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The Black Stocking by Constance Little
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The Two Towns
J.J. Salkeld - 2014
It is DC Jane Dixon's first week on Kendal's CID team. Her new boss, DI Andy Hall, gives her an open file to review, and it's a far from straightforward case. A woman has died in suspicious circumstances in a Windermere caravan park, and although her husband is suspected there's not a shred of solid evidence against him. Can Jane move the case forward, or will a cold-blooded killer really get away with murder? The rest of the team is busy too, because a vulnerable teenager from a troubled family has gone missing from home. There's nothing to suggest that the boy has been abducted, so what could have caused him to run away from home? DS Ian Mann, a tough ex-military man, and DC Ray Dixon are both heavily involved in the investigation. This story introduces key members of the investigative team, as well as many of the themes that are developed in the full-length Lakeland Murders novels: including a strong sense of place, and an understanding that while justice usually prevails it is rarely complete, or completely fair. Reader reviews for the full-length novels in the Lakeland Murders series include: 'Well developed, realistic, relatable characters, great plot, believable detailed scenes, good action sequences. Recommend to those that appreciate British detective novels. Always devour Lakeland murder mysteries.' 'Love J J Salkeld's books, his understanding of police procedure, his ability to draw his characters out into real people is, I believe, up there with the best of them and it is good to find crime stories set in Cumbria for a change.' 'Salkeld is good. Not just as a writer of gripping detective stories; but even more for his feisty exposure of the lunacies of institutions, hierarchies, and power. A refreshing and enlightening anarchist - much needed in these jaded, compliant and consumptive times.'
The Sean Duffy Collection: Books 1-3
Adrian McKinty - 2016
Brilliant!' - THE SUN
'It blew my doors off' - IAN RANKIN
SPINETINGLER AWARD WINNER
NED KELLY AWARD WINNER
STEEL DAGGER AWARD SHORTLISTED BOOK 1: The Cold Cold Ground Two dead. Nothing seems to link them, but Sean Duffy knows the links that seem to be invisible are just waiting to be uncovered. And as a policeman who has solved six murders so far in his career, but not yet brought a single case to court, Duffy is determined that this time, someone will pay. BOOK 2: I Hear the Sirens in the Street Sean Duffy knows that one tiny clue is all it takes to solve a murder, so when a dismembered torso is found in a suitcase, he knows there'll be a way to find the killer. Now he's fully fit after the severe trauma of his last case, he goes from country lanes to city streets, and wherever he goes, he smells a rat ... BOOK 3: In the Morning I'll Be Gone Sean Duffy heard about the spectacular escape of IRA man Dermot McCann from Her Majesty's Maze prison, and he knows, with chilly certainty, that their paths will cross. Can he outrun the most skilled terrorist the IRA ever created? And will the past catch him first?
