Crime and mystery: cosy mystery
Transworld Publishers Ltd The Spy Coast
Book SynopsisInternational bestselling author TESS GERRITSEN began to write fiction whilst on maternity leave as a physician. She published her first novel in 1987 and has since sold over forty million copies of her books in forty countries.Her series featuring homicide detective Jane Rizzoli and medical examiner Maura Isles inspired the television series Rizzoli and Isles, starring Angie Harmon and Sasha Alexander.Now retired from medicine, she lives in Maine and writes full time.Trade ReviewPowerful, resonant, absorbing, freighted with menace and suspense . . .Gerritsen is a born storyteller, and this new series showcases her talents more than ever. Irresistible and highly recommended! * Lee Child *I loved it. A hugely entertaining read! * Ann Cleeves, No.1 bestselling author and creator of Vera and Shetland *The Spy Coast is a marvellously plotted read with action-packed pages, G-force twists and turns, and a platoon of fascinating characters.I truly hope to see Maggie Bird and her team of silver-haired helpers on the pages again. * David Baldacci *A riveting tale filled with engaging characters. I look forward to the rest of the series. * Kathy Reichs *A nice take on retirement-five old spooks whose bones may ache but whose minds remain sharp. You can expect mystery, action, and bloodshed in this exciting thriller * Kirkus (starred review) *Compelling reading throughout, with astute characterizations, a fast-moving but understandable spy plot, and lashings of dark humor. Gerritsen fans and readers of Richard Osman’s Thursday Murder Club mysteries will love this * Booklist (starred review) *Amusing and exciting . . . Maggie and her grey-haired tribe are more than capable of helming a long-running series * Publishers Weekly *The Spy Coast is The Thursday Murder Club on steroids * SAGA magazine *
£18.00
Oneworld Publications A Foreboding of Petrels
Book SynopsisThe seventh Birder Murder Mystery. Some crimes are beyond the reach of the law.Trade ReviewPraise for the Birder Murder Mysteries: ‘A murder plot built around birdwatching doesn’t, at first, seem plausible or even possible. But Burrows pulls it off... Riveting from first page to final line.’ Globe and Mail ‘A suspenseful and well-crafted mystery perfect for the beach.’ Morning Star ‘Skillfully written, full of moral ambiguities and artful puzzles, with a spine-tingling final sentence.’ Kirkus, starred review'This is a novel I could not put down. The clever, complex plot twists kept me reading long into the night. I loved the writing style and his skill at creating characters - I could feel their frustrations and share their concerns. Highly recommended.' -- Mystery People
£8.54
Diann Shaddox LLC Whispering Fog
Book Synopsis
£20.99
Headline Publishing Group Murder Your Employer The McMasters Guide to
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 *
£10.44
Headline Publishing Group The Merchants Daughter
Book SynopsisDesperate times lead to hasty vows . . .A gripping historical mystery of secrets and romance - perfect for fans of Eve Chase, Louise Douglas and Tracy Rees.''Expertly researched, vividly drawn, and so much fun! Five fabulous stars from me'' JENNI KEER on The House of Lost Wives......................................................For better. For worse. For the sake of her future. London 1815. Jenny''s father is dead. She needs to marry immediately to save her and her mother''s livelihood. A chance meeting presents the perfect candidate in the form of the enigmatic Erasmus Black. Gentleman, merchant, and if the rumours are to be believed, captain . . . But where does Erasmus slip away to in the dead of night? What secrets about her father''s business has he discovered? And was their meeting really just a convenient coincidence? Guided by her unique intuition, Je
£10.44
Minotaur Books Agatha Raisin and the Wellspring of Death An Agatha Raisin Mystery 7 Agatha Raisin Mysteries 7
£11.39
Minotaur Books Agatha Raisin and the Love from Hell An Agatha Raisin Mystery 11 Agatha Raisin Mysteries 11
£11.39
St. Martins Press-3PL Agatha Raisin and the Terrible Tourist An Agatha Raisin Mystery 6 Agatha Raisin Mysteries 6
£11.39
Minotaur Books Death of Riley A Molly Murphy Mystery Molly
Book Synopsis
£15.29
St. Martin's Publishing Group Murder Lo Mein
Book SynopsisThe third in a tasty series, Murder Lo Mein by Vivien Chien is a delight!Everyone agrees that the food at Ho-Lee Noodle House is deliciousunless it happens to be deadly. Lana Lee's stake in her family's Chinese restaurant is higher than ever now that she's been made manager. So when she enters Ho-Lee into Cleveland's Best Noodle Contest, Lana makes it her business to winat all costs. But when a local food critic receives a threatening note in a fortune cookie and is later found dead, face-down in a bowl of lo mein, all bets are off. . .Now, along with her sweet-and-sour boyfriend Detective Adam Trudeau, Lana decides to take matters into her own hands and dig into the lives of everyone involved in the contest. But when she receives an ill-fated fortune, Lana realizes that in order to save the reputation of her restaurant, she needs to save herself first. . .Thoroughly entertaining...fun and delicious.
