The Bookshop Murder: An Absolutely Gripping Cozy Mystery

The Bookshop Murder: An Absolutely Gripping Cozy Mystery
Author: Merryn Allingham
Publisher: Bookouture
Total Pages: 248
Release: 2021-07-26
Genre: Fiction
ISBN: 9781800196827

Bookshop owner Flora Steele escapes the sleepy English village of Abbeymead through the adventures in the stories she sells. Until one morning, everything changes when she discovers a body amongst her own bookshelves... The young man with the shock of white-blond hair lay spread-eagled on the floor, surrounded by fallen books. His hand reached out to the scattered pages, as though he was trying to tell her something. But who is he? How did he come to be killed in Flora's ordinary little bookshop? Flora finds out he was staying at the Priory Hotel, and when the gardener suddenly dies in its beautiful grounds only a few days later, she is certain that something untoward is happening in her quiet village by the sea. But are the two deaths connected? And is someone at the hotel responsible - the nervous cook, the money-obsessed receptionist, or the formidable manageress? Determined to save her beloved bookshop's reputation and solve the murder mystery, Flora enlists the help of handsome and brooding Jack Carrington: crime writer, recluse and her most reliable customer. As the unlikely duo set about investigating the baffling case, guilty faces greet them at every door. And they soon realise there's more than one person hiding secrets in Abbeymead... The start of a brand-new murder mystery series featuring bookshop owner Flora Steele and crime writer Jack Carrington. Fans of Agatha Christie, Faith Martin and Joy Ellis will love this perfect cozy murder mystery novel. An utterly addictive story that will have you guessing until the very end. Why readers love Merryn Allingham: 'Excellent... the tension builds and builds right up to the last chapter... a page-turner.' Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'Love... so many twists and turns that kept me guessing most of the way through. Deserving of its 5 stars... highly recommend.' Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'A roller coaster of suspense and intrigue. Grabs you from the first page. Entertaining and interesting characters. There are many twists and turns that will keep you turning the page until the end.' Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

A Very English Murder

A Very English Murder
Author: Verity Bright
Publisher: Bookouture
Total Pages: 300
Release: 2020-04-07
Genre:
ISBN: 9781838886189

Move over Miss Marple, there's a new sleuth in town! Meet Eleanor Swift: distinguished adventurer, dog lover, dignified lady... daring detective? England, 1920. Eleanor Swift has spent the last few years travelling the world: taking tea in China, tasting alligators in Peru, escaping bandits in Persia and she has just arrived in England after a chaotic forty-five-day flight from South Africa. Chipstone is about the sleepiest town you could have the misfortune to meet. And to add to these indignities - she's now a Lady. Lady Eleanor, as she would prefer not to be known, reluctantly returns to her uncle's home, Henley Hall. Now Lord Henley is gone, she is the owner of the cold and musty manor. What's a girl to do? Well, befriend the household dog, Gladstone, for a start, and head straight out for a walk in the English countryside, even though a storm is brewing... But then, from the edge of a quarry, through the driving rain, Eleanor is shocked to see a man shot and killed in the distance. Before she can climb down to the spot, the villain is gone and the body has vanished. With no victim and the local police convinced she's stirring up trouble, Eleanor vows to solve this affair by herself. And when her brakes are mysteriously cut, one thing seems sure: someone in this quiet country town has Lady Eleanor Swift in their murderous sights... If you enjoy witty dialogue, glamorous intrigue and the very best of Golden Age mysteries, then you will adore Verity Bright's unputdownable whodunnit, perfect for fans of Agatha Christie, T.E. Kinsey and Downton Abbey!

