I was hoping this would get better .... :( ( )

Light but enjoyable read. I will read more of the series. ( )

Now past her probationary period, Constable Molly Smith finds herself spending Christmas eve/Christmas morning with Constable Dave Evans overseeing the removal of a vehicle from the rushing shallow cold waters of the river. A few days later, she finds herself accompanying Sergeant John Winters to the morgue when the autopsy shows one of the drowned men died at least 24 hours before the accident. The two young men were part of a group staying at a local bed and breakfast while enjoying the powdery slopes of the local ski resort. Molly often finds her mom Lucky whose friend owns the bed and breakfast present when she arrives to question suspects. A local sixteen-year-old girl from an unfortunate family thought she would marry one of those men. Meanwhile a man who threatened Molly's friend and whom Molly arrested comes back to town, having been paroled for good behavior. I love this series in the audiobook format, narrated by Carrington MacDuffie. It provides pleasant escapism in the enjoyable setting of Trafalgar, a British Columbia resort community. ( )

While working the Christmas Eve shift in the small town of Trafalgar, British Columbia, Constables Molly Smith and Dave Evans are summoned to the scene of a car accident. Two young men are dead after crashing their car into the river. At first, it appears to be an accident, but the autopsy reveals evidence that turns this into a possible murder investigation. Sergeant John Winters and new constable, Molly, start to interview the victims' family and friends and those townsfolk who interacted with them. Molly and John have to conduct their investigation while dealing with selfish and privileged kids whose holiday plans have to be put on hold.

The various characters of Trafalgar add interest and charm to these mysteries. There are the town drunks, their daughter, Lorraine, and her brother. Molly’s former best friend reappears, along with the abusive boyfriend who almost killed her. Molly’s mother, Lucky, is a real character, an idealist, ex-hippie, who thinks nothing of interfering in police investigations, including Molly’s. The author does a great job depicting the learning curve experienced by a newly hired constable. In this book Molly Smith has just finished her first year on probation, so she makes a few mistakes, but it seems very realistic.

Winter of Secrets is another outstanding police procedural from Vicki Delany. Anyone who enjoys small town police procedurals should try her one of her books. They are not quite cozy, but definitely not too gritty either. ( )

A police procedural involving a young woman constable in British Columbia, Canada. There are many of these constable type mysteries and this one fits the mold and presents an adequate mystery. ( )