A Match Made for Murder by Iona Whishaw (heaven official's blessing novel english txt) 📕

making the many means of murder seem medically plausible, to Gregg Parsons for his help with vintage cars, and to Ellen Wheeler for her help in connecting me to critical sources. Any errors about any of these things are mine alone.

A huge thanks to the wonderful team at TouchWood Editions! Publisher Taryn Boyd, who has inspired me to keep writing with her steadfast and delighted belief in Lane Winslow; publicist Tori Elliott, who has an enormous job with scores of authors, but always makes me feel there is no one else in the world but me; and new in-house editor Kate Kennedy, whom I already feel I could never do without.

Special thanks to editors Claire Philipson, Warren Layberry, and Renée Layberry, whose close reading and wonderful editing make me look like a genius. And those covers! Margaret Hanson has created a stunning set of covers that are the talk of every book event I’ve ever been to. Huge thanks to the designers at TouchWood Editions who have worked their fabulous tricks to make the books such an attractive set to have on a shelf.

Thanks to my family: my husband, Terry, who likes nothing more than to stroll in the woods enjoying nature, but must instead listen to me trying out new ideas; my son, Biski, who is unabashedly in favour of my books; my two utterly impressive grandsons, Tyson and Teo; and my loveliest of daughters-in-law, Tammy—all of whom inspire me to carry on writing.

And I cannot forget the readers to whom I am indebted more than I can say. So very many of you reach out with notes, questions, and all manner of kindnesses, and many of you have taken the brave step of telling me about your own lives, inspired by what you have read in the pages of my books. I am deeply honoured by your support and by your willingness to share your own important stories.

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 Killer in King’s Cove was her first adult novel. 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.

PRAISE FOR the Lane Winslow Mysteries

“Iona Whishaw is a writer to watch.” —Margaret Cannon, Globe and Mail

“Relentlessly exciting from start to finish.” —Kirkus Reviews

“There’s no question you should read it—it’s excellent.” —Toronto Star

“The setting is fresh and the cast endearing.” —CrimeReads

“An enthralling mystery.” —Historical Novel Society

“This series . . . continues to get better and better.” —Reviewing the Evidence blog

“Complex, suspenseful, and deeply felt, this is a smart series for the ages.” —Francine Mathews, author of the Nantucket Mysteries

“Most excellent.” —Kerry Clare, author of Mitzi Bytes

“Exquisitely written, psychologically deft.” —Linda Svendsen, author of Sussex Drive and Marine Life

“A simply riveting read by a master of the genre.” —Wisconsin Bookwatch

“The find of the year . . . this mystery series has it all!” —Murder by the Book

“A series that’s guaranteed to please.” —Mercer Island Books

“Full of history, mystery, and a glorious BC setting . . . a wonderful series.” —Sleuth of Baker Street bookstore

“Seriously good storytelling that continues to earn its place among the finest mystery writing in Canada.” —Don Graves, Canadian Mystery Reviews

Copyright © 2020 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:

TouchWood Editionstouchwoodeditions.com

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.

Edited by Claire PhilipsonCover illustration by Margaret HansonTypeset by Lara Minja

LIBRARY AND ARCHIVES CANADA CATALOGUING IN PUBLICATION

Title: A match made for murder / Iona Whishaw.Names: Whishaw, Iona, 1948- author.Description: Series statement: A Lane Winslow mystery ; #7Identifiers: Canadiana (ebook) 2019018647X | ISBN 9781771513272 (PDF)Classification: LCC PS8595.H414 M38 2020 | DDC C813/.54—dc23

TouchWood Editions gratefully acknowledges that the land on which we live and work is within the traditional territories of the Lkwungen (Esquimalt and Songhees), Malahat, Pacheedaht, Scia’new, T’Sou-ke and W̱SÁNEĆ (Pauquachin, Tsartlip, Tsawout, Tseycum) peoples.

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