A Rhanna Mystery is the latest in a series of books about a make believe Hebridean island. The series is by a very popular and prolific writer, Christine Marion Fraser. Christine began her life in the tenements of the Govan district of post-war Glasgow. At the age of ten she contracted a rare muscular disease, and has been in a wheelchair ever since. She now lives with her husband in Argyllshire. A keen reader and storyteller, Christine started writing at the age of five and got the idea for Rhanna, the first novel in the popular series, while on holiday in the Hebrides. This was followed by Rhanna at War, Children of Rhanna, Return to Rhanna, Song of Rhanna, Storm Over Rhanna, Stranger on Rhanna and now A Rhanna Mystery. She has also written three volumes of autobiography Blue Above the Chimneys, Roses Round the Door and Green are My Mountains, and five volumes in the successful King's series - King's Croft, King's Acre, King's Exile, King's Close and King's Farewell. Her most recent series began with Noble Beginnings and was followed by Noble Deeds and Noble Seed.

If you love the Hebrides as much as I do you will love the Rhanna Series. You should start with Rhanna and work your way to this latest book. The appeal of these books are the wonderful descriptions of the Hebrides and the unforgettable characters who live on Rhanna. I have read everyone of these books some of them twice. The latest one adds mystery to the daily happenings on the island.

It is 1968, and after twenty years of marriage, Fergus McKenzie and his beloved Kirsteen are about to be parted for the first time as Kirsteen sets off for Glasgow to help nurse a friend's mother. Fergus knows he'll miss her more than anything, but with his friends and family around him and his faithful Border collie Heinz at his side, he reckons he can survive.

But routine turns into chaos when; a visitor appears dramatically at the farmhouse in the shape of a beautiful young woman causing avid speculation throughout the close-knit community of Rhanna They are all fascinated by the mystery guest - but none so much as Fergus who emotions are thrown into turmoil as he is forced to choose between loyalty to Kirsteen and the tempting attraction of youth, while his passions are played out under the watchful eyes of the islanders.

Every one of the Rhanna books I have been spell bound by the character development of the author. In this book two characters in particular stand out. One is the dog, Heinz, who you will come to love completely especially when he learns having a hurt paw has its advantages. The other character is one I have adored in all of the stories - Dodie. Dodie is a not too intelligent timid hermit. He is one of the most loving human beings you will ever meet in a book. Let me share a scene early in the book when Dodie first shows his caring for the island newcomer, Fern Lee.

"Dobie always apologised for the simple gifts he gave to the people he liked best, things gleaned from the natural bounties of sea and land and painstakingly fashioned into objects of rare and sensitive beauty.

When Fern saw the large oblong stone that he handed her, decorated with a hand-painted fern frond of palest green, the initial 'D' shakily scrawled underneath, tears filled her eyes and reaching up she kissed him gently on one nut-brown cheek.

'You're a very special man, Dodie,' she murmured, quite overcome with the emotion of the moment. 'But there you are now, I knew you were different the first time ever I spoke to you. Don't be taking offence at that for I mean it in the nicest way possible. I'll keep this stone always, and every time I look at it I'll remember you.'

Dodie's face burst into a riot of blushing colour. Placing a callused finger on that most favoured spot on his cheek he backed away, staring, staring at her in mesmerised wonderment, before he took to his heels, his boots half tripping him up as he galloped away in the direction of the village, looking back over and over to wave to her, dazed with delight, trying to assemble in his mind what next he could give her that would make her smile at him the way she had and call him a special man."

It is Dodie search for what he could give her next which brings the mystery to light. It is Dodie who almost dies trying to give a precious gift to the stranger."

It is a tragedy that this paper back book or any of the series is now out of print so go to a used book store or the library.