A Sorrowful Sanctuary Read online

  “That’s brilliant. I love it when the deserving meet a just fate! What I haven’t been able to make out is why he went after Carl, but not Heppwith.”

  “I think because he thought Carl saw him. He didn’t realize Carl couldn’t see in the dark and was too drunk to make sense of things. He was hoping he could get Heppwith, who is a bit of a lunatic, to do the shooting, but when he wouldn’t Lorimer did the work himself. But he was wearing gloves and Heppwith wasn’t, so the prints on the gun were enough to keep Heppwith in the frame.”

  “Poor Klaus Lazek. Misfortune heaped upon misfortune. A refugee, then his family goes into the maw of Hitler’s camps, then he’s murdered. Why isn’t life more like an Agatha Christie novel, where only the repellent meet untimely ends?”

  Darling leaned forward, looking into his glass. “Because, I suppose, life is more complicated. You take an action because of something in yourself, and you don’t know how the other fellow is going to react. Take Lazek. He was infuriated to see a man he believed had siphoned off money meant for refugees becoming a big political figure, and couldn’t help confronting him. Although clearly Lorimer was already a hard and unyielding man when Lazek first met him, he couldn’t have known that Lorimer now has too much to lose and has reached that stage of being powerful enough that he truly believed he could get away with it. And like so many people who think like that, he went in for a spot of lily gilding. He knew all about Townsend’s antique business. In fact, he allowed Townsend to store his collection in one of his warehouses, and popped down now and again to help himself before they were shipped off. Lorimer came in with Mrs. Armstrong’s Chinese dish claiming Townsend had tried to sell it to him. He didn’t realize we already had Townsend under lock and key. So if we can’t get Lorimer for the murder, we will certainly have him for receiving stolen goods. In any case his political career is over. More?” He held out the bottle.

  “You’re being fast and loose with my Scotch. Had we better think of something to eat instead?”

  “I have thought of that. In your fridge you will find two steaks and a lettuce, and there’s a bottle of wine on the counter.”

  As they moved to the kitchen, Darling asked, “Why were you being lectured by Mrs. Armstrong?”

  “She thinks I’m a fool.”

  “You are, of course, but you write rather well. I like this.” He picked up the poem she had left by her typewriter.

  “You can put that down smartly.” She walked over and took it out of his hand and pushed it into the drawer. His nearness confused her. He took her gently by the arm. “A sad poem. I too feel a sense of yearning and loss, only I wouldn’t have said it as beautifully as you.” He put both his arms around her, and she leaned into him, feeling in danger of losing herself all over again.

  “Should we go on pretending?” she asked into his shoulder.

  Darling shook his head. “That’s always been my trouble. I can’t pretend. I love you. I haven’t been able to sleep or eat, and Ames is looking at me as if I kicked his favourite puppy. I can’t pretend I don’t love you. And I can’t pretend I don’t want to marry you, especially here, in this beautiful place with you. And if you don’t want to marry, fine, but please don’t send me away.”

  Later, their steaks finished, they stretched out in front of the fire, holding hands across the gap between the chairs.

  “I’ve never been proposed to before. Is that how it’s normally done?” Lane asked.

  “Perhaps I should ask Ames. I imagine he’s always proposing.”

  “No, he’s not. He threw Violet over because he wouldn’t.”

  Darling stood and drew her up and took her hands. “Miss Winslow, will you . . .?”

  “I’m seeing the vicar at lunch tomorrow, should I have a word? Something for after Ames gets back? Oh, and after the apple harvest. I promised Robin I’d look after my apples this year.”

  He pulled her close and kissed her. “Never mind the damned apples. Will Ames make a hash of being a best man, I wonder?” he asked.

  Acknowledgments

  Who has a kinder, more generous, or more supportive publishing team than I do? Thanks to Taryn, whose belief in my books makes it possible to write them; Renée and her team of editors who briskly and kindly whip my words into shape; Colin, who beautifully designs the cover and interior; Margaret, who creates stunning cover illustrations; and Tori, who works, apparently tirelessly, to connect Lane Winslow and me to the world and an ever-expanding readership through social media and good old-fashioned sweat.

  I would like, as ever, to thank my doughty readers, Sasha Bley-Vroman and Gerald Miller. Their close reading, suggestions, and, most of all, encouragement have helped me immeasurably to make this a story worth reading. I am happy to welcome some medical expertise to my team in the person of Dr. Jeff Fine, who has been thoughtful and helpful on the subject of reliably lethal wounds.