Margot Durand Cozy Mystery Boxed Set: Books 1 - 6
Danielle Collins - 2018
To all outward appearances, North Bank is a quiet retirement and tourist community, but several murders soon reveal a darker side of crime and corruption. Margot must get involved to protect her friends and family and keep six killers from getting away. This collection of cozy mysteries includes books one through six in the Margot Durand Cozy Mystery series. If you like cozy mysteries with interesting characters and unexpected turns, the Margot Durand Cozy Mystery series is for you. Buy the Margot Durand Cozy Mystery Boxed Set and start solving your next mystery (or three) today! Always FREE on Kindle Unlimited Included Books Each book in the series is a stand-alone story, but your enjoyment of each story will be increased if you read them all. Be sure to check them all out. Croissants and Corruption - When Margot's troublesome niece comes for a summer visit, she knows she is going to have her hands full. After an unexpected murder, the girl is labeled as the prime suspect and Margot is forced to fight for her niece's freedom. Can she solve the mystery and clear her niece before the killer gets away…or strikes again? Desserts and Deception - When a man is murdered in the craft store run by her friend, Margot does everything she can to catch the killer and protect her friend. In the process, she uncovers a story of lies and deception. Can she solve the case, catch the killer, and keep out of harms way? Pastries and Pilfering - When Margot attempts to take a vacation on a cruise ship, mystery follows. What starts as a small time case of robbery, quickly turns into murder. Can Margot solve the mystery before someone else goes overboard? Muffins and Murder - After a conversation over breakfast muffins turns to an old treasure hunt, she gets pulled into a tale of deceptions and double-crosses. When a dead body turns up, Margot must unravel a plot that began decades ago. Can she solve the mystery and save her friend before he becomes the next victim? Vacations and Violence - Margot is excited about leaving her bakery behind for a weekend vacation at the Blue Ridge Mountain Resort. When she arrives, she learns of mysterious threats to her friend. After finding a dead body on a mountain trail, the mystery turns deadly. Determined to enjoy her vacation anyway, Margot lets the local police handle the investigation…until they declare it an accident. Sure there is more to the story than an accidental mishap, she sets her vacation aside and goes on the hunt for a killer. Margot must be at her sleuthing best if she is going to bring this killer to justice and protect her friend…and herself. Boating and Bodies - Life is going well for Margot and she takes time to go on a romantic boat ride with Adam. But when the son of a wealthy mogul washes up on shore to ruin the date, Margot is forced into another murder mystery. She soon learns that there might be political ramifications to this "accident" and refuses to let it get covered up. Can Margot uncover another one of the town's secrets and put the killer behind bars? Always FREE on Kindle Unlimited
Dead Ringer
James D. Mortain - 2020
NOW HE'S BACK. AND HE WANTS REVENGE..."A story brimming with dramatic tension" Award-winning author, Debz Hobbs-Wyatt.When the discarded body of a young woman sparks a manhunt on the streets of Bristol, striking similarities to another murder suggest there’s only one detective for the job. But he’s in disgrace and self-imposed exile.Bitter from a promotional snub and professionally embarrassed by his last failed murder case, DI Robbie Chilcott lives a life of seclusion. But now he has a chance to restore some pride and put a deadly serial killer behind bars.Back where he belongs, it doesn’t take Chilcott long to establish a shocking link between the victims: both were daughters of SAS veterans. As the investigation deepens, so the realisation dawns that he is pursuing a methodical, calculating and ruthless adversary.He’s a hunting a professional, accomplished in the dark art of death and trained to the highest military levels of escape, evasion and survival. If Chilcott is to gain an advantage and end the bloodshed, he must break from the shackles of law and place his trust in one of the most secretive and tight-knit military units.But will they turn on one of their own?From the Kindle best-selling author of the Detective Deans Mystery Series comes a fast-paced police procedural for fans of gripping action and edge-of-your-seat suspense. If you like LJ Ross, JD Kirk, Angela Marsons and Charlie Gallagher, you'll love this new British crime series.DI CHILCOTT - BOOK ONE
Brewing: Tree's Hollow Witches Books One to Three
Sara Bourgeois - 2017
Brewing Love When Lenora “Lenny” Brewer finds herself fed up with her life in the city, she flees to her Aunt’s bed and breakfast in the small town of Tree’s Hollow. A local handyman turns up dead, and Lenny gets herself mixed up in a murder mystery. Add in a hunky forest ranger, her dream job as an investigative journalist for the local paper, and a cat with so much sass it’s practically criminal, and you’ve got a recipe for a magically good time. Oh and one more thing, Lenny didn’t even know she was a witch until she arrived at her new home in Tree’s Hollow. Will she learn to harness the craft brewing inside of her, or will trouble boil over and destroy everything she comes to love? Brewing Trouble Aunt Kara wants to rename the Tree’s Hollow Bed and Breakfast, so she holds a contest to find the perfect new name. The prize for winning the contest? Death. That wasn’t Kara’s intention, but there’s another murder none the less. At least this time the body wasn’t found in the inn. Why would someone kill the winner? Brewing Boys Nathan's fate is in Lenny's hands. Will he survive the vicious attack that left him broken in a hospital bed? Esme, Lenny, and Jezebel race against time to get justice for Nathan and restore the balance between dark and light in Tree's Hollow. Brewing is suitable for readers of all ages who enjoy lighthearted paranormal cozies. Get the fourth book in the Tree's Hollow Witches Series, Brewing Fun, here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B074FN6SH9
A Grave Gala (Sugar Martin Vintage Cozy Mysteries Book 2)
Shéa MacLeod - 2019
With some reluctance, she joins the rest of the glamorous attendees on the veranda for cocktails and dancing until the gala turns grave indeed when one of the guests is murdered. With the sure knowledge there’s a killer among them, Sugar sets out to unearth the secrets that led to the death of a peer of the realm. With the help of a grumpy corgi and a handsome Englishman, she’s on the hunt for a cold-blooded killer and she won’t stop until she gets her man! The second book in the Sugar Martin Vintage Cozy Mysteries set in post-WW2 England.