Exhaustive Enquiries

Exhaustive Enquiries
Author: Betty Rowlands
Publisher: Orion
Total Pages: 255
Release: 2013-06-14
Genre: Fiction
ISBN: 1471907392

A gifted and knowledgeable writer . . . engaging and readable' Financial Times Melissa Craig has taken time away from writing bestselling mysteries to script a murder play for an amateur drama group. 'Murder with a giggle' is how she thinks of it. But no one is laughing when a cast member dies in the cellar of the old Cotswold Heyshill Manor Hotel where the play is to be produced. Persuaded by the manager to investigate, Melissa finds . . . nothing. No well-ordered clues, no sure suspects, just lots of tension. Then she chances upon a vital discovery in the hotel's parking lot, and everything begins to fall into place. This isn't a matter of "murderous plots and murky deeds, all in rhyming couplets" but a death-defying journey along a trail of crime on an international scale.

Murder at Hawthorn Cottage

Murder at Hawthorn Cottage
Author: Rowlands Betty
Publisher: Melissa Craig Mystery
Total Pages: 288
Release: 2018-08-21
Genre: Fiction
ISBN: 9781786816092

Meet Melissa: cat lover, caring mother... daring detective? Melissa Craig is absolutely delighted with her new life in an old crumbling cottage, spending her days pruning the primroses and getting to know Binkie, the ginger cat next door. She only wishes she had made the move to the countryside sooner. But when a knock at the door brings news of a shocking discovery, she suddenly finds herself thrown in to the middle of a baffling mystery: the bones of a young woman have been found in the woods just behind her new home. Perhaps the little village of Upper Bembury is not as idyllic as it first seemed? Strange phone calls in the night convince Melissa that the police are barking up completely the wrong tree, so she can't resist doing a little digging of her own. From the bingo hall to the beauty salon and beyond, her search ruffles a few feathers and uncovers many of the village's most scandalous secrets, but gets her no closer to finding the culprit... The discovery of a tatty old photograph in a drawer is the final piece of the puzzle she needs, but as a newcomer in this close-knit community, does Melissa have what it takes to get to the bottom of this extraordinary murder mystery alone? A joy to read! An absolutely unputdownable whodunnit for fans of Agatha Christie, P.D. James and Faith Martin. This book was previously published as A Little Gentle Sleuthing.

A Lesson in Murder

A Lesson in Murder
Author: Verity Bright
Publisher: Bookouture
Total Pages: 274
Release: 2021-09-14
Genre:
ISBN: 9781800195714

When Lady Swift is invited to her old school, she walks through familiar classrooms, finds her favourite books in the library... and surely that's not a body? Time for a lesson in murder! Autumn, 1921. Lady Eleanor Swift is invited to her old school, St Mary's, as a guest speaker. Her favourite teacher, Mrs Wadsworth, has asked that Eleanor talk about her intrepid travels around the globe - travelling the Silk Road by bicycle, crossing the Himalayas and even befriending the Maharaja of India. But in the circumstances, perhaps it would have been a good idea to talk about her career as a daring detective... Because no sooner has Eleanor brushed up on her times tables then she is greeted by terrible news: Mrs Wadsworth has been murdered. Eleanor is utterly devastated but she owes it to her dearest teacher to find out who killed her and why. So, alongside Gladstone the bulldog, it's best paw forward to track down a villain. But when the art teacher is also found dead, Eleanor is sure someone is trying to do away with the people who taught her everything. As Eleanor delves into possible motives, she discovers a clue in the most unlikely place: her mother's old school diary. Does the route to the murderer lie within a secret passageway her mother uncovered? Can Eleanor nail the culprit in time or is the killer coming for her next? A totally gripping and glamorous 1920s cozy! Fans of Agatha Christie, T.E. Kinsey and Rhys Bowen are in for a treat. Readers are totally addicted to Verity Bright! 'What a great cozy mystery! I am hooked! This is the best book, bar none, that I have read this year... An extremely witty, fast-paced mystery... I love the heroine, intrepid adventuress... A most enjoyable read!' Reviews by Carol in Tallahassee ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 'Can I give it six stars please?... Pretty much perfect... Bright has the amazing gift of bringing the reader into that world where the characters are alive.' Goodreads reviewer ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 'What a wild ride it is!... Gripping... This book is what would happen if Downton Abbey and Agatha Christie had a baby. Fun, fast-paced read with lots of charm!' The Literary Wife 'I was literally on the edge of my seat until the last page trying to figure out the mystery. It's an adorable, captivating book.' Washington Life Magazine 'OMG! What an incredible read!... When I devour a book this quickly it only means one thing: I was so enraptured that I couldn't put it down!' Celebrating Authors ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 'Oooh I loved this book... I wanted a book which would be absolutely soothing to read with a murder in it and this was it. The book was everything I wanted in these troubling times. I loved it.' Book Reviews by Shalini

