties, and a touch of romance, readers will stand up and cheer.” –Anna Lee Huber, author of the Lady Darby Mysteries and the Verity Kent Mysteries
“[A] wonderful series about the best lady sleuth since Harriet Vane . . . [that] are as smart and feminist as they are charming, which is saying something. And their underlying messages are so timely and relevant still decades after the time in which the series is set.” –Kerry Clare, author of Mitzi Bytes and Waiting for a Star to Fall
“Iona Whishaw has again raised the bar . . . This is seriously good storytelling that continues to earn its place among the finest mystery writing in Canada.” –Don Graves, Canadian Mystery Reviews
“Whishaw’s sixth in the series continues to engage readers in the mid-1940’s King’s Cove Canada. The witty, fast moving dialog is reminiscent of the classic post-war movies of the 1940s and 1950s. Readers who have enjoyed Jacqueline Winspear will love Whishaw’s writing style and the Lane Winslow historical mysteries.” –Shoshana Frank, reviewer for Booklist
“Whishaw knows the land, the language, and the people. She gives readers many interesting characters–Countess Orlova and Aptekar are two of the best. The plot lines play out from the late 1800s to 1947 in about 150 scenes that jump from King’s Cove and nearby Nelson to Moscow, London, Vladivostok, Vancouver, Ottawa, and places in between. But all the threads come together with considerable surprises and twists. Fans of Whishaw and Winslow will enjoy this 6th in the Lane Winslow Mysteries.” –Historical Novel Society
“My enthusiasm was high while reading A Deceptive Devotion. . . . I genuinely love the characters, their banter, how comfortable I am with them while reading. I of course look forward to spending more time with Lane, Darling and (now Sergeant) Ames.” –Literary Hoarders
“Delightful . . . Much like Louise Penny’s Three Pines, King’s Cove is riddled with murders, and over the (thus far) six-book series, Lane Winslow finds herself entangled, in some way, with each investigation. Recommended if you enjoy a good mystery, 1940’s timeframe, and a touch of humour and romance.” –Reading in the Rockies
“Whishaw spins an engrossing tale of murder, Russian assassins, British spies and local Canadian constabulary while deftly braiding the many story threads into a twisty plot in A Deceptive Devotion. “ –Shelf Awareness
“What makes Lane Winslow mysteries different from other historical mysteries? It’s the storytelling . . . If you love any of the following–strong female leads, historical mysteries, Jacqueline Winspear’s Maisie Dobbs–don’t miss this book (or this series). The characters, setting, and stories combine for a wonderful mystery.” –Hidden Staircase
“Whishaw’s character development is fantastic – they are all wonderfully real and complex.” –Leigh’s Bookish Life
“The Lane Winslow books are in the cozy category, but they are more in the vein of Louise Penny: there’s a darkness around them and events from the past still have a tight hold on Lane and Darling, no matter how much they try to move forward. This is 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
