BROKEN MUSIC, by Marjorie Eccles

Is this a cozy? I think of the Hamish MacBeth or Agatha Raisin stories as cozies. Eccles is a step beyond those, a master at timing, and compelling characters. Here, she gives us a heart-wrenching post-Great War tale of love, manipulation and deceit. Set in the Black Country of western England, populated with clearly-drawn, interesting characters, the story starts with the return of a former police investigator who is determined to re-open the murder of a young women on the day the war started back in 1914. He sets in motion a train of stunning events that weave past into the present, and will keep you up late until you've read the last word. A marvelous 5.