Trying to help a model, a fashion photographer exposes a sinister plotDIVThe photo in Fashion Parade galls Jerry Nason. It’s not the picture itself—an ordinary shot showing off a slim, Spanish-inspired dress and a few pieces of jewelry. It’s the model, Linda Courtney, who stood him up for a date a few months earlier. The morning after the magazine’s release, the woman who spurned his affection turns up to offer him some work. She’s come with the same set of costume jewelry she wore in the Fashion Parade picture, and her bosses, a strange pair of men who claim to work in advertising, want shots of the fake gems. Nason obliges, the two men leave, and Linda begins to tell the truth./div
Secrets, lies, and a splash of moonshine: a classic country house whodunit with a distinctly Southern twist. After losing her husband and her home, small-town girl Daisy McGovern moves in with her invalid mother at an old inn in sleepy southwestern Virginia. When the inn's eccentric proprietor, Aunt Emily, decides to throw a weekend party for a small group of friends and neighbors, everybody is excited--until a winter storm approaches and one of the guests is crushed by an antique bookcase during the night. At first, the death appears to be an accident. But as the storm worsens and the sheriff is unable to reach them, suspicion slowly grows. Was it murder? After the inn loses power and a second death occurs, it's clear to Daisy that one among them is a killer. But who? The young, new, secretive maid? The antique-peddling pair of spinster sisters? Her not-so-welcome in-laws? The peculiar house-hunting couple? The supposedly stranded motorist? With no way to leave and no way to get help, Daisy's only contacts to the outside world are her best friend Beulah and the always charming (and equally troublesome) moonshiner, Rick Balsam. Trapped with a clever and seemingly undetectable murderer, she must unravel the truth before the party ends with her funeral.
Officer Marcus Moscowicz is a small town policeman with dreams of making it to detective. One fateful night, shots ring out at the surprise birthday party of Great American Novelist Arthur Whitney and the writer is killed…fatally. With the nearest detective an hour away, Marcus jumps at the chance to prove his sleuthing skills—with the help of his silent partner, Lou. But whodunit? Did Dahlia Whitney, Arthur's scene-stealing wife, give him a big finish? Is Barrette Lewis, the prima ballerina, the prime suspect? Did Dr. Griff, the overly-friendly psychiatrist, make a frenemy? Marcus has only a short amount of time to find the killer and make his name before the real detective arrives… and the ice cream melts!
A die-hard fan of Jane Austen novels and the traditional English mystery, Tracy Kiely has combined elements of both for this truly delightful and witty debut. Planning New Year's resolutions to rid her life of all things unhealthy, Elizabeth Parker has dumped fatty foods, processed sugar, and her two-timing boyfriend. Indeed, the invitation to join her Aunt Winnie for a How to Host a Murder Party on New Year's Eve at Winnie's new Cape Cod B & B comes just in time. But when the local wealthy miser ends up the unscripted victim, Elizabeth must unearth old secrets and new motives in order to clear her beloved aunt of suspicion. The suspects include the town gossip, a haughty rich woman, and an antiques business owner much enamored of his benefactress, a Mrs. Kristell Dubois. If that isn't bad enough, Elizabeth must also contend with her childhood nemesis, Peter McGowan---a man she suspects has only matured in chronological years---and her suspicions about his family's interest in Winnie's inn. Yesterday, her only worry was of ever finding her Mr. Darcy. Now she has a murder to solve. Is it any wonder her resolution to achieve inner poise is in tatters? By reimagining characters and themes lifted from the treasured classic Pride and Prejudice, and crafting an expert, intricate mystery, Tracy Kiely has brought to life something very special: a new cozy series that is clever, vibrant, and utterly disarming.
