While performing one evening, cellist Sara Selkirk is distracted by a woman in the audience wearing a bright pink suit. It's not just the suit that disconcerts her, but the fact that the woman slumps to the ground. First it appears she's fainted, but later it's revealed she'd been drinking. And to add further drama to the situation, the woman is none other than Professor Joyce Cruikshank, Sara's previous music teacher.

Joyce has gone from being a very talented and respected music teacher to basically being a fall-down drunk. When Joyce is evicted from her apartment, Sara takes pity on her and let's her move her meager belongings in with Sara, including a cello, of course, and her dog, Pretzel. This arrangement certainly throws a wrench into Sara and Detective Chief Inspector Andrew Poole's romantic life. Andrew, still reluctant to move in with Sara, can't understand why she feels she has to save Joyce and interrupt their lives.

In the meantime, while Sara and Andrew are escorting Joyce around town, she decides to step into a local pub to use the facilities. And wouldn't you know it -- a body is discovered in a stall. Joyce screams and is frantic. The dead woman, known as Mrs. Takahashi, had been a guest at a local bed and breakfast owned by Hilary and Ivan Golightly. Now we have another murder that both Andrew and Sara must solve. Suspicions are raised toward Joyce, not only because her story seems a bit out of sorts, but she'd made a very unkind remark regarding foreigners. And of course, Andrew doesn't trust her.

The bed and breakfast owned by Ivan and Hilary supplies fresh grains and such to the Sulis Clinic, a well-known health spa owned and operated by Ivan's father. Because of its reputation, Sara persuaded her good friend, James, to check in for rest and relaxation in the hopes it would cure whatever was plaguing him. She discovers that the music therapist recently left, so Sara asks the owner to hire Joyce, not only to help her get her life together, but because Sara needs some time and space with Andrew. How was Sara to know that the Sulis Clinic wasn't what it claimed to be, or that someone would be murdered there, while others got sicker, including James?

The plot thickens and you can't have a great Morag Joss mystery without many twists and turns. Are the two murders connected? What was Mrs. Takahashi doing at the bed and breakfast alone?

Joss has done it again with the third installment in her Sara Selkirk mystery series. She introduces and develops characters quirky and different from one another, but uses her talents to bring them together in a well-thought-out and intriguing murder mystery. Everything falls into place when you least expect it. Like the first two mysteries, FRUITFUL BODIES solves the crimes and ties up the loose ends. The only difference with this story is that there's a snippet of thread that's not tied and leaves you wondering what's in store for Sara and Andrew in the future. I anxiously await the next installment.