The Bradfield Trilogy Series by A.L. Lester

It’s 1920. Val Wilkinson is twenty-one and old enough to leave her uncomfortable home-life behind. She’s been planning this for a while, but on the morning of her departure, she meets Flora Downs, the new vicar’s wife.Flora is happy in her platonic marriage with her dear friend Tim and when she meets Val, she’s pleased to be able to offer her a place to stay in the vicarage whilst she finds her feet... moreIt’s 1920. Val Wilkinson is twenty-one and old enough to leave her uncomfortable home-life behind. She’s been planning this for a while, but on the morning of her departure, she meets Flora Downs, the new vicar’s wife.Flora is happy in her platonic marriage with her dear friend Tim and when she meets Val, she’s pleased to be able to offer her a place to stay in the vicarage whilst she finds her feet.Prompted by anonymous letters to his superior, Tim is having a spiritual crisis over his commitment to the church. He joined because he wanted to help people, despite his family, and his lover, Rupert, telling him he was an idiot.Rupert just wants everyone to be happy, however that happens. less

Village nurse Walter Kennett is content with his makeshift found-family in tiny Bradfield. However one midsummer morning a body is found floating in the village duck pond, dead by magical means.Detective Simon Frost arrives in Bradfield to investigate an inexplicable murder. The evidence seems to point to Lucille Hall-Bridges, who lives with doctor Sylvia Marks and nurse Walter Kennett at Courtfield House... moreVillage nurse Walter Kennett is content with his makeshift found-family in tiny Bradfield. However one midsummer morning a body is found floating in the village duck pond, dead by magical means.Detective Simon Frost arrives in Bradfield to investigate an inexplicable murder. The evidence seems to point to Lucille Hall-Bridges, who lives with doctor Sylvia Marks and nurse Walter Kennett at Courtfield House. Simon isn’t happy—he doesn’t believe Lucy is a murderer but he’s sure the three of them are hiding something. In the meantime, the draw he feels toward Walter takes him by surprise.Walter is in a dilemma, concealing Sylvia and Lucy’s relationship and not knowing how much to tell Frost about the paranormal possibilities of the murder. He isn’t interested in going to bed with anyone—he’s got a complicated life and has to know someone really well before he falls between the sheets. He’s taken aback by his own attraction to Detective Frost and angry when Frost appears to twist the spark between them to something transactional in nature.Will Walter be satisfied to stay on the periphery of Lucy and Sylvia’s love affair, a welcome friend but never quite included? Or is it time for him to strike out and embark on a relationship of his own? The second in the Bradfield trilogy, set in the Border Magic universe. With a transm/m couple. less