The Whodunit Collection: British Murder Mysteries presents an exquisite anthology that traverses the rich and variegated landscape of early 20th-century British mystery writing. Comprised of novels by distinguished authors Frank Froest, Isabel Ostrander, Charles Norris Williamson, and Alice Muriel Williamson, this collection celebrates the diversities and complexities of the genre. Through an array of literary styles, from the suspenseful to the analytical, the anthology encapsulates the eras burgeoning fascination with the mystery novel, showcasing seminal works that have shaped and influenced the genres development. The collective expertise of the authors, rooted in their multifaceted experiences and backgrounds, lends this anthology a unique depth and breadth. Frank Froest, a former police official, brings authenticity and gritty realism, whereas Isabel Ostranders narrative techniques offer innovative twists and psychological insights. The Williamson duo, known for their collaborative writing approach, contributes a rich tapestry of intrigue and characterization. Together, their works not only reflect the literary zeitgeist of their time but also engage with broader societal themes and the human condition, embodying the essence of the golden age of detective fiction. This anthology is an indispensable treasure for enthusiasts of classic British mystery literature. It offers a panoramic view of the genres evolution, inviting readers to immerse themselves in the thrill of deduction and analysis. Engaging with this collection is not merely an exercise in entertainment but a journey through the intellectual and cultural landscape of early 20th-century Britain, where each story unfolds as a piece of the larger puzzle of the human psyche and societal intricacies. The Whodunit Collection is a must-read for those keen to explore the depth and diversity of British murder mysteries, offering a unique opportunity to experience the confluence of historical contexts, literary brilliance, and compelling storytelling.
Last November, I found a dead body inside the freezer that my roommate keeps inside the garage. My first thought was to call the police, but Jignesh hadn't paid his share of the rent just yet. It wasn't due until the thirtieth, and you know how difficult it is to find people who pay on time. Jignesh always does. Also, he had season tickets for the LA Opera, and well . . . Madame Butterfly. Tosca. The Flying Dutchman . . . at the Dorothy Chandler . . . you cannot say no to that, can you? Well, it's been a few good months now--Madame Butterfly was just superb, thank you. However, last Friday, I found a second body inside that stupid freezer in the garage. This time I'm evicting Jignesh. My house isn't a mortuary . . . alas, I need to come up with some money first. You'll understand, therefore, that I desperately need to sell this novel. Just enough copies to help me survive until I find a job . . . what could I do that doesn't demand too much effort? We have a real treasure here, anyhow. Some chapters are almost but not quite pornographic. You could safely lend this to nana afterward!
A fast-paced good humored murder mystery. Murder isn't funny but the cast of odd characters in Murder On The Rocks has a way of bringing a smile to the reader's face.
Investigating the murder of an orphanage director and the disappearance of a twelve-year-old resident, police investigator Hanne Wilhelmsen believes that the child must have witnessed the crime, but struggles with doubts about her own deductive instincts.
Equal parts Sherlock Holmes and P.G. Wodehouse, Charles Finch's debut mystery A Beautiful Blue Death introduces a wonderfully appealing gentleman detective in Victorian London who investigates crime as a diversion from his life of leisure. Charles Lenox, Victorian gentleman and armchair explorer, likes nothing more than to relax in his private study with a cup of tea, a roaring fire and a good book. But when his lifelong friend Lady Jane asks for his help, Lenox cannot resist the chance to unravel a mystery. Prudence Smith, one of Jane's former servants, is dead of an apparent suicide. But Lenox suspects something far more sinister: murder, by a rare and deadly poison. The grand house where the girl worked is full of suspects, and though Prue had dabbled with the hearts of more than a few men, Lenox is baffled by the motive for the girl's death. When another body turns up during the London season's most fashionable ball, Lenox must untangle a web of loyalties and animosities. Was it jealousy that killed Prudence Smith? Or was it something else entirely? And can Lenox find the answer before the killer strikes again—this time, disturbingly close to home?
Hope and Summer Bailey have their work cut out for them when a man who seems to be The Hermit from their Tarot card readings is found dead in their back yard! In the fun and exciting third instalment of the Fortune Telling Mysteries, the Bailey sisters find themselves in very hot water! An impromptu Tarot reading reveals the stranger who has been watching Hope and Summer over the last few days to be the Hermit – a seeker of knowledge and wisdom. The sisters discover that he has been hired to steal a valuable and potentially dangerous book from them, but only after he's found drowned in their back garden! Was he killed to hide the mastermind behind the theft? When a rival fortune teller holds a seance to determine the identity of the Hermit's murderer, Hope and Summer find themselves accused of the crime. Can they clear their name and figure out who the real culprit is before the book falls into the wrong hands?
