In Changelings, Jo Bannister climbs into this esteemed company with a detailed, tightly paced tale of an anonymous prankster terrorizing the East Anglia town of Castlemere. It starts with some yoghurt, labeled “This could have been botulism.” Other relabeled products appear in other stores, and in homes. Eventually, someone is hurt and a blackmail letter follows

. The Castlemere CID force is a trifle tattered when the panic begins. Sergeant Donovan, a rebel with a cause, is again on leave after what has become a regular injury. His immediate superior, Inspector Liz Graham, doesn’t even realize her marriage to a schoolteacher may be fragile. She is too busy covering for Donovan and for her own boss, Superintendent Frank Shapiro, who has been out for months recovering from a wound. The trio is about to be reunited, awaiting Donovan’s return from a week of boating in the local canals.

It becomes amazing what a mere label on a bottle of cough syrup can do. A man drinks it and falls ill. The public turns into a mob and attacks innocent people. The media hounds the police. The police argue with the chamber of commerce. An American flies into Castlemere to strongarm a solution.

During it all, Liz and Frank think of Donovan fleetingly, not wanting to call him back to duty unless they really have to. He would work like a dog and they don’t think he’s up to the duty. Ironically, Donovan himself is having an eerie adventure. Mere miles from home, he finds himself in an Alice in Wonderland time warp, and soon the experience is not a pleasant one.

Thank heavens for Jo Bannister. Her Castlemere series is both a delight and a relief.

--Diane Gotfryd