Moonlight Ridge (A Coyote Wells Mystery Book 5)
Vickie McKeehan - 2020
James, Fabulous Feline: Further Adventures of the Connoisseur Cat
Harriet Hahn - 1993
But his deductive abilities will be put to the test when he’s called on to detect philatelic forgeries at Thwaites, one of the city’s great auction houses. The recently knighted cat also finds time to coach a croquet team, oversee rehearsals of a sequel to Cats, and help deliver a baby. Not to be outdone by cheesy actors or blundering attorneys, he makes his film debut and testifies in a criminal trial at the Old Bailey. But he has a special place in his heart for St. James’s Palace, the address he longs to call home. This delightful sequel to James the Connoisseur will prove irresistible catnip for feline lovers.
Bound by Lies
Gretta Mulrooney - 2017
The chief character is so well defined and so likeable. The story was intriguing and had plenty of twists and turns. ” Julia Corbett “Swift is a good character, suitable for people who like PD James, the story is believable and comes together well.” “Absolutely loved this book! Extremely well written with believable characters and lots of twists!” E. Boisvert “Excellent mystery, well drawn characters, and a great storyline.” Suki Anne Perfect for fans of Robert Galbraith, Paula Hawkins, P.D. James, or Ruth Rendell. IN THIS THREE-BOOK BOXSET: BOOK 1: THE LADY VANISHED A missing woman holds the key to a valuable inheritance Florence Davenport hires Swift to find her missing stepmother. There are no leads and no suspects, but if the body is found, Florence will inherit half of a very valuable house. BOOK 2: BLOOD SECRETS Fifteen years ago a teenage boy, Teddy Bartlett, went to a woods on the outskirts of London and was beaten to a pulp and left damaged for life. The police never found who did it or why he was targeted. Now, the boy’s father, recently returned from Australia, wants to find out what really happened to his son. He hires private detective Tyrone Swift to investigate the tragic crime. BOOK 3: TWO LOVERS, SIX DEATHS A man stabs his girlfriend to death. Then hangs himself, leaving a note confessing to the murder. Open and shut case? Not for detective Tyrone Swift Dominic Merrell’s estranged wife Georgie doesn’t believe that he could have done it. Detective Swift discovers that Dominic was a reliable, devoted husband and father for eighteen years until he met the beautiful, charismatic Lisa, who he left his wife for. No one can believe that Dominic was capable of murder. But if it wasn’t him, then who killed the seductive but chaotic Lisa? THE DETECTIVE Tyrone Swift is an ex-police detective who now works privately. He’s survived a stabbing and his fiancée running off with another man. Swift's personal life is complicated. He is still involved with his ex-wife Ruth. THE SETTING The streets of London with their vibrant mix of nationalities, cultures, and rich and poor are beautifully evoked. From the quiet suburbs with their veneer of happy family life, to the bustling centre with refugees struggling to survive, to exclusive penthouses where the rich can have anything they want delivered. THE AUTHOR Gretta is a critically acclaimed author of best-selling detective and literary fiction. 'Mulrooney has a real gift for dialogue, the words and phrases ring true and make her characters wonderfully real . . .
