The Pigeon Pie Mystery

The Pigeon Pie Mystery

Author: Julia Stuart

Publisher: Anchor

Published: 2012-08-07

Total Pages: 317

ISBN-13: 0385535570

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Julia Stuart returns in her follow-up to the bestselling The Tower, the Zoo and the Tortoise with this clever murder mystery set in Victorian England, brimming with her signature charm and fabulous characters. When Indian Princess Alexandrina is left penniless by the sudden death of her father, the Maharaja of Brindor, Queen Victoria grants her a grace-and-favor home in Hampton Court Palace. Though rumored to be haunted, Alexandrina and her lady's maid, Pooki, have no choice but to take the Queen up on her offer. Aside from the ghost sightings, Hampton Court doesn't seem so bad. The princess is soon befriended by three eccentric widows who invite her to a picnic with all the palace's inhabitants, for which Pooki bakes a pigeon pie. But when General-Major Bagshot dies after eating said pie, and the coroner finds traces of arsenic in his body, Pooki becomes the #1 suspect in a murder investigation. Princess Alexandrina isn't about to let her faithful servant hang. She begins an investigation of her own, and discovers that Hampton Court isn't such a safe place to live after all. With her trademark wit and charm, Julia Stuart introduces us to an outstanding cast of lovable oddballs, from the palace maze-keeper to the unconventional Lady Beatrice (who likes to dress up as a toucan—don't ask), as she guides us through the many delightful twists and turns in this fun and quirky murder mystery. Everyone is hiding a secret of the heart, and even Alexandrina may not realize when she's caught in a maze of love.


Murder, Mystery and My Family

Murder, Mystery and My Family

Author: Karen Farrington

Publisher: Random House

Published: 2019-10-31

Total Pages: 243

ISBN-13: 1473532035

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Five Women. Five families’ search for justice. All Sarah Chesham wanted was to survive, at a time when crops were poor and money was tight. By the time she died she was branded a merciless child killer. All Emily Swann wanted was the love of a man who wouldn’t abuse her. By the time she died she was depicted as a vengeful, drunken hussy. All Edith Thompson wanted was a romance with a man who adored her. By the time she died she was seen as a scheming and manipulative adulteress. All Louie Calvert wanted was to be heard. Yet when she died she slipped almost immediately into the shadows, like thousands of other women like her. All Charlotte Bryant wanted was a distraction from a dreary life. By the time she died she was deemed a seductress and an arch poisoner. No one wants to believe that their mother, sister or daughter is capable of murder. When a woman is charged with a killing, we judge more harshly and punish more severely than when a man does the same. Murder, Mystery and My Family explores five historical true-crime tales from the hit BBC series, each with a woman at the heart of the story, from a case of ‘poison panic’ in the 19th century to a post-war murder that gripped the nation. Tales of infidelity and greed, corruption and deceit run throughout – but was justice served for all? Descendants of those convicted revisit each case in search of answers. Based on extensive research, including original court records and interviews with descendants, Murder, Mystery and My Family delves deeper into each crime, while also looking at our changing attitudes to women who have found themselves at the centre of our darkest dramas.


The Poisoner's Handbook

The Poisoner's Handbook

Author: Deborah Blum

Publisher: Penguin

Published: 2011-01-25

Total Pages: 338

ISBN-13: 1101524898

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Equal parts true crime, twentieth-century history, and science thriller, The Poisoner's Handbook is "a vicious, page-turning story that reads more like Raymond Chandler than Madame Curie." —The New York Observer “The Poisoner’s Handbook breathes deadly life into the Roaring Twenties.” —Financial Times “Reads like science fiction, complete with suspense, mystery and foolhardy guys in lab coats tipping test tubes of mysterious chemicals into their own mouths.” —NPR: What We're Reading A fascinating Jazz Age tale of chemistry and detection, poison and murder, The Poisoner's Handbook is a page-turning account of a forgotten era. In early twentieth-century New York, poisons offered an easy path to the perfect crime. Science had no place in the Tammany Hall-controlled coroner's office, and corruption ran rampant. However, with the appointment of chief medical examiner Charles Norris in 1918, the poison game changed forever. Together with toxicologist Alexander Gettler, the duo set the justice system on fire with their trailblazing scientific detective work, triumphing over seemingly unbeatable odds to become the pioneers of forensic chemistry and the gatekeepers of justice. In 2014, PBS's AMERICAN EXPERIENCE released a film based on The Poisoner's Handbook.


