Crime and mystery: cosy mystery

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Book SynopsisThe mayor of a seaside town is murdered, and a London police detective must sort through motives both political and personal . . .Thanks to its mayor, Sir Gideon Ware, the quiet harbor town of Westcombe has turned into a crowded and rather garish seaside destination where visitors can come to escape the stress of wartime. When Ware collapses at a lavish luncheon, felled by strychnine, Inspector Littlejohn must travel from London to solve the seemingly inexplicable murder. Ware was surrounded by local bigwigs at his table- but that’s just the beginning of the suspect list, as Littlejohn untangles the rivalries, resentments, and corrupt dealings that permeate this picturesque but troubled community . . .Trade ReviewPraise for the Inspector Littlejohn mysteries “Assured prose, well-drawn characters, and the atmosphere of 1940s wartime England . . . well worth the reader’s time.” - Publishers Weekly “Everything is quite comparable in tone to a really good Simenon.” - The New York Times “Dryly ceremonious wit [that] shines from the very first page.” - Kirkus Reviews

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Book Synopsis“…Sweeping and intimate, warm and gripping. I loved it!” —Louise Penny, #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Chief Inspector Gamache novels A single twist of fate puts a servant girl to work in Queen Victoria’s royal kitchen, setting off a suspenseful, historical mystery by the New York Times bestselling author of The Tuscan Child and The Victory Garden. Isabella Waverly only means to comfort the woman felled on a London street. In her final dying moments, she thrusts a letter into Bella’s hand. It’s an offer of employment in the kitchens of Buckingham Palace, and everything the budding young chef desperately wants: an escape from the constrictions of her life as a lowly servant. In the stranger’s stead, Bella can spread her wings. Arriving as Helen Barton from Yorkshire, she pursues her passion for creating culinary delights, served to the delighted Queen Victoria herself. Best of all, she’s been chosen to accompany the queen to Nice. What fortune! Until the threat of blackmail shadows Bella to the Riviera, and a member of the queen’s retinue falls ill and dies. Having prepared the royal guest’s last meal, Bella is suspected of the poisonous crime. An investigation is sure to follow. Her charade will be over. And her new life will come crashing down—if it doesn’t send her to the gallows.Trade Review“This delightful mystery neatly blends historical details of late Victorian life, from rich foods to royalty, into a story spiced with humor and romance. Bowen’s depiction of Bella as a modern Victorian woman, skillfully navigating class differences while struggling with the choice between a safe life and her ambitions, rings true.” —Library Journal (starred review) “A treasure trove of Victoriana…A truly delightful read.” —Kirkus Reviews “Bowen serves up a vivid picture of turn-of-the-century London with its strict class distinctions, crowded streets, and devotion to the Queen…Fans of Bowen and Victorian cozies will enjoy this inside-the-palace romp.” —Booklist “[Bowen] recreates her landscapes of ‘Palace’ and ‘Kitchen’ with great skill, and readers are drawn into the lives of the characters, as much is revealed even in the close quarters of the kitchen…A delightful way to learn more about food, its preparation and its presentation; and a tender love story.” —Historical Novel Society “Rhys Bowen is a gift to all who love great writing, rich and complex characters and a plot that grabs from first words. I dare you to put it down once you’ve read [the] opening sentence. Set in Nice, Bowen brings to life a little known and riveting episode in history—the annual visit of Queen Victoria to the French seaside town and the tumult that ensues. She takes us inside the royal court, inside the kitchens, through the eye of a junior chef, and into the towns and villages of the French Riviera. It is sweeping and intimate, warm and gripping. Above the Bay of Angels is a wonderful read that will stay with you long after the book is finished. I loved it!” —Louise Penny, #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Chief Inspector Gamache novels

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Book SynopsisA heavily pregnant detective winds up on the sacred island of Delos... where it is illegal to give birth