Death in Pieces (DI Haskell & Quinn #2)
Bilinda P. Sheehan - 2020
When forensic psychologist Harriet Quinn receives the random pieces of a jigsaw puzzle, she doesn’t realise they hold the key to identifying a sadistic killer’s next victim. A victim who hasn’t even been taken yet.
All Those Who Came Before: The Sixth Spookie Town Murder Mystery (Spookie Town Murder Mysteries Book 6)
Kathryn Meyer Griffith - 2020
It’s their turn. First off, it at long last solves the enigma of Abigail’s first husband Joel Sutton’s disappearance, and death, a decade before…the tragic event that sent Abigail to Spookie in the first place to begin a new life. The new life that would grow so big as to include a new love, a new family, quirky, but well-meaning friends, and the strange murder mysteries her new friends would drag her into over the years. As an unsolicited, and unwanted, envelope arrives from Abigail’s now dead detective she’d hired a decade before to find her missing first husband, its contents sends Frank searching for the truth. The envelope’s files are full of disturbing facts concerning the unsolved crime and it piques Frank’s interest. Soon, against Abby’s wishes, he’s on the cold trail of what actually happened to Joel Sutton–had he been a victim of just an accident, as some have always believed, or did someone murder him? In his search for the truth, Frank ends up in lethal danger when the investigation comes to a violent conclusion. This story is also about an infamous haunted house at 707 Suncrest, in the woods; about the cold blooded murders of a whole family that occurred there forty years before. Is the house on Suncrest truly haunted by the ghosts of the dead family? Is it dangerous? When Abby decides to paint a series of canvases of the spooky old house, she’ll find out. Then along with those two new mysteries to unravel, of course, all of Spookie’s quirky town characters have returned to irritate, amuse and sleuth with Abby and Frank. Will they get out of these new mysteries alive, too? Perhaps.
Sleep then my Princess
O.N. Stefan - 2015
While mourning the death of her husband, Senior Tissue Engineer, Stephani Robbins, is plagued by recurring visions of a child being locked up in a chicken coop. Meanwhile, someone is sending her creepy love poems, roses, and photos that have been taken without Stephani's knowledge. As more photos appear, the police suspect that Stephani has hired someone to take these photos. She before she can convince the police to take her seriously she is kidnapped. While imprisoned she discovers why she has been having these visions and it is more chilling than she ever imagined. Can she make it out alive? What some of my beta readers said... Wow! You've got a thriller with a level of horrific reality here. You take the reader inside a perverted serial killer's head and an innocent woman whose life has been ripped from her and whose present season of recovery is being trespassed. You describe the love of an adoring niece for her mourning auntie and this connects the reader to the prologue and adds another level of emotion to this already captivating plot. What a book! I have to say 'wow' because your writing style is so picturesque. You show a every detail to plainly. I was captured right away. The showing is real and to telling, which is a top virtue in any real book. The main character Stephanie has a sassy attitude underneath all of the hurt. Her story is heart breaking and so deep I felt her agony. This is a worthy read. O.N. Stefan, this one is so chilling and well written. The villain jumps off the page at the reader and scare the bejeebers out of you. You descriptions of the lab scene in the first chapter are right on and her getting the poem was quite spooky. The conflict of the mother and Puddles was well done showing just the type of upbringing or lack of this man had. High stars! I think you have a great novel here. The prologue is intense and urged me to keep reading, as well as setting the stage for when she discovers the pictures to give a sensation of malice. Your voice is exciting and the dialogue is good. It does seem more formal at times, but that is to be expected when having highly educated characters. I especially like your detailed descriptions and the use of medical terminology.
Merrily Watkins collection 1: Midwinter of Spirit and Crown of Lights
Phil Rickman - 2001