Who would believe that choral singing could prove such a deadly pastime? Virginia and Richard Grainger, new members of the Standchester Choral Society, are looking forward, nervously, to their first public performance with the choir, in a production of Berlioz's 'Romeo and Juliet'. As the performance opens, though, tragedy strikes in the form of a very public death. While coping with the repercussions of this, Virginia also has to tussle with the personal problems of her next-door neighbour, Caroline. As plans to re-schedule the concert are being made, another death occurs, and Virginia begins to realise that her own life may be in danger, as she feels the tangled web of deceit and malice tighten around her ...
H3`A mischievously entertaining crime novel' SIMON BRETT The sixth instalment in The Falconer Files, Andrea Frazer's insanely gripping village detective series with a delightful slice of humour. Perfect for fans of Agatha Christie, Lillian Jackson Braun and Midsomer Murders. READER'S CAN'T GET ENOUGH OF ANDREA'S QUIRKY CRIME NOVELS!H3 ***** 'I am a great fan of her books which are entertaining, light-hearted and very, very clever. Written by someone who is intelligent, observant and has a great sense of fun' Reader Review ***** 'Excellent story. Great characters. Good plot. I loved the book. I would recommend to all mystery lovers. I can't wait 'til I read the next book' Reader Review ***** 'The plot of this story is well constructed and the characters are all too believable. I enjoyed reading this story and I love the touches of humour' Reader Review ***** 'This book was un-put-downable. The story was very well written as always by this author with lots of twists and turns, great characters and such description... Thoroughly recommended' Reader Review ___________ The last three Musical Directors of 'The Dalziels' had left them high and dry by moving to France. Their next one was to make the 'ultimate move' by getting himself murdered! The village band in Swinbury Abbot has jogged along quite happily for nigh on a decade. Band practices are free and easy affairs, the music never commencing until after a rather lavish meal with wine, followed by more wine, and then maybe running through a piece or two, just for form's sake. Until the vicar turns up with a new musical director, who plays quite a different tune? For the newcomer's ideas of what a band?s routine should consist of are completely at odds with the musicians? current practices. His clashes with the various band members cause enormous resentment, and, in one of them, a hatred strong enough to provoke murder! Into this welter of negative emotions, Detective Inspector Falconer and Detective Sergeant Carmichael of the Market Darley CID arrive, determined to get to the bottom of things and bring the killer to justice, while simultaneously dealing with their own domestic problems. But the musical mayhem and the murderousness doesn't stop there...
After their decision to move into the world of sleuthing, Sherman Holmes and John Garden have a tricky time coming to grips with their new roles as private investigators. Things would work out just fine if people didn’t keep getting themselves murdered all the time. The local police aren’t very sympathetic – they even have the audacity to consider that Holmes & Garden aren’t much help at all! This anthology of five stories covers their early cases, as shadowy undercover investigator Joanne puts in some surprising appearances, and Holmes continues on his campaign to woo the lovely Mrs Garden ...
From fads, crazes, and manias to collective delusions, scares, panics, and mass hysterias, history is replete with examples of remarkable social behavior. Many are fueled by fear and uncertainty; others are driven by hope and expectation. For others still, the causes are more obscure. This massive collection of extraordinary social behaviors spans more than two millennia, and attempts to place many of the episodes within their greater historical and cultural context. Perhaps the most well known example of unusual collective behavior occurred in 1938, when a million or more Americans were frightened or panicked after listening to a realistic radio drama about a Martian invasion of New Jersey, based on an adaptation of the H.G. Wells novel "War of the Worlds." Less known but equally remarkable scares based on Wells' book occurred in Chile in 1944 (when Army units were mobilized), in Ecuador in 1949 (when riots broke out, leaving more than a dozen dead), as well as in Buffalo in 1968, Rhode Island in 1974, and Europe in 1988 and 1998. The modern civilized world is by no means immune to such peculiar episodes. In the late 20th century, scores of people in the U.S. and Europe were wrongly incarcerated following claims of Satanic ritual abuse by authorities untutored in False Memory Syndrome. This episode recalls the European witch terror of the late Middle Ages, when innocent people were tortured and executed for consorting with the Devil based on the flimsiest of evidence. OUTBREAK! THE ENCYCLOPEDIA OF EXTRAORDINARY SOCIAL BEHAVIOR is an authoritative reference on a broad range of topics: collective behavior, deviance, social and perceptual psychology, sociology, history, folklore, religious studies, political science, social anthropology, gender studies, critical thinking, and mental health. Never before have so many sources been brought together on the mesmerizing topic of collective behavior.
