Crime and mystery: cosy mystery

Book Synopsis'BRILLIANT AT CAPTURING THE MURDEROUS CHARMS OF RURAL FRANCE ' MirrorMillions of fans worldwide have discovered the world of Bruno, Chief of Police, and the lovely Perigord town that he looks after. Yet even in the depths of rural France, murder is never far away.Spanish separatists, angry local activists and a mystery corpse: Bruno has his work cut out in this exciting mystery, part of the internationally bestselling series.Life in the Dordogne isn't full of the charming peace that you might imagine. In St Denis a summit in a local château is threatened by Basque separatists, animal rights campaigners are causing havoc and it's about to get worse. A local archaeological team unearths a well-preserved skeleton. Yet it's a lot more recent than they'd hoped - boasting a Swatch on its wrist and a bullet-hole in its skull. Meanwhile, an influx of visitors makes St Denis unusually crowded, and the solution to the murder appears to lie with one of these outsiders. Bruno must think fast and keep his wits about him, especially if the answer lies a little closer to home.Trade ReviewWalker is brilliant at capturing the murderous charms of rural France ... the setting is undeniably delicious * Mirror *A satisfyingly intriguing, wish-you-were-there read * Guardian *Enchanting country mysteries [that] embody the sublime physical beauty and intractable political problems of the Dordogne * New York Times *Walker hits the sweet spot of balancing humor and drama, and his food descriptions will leave readers fantasizing about dining in the Perigord * Publishers Weekly *It's difficult not to be charmed by journalist Walker's series * Kirkus Reviews *

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Book SynopsisThe latest instalment from the beloved THE NO. 1 LADIES'' DETECTIVE AGENCY seriesCatch up on the latest from Mma Ramotswe, Mma Makutsi and other favourites in this new instalment of Alexander McCall Smith''s The No. 1 Ladies'' Detective Agency series.As the temperature rises in Gaborone, Precious Ramotswe, founder of the No. 1 Ladies'' Detective Agency, wonders whether the heat could be the reason that business is particularly slow. Luckily, a slower pace in life is her natural preference, unlike her colleague Mma Makutsi, who is alert to every passing observation and inclined to making snap decisions. With fewer cases to handle, Precious has time to contemplate her new neighbours, a couple who, by the sounds of it, have a rather volatile relationship . . .But then a distant cousin of Mma Ramotswe''s comes to the agency with a plea for help, and the ladies decide to pursue the issue together. Armed with Mma Ramotswe''s circuTrade ReviewBlake may have been able to see the world in a grain of sand, but McCall Smith can encapsulate the human condition in a plate of stewed pumpkin. His talent is to see the god in small things * Sunday Times Scotland *Nothing will dim the charm of McCall Smith's series, with its portraits of goodness, its sorrow over greed and its profound love of Africa. They are among the greatest comfort-reads of all time, written in plain, elegant prose * Sunday Times *The hypnotic ease of McCall Smith's style makes everything clear almost instantly . . . Throughout the Botswana landscape is richly evoked. Happiness and quiet wisdom prevail * Daily Telegraph *Everything about [McCall Smith] is appealing. He's just full of delight - it just bubbles out of him * Sunday Herald *

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Book SynopsisAgatha Christie's first ever murder mystery, now presented as a sumptuous special edition hardback.Beware! Peril to the detective who says: It is so small it does not matter Everything matters.'After the Great War, life can never be the same again. Wounds need healing, and the horror of violent death banished into memory.Captain Arthur Hastings is invited to the rolling country estate of Styles to recuperate from injuries sustained at the Front. It is the last place he expects to encounter murder. Fortunately he knows a former detective, a Belgian refugee, who has grown bored of retirementThe first Hercule Poirot mystery, now published with a previously deleted chapter and introduced by Agatha Christie expert Dr John Curran.Trade Review‘Almost too ingenious … very clearly and brightly told.’Times Literary Supplement ‘Very well contrived.’Sunday Times ‘Altogether a skilful tale and a talented first book.’Daily News ‘The most ingenious and absorbingly interesting tale of sensations and mystery we have read for a long time.’Bookman ‘Well written, well proportioned, and full of surprises. Lovers of good stories will, without exception, rejoice in this book.’The British Weekly

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Book SynopsisThe 26th book in the award-winning Faith Fairchild Mysteries series.Katherine Hall Page?s beloved amateur detective gets wrapped up in a Zoom-bombing scandal that sends her community into a tailspin ? just as a dead body is discovered.Faith Fairchild joins the rest of the world in lockdown mode when reality flips in March 2020. As the pandemic spreads, Faith and her family readjust to life together in Aleford, Massachusetts. Her husband, Tom, continues his sermons from Zoom; their children, Ben, who''s in college, and Amy, a high school senior, are doing remote learning at home .Faith is happy to have her family under the same roof and grateful for her resilient community, friends, and neighbors in Aleford. Town halls remain lively and well-attended, despite residents joining from their living rooms. It is at one of these town halls that scandal breaks out. In the midst of a Zoom meeting, damaging images suddenly flash upon everyone?s screens. Claudia, local art teacher and Faith?s dear friend, is immediately recognized as the woman who has been targeted.When Claudia is later discovered dead, Faith, with the help of her friends, journeys deep into the dark web to unravel the threads of Claudia?s mysterious history and shocking passing.

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Book SynopsisThe brand new novel featuring Private Investigator Kate Shackleton!1930, Yorkshire. Intrigued by a mysterious letter from a stranger offering important information, Private Investigator Kate Shackleton arrives in the mill village of Saltaire. At nearby Milner Field mansion, overshadowed by its reputation for misfortune and untimely deaths, she expects to meet the letter writer, Ronnie Creswell.Kate soon hears the shocking news that Ronnie has been killed. At first his death appears to be a tragic accident at the mill, but soon it becomes clear that Ronnie''s demise was no mishap. Kate is enlisted to help investigate the murder.Kate moves into the tower rooms at Milner Field, as she tries to uncover resentments, industrial espionage, and old secrets in the close-knit village. Although she doesn''t believe in curses, she wonders what sinister truth lies behind this latest in the litany of deaths connected to the infamous Milner Field.Then just whTrade ReviewPraise for Frances Brody:Brody's writing is like her central character Kate Shackleton: witty, acerbic and very, very perceptive -- Ann CleevesA novel that combines clever detection with a sympathetic understanding of human frailty * Daily Mail *I really adore this series and Kate is such a strong, level-headed character * Woman's Way *Kate Shackleton is a splendid heroine -- Ann GrangerDelightful * People's Friend *Frances Brody has made it to the top rank of crime writers * Daily Mail *Brody's excellent mystery splendidly captures the conflicts and attitudes of the time with well-developed characters * RT Book Reviews *Kate Shackleton joins Jacqueline Winspear's Maisie Dobbs in a subgroup of young, female amateur detectives who survived and were matured by their wartime experiences. As self-reliant women in a society that still regards them a second-class citizens, they make excellent heroines * Literary Review *Kate Shackleton is an engagingly forthright and indefatigable investigator * Irish Times *Frances Brody skilfully holds our attention, making us want to read on and then look forward to the next Kate Shackleton mystery * Gazette & Herald *The series is right up there with Miss Marple * Sunday Sport *

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Book SynopsisThe brand-new hilariously quirky mystery in the long running Pennsylvania-Dutch series.Deciding that the PennDutch Inn needs to go more upmarket, Magdalena Yoder is delighted to welcome the Earl and Countess Grimsley-Snodgrass and their family as honoured guests, looking forward to the challenge of introducing English nobility to traditional American culture. But, as Magdalena is about to find out, the Grimsley-Snodgrasses are by no means the easiest of guests, and at the same time she has to contend with the discovery of a mummified corpse trapped in her elevator shaft.Then tragedy strikes during a traditional Pennsylvania-Dutch picnic at Stucky Ridge, when one of the Grimsley-Snodgrasses disappears over the edge of Lovers'' Leap. Did he fall - or was he pushed? And where is the body.?