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Book SynopsisIn this freshly baked series, author Maddie Day lifts the lid on a small town in southern Indiana, where a newcomer is cooking up a new start--until a murderer muddles the recipe...Nursing a broken heart, Robbie Jordan is trading in her life on the West Coast for the rolling hills of southern Indiana. After paying a visit to her Aunt Adele, she fell in love with the tiny town of South Lick. And when she spots a For Sale sign on a rundown country store, she decides to snap it up and put her skills as a cook and a carpenter to use. Everyone in town shows up for the grand re-opening of Pans ‘n Pancakes, but when the mayor''s disagreeable assistant is found dead, Robbie realizes that not all press is good press. With all eyes on her, she''ll have to summon her puzzle-solving skills to clear her name, unscramble the town''s darkest secrets, and track down a cold-blooded killer--before she''s the next to die...Advance praise for Flipped for Murder   “What a terrific debut! This deliciously clever cozy—set in a deceptively charming little town—is fresh, intelligent, and delightful. A winner!” —Hank Phillippi RyanAgatha, Anthony, Macavity, and Mary Higgins Clark award winning author“You’ll flip for this mouth-watering new series. Maddy Day serves up a tasty mystery with a side of scenic country charm.”—Leslie Budewitz, two-time Agatha Award winning author of the Food Lovers’ Village Mysteries

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Book SynopsisAurora Teagarden should be used to surprises by now. Yet when a local handyman begins dancing naked in her yard, she's thrown for a loop and suspects it could be a bad omen of unwelcome events to come. When her husband's niece, Regina, appears in Lawrenceton with a baby in tow and evading questions, tensions escalate. It's not much longer before Regina's husband is found murdered and Regina herself has disappeared, leaving both her baby and a large amount of money behind.Traveling north to Ohio seeking relatives to care for the abandoned child, and accompanied by a friend of Regina's who seems to know more than he's letting on, Roe and Martin search for clues that will point them to Regina's location and why she abandoned her baby. There's a killer at large and Roe, snowed in in rural Ohio, will have to peel back the layers of secrets to find the truth before more people die.

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Book SynopsisNational bestselling author Heather Blake is back with wishcrafter Darcy Merriweather in her eighth magical Wishcraft mystery adventure.Wishcrafter Darcy Merriweather might be a witch with the ability to grant wishes for others, but wishing isn’t going to help her catch a killer...When wishcrafter Darcy Merriweather’s personal concierge company is hired by elite runner Abby Stillwell to organize the Wicked Mad Dash, a competition that takes place in the Enchanted Village, Darcy is more than willing to help her friend. As blizzard conditions rage on the morning of the race, Darcy’s main concern is the terrible weather—until Abby goes missing...and is later found dead, buried in the snow.As Darcy investigates her friend’s untimely death, she learns that she didn’t really know Abby well at all. And those closest to the woman—her secret fiancé, her roommate, her ex-boyfriend, and her co-workers at Balefire Sports—seem to have plenty to hide too. As Darcy digs deeper, she uncovers complicated relationships, a possible embezzlement scheme, and allegations of cheating against a top athlete. Just when Darcy is convinced she’s hit a dead end in the case, a startling burglary and the hunt for Abby’s elusive ex send Darcy down a dark, dangerous trail. It will take the help from friends, family, and a little bit of magic for Darcy to stop a stone-cold killer from striking again.

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Book SynopsisIn this emotional story from Starlight Cove, a single mother must solve the mystery of the town theater to learn why it was shut down and stop the unknown forces trying to keep it closed. Newly divorced Lily Kimura returns to her hometown to start fresh with her daughter and her recently retired parents. She’s committed to rebuilding her life, starting with a new job at the town theater. The Starlight Cove Playhouse has been closed for years, ever since a tragic fire took the life of the lead actress. Now, thanks to an anonymous donor, the town is finally ready for a revival. So is Lily, who wholeheartedly dives into her new duties as theater manager, including an unexpected connection with the visiting movie star playing the lead. But strange noises, sinister messages, and a mysterious play hidden in the rafters soon make it clear that not everyone is keen to move on. Someone wants the playhouse closed for good. With the help of an old friend turned local police officer, Dean Harrington, Lily digs into the truth behind every question, threat, and possibility presented to her. She’s just not sure if Starlight Cove will be ready for the answers, or if, as they say, the show will go on.Trade Review“The plot will remind readers of a grown up version of a Nancy Drew mystery in the best possible way. Perfect for fans of small-town mysteries and unlikely sleuths.” —Booklist

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Book SynopsisA summer boating excursion on Lake Pepin takes a nasty turn when the five members of the No Ordinary Women book club discover a body aboard the Wayward Wind. Louise and Robin begin to suspect murder, but only after unwittingly destroying evidence on the ill-fated sailboat. A local paranormal investigator gets caught up in the mystery as the amateur sleuths once more put themselves in danger in their rush to prevent other would-be victims from a watery death.

