Date with Malice: A Samson and Delilah Mystery (Samson and Delilah Mysteries) by Julia Chapman

Date with Malice is the second book in a delightful new English village mystery series by Julia Chapman, set in the picturesque Yorkshire Dales.

When a pensioner turns up at the Dales Detective Agency and tells Samson O’Brien that someone in her old people’s home is trying to kill her, he dismisses her fears as the ramblings of a confused elderly lady. But after several disturbing incidents at Fellside Court, he begins to wonder if perhaps there is something malicious at the heart of the retirement community after all.

With Christmas around the corner, Samson is thrown into an investigation that will require all of his detective skills. He also needs the help of the tempestuous Delilah Metcalfe in order to infiltrate the local community, which Samson turned his back on so long ago. Against the background of a Yorkshire winter, Samson and Delilah must work together to uncover the malevolence that is threatening the lives of Bruncliffe’s senior citizens; a malevolence that will come perilously close to home.  (Summary via Amazon)

Date with Malice is the second book in the Samson & Delilah Mystery series by Julia Chapman and the first in the series that I have read.  And even though the series starts with Date with Death, I wasn't lacking anything when I started reading Date with Malice.  As soon as I started reading this book, I was drawn into the little village of Bruncliffe and it didn't take me long to realize that I was going to be a huge fan of Samson and Delilah !!

You will fall in love with Samson for his mysterious ways and the secrets that surround him.  You don't know what secrets there are but you are instantly intruged and want to know everything about him, why he left the home years ago and most importantly what made him return.  And Deliliah is a strong, independent hard working woman that you instantly admire and want to be around her as much as possible.....  Yes I know that these are both characters in a book but when you are reading Date with Malice, everything feels real.....

When you pick up a book to read you want to be drawn into the story, you want to relate to or like the characters, you want to escape your life and dive into another world and be entertained.  Date with Malice does all that and more.....the town will have you wishing you lived there, you will fall in love with all the residents, and when one of them ends up dead, you will want to do everything in your power to see that the mystery surrounding their death is solved....even if the only thing that you can do "to help" is read as fast as you can......

I was captivated from the beginning until the end and when an author ends a book as Chapman did with Date with Malice, there is NO way that the reader will not be longing for more.  I cannot wait until the next adventure that Samson and Delilah take ..... I will be right there along side them and Tolpuddle....

Review by Missi S.