I'd really call this a 3 1/2 star book.

Martha Crayle works at a charity for Unwed Mothers. She also has a large home with just her and one gentleman boarder. Since she has the room, she occasionally has one of the girls stay with her for a few days. One week she brings home two girls. Almost immediately, one of the girls is involved in a murder. Martha, who always believes in giving people the benefit of the doubt, hates to think that anyone would actually want to hurt her, but when she is nearly shot, she begins to think that maybe she should be more careful about who she trusts.

The plot on this is a little too complicated, I think, and the setting is a little out of date. But I really liked Martha as the main character, so I would recommend this one. It's not exactly a cozy and not exactly a gothic, but maybe a little of both. ( )