The emergency number in the UK and the Isle of Man is 999, not 911.
CID is the Criminal Investigation Department of the Isle of Man Constabulary (Police Force).
When talking about time, the English say, for example, “half seven” to mean “seven-thirty.”
With regard to Bessie’s age: UK (and IOM) residents get a free bus pass at the age of 60. Bessie is somewhere between that age and the age at which she will get a birthday card from the Queen. British citizens used to receive telegrams from the ruling monarch on the occasion of their one-hundredth birthday. Cards replaced the telegrams in 1982, but the special greeting is still widely referred to as a telegram.
When island residents talk about someone being from “across,” they mean that the person is from somewhere in the United Kingdom (across the water).
Someone who is “sleeping rough” is generally living outdoors (and homeless).
Your “local” is the pub you visit frequently, usually close to your home.
I often get asked for Bessie’s shortbread recipe, so I thought I should include it in a book. I hope you all enjoy!
Bessie's Favourite Shortbread
Shortbread is actually really easy to make, which is why it's one of Bessie's favourite treats. Here's my recipe, given to me by a friend, and a few hints...
1 1/4 cups of flour (all-purpose in the US or plain flour in the UK)
3 Tablespoons of granulated sugar
4 ounces of butter (Use real butter, it tastes much better.)
Cut the butter into small cubes, but keep it cold until you are ready to use it.
Mix the flour and sugar together and then cut in the butter until the mixture resembles fine crumbs. Knead it together, and the heat from your hands will start to melt the butter until it all comes together in a smooth ball.
You can shape it into a circle and then cut it into traditional wedges or you can roll or pat it into whatever shape you like. At Christmas, I double the recipe and add a bit of extra butter (to soften the dough slightly) and then put it through a cookie press.
Bake at 325 F or 165 C for about 25 to 30 minutes if in a circle or just about 12 minutes for small pressed cookies. You can sprinkle the tops with sugar if you prefer. Caster sugar is ideal (a fine sugar that is readily available in the UK, but hard to find in the US), but I do use colored sugar at Christmas time.
Bessie adds a little bit of pure vanilla extract to her shortbread, but you can add whatever flavorings you like. Try a bit of lemon or orange zest or some cinnamon and nutmeg (added to the dry ingredients before you add the butter).
I sometimes like to add mini chocolate chips or butterscotch chips after the dough has been kneaded, although the dough can be a bit crumbly, which makes it harder to incorporate additions. (It still tastes wonderful, though! Looks aren't everything!)
Acknowledgments
Thanks to my editor, Denise, for her continued hard work.
To Kevin, who takes the wonderful photos on the covers of my books.
To my beta readers, who help polish every text.
And to my readers, who are the reason why I keep doing this!
Release date: October 19, 2018
Aunt Bessie solves murders with alarming regularity.
Elizabeth Cubbon, known as Bessie to nearly everyone, has been caught up in far too many murder investigations lately. When a friend from the UK, police inspector Andrew Cheatham, comes to visit, she can’t help but take an interest in a cold case he mentions, however.
Aunt Bessie solves his case, or at least presents him with an intriguing new avenue to investigate.
Andrew is excited about the possible solution to the thirty-year-old case, but he’s also eager to spend some time working on a cold case that is puzzling Inspector John Rockwell.
Can Aunt Bessie solve both cases and still find time to show Andrew around the island she loves?
Also by Diana Xarissa
Aunt Bessie Assumes
Aunt Bessie Believes
Aunt Bessie Considers
Aunt Bessie Decides
Aunt Bessie Enjoys
Aunt Bessie Finds
Aunt Bessie Goes
Aunt Bessie’s Holiday
Aunt Bessie Invites
Aunt Bessie Joins
Aunt Bessie Knows
Aunt Bessie Likes
Aunt Bessie Meets
Aunt Bessie Needs
Aunt Bessie Observes
Aunt Bessie Provides
Aunt Bessie Remembers
Aunt Bessie Questions
Aunt Bessie Solves
The Isle of Man Ghostly Cozy Mysteries
Arrivals and Arrests
Boats and Bad Guys
Cars and Cold Cases
Dogs and Danger
Encounters and Enemies
Friends and Frauds
Guests and Guilt
Hop-tu-Naa and Homicide
The Markham Sisters Cozy Mystery Novellas
The Appleton Case
The Bennett Case
The Chalmers Case
The Donaldson Case
The Ellsworth Case
The Fenton Case
The Green Case
The Hampton Case
The Irwin Case
The Jackson Case
The Lawley Case
The Moody Case
The Norman Case
The Isle of Man Romance Series
Island Escape
Island Inheritance
Island Heritage
Island Christmas
About the Author
Diana grew up in Northwestern Pennsylvania and moved to Washington, DC after college. There she met a wonderful Englishman who was visiting the city. After a whirlwind romance, they got married and Diana moved to the Chesterfield area of Derbyshire to begin a new life with her husband. A short time later, they relocated to the Isle of Man.
After over ten years on the island, it was time for a change. With their two children in tow, Diana and her husband moved to suburbs of Buffalo, New York. Diana now spends her days writing about the island she loves.
She also writes mystery/thrillers set in the not-too-distant future as Diana X. Dunn and middle grade and Young Adult books as D.X. Dunn.
Diana is always happy to hear from readers. You can write to her at:
Diana Xarissa Dunn
PO Box 72
Clarence, NY 14031.
Find Diana at: DianaXarissa.com
E-mail: Diana@dianaxarissa.com