Much as I think these books are a fine addition to the genre of cozy crime, the best thing about them for me is the delicious satire. Topics expanded on here include the perils of growing older, toy boys, country life as perceived by city dwellers and - best of all - a hilariously quotable spiel on supermarkets. Ms Beaton has modern village life pegged, with belligerent ex-townies, dyed-in-the-wool country folk and environmental protestors. There is an entertaining whodunit in here as well, which I didn't totally guess, succinct pacing (I was left wanting more) and plenty of surprises. The long-term characters appear like old friends, and every one of these I read seems to be even better than the last. Highly recommended.