Murder at Primrose Cottage

Murder at Primrose Cottage
Author: Merryn Allingham
Publisher: Bookouture
Total Pages: 276
Release: 2022-03-18
Genre:
ISBN: 9781803140728

Join Flora Steele - bookshop owner, bicycle rider, daydreamer and amateur detective - in her quest to solve a brand-new murder mystery! Cornwall, 1956: When Flora Steele sets off for a peaceful vacation with crime writer Jack Carrington in his little red Austin, the last thing she expects to find is a body at their pretty rental cottage! Shocked by the discovery, inquisitive Flora joins forces with handsome Jack to find out how the poor man came to such an untimely end in the overgrown orchard of Primrose Cottage. They discover Roger Gifford was a man with plenty of friends and the villagers seem devastated by his sudden death... So why was he murdered? And who has blood on their hands - his estranged wife Beatrice, his wayward younger brother Lionel, or the suspicious newcomer Mercy Dearlove? The baffling case gets even more complicated when a second man is found dead and a set of puzzling clues lead them to an intriguing wartime mystery connected to Jack's estranged father. As old secrets emerge and Jack receives an unsettling letter, it seems the crime writer is in danger of a fate befitting his fictional characters. Will Flora be able to crack the case and save Jack? Or will this be one murder too many for Flora Steele? Readers love the Flora Steele Mysteries: 'Wonderful book! I absolutely adored this... Had me reading and finishing the book in no time! I highly recommend!!!' Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'I absolutely love this book! I was so captivated... I could not put this book down... I read this book in one sitting!... Amazing.' @thenerdandherbooks, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'Absolutely fantastic... An addictive perfect mix of mystery, crime, suspense and quirkiness which kept me turning the pages late at night!! An explosive start to a new series!' Bookworm86, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'A joy to read... Full of mystery and secrets!... Truly an unstoppable read! And I loved every minute of it!' NetGalley reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'I loved... A cozy, heart-warming, fast read. It felt like Scooby-Doo meets Agatha Raisin. I am here for it!... Delightful.' Frosta Wings It, ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'Fantastic cozy mystery!... Fun to read... This author knows how to keep the reader's attention from the first chapter!' Books and Benches, ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'Love... The story twisted along, with everyone becoming a suspect... A fab read, that I devoured in a day.' Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'What a joy... Fabulous... Totally fantastic... I highly recommend this outstandingly fabulous book.' Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'Pace moves along as you keep turning the pages to find out whodunit. You'll find yourself rooting for Flora and Jack in more ways than one. I can't wait for the next book!' Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐

The Kensington Kidnap

The Kensington Kidnap
Author: Katie Gayle
Publisher: Bookouture
Total Pages: 230
Release: 2020-12-02
Genre:
ISBN: 9781800191068