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Book SynopsisA game of charades ends in coldblooded murder in this entertaining cozy mystery, third in the Crime with the Classics series.Having finished transforming Windy Corner, the grand Victorian mansion she inherited from her great aunt, into a writers'' retreat, widowed literature professor Emily Cavanaugh is ready to receive her first set of guests. But her careful planning is thrown into disarray by the unexpected arrival of outrageous true-crime writer, Cruella Crime, whose unpardonably rude behaviour is causing great offence. As a ferocious ice storm rages outside, the guests entertain one another with a game of charades. But their revelries are brought to a sudden halt by the discovery of a body in one of the guest bedrooms. When it transpires the victim was poisoned, Emily decides to take a leaf out of the book of her favourite detective writer, Agatha Christie, and investigate. But as she pursues her enquiries, it becomes chillingly clear that she herself may have been the intended victim...

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Book SynopsisCosy crime fiction is a popular phenomenon, with its safe but intriguing boundaries. This latest addition to the Gothic Fantasy series is packed with armchair detectives, murders in the vicarage, family secrets unravelling in gossipy ears, and the ingredients of a genteel bloodbath in an otherwise delightful village. Contains a fabulous mix of classic and brand new writing, with contemporary authors from the US, Canada, and the UK. New, contemporary and notable writers featured are: Stephanie Bedwell-Grime, Joshua Boyce, Sarah Holly Bryant, Jeffrey B. Burton, C.B. Channell, Gregory Von Dare, Amanda C. Davis, Michael Martin Garrett, Philip Brian Hall, E.E. King, Tom Mead, Trixie Nisbet, Annette Siketa , B. David Spicer, Nancy Sweetland, Louise Taylor, and Elise Warner. These appear alongside classic stories by authors such as Arthur Conan Doyle, R. Austin Freeman, Arthur Morrison, Baroness Orczy, Catherine Louisa Pirkis and G.K. Chesterton.

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Book SynopsisOn a perfect Spring morning at Windsor Castle, Queen Elizabeth II will enjoy a cup of tea, carry out all her royal duties . . . and solve a murder.'Like an episode of The Crown - but with a spicy dish of murder on the side' (DAILY MAIL)______________________The morning after a dinner party at Windsor Castle, eighty-nine-year-old Queen Elizabeth is shocked to discover that one of her guests has been found murdered in his room, with a rope around his neck.When the police begin to suspect her loyal servants, Her Majesty knows they are looking in the wrong place.For the Queen has been living an extraordinary double life ever since her coronation. Away from the public eye, she has a brilliant knack for solving crimes.With her household's happiness on the line, her secret must not get out. Can the Queen and her trusted secretary Rozie catch the killer, without getting caught themselves?Miss Marple meets The Crown in The Windsor Knot, the first book in the 'Her Majesty The Queen Investigates' mystery series by SJ Bennett - for fans of The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman, Agatha Christie and M.C. Beaton's Agatha Raisin.______________________PRAISE FOR THE WINDSOR KNOT:'Hilarious, affectionate, and so well observed . . . I loved it' - JOANNE HARRIS'A total joy' - NINA STIBBE'A highly original and delightfully charming crime series' - ADELE PARKS'Possibly the most adorable crime novel out this year' - RUTH WARE'Charming, cosy and respectful' - GUARDIAN'Gently hilarious and utterly charming' - AMANDA CRAIGTrade ReviewMiss Marple with a crown in a heartwarming tale * Sunday Express *A total joy * Nina Stibbe *Hilarious, affectionate, and so well observed... I loved it * Joanne Harris *Possibly the most adorable crime novel out this year. If The Crown were crossed with Miss Marple, sprinkled with a dash of Murder She Wrote and adorned with some particularly gorgeous end-papers, then the result would probably be something like this charming whodunnit * Ruth Ware *Gently hilarious, discreetly compelling and utterly charming, The Windsor Knot adds detection to the mystique of monarchy. It's Miss Marple meets The Crown * Amanda Craig, bestselling author of The Golden Rule *A delightful read -- Nicki Chapman * BBC Radio 2 *A witty whodunnit...just the tonic for these unsettled times * Good Housekeeping *I loved every page of this book...I do hope that Her Majesty has a few more cases which she's been keeping under the crown. The Thursday Murder Club was a cracker. The Windsor Knot is better * TheBookbag.co.uk *The first book in a highly original and delightfully charming crime series...gloriously funny and oozes affection * Adele Parks *This version of Her Majesty - shrewd, sensible and inquisitive - has much in common with Alan Bennett's royal creation in The Uncommon Reader, and the resulting book, with its mixture of real and imagined characters, is charming, cosy and respectful * The Guardian *This entertaining novel, written with wit and brio, will appeal to royalists and murder mystery lovers alike * Daily Express *SJ Bennett brilliantly sets up the Queen as a detective...She is Miss Marple with a crown * Daily Mirror *Full of authentic details, the plot is smart and twisty and the whole thing is wonderfully (oddly) believable. Absolute perfection! * Isabelle Broom *Bracingly fresh yet endearingly familiar, The Windsor Knot is a dead cert for the winner's enclosure. It gallops along at a cracking pace, is laugh-out-loud funny and completely convincing, peppered with delicious royal detail and in-jokes. Priceless and charming - a jewel in the crown * Veronica Henry, Sunday Times bestselling author *This witty, impeccably plotted tale is a delightfully refreshing read! * The People's Friend *[A] warm and witty murder mystery...A delightful and respectful tribute to Windsor's canniest - and most discreet - amateur sleuth * Woman & Home, Book of the Month *A deftly layered, surprisingly convincing and tongue-in-cheek whodunnit that will keep you guessing -- Sarra Manning, Literary Editor * RED *A witty take on royal life, this sparkling debut takes cosy crime to the next level * My Weekly *One to watch . . . Miss Marple meets The Crown * The Bookseller *A novel plot with surprises along the way...A fantastically fun whodunnit * Candis *What a hoot! * Saga *In this delightful and suspenseful whodunit, author SJ Bennett pulls off the prodigious feat of transforming Queen Elizabeth into an amateur detective. For those of us who love The Crown but think it should have a little more murder in it, this is perfection * Peter Swanson, author of Rules for Perfect Murders *Feels like an episode of The Crown - but with a spicy dish of murder on the side * Daily Mail *What a refreshing delight this murder mystery is! The plot itself is tightly woven, with subtle clues scattered to tantalise and keep you guessing...It's sharp, funny and satisfying, and I'm happy to say there's a whole series planned. I can't wait! * National Federation of Occupational Pensioners Magazine *Really intriguing and funny, such a brilliant concept, the kind of thing we need in these dark and difficult times -- Phil Williams * Times Radio *A clever tale woven around one of the most well-known women in the world...a wholly enjoyable romp...I'm curious to see what the nonagenarian monarch and her extremely engaging assistant private secretary will get up to next * CrimeReview.co.uk *Delightfully clever, funny and utterly charming...guaranteed to hold readers in its thrall * Lancashire Evening Post *The quirkiest, funniest and most-needed crime novel of the year - do not miss * Fabulous, The Sun on Sunday *Our supersleuth monarch... playing Miss Marple with a crown in a heartwarming tale * Daily Record *Storytelling perfection - charming, funny and utterly endearing. I'll never be able to think of the Queen the same way again! * VICTORIA SELMAN *

