It Begins in Betrayal - (Lane Winslow Mystery) by Iona Whishaw (Paperback)

About the Book

"Summer descends over the picturesque King's Cove (near Nelson, BC) as Inspector Darling and Lane Winslow's mutual affection blossoms. But their respite from solving crime is cut short when a British government official arrives in Nelson to compel Darling to return to England for questioning about the death of a rear gunner under his command in 1943."--

Book Synopsis

Finalist for a 2019 Lefty Award

The fourth book in the Lane Winslow post-war mystery series, which Kirkus Reviews calls "relentlessly exciting."

Summer descends over the picturesque King's Cove as Darling and Lane's mutual affection blossoms, but their respite from solving crime is cut short when a British government official arrives in Nelson to compel Darling to return to England for questioning about the death of a rear gunner under his command in 1943.

In Darling's absence, Ames oversees the investigation into the suspicious death of a local elderly woman and uncovers a painful betrayal inflicted forty years earlier. Meanwhile, Lane follows Darling to London, where he is charged with murder and faces hanging. While desperately seeking answers, Lane is presented with a desperate proposal that could save the man she loves, but only if she returns to the very life she sought to leave behind.

Review Quotes

Praise for It Begins in Betrayal (#4)

"Good plot and fun characters keep this series fresh." --Globe and Mail

"It Begins in Betrayal has a wonderfully complex plot with threads that eventually resolve most satisfactorily." --Maureen Jennings, author of the Murdoch Mysteries series

"A series that's guaranteed to please." --Island Books

"Relentlessly exciting from start to finish." --Kirkus Reviews

"Whishaw's ability to intertwine two complex plot lines is admirable, as is her skill at imbuing even minor characters with well-drawn backstories." --Historical Novel Society

"If you like British style mysteries with a strong female character you will absolutely love this one." --CBC Ontario Morning

"One of the finest mysteries I've read in some time." --Hamilton Bay Observer

Praise for the Lane Winslow Mysteries

Winner of the 2021 Bony Blithe Light Mystery Award for A Match Made for Murder (#7)

Finalist for the Left Coast Crime "Lefty" Awards (2019, 2024)

Finalist for the Canadian Crime Writers of Canada Awards (2023, 2024)

Finalist for the Bill Duthie Booksellers' Choice Award (2022)

Loan Stars Top 10 Pick (2017, 2020, 2022)

"Iona Whishaw's Lane Winslow series is a real treat. With a quaint cast of characters and the feel of Louise Penny's Three Pines, the independence and quick wit of Kerry Greenwood's Phryne Fisher and the intelligence of Jacqueline Winspear's Maisie Dobbs, this mystery series has it all!" --Murder by the Book, Texas

"Highly entertaining . . . fans and newcomers alike will find lots to love." --Publishers Weekly, STARRED review

"Relentlessly exciting from start to finish." --Kirkus Reviews

"Well plotted and laced with dry wit, Lane's adventures are entirely satisfying summer reading." --Shelf Awareness

"Whishaw goes all out on the historical bits and it's all great fun." --Globe and Mail

"The setting is fresh and the cast endearing." --CrimeReads

"Brave, bold and brilliant, Lane Winslow is a force to be reckoned with." --Toronto Star

"As always, Whishaw's characters are the heart of the whodunit--we adored spending time with Lane and her entourage, from the wisecracking Inspector Darling to his quirky but highly skilled crew of constables." --Apple Books

"Reliable bestsellers." --Quill & Quire

"It's the perfect series for fans of Miss Fisher and Maisie Dobbs." --Zoomer Magazine

"Very charming and delightful. If you like Louise Penny's novels, this is right up your street." --CBC Ontario Morning

"It Begins in Betrayal has a wonderfully complex plot with threads that eventually resolve most satisfactorily." --Maureen Jennings, author of the Murdoch Mysteries series

"Iona Whishaw's writing is worthy of taking its place alongside the works of Agatha Christie and Dorothy L Sayers. . . deftly crafted and briskly paced." --Fiona Valpy, author of The Dressmaker's Gift

"Another fantastic entry in the unique and compelling Lane Winslow series!" --Anna Lee Huber, author of the Lady Darby Mysteries

"An engaging, superbly crafted page turner of a mystery." --Alan Hlad, international and USA Today bestselling author of The Long Flight Home

"I absolutely love the modern sensibility of these novels, of their feminism, sense of justice, their anti-racism, their progressiveness, which somehow never seems out of place in a tiny BC hamlet in 1948." --Kerry Clare, author of Mitzi Bytes, Waiting for a Star to Fall, and Asking for a Friend

"What a delight! . . . crafted with such charming finesse that readers will fall in love as I did." --Genevieve Graham, #1 USA Today bestselling author of Bluebird

"Stellar . . . " --Eliza Knight, USA Today bestselling author of Starring Adele Astaire

"Whishaw is a master of the historical mystery." --Sam Wiebe, award-winning author of Sunset and Jericho and Hell and Gone

"Richly conjured and Whishaw's trademark examination of the mores of the day add depth and enjoyment to another deftly plotted puzzler . . . this series just keeps getting better!" --Catriona McPherson, award-winning author of the Dandy Gilver series

"An intriguing mix of character, plot, time, and place. Highly recommended." --Ian Hamilton, author of the bestselling Ava Lee novels

"Iona Whishaw has again raised the bar . . . This is seriously good storytelling." --Don Graves, Canadian Mystery Reviews

"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

"An enthralling mystery." --Historical Novel Society

"A simply riveting read by a master of the genre." --Wisconsin Bookwatch

"A series that's guaranteed to please." --Mercer Island Books, Washington

"Full of history, mystery, and a glorious BC setting . . . a wonderful series." --Sleuth of Baker Street, Ontario

"Each book in the series is an impressive combination of mystery, history, and a little bit of romance." --Lethbridge Herald