Lane Winslow Mysteries Series

The books are set in 1946 in a charming backwater community in BC that the author lived in as a child. It is a community that cannot, alas, escape the press of the wider darker forces of the world and the effects of the war they have just come through.

Books in this Series (13)

Cover of Killer in King's Cove

Killer in King's Cove

Book #1 in series

Iona Whishaw

British Columbia

Historical, Mystery

It is 1946, and war-weary young ex-intelligence officer Lane Winslow leaves London to look for a fresh start. When she finds herself happily settled into a sleepy hamlet in the interior of British Columbia surrounded by a suitably eclectic cast of small-town characters she feels like she may finally be able to put her past to rest. But then a body…

Cover of Death in a Darkening Mist

Death in a Darkening Mist

Book #2 in series

Iona Whishaw

British Columbia

Historical, Mystery

On a snowy day in December 1946, Lane Winslow—a former British intelligence agent who’s escaped to the rural Canadian community of King’s Cove in pursuit of a tranquil life—is introduced to the local hot springs. While there she overhears nearby patrons speaking Russian. When one of those patrons is found dead in the change room, Lane’s linguistic…

Cover of An Old, Cold Grave

An Old, Cold Grave

Book #3 in series

Iona Whishaw

British Columbia

Historical, Mystery

Even the smallest, most idyllic communities have dangerous secrets. When the Hughes ladies—King Cove’s favourite mere et filles–discover the skeletal remains of a child in their root cellar, everyone is shocked and gripped by difficult and painful questions. Who could the child be? Why were they not buried in the local cemetery? Has a murderer been…

Cover of It Begins in Betrayal

It Begins in Betrayal

Book #4 in series

Iona Whishaw

British Columbia

Historical, Mystery

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…

Cover of A Sorrowful Sanctuary

A Sorrowful Sanctuary

Book #5 in series

Iona Whishaw

British Columbia

Cozy, Historical, Mystery

A young man is pulled from a sinking boat, gravely injured. As Darling and Ames hunt for his attacker, clues point toward homegrown fascists and lingering postwar wounds. Lane becomes entangled in a case that exposes dangerous ideological divides.

Cover of A Deceptive Devotion

A Deceptive Devotion

Book #6 in series

Iona Whishaw

British Columbia

Cozy, Historical, Mystery

As Lane prepares for her wedding, she assists an elderly Russian countess searching for her missing brother. A hunter’s murder and rumors of a defecting Soviet agent complicate the investigation, straining Lane’s loyalties and relationships.

Cover of A Match Made for Murder

A Match Made for Murder

Book #7 in series

Iona Whishaw

British Columbia

Cozy, Historical, Mystery

Lane and Darling travel to Tucson for their honeymoon, only to witness a wealthy guest shot in broad daylight. Their romantic getaway becomes a high-stakes investigation as they navigate unfamiliar terrain and dangerous motives.

Cover of A Lethal Lesson

A Lethal Lesson

Book #8 in series

Iona Whishaw

British Columbia

Cozy, Historical, Mystery

Lane becomes involved in a case centered on a local schoolteacher and a troubling incident that threatens the community’s trust. As secrets surface, Lane and Darling must untangle motives rooted in jealousy, fear, and long-held grudges.

Cover of Framed in Fire

Framed in Fire

Book #9 in series

Iona Whishaw

British Columbia

Cozy, Historical, Mystery

It’s early spring 1948 and Lane arrives in New Denver to find that her friend, Peter Barisoff, is not at home. Instead, in a nearby meadow, she encounters Tom, an Indigenous man in search of his ancestral lands. Lane is intrigued. Unfortunately, once Peter returns home, the day takes a gloomy turn when the trio uncovers human remains next to Peter’s…

Cover of To Track a Traitor

To Track a Traitor

Book #10 in series

Iona Whishaw

British Columbia

Cozy, Historical, Mystery

Spanning both world wars, this mystery forces Lane to confront old loyalties and buried histories. When a man disappears under suspicious circumstances, Lane and Darling must unravel a trail of espionage, betrayal, and long-hidden truths.

Cover of Lightning Strikes the Silence

Lightning Strikes the Silence

Book #11 in series

Iona Whishaw

British Columbia

Cozy, Historical, Mystery

Beginning with a dramatic explosion, this installment plunges Lane into a case involving sabotage, personal vendettas, and dangerous secrets. As tensions rise, she must determine who is seeking justice—and who is seeking revenge.

Cover of The Cost of a Hostage

The Cost of a Hostage

Book #12 in series

Iona Whishaw

British Columbia

Cozy, Historical, Mystery

Lane faces one of her most emotionally charged cases when a kidnapping exposes deep fractures within the community. As she and Darling race against time, they uncover motives rooted in desperation, fear, and long-held resentment.

Cover of A False and Fatal Claim

A False and Fatal Claim

Book #13 in series

Iona Whishaw

British Columbia

Cozy, Historical, Mystery

Lane struggles to distinguish friend from foe when a new case forces her to confront political intrigue, personal betrayal, and threats that strike dangerously close to home. The investigation tests her resolve—and her trust in those around her.