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Book SynopsisThe incredible new book in Louise Penny's #1 bestselling Chief Inspector Gamache series.When Chief Inspector Armand Gamache is asked to provide crowd control at a statistics lecture given at the Université de l'Estrie in Quebec, he is dubious. Why ask the head of homicide to provide security for what sounds like a minor, even mundane lecture?But dangerous ideas about who deserves to live in order for society to thrive are rapidly gaining popularity, fuelled by the research of the eminent Professor Abigail Robinson. Yet for every person seduced by her theories there is another who is horrified by them. When a murder is committed days after the lecture, it's clear that within crowds can lie madness.To uncover the truth, Gamache must put his own feelings about the divisive Professor to one side. But with her ideas gaining ground, the line separating good and evil, right and wrong, is quickly blurring - especially when the case leads unexpectedly close to home ...PRAISE FOR LOUISE PENNY AND THE INSPECTOR GAMACHE SERIES:'Louise Penny is one of the greatest crime writers of our times' DENISE MINA'She makes most of her competitors seem like wannabes' THE TIMES'Gamache has become to Canada what Hercule Poirot is to Belgium' THE NEW YORK TIMES'Louise Penny twists and turns the plot expertly tripping the reader up just at the moment you think you might have solved the mystery' DAILY EXPRESS'The series is deep and grand and altogether extraordinary . . . Miraculous' WASHINGTON POST'No one does atmospheric quite like Louise Penny.' ELLY GRIFFITHS'An absolute joy' IRISH TIMESTrade ReviewPenny is on peak form... The Madness of Crowds is a grown-up, timely thriller that considers the nature of cowardice - "there's no peace without courage" - and how to find and defend "that spot between freedom and safety * The Times *The Madness of Crowds is very much a book that will make you think. * SHOTS *A satisfying and multi-layered mystery, the 17th in Penny's excellent series. * Irish Independent *This is a book of great ideas and wonderful characters * On Magazine *Louise Penny is one of the greatest crime writers of our times -- Denise MinaShe makes most of her competitors seem like wannabes * The Times *Gamache has become to Canada what Hercule Poirot is to Belgium * New York Times *No one does atmospheric quite like Louise Penny . . . a fantastic series -- Elly GriffithsLouise Penny's writing is intricate, beautiful and compelling. She is an original voice, a distillation of both PD James and Barbara Vine at their peaks and a worthy successor to both -- Peter JamesA cracking storyteller, who can create fascinating characters, a twisty plot and wonderful surprise endings -- Ann CleevesIt's always a treat to spend a few days with Armand Gamache -- James Patterson[An] atmospheric, distinctive series -- Kate MossePenny's elegant style is deeply satisfying, while Gamache is contemplative even when under pressure, and remains a man you want to spend time with * Metro *Penny is an absolute joy * Irish Times *Enthralling...crime writing of the highest order * Daily Mail *

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Book Synopsis‘Tis the season for gold, frankincense and murder…It’s winter in the small town of Dewstow, and Margery is preparing for her first Christmas as Summerview school’s kitchen manager. She’s supported by her wife, Clementine, and is trying to stay focused on the task at hand.The pair are determined to stay out of the way of the Christmas concert planning that has gripped the rest of the staff. However, they are caught in the crossfire when the stage lights collapse at the first practice, killing Mrs Large, the music teacher.Mrs Smith, the Head of Drama, is the prime suspect and is desperate for the Dinner Lady Detectives to clear her name. Mrs Smith is convinced that it’s sabotage by her rival, Mrs Blossom, the drama teacher at Ittonvale Secondary, but there’s evidence that points to her own misdeeds. Can Margery and Clementine trust their friend? And when things start to heat up in the kitchen, will they make it out in time?A charming and festive British village mystery, perfect for fans of Robert Thorogood and Fiona Leitch.Praise for The Dinner Lady Detectives 'This cosy crime novel has some hilarious moments and is perfect to curl up with' Heat'A brilliant read! Bella'A brilliant whodunnit!' Closer'The plot is great, the character cast is spot on, and the dialogue and humor is so quick, smart, and addictive. Margery and Clem play off one another brilliantly. I cannot wait to read the next book (please say there will be one!!!!!!) and highly recommend this gem.' NetGalley review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ If you are after a gentle and amusing read, this will not disappoint!' Reader review⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐'Heaps of fun. I found myself laughing out loud at some of the absurdities and the chaos that surrounded Clementine and Margery.' Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

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Book SynopsisBRICKS AND MORTALITY is the third Cotswold village mystery by Ann Granger, featuring Inspector Jess Campbell and Superintendent Ian Carter. It is sure to appeal to fans of Midsomer Murders.In the cold light of dawn, a dead body is found entombed in the smouldering remains of a burnt-out Cotswold manor. Key House has stood empty for years, but its owner, Gervase Crown, is rumoured to have been seen in Weston St Ambrose prior to the blaze. Could he be responsible for the fire and the tragic death that followed, or was he in fact the intended target? As Inspector Jess Campbell and Superintendent Ian Carter begin their investigation it becomes clear that Gervase wasn''t the most popular and his return reawakens old memories, not all of which are good.Trade ReviewCharacterisation, as ever with Granger, is sharp and astringent * The Times *The plot is neat and ingenious, the characters rounded and touchingly credible ... a pleasure to read * Ham and High *The reader can expect a treat. Lively, different and fun * Yorkshire Post *She is on to another winner * Birmingham Post *The reader can expect a treat. Lively, different and fun * Yorkshire Post *

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Book SynopsisThe complete adventures of the well-loved clerical sleuth, collected in one brilliant volume.Shabby and lumbering, with a face like a Norfolk dumpling, Father Brown makes for an improbable super-sleuth. But his innocence is the secret of his success: refusing the scientific method of detection, he adopts instead an approach of simple sympathy, interpreting each crime as a work of art, and each criminal as a man no worse than himself. This complete edition brings together all of the Father Brown stories, including two not previously available in Penguin: ''The Donnington Affair'', in which Chesterton rises to the challenge of solving a murder-mystery half written by someone else (Max Pemberton), and ''The Mask of Midas'', which was found in Chesterton''s papers after his death. It also includes an introduction and notes by Michael D. Hurley.G.K. Chesteron was born in 1874. He attended the Slade School of Art, where he appears to have suffered a nervous breakdow

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Book Synopsis''This series is a must-read for anyone who loves the sea, or islands, or joyous, intricate story-telling.'' ANN CLEEVESIt''s the dark nights in the run up to Christmas, and sailing sleuth Cass Lynch''s first night on dry land is disturbed by strange noises outside her isolated cottage. Tiny footprints in the moonlit snow trail from her front door before mysteriously disappearing. Soon Cass learns others were visited by the same tiny feet in the night.It looks like ingenious local teenagers playing tricks - but what happens when festive games turn deadly?Cass soon finds out as a schoolboy disappears, leaving only a trail of footprints into the middle of a snowy field. She''s determined to investigate, but uncovering the truth will also put her in danger . . .Nail-biting and unputdownable, A Shetland Winter Mystery is the latest instalment in the much-loved Shetland Sailing Mystery series by Marsali Taylor. Perfect for fTrade ReviewThis series is a must-read for anyone who loves the sea, or islands, or joyous, intricate story-telling. -- ANN CLEEVES

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Book SynopsisTHE SIXTH KITT HARTLEY MYSTERY, PERFECT FOR FANS OF BETTY ROWLAND AND FAITH MARTIN'A 2020 Miss Marple' Woman's Way************Private investigator Kitt Hartley and her twin sister Rebecca are preparing for a holiday in Scotland when cruise ship entertainer Errol Jackson appears at the door. Errol breaks the news that Bryce Griffin, a former smuggler and an old friend of Kitt's, has been murdered: his body found washed up by a lighthouse, bearing a gunshot wound.Kitt persuades Rebecca to cancel their trip and, together with Kitt's assistant Grace Edwards and best friend Evie Bowes, books onto the next cruise to Norway to help with the ongoing murder investigation.Aboard the cruise ship Kitt, Grace and Rebecca encounter burlesque dancers, casino dealers, drag queens and a talking parrot named Skittles - seemingly the only witness to Bryce's death. But what dark secrets are lurking below deck? Can Kitt catch the killer before it's too late?***********'With eccentric characters and an intricate plot, this new series is one to get your teeth into' CandisTrade ReviewCosy and amusing * Irish Independent *Brilliantly funny and charming * Northern Life *A great read with smart characters and a clever plot * Candis *With eccentric characters and an intricate plot, this new series set in Yorkshire is one to get your teeth into * Candis *This cosy thriller . . . has a unique atmospheric charm * Woman Magazine *A good, well-written holiday read * York Times *A 2020 Miss Marple * Woman's Way *Another winner . . . Kitt is definitely a woman not to be messed with * Belfast Telegraph *

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Book SynopsisTish Tarragon''s preparations for Coleton Creek''s annual garden club awards luncheon are threatened when one of the prime contenders is murdered.Literary caterer Letitia ''Tish'' Tarragon is preparing her English Secret Garden-themed luncheon for Coleton Creek''s annual garden club awards, but when she is taken on a tour of some of the top contenders with the garden club''s president, Jim Ainsley, Tish is surprised at how seriously the residents take the awards - and how desperate they are to win.Wealthy, retired businessman Sloane Shackleford has won the coveted best garden category five years in a row, but he and his Bichon Frise, Biscuit, are universally despised. When Sloane''s bludgeoned body is discovered in his pristine garden, Tish soon learns that he was disliked for reasons that go beyond his green fingers. Have the hotly contested awards brought out a competitive and murderous streak in one of the residents?