The fourth instalment in an occasional series of short stories covering the elapsed time between the books in The Falconer Files series. An insanely gripping village detective series with a delightful slice of humour. Perfect for fans of Agatha Christie, Lillian Jackson Braun and Midsomer Murders. _____________ A Falconer short story in a more sombre mood. DI Falconer becomes involved in a gossip-fuelled hate crime, only to find himself questioning his own judgement when it comes to protecting Miriam Darling from her anonymous persecutors... _____________ Praise for Andrea Frazer's quirky and compelling crime novels: ***** 'I enjoy everything Andrea Frazer writes. The series of Falconer Files is very entertaining and I would recommend it to mystery buffs' Reader Review ***** '...if anyone likes Agatha Christie with a modern twist, an ongoing story in each book and great touches of humour amongst the murders this is the type of book you will enjoy' Reader Review ***** 'What a powerful way to show how gossip destroys people. I would recommend this to all readers. This book has a good message to share' Reader Review ***** 'Good plot, captivating character, always with a twist!' Reader Review
`A mischievously entertaining crime novel' SIMON BRETT The third instalment in The Falconer Files, Andrea Frazer's insanely gripping village detective series with a delightful slice of humour. Perfect for fans of Agatha Christie, Lillian Jackson Braun and Midsomer Murders. READER'S CAN'T GET ENOUGH OF ANDREA'S QUIRKY CRIME NOVELS! ***** 'Excellent read.... love Andrea Frazer's work and style - clever, creative and fun. Falconer and Carmichael become addictive!' Reader Review ***** '...each book in the series is better than the one before & they started out as 5* in my opinion... the plots are well thought out & you're kept guessing until the end. I am hooked' Reader Review ***** 'A good old fashioned English murder mystery of the sort I will never tire of. Would wholeheartedly recommend it to all rural murder mystery fans' Reader Review ***** 'I do love these DCI Falconer books they're funny but really enjoyable. The plot never slackens and you get a great read' Reader Review ___________ In the quiet village of Steynham St Michael there is an anonymous letter writer at work, jabbing and stabbing at the past's Achilles' heels of many of the upright citizens living there. After one resident is driven to extreme measures to escape exposure, another is driven to murder. In the village cards club, which meets once a week, tongues begin to wag, not only about the identities of the murderer and the poison pen letter-writer, but also about who exactly has received a letter. There are also changes afoot at Market Darley Police Headquarters, as the national economy dictates that it accepts the straitened circumstances planned for it, and complies with recommendations for change. And before any of this even happens, Harry Falconer drifts up from unconsciousness to find himself in complete darkness and barely able to move, the only sound being that of someone moaning in pain...
The fifth instalment in an occasional series of short stories covering the elapsed time between the books in The Falconer Files series. An insanely gripping village detective series with a delightful slice of humour. Perfect for fans of Agatha Christie, Lillian Jackson Braun and Midsomer Murders. _____________ Abigail Wentworth is looking forward to her reunion lunch with Alison Fairweather. They are old schoolfriends who met twice a year, usually for Alison to dish the dirt on the others they had known when they were younger - and for Abigail to gloat over their 'inferior' circumstances, in comparison to her own respectable existence. During one such lunch, though, Abigail recognizes a face from the past - and from that moment onward, her life skids completely out of control... _____________ Praise for Andrea Frazer's quirky and compelling crime novels: ***** 'Loved it... very well written... would recommend for all ages!' Reader Review ***** 'Love all the Falconer File books... fun to read and very entertaining!' Reader Review ***** 'Great short story. I would recommend to all mystery lovers' Reader Review ***** 'Great read, love all of this series' Reader Review
The fourth in the series featuring a madcap pair of amateur sleuths and a delightful outpouring of upper-class English eccentricities - with the odd murder thrown in! Praise for Andrea Frazer's twisty and compelling crime novels: ***** 'Adored this, a wonderful laugh out loud piece of frippery, which I read on holiday, a perfect setting for this brilliantly escapist nonsense' Reader Review ***** 'I have to admit to being a huge fan of this series of quirky, funny, light but thoroughly entertaining mysteries... This series is a must if you want a witty take on the English village cosy genre' Reader Review ***** 'I LOVE Belchester and all the characters. I look forward to a couple of hours escapism with Lady Amanda and all her potty friends and relatives, as well as the long-suffering police force - more please!!!!' Reader Review ***** 'Just love Andrea Frazer's books. A little bit of escapism with lots of laughs and a great plot. Can't recommend her highly enough just a great read' Reader Review ***** 'I love this series of books. The characters are great fun and some of their antics not only make me smile but actually laugh out loud. The story lines are easy to follow but have some delectable twists which keep you guessing. Brilliant fun!' Reader Review _________ Lady Amanda Golightly and her housemate Hugo Cholmondeley - Crichton - Crump return from their visit to Scotland to find a letter informing them that Hugo's sister will be arriving the following day for a month's visit, which sours Lady A's mood as Tabitha constantly bullied her at school.Her manservant's announcement that he is now betrothed to Enid Tweedie, sort of friend and general gopher for his employer, has already unsettled her. If that wasn't enough to cope with, it appears that, while they were away, the security of Belchester Towers had been breached and there had been thefts. To top it all, somebody started systematically killing off the domestic staff! Enter Detective Inspector Moody and Detective Sergeant Glenister, and all hell breaks loose!