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Book SynopsisHalloween in North Carolina’s Outer Banks becomes seriously tricky when librarian Lucy Richardson stumbles across something extra unusual in the rare books section: a dead body.Wealthy businessman Jay Ruddle is considering donating his extensive collection of North Carolina historical documents to the Bodie Island Lighthouse Library, but the competition for the collection is fierce. Unfortunately, while the library is hosting a lecture on ghostly legends, Jay becomes one of the dearly departed in the rare books section. Now, it’s up to Lucy Richardson and her fellow librarians to bone up on their detective skills and discover who is responsible for this wicked Halloween homicide. Meanwhile, very strange things are happening at the library—haunted horses are materializing in the marsh, the lights seem to have an eerie life of their own, and the tiny crew of a model ship appears to move around when no one is watching. Is Lucy at her wit’s end? Or can it be that the Bodie Island Lighthouse really is haunted? With The Legend of Sleepy Hollow on everyone’s minds and ghoulish gossip on everyone’s lips, Lucy will need to separate the clues from the boos if she wants to crack this case without losing her head in The Spook in the Stacks, the delightful fourth in national bestseller Eva Gates’ Lighthouse Library mysteries.

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Book SynopsisThe first in a delicious new culinary cozy series featuring a grilled cheese eatery owner who must solve murders in her small town before she is put under lock and brieBack in Balsam Dell to heal after the death of her husband, Carly Hale is finally pursuing her lifelong dream—opening Carly's Grilled Cheese Eatery. After only five months, business is booming as Vermont vacationers and townspeople alike flock to lunch on her Party Havartis and other grilled cheese concoctions. All but Lyle Bagley, Carly's one-time high school boyfriend and now town bully who just bought the building that houses her eatery and wants Carly out. After a muenster of a fight, Carly's forced to put her nose to the rind and find a solution to keep her business afloat.That is…until Lyle is discovered dead behind the dumpster of Carly's shop, and one of her employees becomes the prime suspect. In order to save her eatery and prove her friend's innocence, Carly must sleuth out the killer before she's the one who gets grilled.With a delightful cast of characters, an inventive amateur sleuth, and a whole host of cheesy hijinks, Up to No Gouda is the perfect cozy murder mystery to melt into.Trade Review"Masterful misdirection coupled with a pace that can't be beat, Linda Reilly has grilled up a winner for sure!" - J. C. Eaton, author of the Sophie Kimball Mysteries, The Wine Trail Mysteries, and The Marcie Rayner Mysteries"A well-crafted and fun start to a new series! Carly and her crew serve mouth-watering grilled cheese sandwiches while solving crime in a quaint Vermont town. Plenty of twists and turns to keep you turning the pages and guessing the killer to the very end." - Tina Kashian, author of the Kebab Kitchen mysteries series

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Book SynopsisDon't miss the first book in a brand-new gripping and hilarious bookish cozy mystery series by author Tamara Berry! Put your sleuthing hat on-Buried in a Good Book features: A thriller writer who knows way more than anyone should about death and dismemberment Her young daughter who's more intrigued by dead bodies than she probably should be An isolated cabin in the woods that's probably-definitely-hiding something The tiny mountain town that seems less than troubled by a sudden abundance of murdersBestselling thriller writer Tess Harrow is almost at the end of her rope when she arrives with her teenage daughter at her grandfather's rustic cabin in the woods. She hopes this will be a time for them to heal and bond after Tess's recent divorce, but they've barely made it through the door when an explosion shakes the cabin. Suddenly it's raining fish guts and...is that a human arm?Tess was hardly convincing Gertie that a summer without Wi-Fi and running water would be an adventure. Now she's thrust into a murder investigation, neighbors are saying they've spotted Bigfoot in the woods near her cabin, and the local sheriff is the spitting image of her character Detective Gabriel Gonzales-something he's less than thrilled about. With so much more than her daughter's summer plans at stake, it's up to Tess to solve this case before anyone else gets hurt.