A missing teenager, a mysterious cult and a case of mistaken identity - just another day's work for Epiphany Bloom. Epiphany 'Pip' Bloom is down on her luck. She can barely afford cat food, and just because Most has three legs doesn't mean he eats any less. So she absolutely can't afford to mess up her latest temp job. But when she walks through the door of the private investigation firm, her new boss mistakes her for a missing persons expert. He then charges her with finding Matty Price - the teenage son of two A-list celebrities - who has mysteriously disappeared from his home in Kensington. It ought to be a disaster, but Pip reckons it's actually an opportunity. She's always been curious (nosy, her mother calls it) and has an uncanny knack for being at the wrong place at the right time (she doesn't want to know what her mother thinks of that). After years of trying to find something she's good at, has Pip managed to walk straight into the job she was born to do? She owes it to herself and poor missing Matty to find out. But searching for Matty takes Pip into the strange, intimidating world of the rich and famous. And it soon becomes clear that some of these people's love for themselves doesn't extend to their fellow humans. As Pip investigates further, she realises the question isn't whether Matty ran away - it's whether Pip will find him alive and make it home safely herself... An absolutely brilliant, light-hearted cozy mystery for fans of M.C. Beaton, T E Kinsey, Lauren Elliott and Joanne Fluke, featuring an irresistible new heroine. Readers are loving The Kensington Kidnap 'I really loved this book, and super excited to know it's book one of a series! Pip is such a likeable character, she is such an accident prone woman but her heart is in the right place... Such a quirky story that keeps you gripped, making you want more and more. I can't wait for book two! Highly highly recommended.' Goodreads reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'I had a great time reading this book. Pip is such a quirky character, and her antics made me laugh out loud... I'm looking forward to reading more in this delightful series.' Goodreads reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐

A Royal Murder

A Royal Murder
Author: Verity Bright
Publisher: Bookouture
Total Pages: 288
Release: 2022-02-28
Genre:
ISBN: 9781800195691

At the royal boat race there are beautiful barges, plenty of bunting, a handsome prince and... is that a body in the water? Lady Swift is on the case! Spring, 1923. One-time adventurer and now amateur sleuth Lady Eleanor Swift is attending the annual royal regatta with her new pal Tipsy Fitzroy. Tipsy has Eleanor trussed up like a debutante in a new dress, determined to turn her into a proper society lady. Even Eleanor's favourite companion, Gladstone the bulldog, has a new outfit for the occasion. But the sparkling prize-giving ceremony is interrupted when the devilishly handsome host gulps his glass of champagne on stage and collapses to the floor. The victim is none other than the king's cousin, Lord Xander Taylor-Howard. He was rumoured to be entangled in a rather dubious gambling ring, but did someone kill him instead of collecting his debt? Or was this simply an ill-timed tragic accident? Either way, a right royal scandal is afoot... Sir Percival, the head of the royal police, asks Eleanor for her help investigating. He'd do anything to keep the story under wraps. She knows it will get her into hot water with a certain dapper Detective Seldon, but she's determined to see justice done. However, as she digs deeper, she learns Lord Taylor-Howard was hiding more than one murky secret. It isn't until she takes a closer look at the unfortunate royal's shattered champagne flute that she stumbles upon just the clue she needs. But can she reel in the killer before her ship is sunk too? A warm and witty 1920s mystery that cozy fans will just adore. Addictive reading for fans of T E Kinsey, Lee Strauss and Agatha Christie. Readers cannot get enough of Verity Bright! 'What a great cozy mystery! I am hooked! This is the best book, bar none, that I have read this year... An extremely witty, fast-paced mystery... I love the heroine, intrepid adventuress... A most enjoyable read!' Reviews by Carol in Tallahassee ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 'Can I give it six stars please?... Perfect... Bright has the amazing gift of bringing the reader into that world where the characters are alive.' Goodreads reviewer ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 'What a wild ride it is!... Gripping... This book is what would happen if Downton Abbey and Agatha Christie had a baby. Fun, fast-paced read with lots of charm!' The Literary Wife 'I was literally on the edge of my seat until the last page trying to figure out the mystery. It's an adorable, captivating book.' Washington Life Magazine 'OMG! What an incredible read!... When I devour a book this quickly it only means one thing: I was so enraptured that I couldn't put it down!' Celebrating Authors ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 'The most fun I have had reading a historical mystery! I loved it... Had me laughing out loud before the tenth page!... I can't recommend this book enough!' Too Fond of Books ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