Through Dancing Poppies - Caron Allan

Through Dancing Poppies: Miss Gascoigne mysteries book 3: an intriguing cosy mystery set in the swinging 1960s

Poppy Bell is a teenage singing sensation about to 'hit the big time' and newly engaged to a man old enough to be her father. Everyone says she's a gold digger. But then...

Dee Gascoigne, now a fully-fledged private investigator, meets Poppy a couple of times and can't help but notice she is a very talented musician who is young, naive and on the brink of something incredible. But she is also surrounded by people who know exactly what they are doing, they've done this kind of thing before, are used to the spotlight and the glare of media sensationalism, and know how to present the perfect image to grow a very public career. Then there's a near miss in a car park, and suddenly Dee has an intense feeling of danger lurking in the shadows. But who is the target? Poppy or her new fiancé, wealthy entrepreneur Teddy Reynolds?

Sneak peek:

'So that's a full house, four out of four votes. We say My Wedding Belle is going to be Hot!'

More applause. Then he said, 'And now, without further ado, let's get onto our next new release. This is called Through Dancing Poppies, and the singing artist is a new young lady on the scene, and she is called, appropriately enough, Poppy. Let's have a listen.' The jukebox whirred, a record moved onto the turntable and the needle came down.

Dee, somewhat startled, only just had time to say to Rob, 'But I met her today when I was out for lunch with Miss Evans.'

He glanced at her, but there was no time to speak. The song's introduction was a simple one: a few chords strummed on a guitar then the soft clear voice of the young woman filled the air.

Through dancing poppies they come,

Pressing through the blood-red flowers

The ghosts of our fallen heroes.

Let us always hold the hours

In our hearts and minds till some

Future day, when we will shine

Amongst the dancing poppies,

The dancing scarlet poppies.

Dee's forearms prickled with goosebumps, and she huddled her cardigan closer about her. The song continued along the same lines, about fallen heroes of battles in times past, inextricably linked with today's association with the poppy for remembrance.

'Perfect timing, I must say,' Rob commented. 'Everyone will rush out for their Remembrance Day poppies tomorrow.'

'I must get one myself,' Dee agreed. 'I keep forgetting.'

'I bet she sells a fair few records, too.'

The song that ended on a sad, wistful note, the last chords dying softly away. There was an infinitesimal pause then wild applause from the audience. The camera closed in to show a young woman brushing away a tear. It was clear which way the audience would vote.