Using his gray cells, Poirot will need very little time to discover the mystery behind the Lemesurier curse according to which all the firstborn die before inheriting the family fortune. The mother of the next heir asks Poirot to protect Ronald who has been having accidents that could have been fatal. The Belgian detective and his faithful companion Hasting will discover that the ancient curse could not be true.
Ovid and Lorelli Thornthwaite have been trying to kill each other for so long that neither twin can remember which act of attempted murder came first. But whoever struck first, trying to take each other's lives is simply what they do. Until one day a lawyer arrives at their house to take stock of its contents, and his accompanying son attracts their attention. Soon a new battle evolves - one in which the twins have to work together to solve the mystery of their parents' deaths. Can Lorelli and Ovid overcome their old animosities, and will they ever get to finish that game of chess?
This book makes a compelling case for placing the social and legal practices of inheritance centre stage to make sense of fundamental questions of our time. Drawing on historical, literary, sociological, and legal analysis, this rich collection of original, interdisciplinary and international contributions demonstrates how inheritance is and has always been about far more than the set of legal processes for the distribution of wealth and property upon death. The contributions range from exploring the intractable tensions underlying family disputes and the legal and political debates about taxation, to revisiting literary plots in the past and presenting a contemporary artistic challenge of heirship. With an introduction that presents a critical mapping of the field of inheritance studies, this collection reveals the complexity of ideas about 'passing on', 'legacies', and 'heirlooms'; troubles some of the enduring consequences of 'charitable bequests', 'family money', and 'estate planning; and, deepens our understanding of the intimate and political practices of inheritance.
Family secrets are revealed in Book four of the Medium with a Heart series. Over the past year, Joanna has formed an unexpected friendship with the local mob boss, Hank the Hammer Hammersley. He has come to her rescue a number of times and has been one of her biggest supporters. Yet she hasn’t been able to reciprocate with the one thing he wants most; to reconnect with his mother. That day has finally come. However, it may not be the happy reunion Hank had hoped for when he learns about a long-buried family secret, two potential murders, and that he may be the heir to a vast fortune. Joanna’s hands are tied, and she can't investigate the claims as she’s promised her on-again, off-again boyfriend, Clint Hartley that she would stay out of danger. Especially now that his job is in jeopardy. But can she help it if the prime suspects keep coming to her?
The first book ever to describe real life cases of murder, and purported murder, using insulin as a weapon. Covers cases from the USA, UK, Europe, Japan and New Zealand, including the well known Claus von Bulow case, the first criminal trial to be broadcast in its entirety on US TV (later the subject of a Hollywood movie, Reversal of Fortune). Written by Vincent Marks, coauthor of the critically acclaimed book Panic Nation: Exposing the Lies We're Told About Food and Health (John Blake Publishing) and a world authority on insulin, and Caroline Richmond, a medical journalist and writer, this gripping account is intended for doctors and laypeople alike, especially those with an interest in forensic medicine or true life crime.
The Sunday Times bestseller and the definitive story behind the ITV factual drama White House Farm, about the horrific killings that took place in 1985. On 7 August 1985, Nevill and June Bamber, their daughter Sheila and her two young sons Nicholas and Daniel were discovered shot to death at White House Farm in Essex. The murder weapon was found on Sheila's body, a bible lay at her side. All the windows and doors of the farmhouse were secure, and the Bambers' son, 24-year-old Jeremy, had alerted police after apparently receiving a phone call from his father, who told him Sheila had 'gone berserk' with the gun. It seemed a straightforward case of murder-suicide, but a dramatic turn of events was to disprove the police's theory. In October 1986, Jeremy Bamber was convicted of killing his entire family in order to inherit his parents' substantial estates. He has always maintained his innocence. Drawing on interviews and correspondence with many of those closely connected to the events – including Jeremy Bamber – and a wealth of previously unpublished documentation, Carol Ann Lee brings astonishing clarity to a complex and emotive case. She describes the years of rising tension in the family that culminated in the murders, and provides clear insight into the background of each individual and their relationships within the family unit. Scrupulously fair in its analysis, The Murders at White House Farm is an absorbing portrait of a family, a time and a place, and a gripping account of one of Britain's most notorious crimes.
#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • A twisting, haunting true-life murder mystery about one of the most monstrous crimes in American history, from the author of The Wager and The Lost City of Z, “one of the preeminent adventure and true-crime writers working today."—New York Magazine • NATIONAL BOOK AWARD FINALIST • NOW A MARTIN SCORSESE PICTURE “A shocking whodunit…What more could fans of true-crime thrillers ask?”—USA Today “A masterful work of literary journalism crafted with the urgency of a mystery.” —The Boston Globe In the 1920s, the richest people per capita in the world were members of the Osage Nation in Oklahoma. After oil was discovered beneath their land, the Osage rode in chauffeured automobiles, built mansions, and sent their children to study in Europe. Then, one by one, the Osage began to be killed off. The family of an Osage woman, Mollie Burkhart, became a prime target. One of her relatives was shot. Another was poisoned. And it was just the beginning, as more and more Osage were dying under mysterious circumstances, and many of those who dared to investigate the killings were themselves murdered. As the death toll rose, the newly created FBI took up the case, and the young director, J. Edgar Hoover, turned to a former Texas Ranger named Tom White to try to unravel the mystery. White put together an undercover team, including a Native American agent who infiltrated the region, and together with the Osage began to expose one of the most chilling conspiracies in American history. Look for David Grann’s latest bestselling book, The Wager!
Visiting Minister Lovell while on pilgrimage from St. Frideswide, Sister Frevisse suspects that a mentally ill guest, who is prone to violent fits, has been framed for the murder of an innocent man. Original.
Greedy schemer. Family Slayer. It was a night of celebration for the Whitaker family. Their son Bart was graduating from college. But when Bart’s brother Kevin opened the door to their house, a masked intruder shot him point blank. His mother took the next bullet, followed by Mr. Whitaker and Bart. Blood was everywhere, but somehow Bart and his father survived . . . To the cops the story didn’t add up, and their investigation discovered a stunning web of lies. Bart was living a double life. He hadn’t been enrolled in college since his freshman year. Instead of attending classes, he’d spent his days playing video games with his friends—while planning to murder his family to inherit their million-dollar estate . . . Bestselling author Corey Mitchell takes us inside this chilling murder case to reveal the twisted motives of a seemingly All-American Boy-Next Door who turned into a cold-blooded killer now residing on Death Row . . . “Corey Mitchell empathized with crime victims in a unique and personal way. That empathy is evident in every true crime book he wrote.” —Suzy Spencer INCLUDES 16 PAGES OF HAUNTING PHOTOS
Christmas is murder-- when you're stranded in East Sussex with a killer. When guests at a secluded Victorian hotel start dying, all hopes for a jolly holiday are dashed.