An Eliza Montagu Cozy Mystery Bundle: Murder at the Hedgerow (#1), A Dollop of Death (#2), and Calamity at the Ball (#3)

An Eliza Montagu Cozy Mystery Bundle: Murder at the Hedgerow (#1), A Dollop of Death (#2), and Calamity at the Ball (#3)

Author: Fiona Grace

Publisher: Fiona Grace

Published: 2023-03-22

Total Pages: 691

ISBN-13: 1094381330

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A bundle of books #1 (MURDER AT THE HEDGEROW), #2 (A DOLLOP OF DEATH), and #3 (CALAMITY AT THE BALL) in Fiona Grace’s Eliza Montagu cozy mystery series. This bundle offers books one, two, and three in one convenient file, with over 150,000 words of reading. For centuries, Thistlewood Manor has stood as home to the Montagu family, a beacon to British aristocracy in rural England. But it’s 1928, and in this new age of women’s rights, Eliza Montagu, 27, a free spirit, has turned her back on her family to live an artist’s life in London. In MURDER AT THE HEDGEROW (Book #1), when an unexpected family crisis arrives, Eliza has no choice but to return home to the demands of her family, to help her father, and to meet the Lord they hope she’ll marry. When a dead body appears in the midst of the reunion, Eliza quickly realizes that if she doesn’t solve the mystery, the crime may just be pinned on her, and dash her hopes for a life as a free woman. In A DOLLOP OF DEATH (Book #2), after Eliza is summoned home, she decides to stay (for now) to help her father run the ailing family business. The presence of her childhood best friend, Oliver, also gives her a reason to stay, as she wonders if their unfulfilled romance might ever come to fruition. Fall has arrived, bringing to town major Fall festivals and celebrations in the gorgeous countryside—and yet also bringing to town a female suitor who wastes no time trying to woo Oliver away. Seeing Eliza as her rival, the suitor does everything she can to malign her and make her life miserable. And when a servant turns up dead, poisoned by a slice of pie meant for Eliza, all eyes fall on the suitor. Did she mean to murder Eliza? Was the pie meant for someone else in the family? Or for the suitor herself? Eliza, realizing she is implicated, is forced to solve the perplexing murder—and ends up utterly stunned at what she discovers. In CALAMITY AT THE BALL (Book #3), Christmas has arrived in resplendent Thistlewood Manor, opulent, magical and filled with guests. The countryside is alight with local gentry balls, and Eliza’s younger sister, turning 16, is determined to visit them all—and to drag Eliza with her. But when a shocking incident occurs and Eliza discovers her sister’s suitor thrown from a balcony, suspicion for the murder falls on her. Eliza is forced to plunge into the dark side of nobility, to pry at the secrets behind the parties and balls, and determine who would want this man dead—and why. Yet even Eliza cannot anticipate the shocking truth she will discover. Future books in the series are also available.


An Eliza Montagu Cozy Mystery Bundle: Murder at the Hedgerow (#1) and A Dollop of Death (#2)

An Eliza Montagu Cozy Mystery Bundle: Murder at the Hedgerow (#1) and A Dollop of Death (#2)

Author: Fiona Grace

Publisher: Fiona Grace

Published: 2023-01-25

Total Pages: 475

ISBN-13: 1094380415

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A bundle of books #1 (MURDER AT THE HEDGEROW) and #2 (A DOLLOP OF DEATH) in Fiona Grace’s Eliza Montagu cozy mystery series. This bundle offers books one and two in one convenient file, with over 150,000 words of reading. For centuries, Thistlewood Manor has stood as home to the Montagu family, a beacon to British aristocracy in rural England. But it’s 1928, and in this new age of women’s rights, Eliza Montagu, 27, a free spirit, has turned her back on her family to live an artist’s life in London. In MURDER AT THE HEDGEROW (Book #1), when an unexpected family crisis arrives, Eliza has no choice but to return home to the demands of her family, to help her father, and to meet the Lord they hope she’ll marry. When a dead body appears in the midst of the reunion, Eliza quickly realizes that if she doesn’t solve the mystery, the crime may just be pinned on her, and dash her hopes for a life as a free woman. In A DOLLOP OF DEATH (Book #2), after Eliza is summoned home, she decides to stay (for now) to help her father run the ailing family business. The presence of her childhood best friend, Oliver, also gives her a reason to stay, as she wonders if their unfulfilled romance might ever come to fruition. Fall has arrived, bringing to town major Fall festivals and celebrations in the gorgeous countryside—and yet also bringing to town a female suitor who wastes no time trying to woo Oliver away. Seeing Eliza as her rival, the suitor does everything she can to malign her and make her life miserable. And when a servant turns up dead, poisoned by a slice of pie meant for Eliza, all eyes fall on the suitor. Did she mean to murder Eliza? Was the pie meant for someone else in the family? Or for the suitor herself? Eliza, realizing she is implicated, is forced to solve the perplexing murder—and ends up utterly stunned at what she discovers. Future books in the series are also available.


Thistlewood Manor: A Dollop of Death (An Eliza Montagu Cozy Mystery—Book 2)

Thistlewood Manor: A Dollop of Death (An Eliza Montagu Cozy Mystery—Book 2)

