Benjamin Skinner, loathed by all who met him, cried out to attorney Brianna Winston-Beaufort for help. A local businessman, Skinner, who was believed to have died in a boating accident, claimed he was murdered. Brianna inherited her Uncle Franklins law practice after his death and was setting up a temporary office when she received Skinners call.

Bree’s Uncle Franklin died because of a fire that destroyed his office. While renovations were under way, Bree rented a house at 66 Angelus Street only five blocks from her home. As money was tight, and believing the low rent was due to the location at historic all-murderers' cemetery that surrounded the building; she reluctantly settled into her new office space and hired a small staff.

Skinner had left a message on her answering machine telling her he wanted to hire her. When she responded to the message, she found he had died earlier that afternoon in a boating accident. How could a man who was already dead leave her a phone message? Figuring that the phone call had been delayed for some reason, she decided to check into his death.

As Bree and her new staff work to solve Skinner’s mysterious death, bizarre experiences begin to occur. Along the way, she gains Sasha, a rescued dog with a broken leg, and contends with her trouble sister, Antonia, and her overly possessive parents. Although Antonia unexpectedly moves into Bree’s town house, thankfully her parents are a six-hour drive away.

Beaufort and Company seek resolution to the Skinner case as clues come in from diverse resources. Bree soon finds herself entangled with several high-placed businessmen and a family who hates Ben Skinner. Ultimately, Bree finds herself facing the highest court in the land.

Defending Angels is the first book in a new series written by Mary Stanton. Writing as Claudia Bishop, Mary is the author of the long running Hemlock Falls mysteries and the Casebooks of Dr. McKenzie mysteries.

In this new series, the main characters are engaging, the villains are vile, and the story brisk and more believable than one would expect.

Although Defending Angels is a paranormal cozy, Stanton stays true to the mystery genre delivering a true whodunit including a surprising climax and fulfilling finish. This series is sure to find loyal fans who want to read more about Beaufort and Company.