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Book SynopsisGourmet pet chef Kitty Karlyle must once again draw on her sleuthing skills when her best friend is suspected of murder.Kitty Karlyle is skeptical when a pet psychologist tells her that her cat and dog are suffering from depression and recommends a pet-centric vacation. Her producer, however, thinks it''s a great idea, and seizes the opportunity to shoot the next episode of Kitty''s TV cooking show, The Pampered Pet, on location at the luxurious Little Switzerland Resort and Spa for pets.Soon after Kitty and her best friend Fran arrive, matters take an unexpected turn when a fellow guest is found strangled in his hotel room. When the police start digging, they discover that Fran''s family lost their life savings in one of the victim''s crooked money-making schemes - and Fran becomes the prime suspect. With her best friend under suspicion of murder, it''s up to Kitty to get cooking and catch the real killer.

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Book SynopsisIt's the height of summer. As the heat shimmers on the streets and ice cream melts onto sticky fingers, tempers begin to rise and old grudges surface. From Cornish beaches to the French Riviera, it's not just a holiday that's on people's minds ... it's murder. In these ten classic stories from writers such as Arthur Conan Doyle, Cyril Hare and Gladys Mitchell, you'll find mayhem and mysteries aplenty. So grab the suncream and head down to the beach - if you dare.Trade ReviewShort, clever and puzzling murder tales which test the brains of the most avid crime reader ... delectable * On Magazine *With Cecily Gayford in charge, we are on safe ground * Daily Mail *

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Book SynopsisNgaio Marsh's classic Christmas murder mystery in a special 50th anniversary edition.Christmas time in an isolated country house and, following a flaming row in the kitchen, there's murder inside.When a much disliked visiting servant disappears without trace after playing Santa Claus, foul play is at once suspected and foul play it proves to be. Only suspicion falls not on the staff but on the guests, all so unimpeachably respectable that the very thought of murder in connection with any of them seems almost heresy.When Superintendent Roderick Alleyn returns unexpectedly from a trip to Australia, it is to find his beloved wife in the thick of an intriguing mysteryTrade Review‘So entertaining that I recommend it unreservedly.’Daily Telegraph ‘Agreeably effortless telling.’Guardian ‘One of her best and most baffling mysteries.’Daily Express

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Book SynopsisTravel writer Jill Curtis is drawn into a deadly blend of rivalry, resentment and romance gone wrong when she stumbles into a bourbon war between two Kentucky families in this first in an intoxicating new cozy mystery series.Travel writer Jill Curtis loves her job, but she desperately needs a break if she''s to achieve her dream of becoming an investigative reporter. Sent to Kentucky by her boss to find out why thousands of tourists flock to Bourbon Country every year, Jill''s dream seems to be slipping further away. After all, nothing interesting ever happens in rural America . . . does it?Staying at an estranged relative''s B&B, Jill''s plan to uncover what makes the state''s bourbon tours so popular goes awry when she discovers a body at one of the distilleries and quickly becomes a suspect in a brutal murder. Can she navigate high-stakes bourbon rivalries, centuries-old family feuds and ill-fated romance to catch a killer?

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Book SynopsisNewly married Emily Richards walks into a family drama that recalls Forster''s classic work while honeymooning at an English country house, in the gripping fifth Crime with the Classics cozy. Retired professor Emily Richards and her husband, Luke, are taking a much-needed break from Windy Corner and spending their honeymoon five thousand miles away as paying guests at Fitzhugh Manor in Oxfordshire. Quaint nearby villages and the manor''s impressive turrets and arches capture Emily''s Anglophile heart, but when she meets its dashing young heir, James Fitzhugh, and his American wife, Allison, James''s cousin Penelope, his dithering uncle Roger and the manor''s formidable dowager, Lady Margaret Fitzhugh, it''s clear that class prejudice, resentment and secrets threaten to tear the family apart. Is there more to a fatal accident than meets the eye? Emily soon finds herself in the middle of a family drama redolent of Forster''s classic novels, but can she pull off her own masterstroke to catch a killer?

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Book SynopsisAll aboard the good ship SS Columbus for an African adventure to die for . . .February 1939. Mamie Mason isn''t enthusiastic when Bert, her husband of thirty years, persuades her to join him on an African cruise. Bert might be pining for adventure, but Mamie''s perfectly content with her comfortable life in Hills Corners, Ohio.But once the couple board the glamorous SS Columbus, Mamie has to admit - as much as it pains her - that Bert was right. Swimming in the pool, dancing under the stars, their own bedroom steward to serve their every whim . . . Mamie settles in and prepares to thoroughly enjoy all the sights that Africa has to offer, in the company of a motley collection of eccentric first-class passengers.Then Mamie witnesses something shocking - and her vacation takes a twist that neither she nor Bert could ever have predicted. Far from home, with a killer in their midst, the couple''s only choice is to turn detective.

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Book SynopsisThe shocking death of a student in one of her charity''s properties draws Ellie into another dark mystery.Ellie Quicke returns from Canada to find her home in chaos and her housing charity tearing itself apart. A student has fallen to his death from the top of one of the charity''s properties, let through a reputable local estate agency. Accused of corruption, the agency is the victim of a vicious social media campaign.Was the student''s death really an accident or something more sinister? Does someone have a grudge against the agency, or are they being set up to ensure the truth never comes out? As Ellie fights to save her charity''s reputation, it seems her troubles are only just beginning . . .

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Book SynopsisBeware! A crafty killer lurks in Gasper''s CoveSeamstress, crafter, and empty-nester Valerie Rankin has plans to open a crafter''s co-op that will put Gasper''s Cove, Nova Scotia on the map. One month before opening day, she still has to pin down a venue, patch up the family business, iron out corruption in the town council, and unravel why anyone who tries to help her ends up dead. With the help of her Golden Retriever, an ex-con who loves cats, and a community of first, second, and third cousins, she just might pull it off.

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Book SynopsisGhosts of the past haunt the crafters of Gasper''s Cove Two generations ago, Winston Churchill''s greatest lie washed ashore in Nova Scotia. Before anyone can recover what was lost, a bus tour director is found murdered, and Duck, an ex-con with a soft spot for animals, is arrested. Promising Duck''s heartbroken cat she will find a way to bring him home, Valerie sets out to find the real killer. Are ingenuity and creativity enough to save Valerie and the crafters from rum runners, murder, and the burden of their secrets? The second book in this cozy mystery series set in the world of the fictitious yet immersive Gasper''s Cove, where crafting and community collide Mystery lovers and crafters alike will adore immersing themselves in this story featuring seamstress and empty-nester Valerie Rankin and her efforts to give an innocent man a second chance at life A perfect gift for anyone who loves mysteries, crafting, sewing, or simply a great read

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Book SynopsisEven the most glamorous stately homes hide secrets and lies from the past...When Flora Maguire receives an alarming telegram informing her of her father’s tragic death in a riding accident, she races back from London to her childhood home.But when Flora and her new husband, Bunny, get to Cleeve Abbey – where she was once Governess to Eddy, Viscount Trent, and her father was butler to Earl Trent – it’s all is not well.Flora’s intention was to bury her father next to Lily, her mother, who sadly passed away when Flora was a small child. But it turns out that a mystery surrounds the whereabouts of Lily’s final resting place.No-one is willing to talk. And, with her father now dead in what seems like a suspicious accident, Flora must now strive alone to uncover hidden family secrets. And a terrible betrayal with the power to change everything…A cozy mystery, perfect for fans of Agatha Christie and Downton Abbey, and set in the glorious Cotswolds landscape.Previously published as Murder at Cleeve Abbey.What people are saying about Death at the Abbey:‘Intriguing… Clues to keep you guessing… I was caught up in the story immediately.’ Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars‘I love, love, love this series! … The intricate plot with its many odd characters kept me turning the pages until the stunning end. I highly recommend this to everyone who loves historical fiction and who would like to venture into the cozy mystery genre. Highly recommended!’ Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars‘An intriguing mystery… Flora makes a wily opponent with first rate detective skills.’ Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars Would recommend to anyone who likes their heroines feisty.’ Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars

