The charismatic president of Ng'ombwana in Africa has enemies of every stripe--from ex-colonists to new rivals, from dispossessed businessmen to racist crackpots. But when a ceremonial spear deals death at the president's lavish embassy party in London, Superintendent Roderick Alleyn must decipher the victim's last utterance and expose the assassin.
Sybil Foster of Upper Quintern is terribly proud of her gardener and of her new asparagus beds, but when her unwelcome stepson arrives, she heads for "a chic spa for a rest cure, a liaison with the spa's director ... and an apparent suicide."--Cover.
The beloved 1930s comedienne becomes the famed detective’s sidekick in the series that “transport[s] the reader back to a long-gone era of society” (Mystery Scene). During a glamorous night on the town, Gracie Allen finds a dead body—and a cigarette case nearby that belongs to her date for the evening. Detective Philo Vance is on the scene, but questioning Gracie is causing more confusion than enlightenment. To prevent her from creating more chaos, Vance decides to keep her close by as his unofficial sleuthing partner. Now, with the help of the zany star—or in spite of it—he intends to find the real killer . . . “Mr. Van Dine’s amateur detective is the most gentlemanly, and probably the most scholarly snooper in literature.” —Chicago Daily Tribune “The best of the American mystery men.” —The Globe
A horse race turns into a murder case . . . “Mr. Van Dine’s amateur detective is the most gentlemanly, and probably the most scholarly snooper in literature.” —Chicago Daily Tribune Aristocratic detective Philo Vance has gotten an anonymous invitation to a New York rooftop garden, where a group of wealthy friends gather to listen to the horse races. But on the night Vance attends, a guest dies of a gunshot wound after losing a load of money on a bet. Vance doesn’t think it was suicide, though—and when two other people in the household are targeted, he has to take the lead in this Golden Age mystery featuring the classic character with a “highbrow manner and [a] parade of encyclopedic learning” (The New York Times). “One of the high water mark Van Dine yarns.” —Kirkus Reviews “The perfect sleuth for the Jazz Age.” —CrimeReads “The Philo Vance novels were well-crafted puzzlers that captivated readers . . . the works of S.S. Van Dine serve to transport the reader back to a long-gone era of society.” —Mystery Scene “Outrageous cleverness.” —Bloody Murder
Mr. and Mrs. Tibbetts pop into a pub for lunch but get served a murder case in this novel with “all the proper ingredients for a cozy whodunit” (The New York Times). What could be more delightful than a long-forgotten relative who dies and leaves you a tidbit in his will? How about if that tidbit is in fact a charming country pub, and that pub is now yours—lock, stock, and barrels of beer? Susan Gardiner is delighted, even when it becomes clear that the establishment has a lineup of regulars, not all of them as endearing as one might prefer. No, she doesn’t love all her new customers, but she certainly didn’t intend for one of them to be poisoned by a bad batch of mushrooms. The outlook is dire for both Susan and the Blue Moon . . . until Inspector Henry Tibbett steps in. He and Emmy just want a spot of lunch, but they are, as ever, willing to take on more than they had bargained for, in this compelling British mystery by the Agatha Award-winning “new queen of crime” (Daily Herald) . “Intricate plots, ingenious murders, and skillfully drawn, often hilarious, characters distinguish Patricia Moyes’ writing.” —Mystery Scene
This volume, which examines the special contributions of a number of women mystery writers, sheds light on this significant example of common interests in recreational reading among women and men and the reasons behind the early and continuing uncharacteristic near-equality of both sexes in this field of endeavor.
"... Ahmad has created a novel that looks at race and culture and the changing face of America. It's a story that's easy to devour but hard to forget... " - Richmond Times-DispatchRanjit Singh, a former Indian Army Captain trying to escape a shameful past, lives with his family among the migrant workers of Martha's Vineyard, working as a caretaker of the vacation homes of the rich and powerful. Needing a place to stay, Ranjit moves his family into an empty Senator's home. Happily, but illegally ensconced in the house, he tries to forget his brief affair with Anna, the wife of an African-American senator, and focus on providing for his family. But one night, their idyll is shattered when mysterious armed men break into the house, looking for an antique porcelain doll. Forced to flee, Ranjit is pursued and hunted by unknown forces, and becomes drawn into the Senator's shadowy world. To save his family and solve the mystery of the doll, he must join forces with Anna, who has her own dark secrets. As the past and present collide, Ranjit must finally confront the hidden event that destroyed his Army career and forced him to leave India.Tightly plotted, action-packed, smart and surprisingly moving, The Caretaker takes us from the desperate world of migrant workers to the elite African-American community of Martha's Vineyard, and a secret high-altitude war between India and Pakistan.