The Kings Lake Investigations books are a quiet pleasure for the mystery reader, consistently excellent and engaging, without sensationalism or hype. Author Peter Grainger produces readable, satisfying books about people you care for.

In Roxanne, the latest installment, the new Kings Lake murder squad investigates the death of a young woman found dead in a brand-new automobile. The car was her own (though there’s no record of her paying for it), and her body shows no signs of violence. It also appears she did not die where she was found.

DCI Cara Freeman, the new chief of the squad, leads her relatively untested team (we spend much of our time with DS Chris Waters, a hold-over from the days of Inspector DC Smith) as they examine the life of Roxanne, a wild child who had (according to her parents) gotten her act together, with a plan (though a problematic one) for making a future for herself. Problems within the team will be almost as much a challenge as identifying the murderer.

“Conspicuous by his absence” would be a good way to describe this series, now that the fascinating DC Smith is retired and has been relegated to the sidelines. Cara Freeman is interesting in her own way, but it’s kind of a negative way – she’s good at her job, but she remains a mystery to her team. They know nothing of her life or motivations – though the reader will get some insight in this book. Chris Waters is also a sympathetic character, and it’s good to watch him work, and to observe his relationship with his blind girlfriend.

I can’t deny I’d prefer to see DC Smith going through his paces indefinitely, but Roxanne was a good, low-key, sympathetic mystery which I enjoyed from beginning to end. I don’t recall any objectionable content, except for a lamentable misuse of the phrase, “begs the question.” Recommended.