£9.49
St Martin's Press Of Books and Bagpipes
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£7.99
Minotaur Books The Ghost of Christmas Past
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£14.40
St Martin's Press Bending the Paw
Book SynopsisMake way for the long paw of the law as police officer Megan Luz and her K-9 partner Brigit investigate a baffling new mystery in Bending the Paw, by Diane Kelly.A MURDER WITHOUT A BODY IS LIKE A DOG WITHOUT A BONE A bloodbath is a shocking new challenge for Megan and Brigit when Detective Audrey Jackson calls them to the scene of what could only be a brutal murder. But the one thing the nightmarish scene is missing is a victim. The frantic homeowner's husband is gone, seemingly without a traceand so is the money he was holding. Has a vicious killer committed what might just be the perfect crime? Meanwhile, it's hailing cats and dogs all over Fort Worth, and roofing contractors have descended on the city in droves. With plenty of damage and continuing storms, work delays are building up like so much runoff, but Megan is suspicious that one roofer may be a scam artist. Determined to leash every lawbreaker she and her K-9 par
£11.87
St Martin's Press Dead in the Doorway
Book SynopsisDead in the Doorway is the second in a delightful cozy series from Diane Kelly set in Nashvillewhere the real estate market is to die for.A HOUSE WITH GOOD BONES. . .Whitney Whitaker has scored the perfect piece of real estate: a ramshackle white Colonial at the top of a hill with views of downtown Nashville. What more could a self-taught home-improvement maven and occasional house-flipper ask for? Ideally, the property of Whitney's dreams would not have come with a dead body blocking the entrance to the foyer. But Whitney, always quick to take heavy-duty matters into her own hands, also happens to be a skilled amateur sleuth. So that helps.AND SKELETONS IN THE CLOSET.Who is this older womanand how did her corpse end up at the bottom of the staircase of this locked, unoccupied house? That is what Whitney, along with the support of her wood-working cousin Buck, Detective Collin Flynn, and, of course, feline partner-in
£7.59
St. Martin's Press Murder With a View
Book SynopsisMurder With a View is the third book in the delightful cozy mystery series from Diane Kelly set in Nashville, Tennessee-where the real estate market is to die for...A DREAM PROPERTYCarpenter Whitney Whitaker, her cousin Buck, and guard-cat Sawdust just scored a hot property near downtown Nashville in a tax sale. While the Music City Motor Court might not be much to look at now, the two plan to transform the motel's twelve units into six one-bedroom condominiums with popular mid-century styling. But surprises await when Whitney discovers a squatter living in Room 9 and her cat Sawdust uncovers a body in the bed next door.A LIVING NIGHTMAREThe murder victim is none other than Beckett Morgan, an up-and-coming country-western singing sensation who's taken Nashville by storm with his number-one hit Party in the Pasture. Beckett's left a long trail of broken promises and broken hearts, and the list of suspects seems endless. So d
£7.59
Minotaur Books Murphys Law
Book SynopsisThe novel that started it all, Murphy's Law, will delight readers old and new of this remarkable, bestselling series.Molly Murphy always knew she'd end up in trouble, just as her mother predicted. So, when she commits murder in self-defense, she flees her cherished Ireland, under cover of a false identity, for the anonymous shores of America. When she arrives in New York and sees the welcoming promise of freedom in the Statue of Liberty, Molly begins to breathe easier. But when a man is murdered on Ellis Island, a man Molly was seen arguing with, she becomes a prime suspect in the crime.If she can't clear her name, Molly will be sent back to Ireland, where the gallows await, so using her Irish charm and sharp wit, she escapes Ellis Island and sets out to find the wily killer on her own. Pounding the notorious streets of Hell's Kitchen and the Lower East Side, Molly undertakes a desperate mission to clear her name before her deadly past comes back to hau
£9.49
St. Martin's Publishing Group Whisker of a Doubt
Book Synopsis
£18.89
£15.29
Minotaur Books Death at High Tide
Book SynopsisDeath at High Tide is the delightful first installment in the Island Sisters series by Hannah Dennison, featuring two sisters who inherit an old hotel in the remote Isles of Scilly off the coast of Cornwall and find it full of intrigue, danger, and romance.When Evie Mead's husband, Robert, suddenly drops dead of a heart attack, a mysterious note is found among his possessions. It indicates that Evie may own the rights to an old hotel on Tregarrick Rock, one of the Isles of Scilly. Still grieving, Evie is inclined to leave the matter to the accountant to sort out. Her sister Margot, however, flown in from her glamorous career in LA, has other plans. Envisioning a luxurious weekend getaway, she goes right ahead and buys two ticketsone wayto Tregarrick.Once at the hotelused in its heyday to house detective novelists, and more fixer-upper than spa resort, after allEvie and Margot attempt to get to the bottom of things. But the foul-tem
£9.49
St Martin's Press The Raven Thief
