Marigolds in October

 

this novel placed joint second in the inspriational novel catatory.

Blurb:

DI Milly Jenson spent the best part of a year haunted by a case that saw her demoted—one that resulted in the deaths of three colleagues, the kidnap victim, and the suspect. So when a spate of similar kidnappings occur in Perth, Scotland, Milly isn't thrilled when she's sent to work with the local PD.

DCI Craig Fraser doesn't want some English plod interfering with his case, especially one with a reputation for incompetence. But it seems the lovely detective inspector knows the killer and may be their only hope.

But as Craig gets to know her, another problem emerges. Can he keep his professional and personal lives separate? Or are he and Milly on a collision course that will have drastic consequences for everyone?

Extract:

“Look, it’s been a really long twenty-four hours.” Milly moved away from the door and leaned on the officer’s desk. “Most of it has been spent travelling and fighting road works and queues on the M6. So, what I want is to be told where I can find DCI Fraser. I also want a hot bath, cup of rosy, a decent meal and ten hours sleep. In that order. What I don’t want is to be left hanging for over an hour downstairs in the lobby while a bunch of Scottish plods play the fool and refuse to help.”
The cop looked pointedly at her, then at the door.
Milly closed her eyes and sighed. “He’s right behind me, isn’t he?”
“Aye, Detective Inspector Jenson, that I am.”
Milly spun around, her stomach tying itself in knots and trying to hide in her shoes. Her face burned.
A tall man, easily topping six feet leaned against the doorway, left hand in his trouser pocket. Dark curly hair framed his face, the faintly amused look on his face tempered by a furrowed brow and fire in his intense blue eyes. He wore a black shirt neatly tucked into black suit trousers, jacket hanging open, his grey tie fastened with a gold tie pin.
She took a deep breath and held out a hand. “DCI Fraser, I assume. I’m DI—”
“Late is what you are and I cannae abide lateness. I dinnae care to ken what you do or dinnae want. What I want is you in my office. Now.”