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Book SynopsisOnly a sap would try to ruin a bride's special day...Spring has finally come to Sugar Ridge, Vermont, and with it the end of syrup-making season. But Leila Khoury, new owner of Sappy Endings Farm, won't be making like molasses any time soon. Her best friend Heather's wedding is coming up, and Leila will do anything to make sure it lives up to all her sweetest dreams.Even with Leila's own romantic past stirring up trouble, everything is going to plan until the bridal shower ends up with a body count.Heather's rich and backstabbing aunt had a whole orchard of enemies, so Leila will have her work cut out for her. Can she tap the killer before Heather's dream wedding becomes a nightmare?Includes delicious Middle Eastern recipes!

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Book SynopsisA new novel written by NBA All-Star Kareem Abdul-Jabbar!Fresh out of Cambridge University, the young Mycroft Holmes is already making a name for himself in government, working for the Secretary of State for War. Yet this most British of civil servants has strong ties to the faraway island of Trinidad, the birthplace of his best friend, Cyrus Douglas, a man of African descent, and where his fiancée Georgiana Sutton was raised.Mycroft’s comfortable existence is overturned when Douglas receives troubling reports from home. There are rumors of mysterious disappearances, strange footprints in the sand, and spirits enticing children to their deaths, their bodies found drained of blood. Upon hearing the news, Georgiana abruptly departs for Trinidad. Near panic, Mycroft convinces Douglas that they should follow her, drawing the two men into a web of dark secrets that grows more treacherous with each step they take...Written by NBA superstar Kareem Abdul- Jabbar and screenwriter Anna Waterhouse, Mycroft Holmes reveals the untold story of Sherlock’s older brother. This harrowing adventure changed his life, and set the stage for the man Mycroft would become: founder of the famous Diogenes Club and the hidden power behind the British government.Trade Review"For outsize polymathic energy and accomplishment, Abdul-Jabbar — N.B.A. champion, cultural ambassador, author — rivals Conan Doyle himself." - New York Times"Abdul-Jabbar and Waterhouse have created a smart origin story for Mycroft that slots neatly onto the shelves next to the original canon." - Los Angeles Times "Holmesians will find much to appreciate in the novel’s depiction of a character whose mind is as keen as Sherlock’s." - Time.com"If you’re only aware of Abdul-Jabbar’s skill on the basketball court, get ready—this is an assured novel that fans of Holmes stories (old-school and new) will love." - Barnes and Noble "MYCROFT HOLMES is beautifully written and full of intrigue...while still managing to be a lot of fun.”- Robert Towne, Oscar-winning screenwriter of Chinatown"The book is extremely well-written and well-researched, with layers of sensory detail and filmic tableaux...Doylean Easter Eggs are also sprinkled throughout and are presented with a witty subtlety that will delight longtime fans...Mycroft Holmes is a good book and an engaging mystery for Sherlockians and non-Sherlockians alike, but it’s a particular delight for aficionados of the Doylean world. Here’s hoping Abdul-Jabbar and Waterhouse write many more." - Baker Street Babes“I’m proud to have worked with Kareem, my friend of many years, on this project! It adds an exciting, new dimension to the life of Sherlock Holmes, and Kareem's passion for history has given the story a new twist.” - Leslie S. Klinger, editor, The New Annotated Sherlock Holmes “Moving beyond the echo of big-time basketball's cheering multitudes, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar has found an unlikely second career in the quietude of a writer's life. In his latest literary effort, he indulges his longtime appreciation for the works of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and gives us a rousing mystery novel featuring Sherlock Holmes' older and smarter brother, Mycroft, while launching a new series of adventures.” - Gay Talese, author of A Writer’s Life"With this meticulously researched work, Abdul-Jabbar and Waterhouse have pulled off the near-impossible with MYCROFT HOLMES: given us a novel that will appeal to any fan of good storytelling, an instant classic in the Sherlockian pastiche genre, and a must-read for history buffs. If you love the Holmes brothers, you will love this book. But more importantly, if you care about history and culture and passion and civil rights, you will love it all the more."