Book SynopsisSuper-fun. The Boston GlobeA Lefty Nominee for Best Mystery NovelAn Agatha Nominee for Best Contemporary Mystery NovelOne murder. Four impossibilities. A fake séance hides a very real crime.Secret Staircase Construction just finished their first project with Tempest Raj officially a part of the teama classic mystery novel-themed home interior. Their client is now ready to celebrate her new life without her cheating ex-husband, famous mystery author Corbin Colt. First up, a party, and Tempest and Grandpa Ash are invited to the exclusive mock séance to remove any trace of Corbin from the propertyfor good. It''s all lighthearted fun until Corbin''s dead body crashes the party.The only possible suspects are the eight people around the séance tablea circle of clasped hands that wasn''t broken. Suspicion quickly falls on Grandpa Ash, the only one with actual blood on him. To prove her beloved grandfather's innocence, Tempest must fi
£20.24
St Martin's Press Batten Down the Belfry
Book SynopsisBatten Down the Belfry is the fourth in the delightful cozy mystery series from Diane Kelly set in Nashville, Tennesseewhere the real estate market is to die for.Here is the church, here is the steepleCarpenter Whitney Whitaker and her cousin Buck have successfully flipped houses, but this is the first time they've attempted to renovate a house of worship. Still, the colorful stained glass in the country church has caught Whitney's eye, and she'd love to breathe new life into the abandoned building. What's more, the place has perfect acoustics. Could the worship hall be reborn as an entertainment venue with its parsonage repurposed as a pre-show bistro?Open the doors, and see all the trouble.The owner of the horse farm next door has asserted a legal claim to the church property, rendering their title uncertain. If that's not bad enough, while rehabbing the church, Whitney's cat Sawdust discovers a bombshell in the bell towe
£9.11
St. Martins Press-3PL How the Finch Stole Christmas
Book SynopsisWhere's that partridge in its pear tree?It's Christmas time in Caerphilly, VA, and nothing is going by the book. Meg Langslow is trying to be supportive of her husband, who's escalated his one-man show of Dickens' A Christmas Carol into a full-scale production that includes their sons as Tiny Tim and the young Scrooge. But when the real Scrooge comes to towna famous actor who is known for his personal dramas off-stageMeg finds that her role as stage manager is a lot more than she bargained for. When Scrooge's inner demons and actual enemies catch up with him, it's up to Meg to solve a holiday murder mystery before the curtain comes down. . .and the killer takes flight. Andrews manages her large cast with dexterity and drops clues to the culprits' identity, but the ending will catch most readers by surprise. Publishers Weekly
£15.19
St Martin's Press The Mimicking of Known Successes
Book SynopsisEvery once in a while, a book comes along that is both a comfort read and a rousing, fist-pumping adventure, and The Mimicking of Known Successes absolutely is both of those things. An utter triumph.Charlie Jane AndersA Hugo Award nominee for Best NovellaA Nebula Award nominee for Best NovellaAn Ignyte Award nominee for Best NovellaA Locus Award nominee for Best NovellaA Barnes & Noble Best Science Fiction of the Year PickA Library Journal Best SF/F of the Year PickA Book Riot Best Mystery and Science Fiction of the Year PickAn Autostraddle Best Science Fiction of the Year PickA Most Anticipated in 2023 Pick for Today.com Buzzfeed Polygon Book Riot Ms. MagazineThe Mimicking of Known Successes presents a cozy Holmesian murder mystery and sapphic romance, set on Jupiter, by Malka Older
£15.29
Carina Press To Hold and Protect
Book Synopsis
£7.59
Little, Brown Book Group How to Raise an Elephant
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 *
£17.09
Little, Brown Book Group The Last Dance
Book SynopsisThe first new series in two decades from multi-award-winning number one Sunday Times bestseller Mark Billingham introduces a true one off...Trade ReviewReaders rejoice! A captivating new series from Mark Billingham, the very best in the business * Richard Osman *Billingham has clearly enjoyed the challenge of exploring new territory and portraying new characters. His fans may rest assured that his highly accomplished performance deserves a big fat ten. * The Times *Hard-headed yet big-hearted, DS Declan Miller will have you on the edge of your seat - screaming with laughter one moment and surprise the next. Billingham blends caustic humour, raw emotion and rollercoaster thrills. His new series is bursting with wit, charm and intriguing, complex characters. Save The Last Dance for when you want a fast, fresh and totally absorbing read. * Janice Hallett *Billingham's Tom Thorne series set the bar very high indeed, but The Last Dance is well up to standard - funny, moving and expertly plotted * Guardian *Billingham is back with the first instalment of a highly promising new series * Mail on Sunday *Brimming with wit, expertly paced, and wholly enjoyable - The Last Dance is a showcase of Billingham's exceptionally gifted storytelling. Mark Billingham is at his best! * Karin Slaughter *A gritty, engaging novel