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Book Synopsis1903 London is bustling and glamorous. With troubling secrets simmering and worrying signs of war Flora Maguire must solve a deadly mystery which leads right to the heart of the corridors of power.When the body of a London socialite, and leading light of the burgeoning women’s suffrage movement, is found outside The Grenadier public house in London’s fashionable Knightsbridge, Flora Maguire can’t resist investigating.Mysterious letters are discovered in the victim’s belongings, including strange links to the foreign office. But why do the clues keep coming back to the assassination of a Baltic king?As Flora closes in on the killer, it soon becomes clear she is no longer safe in London, but – as her husband Bunny rushes to be by her side – will he be the one to save her, or will she have to find her own way out?Previously published as Murder at The Grenadier and A Knightsbridge ScandalWhat readers are saying about Death of a Suffragette:‘London makes for a wonderful setting for this cozy mystery, brought to life by the author's elegant prose and deep historical research. I am enjoying this series. Flora Maguire is an excellent amateur detective!’‘I just finished one Flora book to move onto another! … A super book to curl up with and apparently, there's more to come!’‘This is a series mystery lovers won't want to miss.’‘I enjoyed it tremendously!’‘Careful though, it’s hard to put it down once you start!!’

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Book SynopsisA BBC RADIO 2 BOOK CLUB PICKA KINDLE TOP 5 BESTSELLER'Fast, funny and furious, this book has bags of humour, bags of heart and a proper murder mystery at its core' Janice HallettClaire and Sophie aren't your typical murder investigators . . .When 30-something freelance medium Claire Hendricks is invited to an old university friend's country pile to provide entertainment for a family party, her best friend Sophie tags along. In fact, Sophie rarely leaves Claire's side, because she's been haunting her ever since she was murdered at the age of seventeen.On arrival at The Cloisters it quickly becomes clear that this family is hiding more than just the good china, as Claire learns someone has recently met an untimely end at the house.Teaming up with the least unbearable members of the Wellington-Forge family - depressive ex-cop Basher and teenage radical Alex - Claire and Sophie determine to figure out not just whodunnit, but who they killed, why and when.Together they must race against incompetence to find the murderer - before the murderer finds them... in this funny, modern, media-literate mystery for the My Favourite Murder generation.'Read this fabulous book' Ben Aaronovitch'A delicious mashup of grisly murder, country house and semi-helpful ghosts' Stuart MacBride'Fresh, funny and hugely enjoyable' Catherine Ryan HowardTrade ReviewYou've never read a country house whodunit quite like Grave Expectations. Nor is there a generation gap quite as wide as the one between Claire and Sophie. Fast, funny and furious, this book has bags of humour, bags of heart and a proper murder mystery at its core. Alice Bell writes with real verve and crafts a preposterous premise into a sharp, well written and lively story that's at once out of this world and yet reassuringly real. As reader, you're along for the ride, and it's a runaway ghost train of a ride at that! Bell is one to watch. -- Janice HallettA delicious mashup of grisly murder, country house and semi-helpful ghosts - imagine a really cockeyed game of Cluedo heavily seasoned with whimsy ... it's a lot of fun -- Stuart MacBrideRead this fabulous book - you will not regret it -- Ben AaronovitchA modern mashup of Ghosts, Blithe Spirit and Randall & Hopkirk (Deceased) ... the lightly acerbic style is a delight ... plenty of spooky fun. More, please. * Guardian *Knives Out vibes with added ghosts. Fresh, funny and hugely enjoyable. -- Catherine Ryan HowardA very funny, entertaining, twisted take on the country house murder mystery. Wonderful.' -- S J BennettFunny, fast, sharp, original, and addictive ... a unique breath of fresh air. Brilliant! -- Andrea MaraA fun and surprising character-driven whodunnit * Heat *A fun, gripping murder mystery with a supernatural spin * Woman's Own *An addictive, hilarious, rollicking debut - fresh, original and utterly brilliant, Alice Bell is a real talent to watch. I cannot WAIT for the next book! -- Sam BlakeClever, unpredictable and a genuinely humorous modern day country house murder mystery which left me guessing. Perfect for anyone who fancies themselves as a detective. -- Nadine MathesonA great read, with great characters, lots of humour, some misty-eyed moments and lots of swearing. Utterly delightful - like the BBC show Ghosts mixed with Cluedo -- Simon ToyneA really unique concept paired with whip-smart writing and lots of heart -- Heather Darwent, author of The Things We Do to Our FriendsA clever and playful contemporary cosy mystery by Cobh-based debut author, the talented Alice Bell. Think Ghosts meets Knives Out. -- Catherine KirwanA highly original, clever, contemporary and funny take on the crime genre * Irish Examiner *Wickedly good * Belfast Telegraph *A murder mystery with lots of heart and heaps of comedy ... full of fun and intrigue, this book's a winner * Meath Chronicle *This book positively lit up my weekends with its cosy, affectionate, funny, awkward brand of ghostly crime-solving. Perfect for fans of BBC's Ghosts, Alice Bell has a keen eye for characterisation and the ridiculous, creating a story that will both send chills down your spine and wrap you up in a hug. -- Ally WIlkes, author of All the White SpacesWitty, addictive, and breathes some much needed (undead) life into the cosy crime murder mystery genre -- Adam SimcoxDelightful, charming, breezy ... A spirited cold-case mystery * Set the Tape *Sharp and hilarious -- Cailean SteedA funny, distinctive, constantly clever genre-bending supernatural crime novel' * Bookseller *

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Book SynopsisEveryone is always out there searching for someone and something, usually for a lover, usually for love. And this is a love story. But the murderee - Nicola Six - is searching for something and someone else: her murderer. She knows the time, she knows the place, she knows the motive, she knows the means. She just doesn't know the man. London Fields is a brilliant, funny and multi-layered novel. It is a book in which the narrator, Samson Young, enters the Black Cross, a thoroughly undesirable public house, and finds the main players of his drama assembled, just waiting to begin. It's a gift of a story from real life...all Samson has to do is write it as it happens.Trade ReviewLondon Fields, its pastoral title savagely inappropriate to its inner-city setting, vibrates, like all Amis's work, with the force fields of sinister, destructive energies. At the core of its surreal fable are four figures locked in lethal alignment -- Peter Kemp * Sunday Times *I love reading novels about the city but this is my favourite. It manages to incorporate the seedy and the middle class Notting Hill side of the capital, all in one glorious unputdownable novel -- Phil Daniels * Daily Express *An electrifying writer who likes to shock his fans and share his sharply contemporary concerns... Amis is a maddening master you need to read - the best of his generation * Mail on Sunday *

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Book SynopsisMurder is a dish best served ice cold... Margery and Clementine are enjoying a peaceful middle-age together in the small, idyllic town of Dewstow, and eagerly awaiting retirement from their work on the front line serving meals to the students at Summerview secondary school.Their calm life is shattered when their kitchen manager is found dead in the school’s walk-in freezer. The police are adamant that it’s an open-and-shut case of accidental death. Margery and Clementine are convinced there’s something far more nefarious going on, and they take it upon themselves to investigate. As they inch closer to the truth, it becomes clear that someone will stop at nothing to keep the pair quiet. Will the perpetrator get their just-desserts before their time runs out?A delightful, quintessentially British cosy mystery perfect for fans of SJ Bennett and Robert Thorogood.Praise for The Dinner Lady Detectives 'This cosy crime novel has some hilarious moments and is perfect to curl up with.' Heat'A brilliant read! Bella'A brilliant whodunnit!' Closer 'The plot is great, the character cast is spot on, and the dialogue and humor is so quick, smart, and addictive. Margery and Clem play off one another brilliantly. I cannot wait to read the next book (please say there will be one!!!!!!) and highly recommend this gem.' NetGalley review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐'What a fun mystery. I would definitely call this a cozy mystery on the line of Murder, She Wrote! I love the dinner ladies and their interactions. I love the relationship between Clem and Margery.' NetGalley review ⭐⭐⭐⭐'The characters are beautifully written and I came to love them within the first few pages and was rooting for them all the way to the end. At times I wanted to stop reading because I just wanted the experience to go on for longer.' NetGalley review ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'Had me hooked from the start right until the end. It was just a lovely cosy read that felt like coming home on a cold and dark night. I loved it.' ⭐⭐⭐⭐

