Aunt Bessie Remembers Read online

  The emergency number in the UK and the Isle of Man is 999, not 911.

  CID is the Criminal Investigation Department of the Isle of Man Constabulary (Police Force).

  When talking about time, the English say, for example, “half seven” to mean “seven-thirty.”

  With regard to Bessie’s age: UK (and IOM) residents get a free bus pass at the age of 60. Bessie is somewhere between that age and the age at which she will get a birthday card from the Queen. British citizens used to receive telegrams from the ruling monarch on the occasion of their one-hundredth birthday. Cards replaced the telegrams in 1982, but the special greeting is still widely referred to as a telegram.

  When island residents talk about someone being from “across,” they mean that the person is from somewhere in the United Kingdom (across the water).

  Someone who is “sleeping rough” is generally living outdoors (and homeless).

  Your “local” is the pub you visit frequently, usually close to your home.

  I often get asked for Bessie’s shortbread recipe, so I thought I should include it in a book. I hope you all enjoy!

  Bessie's Favourite Shortbread

  Shortbread is actually really easy to make, which is why it's one of Bessie's favourite treats. Here's my recipe, given to me by a friend, and a few hints...

  1 1/4 cups of flour (all-purpose in the US or plain flour in the UK)

  3 Tablespoons of granulated sugar

  4 ounces of butter (Use real butter, it tastes much better.)

  Cut the butter into small cubes, but keep it cold until you are ready to use it.

  Mix the flour and sugar together and then cut in the butter until the mixture resembles fine crumbs. Knead it together, and the heat from your hands will start to melt the butter until it all comes together in a smooth ball.

  You can shape it into a circle and then cut it into traditional wedges or you can roll or pat it into whatever shape you like. At Christmas, I double the recipe and add a bit of extra butter (to soften the dough slightly) and then put it through a cookie press.

  Bake at 325 F or 165 C for about 25 to 30 minutes if in a circle or just about 12 minutes for small pressed cookies. You can sprinkle the tops with sugar if you prefer. Caster sugar is ideal (a fine sugar that is readily available in the UK, but hard to find in the US), but I do use colored sugar at Christmas time.

  Bessie adds a little bit of pure vanilla extract to her shortbread, but you can add whatever flavorings you like. Try a bit of lemon or orange zest or some cinnamon and nutmeg (added to the dry ingredients before you add the butter).

  I sometimes like to add mini chocolate chips or butterscotch chips after the dough has been kneaded, although the dough can be a bit crumbly, which makes it harder to incorporate additions. (It still tastes wonderful, though! Looks aren't everything!)

  Acknowledgments

  Thanks to my editor, Denise, for her continued hard work.

  To Kevin, who takes the wonderful photos on the covers of my books.

  To my beta readers, who help polish every text.

  And to my readers, who are the reason why I keep doing this!

  Aunt Bessie Solves

  Release date: October 19, 2018

  Aunt Bessie solves murders with alarming regularity.

  Elizabeth Cubbon, known as Bessie to nearly everyone, has been caught up in far too many murder investigations lately. When a friend from the UK, police inspector Andrew Cheatham, comes to visit, she can’t help but take an interest in a cold case he mentions, however.

  Aunt Bessie solves his case, or at least presents him with an intriguing new avenue to investigate.

  Andrew is excited about the possible solution to the thirty-year-old case, but he’s also eager to spend some time working on a cold case that is puzzling Inspector John Rockwell.

  Can Aunt Bessie solve both cases and still find time to show Andrew around the island she loves?

  Also by Diana Xarissa

  Aunt Bessie Assumes

  Aunt Bessie Believes

  Aunt Bessie Considers

  Aunt Bessie Decides

  Aunt Bessie Enjoys

  Aunt Bessie Finds

  Aunt Bessie Goes

  Aunt Bessie’s Holiday

  Aunt Bessie Invites

  Aunt Bessie Joins

  Aunt Bessie Knows

  Aunt Bessie Likes

  Aunt Bessie Meets

  Aunt Bessie Needs

  Aunt Bessie Observes

  Aunt Bessie Provides

  Aunt Bessie Questions

  Aunt Bessie Remembers

  Aunt Bessie Questions

  Aunt Bessie Solves

  The Isle of Man Ghostly Cozy Mysteries

  Arrivals and Arrests

  Boats and Bad Guys

  Cars and Cold Cases

  Dogs and Danger

  Encounters and Enemies

  Friends and Frauds

  Guests and Guilt

  Hop-tu-Naa and Homicide

  The Markham Sisters Cozy Mystery Novellas

  The Appleton Case

  The Bennett Case

  The Chalmers Case

  The Donaldson Case

  The Ellsworth Case

  The Fenton Case

  The Green Case

  The Hampton Case

  The Irwin Case

  The Jackson Case

  The Kingston Case

  The Lawley Case

  The Moody Case

  The Norman Case

  The Isle of Man Romance Series

  Island Escape

  Island Inheritance

  Island Heritage

  Island Christmas

  About the Author

  Diana grew up in Northwestern Pennsylvania and moved to Washington, DC after college. There she met a wonderful Englishman who was visiting the city. After a whirlwind romance, they got married and Diana moved to the Chesterfield area of Derbyshire to begin a new life with her husband. A short time later, they relocated to the Isle of Man.

  After over ten years on the island, it was time for a change. With their two children in tow, Diana and her husband moved to suburbs of Buffalo, New York. Diana now spends her days writing about the island she loves.

  She also writes mystery/thrillers set in the not-too-distant future as Diana X. Dunn and middle grade and Young Adult books as D.X. Dunn.

  Diana is always happy to hear from readers. You can write to her at:

  Diana Xarissa Dunn

  PO Box 72

  Clarence, NY 14031.

  Find Diana at: DianaXarissa.com

  E-mail: [email protected]