The Finest Little Village

Some of the comments:

I just finished my friend Diana K. Perkins ‘s latest novel, “The Finest Little Village,” a thrill-filled murder mystery set in Windham Center, CT, including the historic Windham Inn. It’s a well-written tale that left me in suspense until the last page! As with her other novels, the characters are realistic, sympathetic, and extremely well described and presented — people I found myself caring about and rooting for. I especially liked Frances, the narrator, a retired hardboiled State Police detective with a soft spot for dogs and an itch to solve mysteries; Grace, the secret-keeper, who is torn between her loyalty to her murdered friend whose confidences she feels obliged to keep, and her desire to do the right thing; and Ellen, the victim, a retired University professor with a checkered past and desire to make amends.

– Jamie E.

“I just finished it, too, and really enjoyed reading it! As Jamie says so well, it’s suspenseful and features interesting characters whose lives you come to care about. And it was fun reading a truly local novel, with lots of references not only to the Windham Inn but also to Windham restaurants and other local spots. Also especially fun for me since I lived in the Windham Inn for a couple of years! All of Diana’s books are fascinating, well-written, and full of historical detail that brings to life many small towns in the area. Go to the Mill Museum gift shop, grab a copy (of one or more of her books!), and help out Windham Preservation Inc. while you’re at it.”

– Pat M.

“Finished it about one hour ago. Same feelings as Jamie and Pat. Have read all her books and enjoyed all of them.

I can’t wait for the next one.”

– Sue H.

“I Just finished it a couple of days ago! A good read and particularly fun that it’s set locally. Diana’s love of eastern CT and its history shines through all her writing. Can’t wait to read her next book!”

– Tom A.

The Finest Little Village is a mystery set in the small village of Windham Center, CT. An elderly woman falls to her death. A retired detective helps to uncover the secrets of the villagers in order to get to the bottom of this mysterious murder.

Excerpt:

If I were to choose the person in our village who would be the least likely to be murdered, it would be Ellen. If you think that’s a strange way to think about someone, I must say it’s all the more strange because she was the first to be murdered, at least the first I remember. There had been one a few years ago, not in our town, Windham Center, but an adjoining town, South Windham, where a dear elderly library volunteer was murdered for her fortune, which all went to the nonprofits in the end.

But Ellen?

I could believe it because I saw it–well, sort of saw it. I was taking my usual morning walk to the post office, next door to the old inn where Ellen lived in one of seven rental units. I was passing the inn when Sue slammed open the front door and screamed, “Help! Help!” When I turned toward her she yelled, “Thank goodness you’re here, Frances! Something’s happened to Ellen!” I ran as quickly as my old bones could carry me, stumbled over the curbing, recovered and dashed inside the open door.

The hall light at the bottom of the stairs threw an oddly warm comforting glow on the scene in front of me, also illuminated by the open door behind us.

Ellen was at the bottom of the stairs, in a crumpled heap that looked a lot like a pile of laundry except mixed in with the clothing were limbs all akimbo, not at all assembled in the way God intended.

To get more information about the village and homes here where the novel is set, please go to the WPI web page or visit the inn where you can pick up maps of the village describing the historical architecture of the homes.

Available at the Windham Textile and History Museum, 411 Main St., Willimantic, CT