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Book Synopsis#1 New York Times Bestselling AuthorStephanie Plum returns to hunt down a master cyber-criminal operating out of Trenton in the 28th book in the wildly popular series by #1 New York Times bestselling author Janet Evanovich. When Stephanie Plum is woken up in the middle of the night by the sound of footsteps in her apartment, she wishes she didn’t keep her gun in the cookie jar in her kitchen.  And when she finds out the intruder is fellow apprehension agent Diesel, six feet of hard muscle and bad attitude whom she hasn’t seen in more than two years, she still thinks the gun might come in handy.  Turns out Diesel and Stephanie are on the trail of the same fugitive: Oswald Wednesday, an international computer hacker as brilliant as he is ruthless.  Stephanie may not be the most technologically savvy sleuth, but she more than makes up for that with her dogged deter

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Book SynopsisThe delightfully clever mystery in which Queen Elizabeth II secretly solves a murder at Buckingham Palace - perfect for fans of The Crown and The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman.'A witty whodunit starring our very own HM The Queen as an amateur sleuth' - GOOD HOUSEKEEPINGQueen Elizabeth II is having a royal nightmare.A referendum divides the nation, a tumultuous election grips the United States - and the body of a staff member is found dead beside Buckingham Palace swimming pool.Is it a tragic accident, as the police think? Or is something more sinister going on?As Her Majesty looks for answers, her trusted assistant, Rozie, is on the trail of a treasured painting that once hung outside the Queen's bedroom.But when Rozie receives a threatening anonymous letter, Elizabeth knows dark forces are at work - and far too close to home. After all, though the staff and public may not realise it, she is the keenest sleuth among them. Sometimes, it takes a Queen's eye to see connections where no one else can . . .Agatha Christie meets The Crown in A THREE DOG PROBLEM, the much-anticipated second book in the 'Her Majesty The Queen Investigates' mystery series by SJ Bennett - for fans of The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman, Agatha Christie and M.C. Beaton's Agatha Raisin.______________________PRAISE FOR THE 'HER MAJESTY THE QUEEN INVESTIGATES' SERIES:'A pitch-perfect murder mystery' - Ruth Ware 'A witty whodunnit' - Good Housekeeping'Written with wit and brio' - Daily Express'Miss Marple with a crown' - Daily Mirror'Absolute perfection!' - Isabelle Broom'Delightfully charming' - Adele Parks'Pure confection' - New York Times'Warm & witty' - Woman&Home'A delightful read' - BBC Radio 2'I loved it' - Joanne Harris 'A total joy' - Nina Stibbe'Charming' - Guardian'What a hoot!' - Saga

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Book SynopsisAugust Heat by Andrea Camilleri is the tenth installment in the Inspector Montalbano series, now adapted as a major BBC4 television series. The lazy, slow month of August at the height of the Sicilian summer is, Inspector Montalbano assures his girlfriend Livia as they prepare for a relaxing holiday in a villa he has found for them, far too hot for any murders to be committed. But when Livia's friends' young son goes missing, a chain of events is sparked which will certainly ruin the Chief Inspector's pleasant interlude. A secret apartment and a grisly find in an old trunk are just the beginning, as Montalbano navigates his way through the case, as well as coping with the sweltering heat, the suspicious death of an Arab labourer and the tempting lure of a beautiful girl . . .August Heat is followed by the eleventh book in the series, The Wings of the Sphinx.Trade ReviewMontalbano's colleagues, chance encounters, Sicilian mores, even the contents of his fridge are described with the wit and gusto that make this narrator the best company in crime fiction today * Guardian *Among the most exquisitely crafted pieces of crime writing available today . . . Simply superb * Sunday Times *One of fiction's greatest detectives and Camilleri is one of Europe's greatest crime writers * Daily Mail *

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Book SynopsisAn Ali McNamara novel is the perfect escape.Welcome to Bluebell Wood where the sun shines, the locals are kind and there''s something more than a little bit magical about the place.Ava loves city life but when something happens to make her feel unsafe, she retreats to the calm and quiet of Bluebell Wood. The once high-flying Ava now locks herself away in her fairy-tale cottage, only leaving to explore the trails of the nearby woods or to potter in the garden with her dog, Merlin. When Ava begins to feed the wild birds that flock to her bird table, they start leaving her trinkets of appreciation in return. The gifts seem innocent at first, but they soon seem to take on a deeper meaning. It isn''t until Ava meets Callum, the handsome parish priest, that she can''t help but wonder if the birds might have been trying to get her out of the house all along. But will their curious behaviour help to heaTrade ReviewA journey of love and healing * Woman's Own *

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Book Synopsis'RICH IN ATMOSPHERE AND PERSONALTIY ... IT'S IMPOSSIBLE TO READ A BRUNO NOVEL WITHOUT GETTING HUNGRY' New York TimesBruno, Chief of Police, star of the internationally bestselling series of Dordogne Mysteries, investigates the real-life disappearance of 'the most beautiful car ever made' in this compelling case for France's favourite copThe Bugatti Type 57 Atlantic was called the most beautiful car of all time. Only four of them were ever built. A California museum paid $37 million for one; Ralph Lauren bought another; a third was smashed by a train at a level crossing. The fourth disappeared in France during World War 2. It was the car used by British racing ace, William Grover Williams, twice winner of the French and Monaco Grand Prix, who became an undercover agent in Occupied France.The latest adventure in the Bruno series of mystery novels starts from this true story. Two young men, both racing drivers with a passion for antique cars, compete to find new clues as to the car's hiding place in the Perigord region of France. When a local researcher turns up dead on Bruno's patch, and French intelligence starts investigating the use of classic car sales to launder money for funding Islamic terrorism, Bruno finds himself once more caught up in a case that reaches far beyond his small town and its people.With the bucolic charm and gourmet cooking that are the hallmarks of this series, Bruno's latest adventure finds him falling in love again as he races to find the murderer and to track down the fate of the most beautiful car ever made.Trade ReviewMartin Walker tells a good story set in a region that he clearly knows and loves . . . fascinating and poignant - Crime ReviewAll the Bruno trademarks . . . the splendid Dordogne location . . . descriptions of food which leave your mouth watering . . . with the added bonus that you're not going to put the book down until you've turned the final page - The Book BagThe perfect holiday read - Shiny New BooksThe history is as fascinating as Walker's recipes are mouthwatering, and somehow he manages to throw history, politics, food and police work into the melting pot and emerge with something entirely delicious - Crime Review

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Book SynopsisMurder rearranges the Yuletide carols into unexpected eulogies...The O’Sullivans are spending Christmas in West Cork with brother James’s fiancée Elise’s family, including her grandfather, the famous orchestral conductor Enda Elliot. When they learn everyone will choose a name from a hat to buy a music-related Christmas gift for someone else at the gathering, it seems like their greatest concern–until the cantankerous conductor is discovered crushed under a ninety-pound harp in a local concert hall.With the extended family–including Enda’s much-younger new wife Leah, a virtuoso violinist–suspected in his murder, it’s up to Siobhán to ensure the guilty party faces the music. But as a snowstorm strands both families in a lavish farmhouse on a cliff, Siobhán had better pick up the tempo–before the killer orchestrates another untimely demise...A charming Christmas cosy mystery, perfect for fans of Margaret Mayhew and Dee Macdonald.