  I’d also like to thank all the reviewers for their support and for bringing readers to the Lane Winslow mysteries—and you, dear readers, for all your personal notes to me. When confidence starts to flag and I begin to think I would better serve the world by just sitting on the deck with a cup of tea, the personal outreach of readers lifts my spirits and sends me back to work with new enthusiasm.

  Finally, I thank my family, whose genuine delight in finding they are related to a mystery writer has given me wings.

  And, of course, to my dearest daily companion, idea tester, nonsense deflator, offerer of wisdom and unabashed support, a special gratitude. Thank you, Terry.

  IONA WHISHAW was born in British Columbia. After living her early years in the Kootenays, she spent her formative years living and learning in Mexico, Nicaragua, and the US. She travelled extensively for pleasure and education before settling in the Vancouver area. Throughout her roles as youth worker, social worker, teacher, and award-winning high school principal, her love of writing remained consistent, and compelled her to obtain her master’s in creative writing from the University of British Columbia. Iona has published short fiction, poetry, poetry translation, and one children’s book, Henry and the Cow Problem. A Sorrowful Sanctuary is the fifth book in her acclaimed Lane Winslow mystery series. Her heroine, Lane Winslow, was inspired by Iona’s mother who, like her father before her, was a wartime spy. Visit ionawhishaw.com to find out more.

  The Lane Winslow Mystery Series

  A Killer in King’s Cove(#1)

  Death in a Darkening Mist (#2)

  An Old, Cold Grave (#3)

  It Begins in Betrayal (#4)

  A Sorrowful Sanctuary (#5)

  PRAISE FOR A Sorrowful Sanctuary

  “An excellent mystery complemented by an appealingly down-to-earth look at life in postwar Western Canada.” —Kirkus Reviews

  “Engrossing and deftly plotted, the latest Lane Winslow Mystery is sure to enthrall readers. Filled with rich history, clever intrigue, and subtle romance, this series is perfect for fans of Jacqueline Winspear and Susan Elia MacNeal.” —Anna Lee Huber, bestselling author of the Lady Darby Mysteries

  “If you’ve yet to meet Lane Winslow, erstwhile spy and reluctant detective, you’re in for a treat. Iona Whishaw writes with an eye for the telling detail; she conjures a vanished British Columbia out of thin air. Complex, suspenseful, and deeply felt, this is a smart series for the ages.” —Francine Mathews, author of the Nantucket Mysteries

  “Captures the tone and depth of a mystery entwined in a story about people taking painful steps forward with post-WWII life. Vivid plotting, inventive dialogue in a setting that puts you right in the action. This is one of the best series currently in print.” —Don Graves, Canadian Mystery Reviews blog

  PRAISE FOR It Begins in Betrayal

  “A tale of two murders. . . . Relentlessly exciting from start to finish.” —Kirkus Reviews

  “It Begins in Betrayal has a wonderfully complex plot with threads
that eventually resolve most satisfactorily. The post-war time period is particularly interesting and well captured.” —Maureen Jennings, author of the Murdoch Mysteries series

  “Action-packed and emotionally charged from the prologue to the climax . . . it just doesn’t get much better than this.” —Don Graves, Canadian Mystery Reviews blog

  “I am in love. . . . Brilliant! Absolutely in the spirit of Dorothy Sayers’ Harriet Vane/Peter Wimsey mysteries, but smart and fresh in its own right. For lovers of cozy mysteries and British police procedurals—there’s even a murder investigation in which evidence includes fragments of a broken tea set—this title will not disappoint. . . . The writing was wonderful, the plotting rock solid.” —Kerry Clare, author of Mitzi Bytes

  “If you’re after historical crime with a strong backbone but also an air of genteel cosiness about it, then the Lane Winslow series by Iona Whishaw is just right for you.” —Crime Fiction Lover

  PRAISE FOR An Old, Cold Grave

  “A fascinating picture of a life in which many people spent every waking hour working and a disturbing look at the fate of orphaned children raise this mystery above the ordinary.” —Kirkus Reviews

  “Lane Winslow, the intrepid sleuth of King’s Cove, is back in her third adventure and, like the first two, it’s a charmer. Once again, British Columbia’s own Iona Whishaw’s delightful modern gloss on the venerable British cozy provides a perfect weekend getaway. . . . A cleverly plotted story with a delightful setting and amusing characters. Once again, Whishaw keeps us guessing to the end.” —Margaret Cannon, Globe and Mail