that balances light with dark, offering wit and wisdom in equal measure. Billingham's new lead detective, DS Miller, never misses a step when it comes to solving crime. * Nita Prose, author of The Maid *A captivating combination of humour, emotion, mystery and tension, The Last Dance is everything you could wish for in a new detective series. Sharp and funny, with hidden layers, just like Detective Declan Miller himself. * Andrea Mara *Fresh, funny, fantastic, this is the sickeningly talented Billingham at his best. * Abir Mukherjee *It is an unmitigated joy from the very first page to last - and reminds the world just why Billingham is one of Britain's greatest crime writers * Daily Mail *The author's first new series in 20 years is superb - he hits the spot again * Sun *DS Miller is a wonderfully warm and witty character who, at times, made this reader laugh out loud * Mirror *This captivating thriller is lighter in tone than the Thorne novels but no less enjoyable for that * Daily Express *This new post-Inspector Tom Thorn character from multi-award-winning author Mark Billingham is an absolute winner, and a hoot to boot * Irish Independent *Reliable crime-fiction veteran Billingham delivers gentle laughs and darker emotions in a pacey plot shaped by its unique location * The Oldie *This captivating story features a new Billingham character - DI Declan Miller, who is nothing if not eccentric . . . Superbly constructed, it underlines just how good a crime writer he is. * Daily Mail *A clever and engaging murder mystery * Canberra Weekly *An entertaining police procedural featuring a new investigator, DS Declan Millar. Billingham may have made him as miserable as his predecessor DI Tom Thorne but he provides a lot more jokes this time to lighten the novel * Literary Review (Books of the Year) *Funny, moving, and full of surprises, The Last Dance will delight Mark Billingham's old readers, and have new ones flocking to him in droves. An absolute treat. * Mick Herron *
£19.80
Little, Brown Book Group The Last Dance
Book SynopsisTHE FIRST NEW SERIES FROM #1 BESTSELLER MARK BILLINGHAM IN 20 YEARS.''Readers rejoice! A captivating new series from Mark Billingham, the very best in the business'' --- RICHARD OSMANMeet Detective Miller: unique, unconventional, and criminally underestimated...He''s a detective, a dancer, he has no respect for authority - and he''s the best hope Blackpool has for keeping criminals off the streets. Meet Detective Declan Miller.A double murder in a seaside hotel sees a grieving Miller return to work to solve what appears to be a case of mistaken identity. Just why were two completely unconnected men taken out?Despite a somewhat dubious relationship with both reality and his new partner, can the eccentric, offbeat Miller find answers where his colleagues have found only an impossible puzzle?''Funny, moving, and full of surprises . . . an absolute treat'' --- MICK HERRON''Billingham blends cauTrade ReviewReaders rejoice! A captivating new series from Mark Billingham, the very best in the business * Richard Osman *Funny, moving, and full of surprises, The Last Dance will delight Mark Billingham's old readers, and have new ones flocking to him in droves. An absolute treat. * Mick Herron *Billingham has clearly enjoyed the challenge of exploring new territory and portraying new characters. His fans may rest assured that his highly accomplished performance deserves a big fat ten. * The Times *Hard-headed yet big-hearted, DS Declan Miller will have you on the edge of your seat - screaming with laughter one moment and surprise the next. Billingham blends caustic humour, raw emotion and rollercoaster thrills. His new series is bursting with wit, charm and intriguing, complex characters. Save The Last Dance for when you want a fast, fresh and totally absorbing read. * Janice Hallett *Billingham's Tom Thorne series set the bar very high indeed, but The Last Dance is well up to standard - funny, moving and expertly plotted * Guardian *Billingham is back with the first instalment of a highly promising new series * Mail on Sunday *Brimming with wit, expertly paced, and wholly enjoyable - The Last Dance is a showcase of Billingham's exceptionally gifted storytelling. Mark Billingham is at his best! * Karin Slaughter *A gritty, engaging novel that balances light with dark, offering wit and wisdom in equal measure. Billingham's new lead detective, DS Miller, never misses a step when it comes to solving crime. * Nita Prose, author of The Maid *A captivating combination of humour, emotion, mystery and tension, The Last Dance is everything you could wish for in a new detective series. Sharp and funny, with hidden layers, just like Detective Declan Miller himself. * Andrea Mara *Fresh, funny, fantastic, this is the sickeningly talented Billingham at his best. * Abir Mukherjee *It is an unmitigated joy from the very first page to last - and reminds the world just why Billingham is one of Britain's greatest crime writers * Daily Mail *The author's first new series in 20 years is superb - he hits the spot again * Sun *DS Miller is a wonderfully warm and witty character who, at times, made this reader laugh out loud * Mirror *This captivating thriller is lighter in tone than the Thorne novels