The Askham Accusation : Allison & Busby Limited : 9780749029814 : 0749029811 : 20 Jul 2023 : Autumn clouds are drawing in over the village of Askham, at the edge of the picturesque Lake District, and mourners, including Simmy Henderson, are heading to the funeral of Humphrey Craig. Taking a quiet moment later to visit the grave and admire the flowers with her florist's eye, Simmy meets two women: Lindsay Wilson, an academic writing a thesis on Charles Dickens, and ninety-year-old matriarch Pauline Parsons. Just twenty-four hours later, Mrs Parsons is found dead on Askham Fell, and Simmy faces questioning at Penrith police station. An accusation has been made, but if Simmy is to avoid arrest for a murder she did not commit, she will have to uncover the killer herself. Tope is a go-to author for cosy crime fiction with an atmospheric setting, whether in the Cotswolds, the West Country or, with this latest addition, the stunning Lake District. A must-read for fans of MC Beaton and Caro