- Lyndsay Faye, bestselling author, The Gods of Gotham"Basketball legend Abdul-Jabbar (Black Profiles in Courage) makes his triumphant adult fiction debut with an action yarn that fills in the backstory of Sherlock Holmes’s older and smarter brother, Mycroft. In 1870, the 23-year-old Mycroft, who has a reputation as a daredevil, is serving as a secretary at the War Office when word reaches London of a series of unusual deaths in Trinidad. Someone, or some thing, has been killing children and draining their blood. The locals believe the culprits are supernatural beings known as lougarou, who drain children of their blood, and douen, who leave highly unusual footprints near their victims. The tragic news stuns Mycroft’s fiancée, Georgiana Sutton, who immediately sails home to Trinidad. Disobeying her request to stay behind, Mycroft follows Georgiana to Trinidad, where he must exercise his intellect and his innate diplomatic skills to solve the crimes and remain alive. Sherlockians who relish the screen adventures of Cumberbatch and Downey will be particularly entertained." - Publishers Weekly (starred review) "Abdul-Jabbar, a Holmesian since his college days, joins forces with Waterhouse to offer a rousing mystery starring Sherlock’s older (and smarter) brother, Mycroft, a rising star in the British government. The action begins in 1870 London but quickly moves to Trinidad, where Mycroft’s closest friend, Cyrus Douglas, a native of the island, must travel to investigate what some believe is an infestation of douen—tiny supernatural characters who lead children into the clutches of werewolf-like lougarou. Mycroft joins his friend for the trip, and what the two find on arrival—after a near-fatal ocean crossing—isn’t supernatural but far more harrowing... The authors hit all the right notes here, combining fascinating historical detail with rousing adventure, including some cleverly choreographed fight scenes and a pair of protagonists whose rich biracial friendship, while presented realistically, given the era (Douglas must sometimes pose as a butler), is the highlight of the book. Yes, Douglas is a sort-of Watson, but a much brighter, more physical, more bantering version, an equal not a foil. Mystery fans will be eager to hear more from this terrific duo, who may well develop into a gaslit version of Robert B. Parker’s Spenser and Hawk."-Booklist (starred review)"The central conceit is audacious; Mycroft's sense of moral outrage is nicely reflective of the era; the historical detail is solid; and the period decorum is well-maintained throughout." - Kirkus Reviews"Clear space on your new fiction shelf for this slam-dunk of a debut novel. Cowritten by NBA all-star and author Abdul-Jabbar (What Color Is My World?) and screenwriter and producer ­Waterhouse, the team behind the NAACP and Telly Award–winning documentary On the Shoulders of Giants, this latest collaboration brings a fresh voice and broadened scope to the Holmes canon. Historical fiction and mystery fans will be the first to demand this title, but its mass appeal is undeniable." - Library Journal (starred review)The erudite Jabbar has managed to weave elements of his far flung interests into a fascinating mystery narrative. The briskly written book has a delicate woven plot that brings together such diverse elements as Trinidadian culture and folklore, the tobacco importation business in London, and the usual Holmesian array of brightly obtuse knowledge and libertine philosophy that Sherlock fans enjoy— not to mention a plot that involves an elaborate scheme to bring slavery back to the Caribbean. By far the star of the novel is Holmes’ able accomplice Douglas—as compared to Watson, Douglas is portrayed as an equal instead of a foil. The careful dance of the friendship between the two men of different races, complicated by the laws and conventions of the era, is fascinating. — Mike Sager, Esquire"Mycroft Holmes is a 300+ page origin story that nails it… And it’s got a solid mystery to boot." –Geek Dad"Jabbar and Waterhouse have concocted a smooth brew of dark mystery that, for all its gorgeous glossiness (such a lush yet reserved dust jacket), reads like part of the New Pulp movement. It’s a clever ret-conning of one of literature’s great worlds of mystery” - The Blood Shed"If you are looking for a mystery with suspenseful action, charming characters, fascinating relationships and fun twists and turns, then this is the novel for you." - Geek Hard Show"Sure to earn a place in the early canon of the Holmes brothers’ tales." - Hypable"Can this book, despite the cache the author may carry with him, stand on its own in the ever-growing, seemingly non-stop publication of all things Holmes-related? To that, I can answer a definitive yes." - Birth.Movies.Death "Mycroft Holmes has added a new wrinkle in the revered Holmes brothers’ fan fiction stories – the loner genius versus the collaborative genius – and the contrast is entertaining as it is illuminating."- Pop Mythology “Mycroft Holmes sets up its own tension-filled tale of revolt” - Pajiba "Rich with historical details and multicultural insights." - Manhattan Book Review “It’s a fast-paced read, and it is far more emotional than I was expecting it to be” - Book Riot "This novel is an interesting and entertaining combination of mystery fiction and historical fiction with a tiny dash of elements found in horror fiction. This combination works well, because all of the elements are in perfect balance and the story flows effortlessly." - Rising Shadow "it's so well written, with an intriguing hook, well developed characters, and a great mystery at the center of the story." - Never Anyone Else “Suspenseful...compelling” - The Missourian “Mycroft Holmes is a fine addition to the canon – compelling, well-plotted, and firmly in possession of a social conscience.” - Austin Chronicle “well-written and tightly plotted and it features issues of race that we don’t typically see in Sherlock Holmes stories. The settings are detailed and immersive” - Fandom Post

