FANS of Julia Chapman’s Dales Detective books will not be disappointed with the latest instalment, the fifth in the series, Date With Danger, the perfect read for the coronavirus lockdown.

Samson O’Brien and his fellow sleuth, Delilah Metcalfe are back and investigating a fatal accident involving an unfortunate yardman and some young bullocks at Bruncliffe’s auction mart.

This being Bruncliffe, nothing is as it seems and what first looks like a health and safety investigation turns out to be something far more sinister. Murder indeed, is afoot.

Samson and Delilah, together with Delilah’s faithful hound, Tolpuddle, are quickly on the trail and it’s one that involves sheep rustling, drugs, and even gypsies on their way to Appleby Fair. Thrown into the mix is Delilah’s matchmaking business, the Dales Dating Agency, and her ongoing attempts to fix up farmer Clive Knowles with a wife - she just needs to find someone able to cope with his ways, and she may just, unexpectedly, have found the right lucky lady.

Meanwhile, Delilah’s own relationship with the motorbike riding, former undercover Metropolitan police officer, Samson, has moved on from determined dislike; while Samson is fighting his own feelings, towards the fiery Delilah, and thinking he might well decide to stay put in his old home town rather than head back to exciting London.

Bruncliffe is loosely based on Settle, and there are plenty of local references, to enjoy; Samson meets up with his old boss in a Skipton canalside pub, Samson and Delilah go running on the fells, and what do the locals read? The Craven Herald, of course.

Date with Danger is published by Pan Macmillan and is on sale now at £8.99. It is available online and can also be bought from Limestone Books, Settle, which is carrying out home deliveries, more information about deliveries http://limestonebooks.co.uk/