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Book SynopsisTHE ROYALLY BRILLIANT FOURTH BOOK IN THE HER MAJESTY THE QUEEN INVESTIGATES MYSTERY SERIES - NOW AVAILABLE TO IN HARDBACK, EBOOK AND AUDIOBOOK!________________1957 - Young Queen Elizabeth II is finding her way in a challenging world as the United Kingdom must adjust to having neither an empire nor a set place in post-war Europe.As she travels the world to try and build bridges, the Queen is advised by the 'men in moustaches', as Philip calls them - her father's old courtiers, who may or may not have her best interests at heart. One of them is trying to sabotage her: that much she is sure of.And then two bodies turn up, horribly murdered, in Chelsea, and the Queen finds herself unwillingly used as the alibi for somebody very close to her.Elizabeth knows she can't face these challenges alone. She needs support from someone clever, discreet and loyal, someone she can trust. Then she meets ex-Bletchley Park code breaker, Joan McGraw, and their investigation into the murders begins in earnest . . .PRAISE FOR THE 'HER MAJESTY THE QUEEN INVESTIGATES' SERIES:'A witty whodunit starring our very own HM The Queen as an amateur sleuth' - GOOD HOUSEKEEPING'A pitch-perfect murder mystery' - Ruth Ware'Written with wit and brio' - Daily Express'Miss Marple with a crown' - Daily Mirror'Absolute perfection!' - Isabelle Broom'Delightfully charming' - Adele Parks'Pure confection' - New York Times'Warm & witty' - Woman&Home'A delightful read' - BBC Radio 2'I loved it' - Joanne Harris'A total joy' - Nina Stibbe'Charming' - Guardian'What a hoot!' - SagaTrade ReviewA masterclass from start to finish. If cosy crime is your thing then A Death in Diamonds is like a warm bath of the genre. Pure class in every sense * IAN MOORE *Like a flawless gem, A Death In Diamonds has a perfect score on the '3 Cs': charm, character and comedy. I love it! * C J WRAY *I absolutely love this series. Once again S.J. Bennett returns to the gloriously original scenario of Queen Elizabeth II as an amateur sleuth, and once again it is a roaring success! A Death In Diamonds is a wonderful combination of meticulous research, beguiling characters (not least HMQ herself), excellent dialogue and a nifty mystery plot. Wonderful! * TOM MEAD, author of the Joseph Spector locked-room mysteries *A sparkling history-mystery, investigated by a delightful Marple of the monarchy. Another gem from S. J. Bennett * MARTIN EDWARDS *An absolute masterclass in detective fiction. Fiendishly clever and very witty, I adore this series. Can't wait for the next one * Victoria Dowd, author of The Smart Woman's Guide to Murder *Brilliant and clever ... A perfect way to while away the hours. Happy and glorious stuff indeed * My London *

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Book SynopsisHettie Bagshot has bitten off more than any cat could chew. No sooner has she launched her No. 2 Feline Detective Agency than she's thrown into her first case. Furcross, home for senior cats, has a nasty spate of bodysnatching, and three former residents have been stolen from their graves. Hettie and her sidekick, Tilly, set out to reveal the terrible truth. Is Nurse Mogadon involved in a deadly game? Has the haberdashery department of Malkin and Sprinkle become a mortuary? And what flavour will Betty Butter's pie of the week be? In a haze of catnip and pastry, Hettie steers the case to its conclusion, but will she get there before the body count rises - and the pies sell out?Trade ReviewPRAISE FOR THE NO. 2 FELINE DETECTIVE AGENCY ‘Original and intriguing… a world without people which cat lovers will enter and enjoy’ P. D. James‘Mandy Morton’s Feline Detective Agency instigates a new genre, both wonderful and surreal’ Maddy Prior‘The world that Morton has created is irresistible’ Publishers Weekly‘Witty and smart. Prepare to be besotted’ M. K. Graff‘Mandy Morton’s series is both charming and whimsical’ Barry Forshaw

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Book Synopsis''Full of twists, the emphasis is on comedy . . . but the extraordinary Holmes can pull the heartstrings too.'' THE TIMESThe McMasters Conservatory for the Applied Arts - a luxurious, clandestine college dedicated to the fine art of murder where earnest students study how best to delete their most deserving victim.Who hasn''t wondered for a split second what the world would be like the object of your affliction ceased to exist? But then you''ve probably never heard of The McMasters Conservatory, dedicated to the consummate execution of the homicidal arts. To gain admission, a student must have an ethical reason for erasing someone who deeply deserves a fate no worse (nor better) than death.The campus of this Poison Ivy League college-its location unknown to even those who study there-is where you might find yourself the practice target of a classmate...and where one''s mandatory graduation thesis is getting away with the perfect murder of someone whose death will make the world a much better place to live.Prepare for an education you''ll never forget. A delightful mix of witty wordplay, breathtaking twists and genuine intrigue, Murder Your Employer will gain you admission into a wholly original world, cocooned within the most entertaining book about well-intentioned would-be murderers you''ll ever read.''A case study in the droll amusements of homicide, Rupert Holmes''s send-up of higher education and even higher crimes and misdemeanors will keep you up at night-alternately turning pages and checking to make sure the front door is locked.'' Gregory Maguire, author of Wicked''With dry humor and an eye for hidden clues, Rupert Holmes imagines a secret Hogwarts-like school that teaches the fine art of pulling off the perfect (and perfectly deserved) murder. An utterly creative and deliciously diabolical read.'' Alafair Burke, New York Times bestselling author''A college with a degree in Homicide? Only Rupert Holmes could make murder laugh-out-loud funny. This book isn''t clever-it''s fiendishly clever. And the twists and tricks and endless surprises make me want to sign up for another semester!'' R.L. Stine, author of Goosebumps and Fear StreetTrade ReviewAlthough this beautifully designed DIY manual is full of twists, the emphasis is on comedy . . . but the extraordinary Holmes can pull the heartstrings too. * THE TIMES *A funny, fast-paced, flip-the-playbook mystery in which three ordinary citizens are trained in murder on a luxurious hidden estate . . . a fantasy academy laid out like a combination of Hogwarts, Downton Abbey, and a White Lotus-style resort. . . . Holmes can clearly do anything. * THE LOS ANGELES TIMES *How has no one thought of this before? Murders set at an imaginary academy set up to train murderers . . . Holmes delights in wordplay that includes puns, literary terms, cultural references, and twists. . . . As Holmes takes hairpin turns from irony back to sincerity for his three McMasters pupils, his zany storytelling will delight fans of The Twyford Code by Janice Hallett, all Sherlock Holmes stories, and even those who love tales of arcane and Gothic institutions. * NPR *

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Book Synopsis''Delightful ... The ongoing plots bind the stories, yet each in themselves is precise ... They are a joy'' - Stuart Kelly, Scotland on Sunday''All manner of nostalgic delights. Perfect reading for a sunny English garden'' - Kate Saunders, Independent''The author knows the location well and has caught its dour charm and great art treasures to perfection'' - Country Life_______________Loveable full-time priest and part-time detective Canon Sidney Chambers is back, continuing his investigations. A mysterious stranger seeks sanctuary in Grantchester's church; a shooting weekend in the country has a sinister end; a friend receives poison pen letters; a piano falls on a musician's head; a school cricket match has an explosive finish; and on a holiday in Italy, Sidney is accused of stealing a priceless painting. On the home front, his new curate has become irritatingly popular with the parish and his daughter is starting to walk and talk.Trade ReviewThe fourth of James Runcie’s delightful Grantchester Mysteries, which ought to bring about a critical reappraisal of the genre rather dismissively referred to as “cosy crime” … The ongoing plots bind the stories, yet each in themselves is precise … They are a joy -- Stuart Kelly * Scotland on Sunday *All manner of nostalgic delights. Perfect reading for a sunny English garden * Kate Saunders, Independent *The author knows the location well and has caught its dour charm and great art treasures to perfection. The story is a little art lesson in itself * Country Life *The violence in the Chambers stories takes place off-stage; the moral crises are internal. Perhaps the most startling aspect of these low-key, beguiling tales is their matter-of-fact depiction of a person of faith incorporating spiritual aspiration into daily life * Wall Street Journal *