but no less enjoyable for that * Daily Express *This new post-Inspector Tom Thorn character from multi-award-winning author Mark Billingham is an absolute winner, and a hoot to boot * Irish Independent *Reliable crime-fiction veteran Billingham delivers gentle laughs and darker emotions in a pacey plot shaped by its unique location * The Oldie *This captivating story features a new Billingham character - DI Declan Miller, who is nothing if not eccentric . . . Superbly constructed, it underlines just how good a crime writer he is. * Daily Mail *A clever and engaging murder mystery * Canberra Weekly *An entertaining police procedural featuring a new investigator, DS Declan Millar. Billingham may have made him as miserable as his predecessor DI Tom Thorne but he provides a lot more jokes this time to lighten the novel * Literary Review (Books of the Year) *
£9.49
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC Sidney Chambers and The Shadow of Death
Book Synopsis''Inspector Morse would appear to have a rival'' - Scotland on Sunday''A perfect accompaniment to a sunny afternoon, a hammock and a glass of Pimms'' - Guardian''An undiluted pleasure'' - Scotsman_______________Sidney Chambers, the Vicar of Grantchester, is a thirty-two year old bachelor. Sidney is an unconventional clergyman and can go where the police cannot.Together with his roguish friend Inspector Geordie Keating, Sidney inquires into the suspect suicide of a Cambridge solicitor, a scandalous jewellery theft at a New Year''s Eve dinner party, the unexplained death of a well-known jazz promoter and a shocking art forgery, the disclosure of which puts a close friend in danger. Sidney discovers that being a detective, like being a clergyman, means that you are never off duty..._______________''A charmingly effective tale of detection ... a satisfyingly old-fashioned read'' - The Times''No detective since Father Trade ReviewNo detective since Father Brown has been more engaging than Canon Sidney Chambers. Perfect company in bed * Salley Vickers *Inspector Morse would appear to have a rival * Scotland on Sunday *A charmingly effective tale of detection ... evoking oodles of churchy village atmosphere, circa 1953, provides a satisfyingly old-fashioned read * The Times *The clerical milieu is well rendered as an affectionate eye is cast over post-war England - a perfect accompaniment to a sunny afternoon, a hammock and a glass of Pimm's -- Laura Wilson * Guardian *James Runcie has written the coziest of cozy murder mysteries. Taken individually, each of these clerical whodunits poses a clever puzzle for armchair detectives. Viewed as a collective study of British life as it was lived when Elizabeth II first ascended the throne, these stories present a consistently charming and occasionally cutting commentary on 'a postwar landscape full of industry, promise and concrete * New York Times Book Review *An undiluted pleasure * Scotsman *Full of witty phrases to delight the reader ... This entertaining first volume about Canon Chambers will have Runcie's readers longing for the next * Peggy Woodford, Church Times *An evocation of a more genteel era ... Chambers turns out to be a winning clergyman-sleuth, and Runcie's literary authority is repeatedly demonstrated in the construction of his elegant tales. In fact, it is the plotting that really distinguishes this collection, and will make many more readers more than ready to follow the God-fearing hero from the coronation of Elizabeth II in 1953 to the wedding of Charles and Diana in 1981 ... there is no denying the winning charm of these artfully fashioned mysteries * Independent *Gentle criminal entertainment with a pleasantly old-fashioned feel to it -- Andrew Taylor * Spectator *The plots are intriguing ... While the diminutive priest detective created by G. K. Chesterton led the way, Sidney Chambers is set fair to be a worthy successor. In a sceptical age this is quite an achievement. Then again, the author is a son of an archbishop. And who better to portray the sleuth in ecclesiastical clothing? -- Barry Turner * Daily Mail *At last, an Anglican Father Brown ... Each tale is beautifully crafted and surprising. I hope for many more volumes -- A.N. Wilson * Spectator *
£8.54
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC Sidney Chambers and The Forgiveness of Sins
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 *
£11.19
Wheeler Publishing Large Print Hooked on a Feline
Book Synopsis
£25.64
Hodder & Stoughton Dandy Gilver and The Reek of Red Herrings
Book SynopsisA cosy Dandy Gilver mystery set in 1930s Scotland. For fans of PG Wodehouse, Dorothy L Sayers and Agatha Christie.On the rain-drenched, wave-lashed, wind-battered Banffshire coast, tiny fishing villages perch on ledges which would make a seagull think twice and crumbly mansions cling to crumblier cliff tops while, out in the bay, the herring drifters brave the storms to catch their silver darlings. It''s nowhere for a child of gentle Northamptonshire to spend Christmas.But when odd things start to turn up in barrels of fish - with a strong whiff of murder most foul - that''s exactly where Dandy Gilver finds herself. Enlisted to investigate, she and her trusty cohort Alec Osborne are soon swept up in the fisherfolk''s wedding season as well as the mystery. Between age-old traditions and brand-new horrors, Dandy must think the unthinkable to solve her grisliest case yet.Catriona McPherson''s latest novel in the seri