  “An Old, Cold Grave—Iona Whishaw’s compelling third novel—gives us a gentle rural setting, a body in a root cellar, and, of course, Lane Winslow, the best new amateur sleuth to come along in quite some time. Plot, dialogue, and place: all the requisite elements for an award-winning novel.” —Don Graves, Canadian Mystery Reviews blog

  “If you enjoy a puzzle set in a 1947, rural BC community, with dialogue that reaches into the soul and a sense of place that is integral to the mystery, then An Old, Cold Grave is a summer read for you. . . . It’s easy to imagine a fourth in this increasingly fine series.” —Bay Observer

  “This series, with a strong and likable female protagonist . . . continues to get better and better. The novels not only use the past as a setting, but there are lessons about history—and how the consequences of past actions always catch up, sooner or later, with those involved.” —ReviewingtheEvidence.com

  PRAISE FOR Death in a Darkening Mist

  “The late L. R. Wright’s marvellous mysteries set on British Columbia’s Sunshine Coast remain some of my favourite Canadian books. But this second novel by Iona Whishaw, also set in BC, is every bit as good. Both writers know how to make a book’s setting as important a factor as the plot line or the characters. . . . [An] excellent chapter in what appears to be a terrific series.” —Margaret Cannon, Globe and Mail

  “An absolute winner [that] moves the notch up several levels when it comes to mystery writing with a historical twinge. The highlight of the writing is the seamless blend of the sense of place into the storyline. The impact of both world wars settles into the essence of any place, and this is a sterling example of how place impacts both events and people.” —Don Graves, Canadian Mystery Reviews blog

  “Set in 1946, this series cleverly combines both elements of a cozy and a spy thriller, with a heroine who is tough and independent, but harboring secrets of her own. . . . The local townspeople are quirky and a nice addition, reminding the reader of another Canadian writer, Louise Penny, who populates her town with interesting characters . . . a series I hope to continue reading.” —ReviewingtheEvidence.com

  PRAISE FOR A Killer in King’s Cove

  “A good historical mystery with a cast of characters that will provide plot lines for the series to come. Iona Whishaw is a writer to watch.” —Margaret Cannon, Globe and Mail

  “Exquisitely written, psychologically deft. . . . If you miss Mary Stewart’s sleuthing heroines, if you loved Broadchurch and its village of suspects, settle in, turn off the phone, and enjoy.” —Linda Svendsen, author of Sussex Drive and Marine Life

  “A debut mystery from an author destined for awards. A setting that is ripe for storytelling and a convincing gift for portraying the painful and challenging life for the survivors of the two world wars. . . . Whishaw is an exciting addition to Canada’s fine roster of mystery writers.” —Don Graves, Canadian Mystery Reviews blog

  “The writing . . . conjures up nicely the ambiance of a 1940s west Canadian locale and develops in depth both the characters and their interactions.” —San Francisco Book Review

  “A Killer in King’s Cove is worth a look, especially as the author intends to reprise her lead character.” —Seattle Book Review

  “Iona Whishaw brings to life a rural country town from the 1940s. . . . She’s created an engaging, quirky cast of characters in the countryside who, some more reluctantly than others, welcome Lane into their circle. . . . Despite Lane’s promise to Inspector Darling to not cause any more mayhem in town, we sort of hope she does!” —ReviewingtheEvidence.com

  “A simply riveting read by a master of the genre, A Killer in King’s Cove is especially recommended for the personal reading lists of dedicated mystery buffs, as well as an enduringly popular acquisition choice for community library mystery/suspense collections.” —Wisconsin Bookwatch

  Copyright © 2018 by Iona Whishaw

  All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the publisher. For more information, contact the publisher at touchwoodeditions.com.

  Cover illustration by Margaret Hanson

  Edited by Claire Philipson

  Proofread by Cailey Cavallin

  This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

  LIBRARY AND ARCHIVES CANADA CATALOGUING IN PUBLICATION

  A sorrowful sanctuary / Iona Whishaw. (A Lane Winslow mystery ; #5)

  Issued in print and electronic formats.

  ISBN 9781771512909 (EPUB).­

  I. Title. II. Series: Whishaw, Iona, 1948­ . Lane Winslow mystery ; #5.

  PS8595.H414S67 2018 C813'.54 C2018­903424­6 C2018­903425­4

  We gratefully acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada through the Canada Book Fund, the Canada Council for the Arts, and the Province of British Columbia through the British Columbia Arts Council and the Book Publishing Tax Credit.