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Book Synopsisfont size=+1>''Animal lovers will delight'' Ann Granger''A real treat . . . I loved it. Cats, dogs, murder and a credible and relatable heroine'' Barbara NadelSummer in the Lincolnshire Wolds and Clarice is rung by her friend Louise, asking whether she can look after Susie, her son''s lively Boxer, as 41-year-old Guy has gone missing from the family home. His mother thinks he has been suffering from depression but more worryingly, in his professional life, he had been working on a high-profile case, defending a known criminal. His home life was beset with problems too, which is why his mother has asked Clarice to look after the dog; Charlotte, Guy''s wife, just can''t cope with her as well as their three daughters.Getting drawn into the puzzle of Guy''s disappearance, Clarice wonders how Susie received a nasty cut to her back leg, and who is the mysterious Charles? Guy apparently did not trust him enough to

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Book Synopsis ''Quirky and colourful'' Times Crime Club''An absolute delight'' L C Tyler''This intriguing but charming murder mystery is packed with psychological depth and wonderfully-drawn characters'' Eleanor Ray''A cast of colourful characters decorate this cosy Siberian crime'' The Sun Winter has come early to the tiny Siberian village of Roslazny, but for Olga Pushkin, aspiring writer and Railway Engineer (Second Class), it only makes leaving the harder. Olga is being forced overseas by her jealous superior, and now faces two years in exile from her beloved rail-side hut, her white-breasted hedgehog Dmitri, and Vassily Marushkin, sergeant-in-charge at the tiny Roslazny police station.Fate seems to intervene when Olga''s train crashes outside Roslazny, shutting the line and killing two on board - local celebrity Danyl Petrovich and his wife, Anoushka. But Vassily Marushkin soon discovers that the Trans-Siberi

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Book SynopsisIt's Christmas at London's Theatre Royale and journalist Daphne King is determined to solve an extraordinary mystery...December 1935. Director Chester Harrison's production of A Christmas Carol has had a troubled run on its tour of regional theatres. With tensions amongst the cast running high, the company reach their final stop - London's Theatre Royale - a few days before Christmas.Catastrophe, however, strikes on opening night: 'Scrooge' dies on stage, seemingly due to a heart attack. But the show must go on. Until, that is, an old rival of Chester's is murdered in a dressing room. Are those associated with the production being picked off one by one? Journalist Daphne King is determined to reveal the truth...*Order Ada's new novel MURDER AT MAYBRIDGE CASTLE, out now!*______________________________Readers love Ada Moncrieff's Christmas mysteries:'Brilliant...full of twists and turns' 'A modern rival to Agatha Christie''A new festive favourite' Trade Review(Praise for Murder Most Festive) If you're a fan of historical mysteries, then Murder Most Festive should be at the top of your to-read list * Cultured Vultures *A lovely stocking-filler for theatre and murder mystery enthusiasts. * Tablet *Theatrical festive escapism for fans of the golden age who like their crime set firmly in that time * The Times *A slow burner, full of red herrings and characters, and keeps you guessing till the end * Yours *

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Book SynopsisA storm. A disappearance. A race against time . . .Mustique is in a state of breathless calm as tropical storm Cristobal edges towards it across the Atlantic. Most villa owners have escaped the island but a few young socialites remain, unwilling to let summer's partying end. American heiress Amanda Fortini is one such thrill-seeker - until she heads out for a morning swim and doesn't return.Detective Sergeant Solomon Nile is just 28 years old and the island's only fully trained police officer. He quickly realises he needs to contact Lord and Lady Blake, who bought the island decades ago and have invested time, money and love creating a paradise. Jasper is in St Lucia designing a new village of luxury villas but Lady Veronica (Vee to her friends) catches a plane immediately. Her beloved god-daughter, Lily, is on the island and this disappearance has alarming echoes of what happened to Lily's mother many years ago. Lady Vee would never desert a friend in need, and she can keep a cool head in a crisis.When Amanda's body is found, a murder investigation begins. Nile knows the killer must be an islander because flights and ferry crossings have stopped due to the storm warning, but the local community isn't co-operating. And then the storm hits, and someone else disappears . . .Trade ReviewDazzling . . . full of glamour, intrigue and gossip * Telegraph Magazine *Packed with glamorous detail, the novel gives a sense of behind-the-scenes familiarity with the playground of the rich and famous . . . along with fascinating hints of the more troubled side of paradise * Daily Mail *Anne Glenconner's memoir Lady In Waiting, which recalled her long friendship with Princess Margaret, was a runaway bestseller last year. This polished thriller evokes the same gilded world . . . A well-plotted thriller that unfolds at a clip . . . it's sure to find readers among fans of Lady In Waiting * Daily Express *What makes this vicarious Caribbean holiday worth taking is the pleasure of our hostess's company - the book is suffused not just with mere charm, but with the author's genuine, and genuinely attractive, personality * Sunday Telegraph *Like slipping into a bath after a long, cold day * i paper, Best books for Christmas 2020 *captures the outrageous lifestyle of its wealthy and privileged denizens . . . huge fun from start to finish * Irish Independent *A tropical whodunnit and a race against time * Woman *A tantalising fact-and-fiction mix * Daily Express *Lady Vee combines high-octane charm with redoubtable forensic skills. * Daily Mail *

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Book Synopsis'Cosy, unique, atmospheric' Woman'Brilliantly funny and charming' Northern LifeWhen a violent murder shatters the otherwise peaceful idyll of Andaby near Hebden Bridge, DS Charlotte Banks can't help but suspect that her brother Ewan - recently released from prison and now living in Calderdale - is behind it. Ewan claims he's innocent, and even has an alibi to prove it, but DS Banks isn't convinced. So much so that she turns to the only people who can help her in an investigation this personal: Kitt Hartley and Grace Edwards, of Hartley and Edwards Investigations.On the hunt for the killer, Kitt and Grace discover the victim was choked to death on her old school sash. From this lead, Kitt, Grace and DS Banks are drawn down a dark trail littered with decade-old grudges, schoolyard secrets, broken hearts and bullies, and struggle to get closer to the truth. When a second victim goes missing however, the clock starts ticking.Can Kitt recover the missing woman before it's too late? And how do you catch a killer hiding in plain sight?'Another well written page-turner' 5* reader review'One of my favourite series' 5* reader review'I couldn't put this book down' 5* reader reviewTrade ReviewThe writing, plot and characterisation will warm your heart * Belfast Telegraph *Cosy and amusing * Irish Independent *Brilliantly funny and charming * Northern Life *A great read with smart characters and a clever plot * Candis *This cosy thriller . . . has a unique atmospheric charm * Woman Magazine *A good, well-written holiday read * York Times *A 2020 Miss Marple * Woman's Way *

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Book SynopsisWinner of the Crime Fiction Lover Best Indie Crime Novel of 2022‘Ingenious, light-hearted and old-fashioned in the best possible way. A great read.’ – Maxim Jakubowski, Crime Time‘A seriously fun read.’ – Dervla McTiernan, author of The Murder Rule‘Wickedly clever, highly original and thoroughly entertaining – I loved it!’ – Chris Hammer, author of Scrublands‘Sulari Gentill delivers another murder mystery gem.’ – Tim Ayliffe, author of The Enemy Within Hannah Tigone, bestselling Australian crime author, is crafting a new novel that begins in the Boston Public Library: four strangers; Winifred, Cain, Marigold and Whit are sitting at the same table when a bloodcurdling scream breaks the silence. A woman has been murdered. They are all suspects, and, as it turns out, each character has their own secrets and motivations – and one of them is a murderer. While crafting this new thriller, Hannah shares each chapter with her biggest fan and aspirational novelist, Leo. But Leo seems to know a lot about violence, motive, and how exactly to kill someone. Perhaps he is not all that he seems... The Woman in the Library is an unexpectedly twisty literary adventure that examines the complicated nature of friendship – and shows that words can be the most treacherous weapons of all. Trade ReviewThe Woman in the Library is a wonderful novel that is compelling and sharp and it is unique and extremely clever. * TheLastWordBookReview.com *Clever, compelling, and laced with juicy clues, Sulari Gentill’s The Woman in the Library is an elegantly written work of murder mystery magnificence - an addictive game of Cluedo that pivots from death in a library, to dark secrets from the past. * Joanne Owen, Love Reading *The whole thing is a superb crime novel, but also a masterclass in experimenting with the genre – full of suspense, with plenty of pace. * It Takes a Woman blog *Ingenious, light-hearted and old-fashioned in the best possible way. A great read. * Maxim Jakubowski, CrimeTime *

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