£9.49
Hodder & Stoughton A Presumption of Death
Book Synopsis''Miraculously right: catching precisely the tone of the relationship . . . thrilling'' - The Times''A must for all Wimsey lovers . . . an entertaining read'' - Northern EchoIt''s 1940, and while the Second World War rages on, Harriet Vane - now Lady Peter Wimsey - has taken her children to safety in the country.But the war has followed them: glamorous RAF pilots and even more glamorous land-girls scandalise the villagers, and the blackout makes the night-time lanes as sinister as the back alleys of London.Then the village''s first air raid practice ends with a very real body on the ground - and it''s not a war casualty, but a case of plain, old-fashioned murder. And it''s not long before a second body is found . . .Trade ReviewShe brought to the detective novel originality, intelligence, energy and wit. -- P.D. JamesMiraculously right: catching precisely the tone of the relationship . . . It comes out splendidly . . . a thrilling denouement * The Times *A must for all Wimsey lovers . . . an entertaining read which offers some longed for insight into the lives of the Wimseys after their marriage * Northern Echo *Jill Paton Walsh does a fine job . . . she also answers an unasked question about Lord Peter and Harriet: Yes, dear readers, they have a lot of sex and they like it. * Globe and Mail, Toronto *Vintage Wimsey . . . Wimsey lives on in delicious familiarity in this triumph not just of one writer's art, but of two * Huddersfield Daily Examiner *Satisfying and impeccably researched * Mystery Woman *Jill Paton Walsh scores a winner * Houston Chronicle *I admire her novels . . . she has great fertility of invention, ingenuity and a wonderful eye for detail -- Ruth RendellShe combined literary prose with powerful suspense, and it takes a rare talent to achieve that. A truly great storyteller. -- Minette WaltersAficionados of Sayers will enjoy renewing acquaintance with her heroes . . . Walsh devised a literary period piece of considerable charm. * The Oxford Times *A good crime story, with a wonderful cast of characters, full of acutely observed small incidents, to be reread with pleasure after the first eager race through. * Sherlock *
£9.49
Pan Macmillan The Secret of Annexe 3 Inspector Morse Mysteries
Book SynopsisColin Dexter has won many awards for his novels including the CWA Gold Dagger and Silver Dagger awards. In 1997 he was presented with the CWA Cartier Diamond Dagger Award for outstanding services to crime literature. Colin's thirteenth and final Inspector Morse novel, The Remorseful Day, was published in 1999. He died in 2017 at his home in Oxford.
£8.49
Canongate Books Death in a Blackout
Book SynopsisThe first in a brand-new WWII historical mystery series introduces WPC Billie Harkness - a female police officer who risks her life to protect the home front in the British coastal city of Hull.1940. Britain is at war. Rector''s daughter Wilhelmina Harkness longs to do her duty for her country, but when her strict mother forbids her to enlist, their bitter argument has devastating consequences.Unable to stay in the village she loves, Wilhelmina - reinventing herself as Billie - spends everything she has on a one-way ticket up north. Hull is a distant, dangerous city, but Billie is determined to leave her painful memories behind and start afresh, whatever the cost.The last thing Billie expects on her first evening in Hull, however, is to be caught in the city''s first air raid - or to stumble across the body of a young woman, suspiciously untouched by debris.If the air raid didn''t kill the glamorous stranger, what did? Billie is determin
£18.89
Canongate Books Murder on the Home Front
Book SynopsisDisrespect, disdain - and dead bodies! It''s all in a day''s work for WPC Billie Harkness, a pioneering female police officer protecting the home front in this gripping WWII British historical mystery.A fresh and different take on WWII stories with an appealing young heroine New York Times bestselling author Rhys Bowen on Death in a Blackout1940. It''s been a month since rector''s daughter Billie Harkness left her rural village to make a fresh start in the northern city of Hull. Now she has a new home and an exciting new job as one of only two female police constables in the whole city. But Hull still feels like a foreign country, and some people are less than impressed by the idea of a woman doing a ''man''s job''.Facing disrespect from her colleagues and suspicion from the public, Billie throws herself into her work. The tasks she''s assigned might be menial, but she''s determined to do her bit for the war effort. The
£19.79
Canongate Books Murder on the Home Front