`A mischievously entertaining crime novel' SIMON BRETT The fourth instalment in The Falconer Files, Andrea Frazer's insanely gripping village detective series topped off with a delightful slice of humour. Perfect for fans of Agatha Christie, Lillian Jackson Braun and Midsomer Murders. READER'S CAN'T GET ENOUGH OF ANDREA'S QUIRKY CRIME NOVELS! ***** 'What can I say, I am hooked... wonderful characters, superb touches of humour, if murder & mayhem can ever be described as delightful then this book along with the rest in the series delivers' Reader Review ***** 'As expected, Andrea Frazer has done it again with this book. Great plot, many twists and turns, some sad bits but some funny bits too... Now onto the next one and I cannot wait...' Reader Review ***** 'Andrea Frazer has a great way of involving you in the book. It is never boring and keeps up the pace all the way through the book, highly recommend this series' Reader Review ***** 'Another lovely old fashioned whodunit, I really love this writer, her style is so flowy and easy to read' Reader Review ___________ Stacey is an unassuming little village, its greatest asset being its small but excellent Church of England Primary School. This delightfully old-fashioned establishment of only two classes, one of infants, the other of juniors, has been run by the same pair of ladies for decades. It is in the year that the headmistress, Audrey Finch-Matthews, is to retire, that the smooth running of this long-established educational establishment is interrupted by murder. When Detective Inspector Harry Falconer and Detective Sergeant Davey Carmichael of the Market Darley Police arrive to investigate, they discover a host of motives, both past and present, and grudges that reach right back through the years. As the Easter weekend grinds inexorably on its way, Death stalks the village again, and it suddenly becomes imperative that the murderer is caught before there are more fatalities. Falconer soon realises that this is not the work of an opportunistic psychopath passing through, but of someone within the small community itself, taking lives at will, and there is no indication that the slaughter will stop here...
`A mischievously entertaining crime novel' SIMON BRETT The seventh instalment in The Falconer Files, Andrea Frazer's insanely gripping village detective series with a delightful slice of humour. Perfect for fans of Agatha Christie, Lillian Jackson Braun and Midsomer Murders. READER'S CAN'T GET ENOUGH OF ANDREA'S QUIRKY CRIME NOVELS! ***** 'Excellent storyline once again. The plot kept you guessing and the humour remained which kept me smiling. Would recommend this whole series' Reader Review ***** 'These books are amazing. I have read them all, the characters are so true to life if you like a murder thriller & slight humour you will love this author' Reader Review ***** 'Fun and clever....Perfect series with tie-ins to previous books. She keeps writing, I'll keep reading! Time to visit some of these charming settings...' Reader Review ***** 'All of the Falconer series are well worth your time and money. Well written with credible plots and entertaining characters' Reader Review ___________ In the village of Steynham St Michael, the old Strict and Particular Chapel is, at last, undergoing renovation, to the delight of the local inhabitants, who believe it will prove useful as a tourist attraction for the village. The renovations, however, have been dogged by the sightings of mysterious hooded figures, and tributes of flowers, left here and there on the site. The newly painted interior is then found defaced by a mysterious message in red paint, and this last prompts a call to the police. DI Falconer and DS Carmichael of the Market Darley CID make an initial visit, and believe that the unexplained events at the Chapel may be the work of a small cult, believed to originate from the college in Market Darley. When a new DC, on secondment, arrives, Falconer immediately sends him undercover as a student, spending his own time trying to lay his hands on a local drug dealer. Then, a body is found on the stone altar table in the Chapel, and events begin to spiral out of control...