Author: Fiona Grace

Publisher: Fiona Grace

Published: 2022-11-29

Total Pages: 227

ISBN-13: 1094377708

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"Very entertaining. I highly recommend this book to the permanent library of any reader that appreciates a very well written mystery, with some twists and an intelligent plot. You will not be disappointed. Excellent way to spend a cold weekend!" --Books and Movie Reviews, Roberto Mattos (regarding Murder in the Manor) THISTLEWOOD MANOR: A DOLLOP OF DEATH (AN ELIZA MONTAGU COZY MYSTERY—BOOK 2) is Book #2 in a charming 1920s cozy mystery series by Fiona Grace, #1 bestselling author of Murder in the Manor, which has over 300 five star reviews! For centuries, Thistlewood Manor has stood as home to the Montagu family, a beacon to British aristocracy in rural England. But it’s 1928, and in this new age of women’s rights, Eliza Montagu, 27, a free spirit, has turned her back on her family to live an artist’s life in London. Yet after Eliza is summoned home, she decides to stay (for now) to help her father run the ailing family business. The presence of her childhood best friend, Oliver, also gives her a reason to stay, as she wonders if their unfulfilled romance might ever come to fruition. Fall has arrived, bringing to town major Fall festivals and celebrations in the gorgeous countryside—and yet also bringing to town a female suitor who wastes no time trying to woo Oliver away. Seeing Eliza as her rival, the suitor does everything she can to malign her and make her life miserable. And when a servant turns up dead, poisoned by a slice of pie meant for Eliza, all eyes fall on the suitor. Did she mean to murder Eliza? Was the pie meant for someone else in the family? Or for the suitor herself? Eliza, realizing she is implicated, is forced to solve the perplexing murder—and ends up utterly stunned at what she discovers. A charming historical cozy mystery series that transports readers back in time, THISTLEWOOD MANOR is mystery at its finest: spellbinding, atmospheric and impossible to put down. A page-turner packed with shocking twists, turns and a mystery that’s hard to solve, it will leave you reading late into the night, all while you fall in love with its unforgettable heroine. Book #3 in the series (CALAMITY AT THE BALL) is now also available.


An Eliza Montagu Cozy Mystery Bundle: A Dollop of Death (#2) and Calamity at the Ball (#3)

An Eliza Montagu Cozy Mystery Bundle: A Dollop of Death (#2) and Calamity at the Ball (#3)

Author: Fiona Grace

Publisher: Fiona Grace

Published: 2023-03-17

Total Pages: 443

ISBN-13: 1094381349

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A bundle of books #2 (A DOLLOP OF DEATH) and #3 (CALAMITY AT THE BALL) in Fiona Grace’s Eliza Montagu cozy mystery series. This bundle offers books two and three in one convenient file, with over 150,000 words of reading. For centuries, Thistlewood Manor has stood as home to the Montagu family, a beacon to British aristocracy in rural England. But it’s 1928, and in this new age of women’s rights, Eliza Montagu, 27, a free spirit, has turned her back on her family to live an artist’s life in London. In A DOLLOP OF DEATH (Book #2), after Eliza is summoned home, she decides to stay (for now) to help her father run the ailing family business. The presence of her childhood best friend, Oliver, also gives her a reason to stay, as she wonders if their unfulfilled romance might ever come to fruition. Fall has arrived, bringing to town major Fall festivals and celebrations in the gorgeous countryside—and yet also bringing to town a female suitor who wastes no time trying to woo Oliver away. Seeing Eliza as her rival, the suitor does everything she can to malign her and make her life miserable. And when a servant turns up dead, poisoned by a slice of pie meant for Eliza, all eyes fall on the suitor. Did she mean to murder Eliza? Was the pie meant for someone else in the family? Or for the suitor herself? Eliza, realizing she is implicated, is forced to solve the perplexing murder—and ends up utterly stunned at what she discovers. In CALAMITY AT THE BALL (Book #3), Christmas has arrived in resplendent Thistlewood Manor, opulent, magical and filled with guests. The countryside is alight with local gentry balls, and Eliza’s younger sister, turning 16, is determined to visit them all—and to drag Eliza with her. But when a shocking incident occurs and Eliza discovers her sister’s suitor thrown from a balcony, suspicion for the murder falls on her. Eliza is forced to plunge into the dark side of nobility, to pry at the secrets behind the parties and balls, and determine who would want this man dead—and why. Yet even Eliza cannot anticipate the shocking truth she will discover. Future books in the series are also available.


Lord of the Pies

Lord of the Pies

Author: Nell Hampton

Publisher: Crooked Lane Books

Published: 2018-04-10

Total Pages: 320

ISBN-13: 168331560X

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When Carrie Ann Cole bakes a lemon meringue pie to die for that actually kills someone, she must find out who the real killer is before her time at the Kensington Palace expires. The elegant Orangery at Kensington Palace is the perfect setting for the bridal shower of Carrie Ann Cole’s best friend’s sister. Personal chef to the royal family, Carrie Ann’s pie theme is naturally winning. But a waiter later keels over dead into the lemon meringue pie she leaves as a thank-you to the staff and Carrie Ann realizes that somebody slipped a mickey into that meringue. Her floury fingerprints are all over that pie and the authorities suspect her distress is a cover-up for murder. Carrie Ann must set out to clear her name if she wants to stay at her dream job any longer. But all too soon, another body drops in the Orangery. This time, it’s the Orangery chef. Murder won’t crimp her style, and as bodies pile up, Carrie Ann uncovers palace intrigue, London nightlife, and British pies scouring for the killer in Lord of the Pies, the witty follow-up to Nell Hampton’s Kale to the Queen.