Book SynopsisDisrespect, disdain - and dead bodies! It''s all in a day''s work for WPC Billie Harkness, a pioneering female police officer protecting the home front in this gripping WWII British historical mystery.A fresh and different take on WWII stories with an appealing young heroine New York Times bestselling author Rhys Bowen on Death in a Blackout1940. It''s been a month since rector''s daughter Billie Harkness left her rural village to make a fresh start in the northern city of Hull. Now she has a new home and an exciting new job as one of only two female police constables in the whole city. But Hull still feels like a foreign country, and some people are less than impressed by the idea of a woman doing a ''man''s job''.Facing disrespect from her colleagues and suspicion from the public, Billie throws herself into her work. The tasks she''s assigned might be menial, but she''s determined to do her bit for the war effort. The
£13.29
Canongate Books French Roast
Book SynopsisThings go from bad to worse for Wisconsin coffeehouse owner Maggy Thorsen when her cousin Jacque Oui finds himself in hot water.Wisconsin coffeehouse owner Maggy Thorsen''s cousin, Jacque Oui, is in trouble. Big trouble! Not only is his cash-strapped Schultz''s Market facing competition from a major new grocery chain, but his ex-wife Paulette has arrived from Paris, spectacularly claiming that she and Jacque are still married, despite Jacque being engaged to Maggy''s friend and star barista Amy Caprese.When a huge fire rips through Schultz''s Market overnight and a gruesome discovery is made in the shop''s upper flat, Maggy is drawn into her cousin''s affairs. But where is he? With Jacque suddenly missing, can Maggy uncover the truth behind the disturbing events triggered by Pauline''s arrival, or is she about to be scorched by a determined killer?
£18.89
Canongate Books Bitter Roots
Book SynopsisThe brutal murder of a beautiful vineyard expert and a devastating storm force Virginia winemaker Lucie Montgomery to confront painful changes on the eve of her wedding. In just over a week vineyard owner Lucie Montgomery and winemaker Quinn Santori will be married in a ceremony overlooking what should be acres of lush flowering grapevines. Instead they are confronted by an ugly swathe of slowly dying vines and a nursery owner who denies responsibility for selling the diseased plants. With neighboring vineyards facing the same problem, accusations fly and the ugly stand-off between supplier and growers looks set to escalate into open warfare.When Eve Kerr, a stunning blonde who works at the nursery, is found dead a few days later, everyone wonders if someone in the winemaking community went too far. What especially troubles Lucie is why Eve secretly arranged to meet Quinn on the day she was murdered - and whether Lucie''s soon-to-be husband knows somet
£12.34
Canongate Books MurderInLaw
Book SynopsisWhile Ellie''s away, murder will play . . . Is the death of Ellie''s son-in-law really the result of a burglary gone wrong?Ellie''s absence abroad is disastrous for her daughter, Diana - when her husband is attacked by intruders and left for dead one night, it falls to Ellie''s next-door neighbour, Susan, to reluctantly pick up the pieces and take in Diana''s children.Is Evan''s death really the result of a burglary gone wrong? Joining forces with her aunt, police officer Lesley Millard, Susan discovers that Diana lied to the police about her movements on the night of the murder, and soon finds herself grappling with betrayal, shady business dealings and her own distrust of Diana as she attempts to solve a chilling conundrum: could Ellie''s daughter be a cold-blooded killer?
£20.69
Canongate Books Meat Thy Maker
Book SynopsisSausages to kill for . . . The competition to go into business with Hernia''s finest sausage makers is getting hotter than Magdalena Yoder''s frying pan in this sizzling culinary cozy.Schmucker Brothers'' Sausages are the talk of the town. The good folk of Hernia are obsessed with the delectable meaty treats, and the prospect of going into partnership with the brothers is proving equally irresistible to investors far and wide, including Magdalena Yoder''s current guests at the Penn-Dutch Inn - grocery store chain CEOs Christine Landis and Kathleen Dooley, restaurant owner Terry Tazewell, and Mr Duckworth Limehouse.All four are in town to pitch a business deal to the Schmuckers. But after a visit to the brothers'' pork factory, one of the would-be investors is found slaughtered back at the inn, and Mags must catch a murderer intent on turning her guests juicy pork dreams to rashers! Could there be more to the Schmuckers'' sausages than meets the eye?
£19.79
Canongate Books The Playing Fields
Book SynopsisWhen two bodies are discovered within six weeks of one another, it would appear that a serial killer is at large in the sleepy Cotswold village of Folly. Six weeks after a battered body is found in the grounds of the village cricket club, DCI Dan O''Reilly and his team are no further forward in the investigation. No witnesses, no leads, no clues whatsoever. Then a second body is discovered in the nearby tithe barn used by the local amateur dramatics society, artfully posed just like the first. Could there be a serial killer on the loose?When evidence leads O''Reilly to visit the Black Dog pub, owner Alex Duggins and her partner Tony are once again drawn into a police investigation.But Tony is dealing with some disturbing news of his own. Someone from his past has reached out and threatens all he holds dear. Are they who they claim to be, and what do they really want . . .?
