What I particularly like about Cookman's books is the background of interesting characters who develop & change through each book. Libby Sarjeant, the main character, has an interesting life of amateur theatre, her new partner (so a little romance), her psychic though down-to-earth sidekick, and the varied friends she has eg. the gay couple who run the local vegetarian restaurant (and who refer to Libby as "you old trout"). Libby is definitely a character with flaws & seems more real for that. The stories are always interesting to hold the attention & yet feel 'cosy' and comfortable at the same time. These are not gory or forensic detective (horror) stories, nor are they Inspector Morse-style intellectual puzzles, just easy reading whodunnits with style.