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Book Synopsis"I've been waiting for a novel with vicars, rude old ladies, murder and sausage dogs... et voila!" Dawn French This first in a new series is a charming, warm and witty tale of secrets and murder set among the parishioners of a quaint English village. The No.1 Sunday Times bestselling crime novel, perfect for fans of Richard Osman's The Thursday Murder Club series. 'Whodunnit fans can give praise and rejoice' IAN RANKIN Canon Daniel Clement is Rector of Champton. He has been there for eight years, living at the Rectory alongside his widowed mother-opinionated, fearless, ever-so-slightly annoying Audrey-and his two dachshunds, Cosmo and Hilda. When Daniel announces a plan to install a lavatory in church, the parish is suddenly (and unexpectedly) divided: as lines are drawn, long-buried secrets come dangerously close to destroying the apparent calm of the village. And then Anthony Bowness-cousin to Bernard de Floures, patron of Champton-is found dead at the back of the church, stabbed in the neck with a pair of pruning shears. As the police moves in and the bodies start piling up, Daniel is the only one who can try and keep his fractured community together... and catch a killer. A delightful, cosy murder mystery with a sharp edge from the bestselling author.

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Book Synopsis"A thoroughly engaging read for anyone, whether new to the series or not." - BooklistOnly a few months have passed since the day Kester Lanner forced an angry ghost through the spirit door, but business prospects for Dr. Ribero's supernatural agency haven't improved. Things are looking grim when the agency lands a contract which they must share with a rival agency headed by Dr Ribero's sworn enemy, Larry Higgins. Desperate for the job, the team accepts and begins to investigate the seaside town of Lyme Regis, where elderly victims are dying.The same mysterious clue links the horrendous deaths: the victims all see a double of themselves before dying. The teams wonder if they are dealing with a rogue doppelgänger, one that isn't content just predicting deaths, but carrying them out as well. The victims' connection to an ancient grave site leads to speculation that they may have disturbed a spirit more powerful than the two agencies can handle.One thing is certain, the won't stop unless Kester and the others can overcome their rivalry and stop this deadly spirit.

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Book SynopsisStill recovering from the case of a serial killer spirit in Lyme-Regis, Dr Ribero's agency is soon confronted with an even greater threat: a reckless cult conspiring with an ancient and powerful Daemon to open a permanent spirit door so that spirits have unfettered access to the human realm. Having just witnessed the lethal consequences uncontrolled spirits can have on the unsuspecting, the agency joins forces with several others to prevent the cult from unleashing chaos and ending the world's fragile protection from dangerous spirits.

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