£20.69
Canongate Books Ukulele of Death
Book SynopsisMeet Fran and Ken Stein - a private investigator duo who refuse to let a little thing like being not entirely human stop them from doing their jobs.Twisty and bonkers and fun Multi award-winning author Catriona McPhersonAfter losing their parents when they were just babies, private investigators Fran and Ken Stein now specialize in helping adoptees find their birth parents. So when a client asks them for help finding her father, with her only clue a rare ukulele, the case is a little weird, sure, but it''s nothing they can''t handle.But soon Fran and her brother are plunged into a world where nothing makes sense - and not just the fact that a very short (but very cute) NYPD detective keeps trying to take eternal singleton Fran out on dates. All Fran wants to do is find the ukulele and collect their fee, but it''s hard to keep your focus when you''re stumbling over corpses and receiving messages that suggest your (dead) parents
£19.79
Canongate Books Meat Thy Maker
Book SynopsisSausages to kill for . . . The competition to go into business with Hernia''s finest sausage makers is getting hotter than Magdalena Yoder''s frying pan in this sizzling culinary cozy.Schmucker Brothers'' Sausages are the talk of the town. The good folk of Hernia are obsessed with the delectable meaty treats, and the prospect of going into partnership with the brothers is proving equally irresistible to investors far and wide, including Magdalena Yoder''s current guests at the Penn-Dutch Inn - grocery store chain CEOs Christine Landis and Kathleen Dooley, restaurant owner Terry Tazewell, and Mr Duckworth Limehouse.All four are in town to pitch a business deal to the Schmuckers. But after a visit to the brothers'' pork factory, one of the would-be investors is found slaughtered back at the inn, and Mags must catch a murderer intent on turning her guests juicy pork dreams to rashers! Could there be more to the Schmuckers'' sausages than meets the eye?
£13.29
Canongate Books Bert and Mamie Take a Cruise
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.
£19.79
Canongate Books Bert and Mamie Take a Cruise
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.
£13.29
Canongate Books Writing a Wrong
Book SynopsisWriter for Hire Veronica Blackstone''s latest client is found dead and police suspect a burglary gone wrong, but Veronica isn''t convinced in this intriguingly plotted mystery. As a writer for hire, Veronica Blackstone puts her keyboard to use to help others. That includes writing advertising copy for local businesses, and love letters for those needing romantic help. Tony Richards needs the latter.Debonair, charismatic, handsome, Tony seems like the last person who''d need help with love letters, but help him Veronica does . . . only Tony owes her money and won''t tell her anything about the woman she''s writing the love letters for. That''s not how Veronica normally works. When Tony is found dead, his real name is revealed as Ted Roberts. The police think his death was part of a burglary gone wrong, but Veronica isn''t convinced. Why did he lie about his name? Who were the love letters for? And could they hold the key to his death?
£21.59
Canongate Books Judgment at Santa Monica
Book SynopsisHollywood stars, sunshine, stabbings . . . New Jersey prosecutor turned LA family lawyer Sandy Moss is back with a bang in the second book in this fun, witty and fast-paced cosy legal mystery series.The last person family lawyer Sandy Moss expects to walk into her courtroom, right in the middle of a trial, is TV star Patrick McNabb: prime suspect in her first (and she hopes, last) murder case.Sandy knows what Patrick''s like. Friendly, overconfident, dazzlingly handsome . . . and a well-meaning menace. But his request seems harmless enough. His dear friend Cynthia is getting divorced, and he thinks Sandy''s perfect for the job. She accepts - because he''s Patrick and there is no denying him.But of course it''s not that simple. Soon Sandy''s tangled up in yet another murder - and Patrick, who''s currently playing a private detective on TV, believes he''s essential to solving the whole thing . . .Fast-paced, funny and larger than life,
£21.59
Canongate Books Meat Thy Maker
Book SynopsisSausages to kill for . . . The competition to go into business with Hernia''s finest sausage makers is getting hotter than Magdalena Yoder''s frying pan in this sizzling culinary cozy.Schmucker Brothers'' Sausages are the talk of the town. The good folk of Hernia are obsessed with the delectable meaty treats, and the prospect of going into partnership with the brothers is proving equally irresistible to investors far and wide, including Magdalena Yoder''s current guests at the Penn-Dutch Inn - grocery store chain CEOs Christine Landis and Kathleen Dooley, restaurant owner Terry Tazewell, and Mr Duckworth Limehouse.All four are in town to pitch a business deal to the Schmuckers. But after a visit to the brothers'' pork factory, one of the would-be investors is found slaughtered back at the inn, and Mags must catch a murderer intent on turning her guests juicy pork dreams to rashers! Could there be more to the Schmuckers'' sausages than meets the eye?
£21.59
