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A High Mortality of Doves
by Kate Ellis1919. The Derbyshire village of Wenfield is still reeling from four terrible years of war, and now, just when the village is coming to terms with the loss of so many of its sons, the brutal murder of a young girl shatters its hard-won tranquillity.Myrtle Bligh is found stabbed and left in woodland, her mouth slit to accommodate a dead dove, a bird of peace. During the war Myrtle worked as a volunteer nurse with Flora Winsmore, the local doctor's daughter, caring for badly wounded soldiers at the nearby big house, Tarnhey Court.When two more women are found murdered in identical circumstances, Inspector Albert Lincoln is sent up from London, a man not only wounded in war but damaged in peace by the death of his young son and his cold, loveless marriage. Once in Wenfield, Albert begins to investigate the three recent murders and the Cartwright family of Tarnhey Court and their staff fall under suspicion as their hidden lives and secrets are uncovered. With rumours of a ghostly soldier with a painted face being spotted near the scene of the murders, the village is thrown into a state of panic - and with the killer still on the loose, who will be the next to die at the hands of this vicious angel of death?
A High Mortality of Doves (Albert Lincoln #1)
by Kate Ellis'Haunting' Independent'A powerful story of loss, malice and deception' Ann CleevesThe first gripping historical thriller in the Albert Lincoln series by bestselling crime writer Kate Ellis.1919. The Derbyshire village of Wenfield is still reeling from four years of war. Just when the village has begun to regain its tranquillity, a young girl, Myrtle Bligh, is found stabbed and left in woodland, her mouth slit to accommodate a dead dove - a bird of peace.When two more women are found murdered in identical circumstances, Wenfield is thrown into a panic.With rumours of a ghostly soldier with a painted face being spotted near the scene of the murders, Inspector Albert Lincoln is sent up from London to crack the terrible case - but with the killer still on the loose, who will be the next to die at the hands of this vicious angel of death?What readers are saying about A High Mortality of Doves:'An utterly stunning mystery . . . Outstanding' Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars'Deliciously brilliant' Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars'Gripping' Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars'An amazing mixture of great plotting, well developed characters and interesting historical detail' Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars'Fabulously atmospheric' Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars'A satisfyingly shocking ending' Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars'A terrific mystery' Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars
A High Price to Pay: A Madeline Dawkins Novel (The Madeline Dawkins Series #2)
by Cynthia HamiltonA party for California&’s rich and fabulous is the perfect place to start a deadly game of revenge in this mystery thriller by the author of Souse Trap. Santa Barbara event planner Madeline Dawkins is coordinating a weekend-long birthday bash for the wife of a famous film director. It should be a highlight of her career. But when precious jewels go missing and dead bodies start turning up, Madeline puts party hosting aside to focus on her other line of work—as a private investigator. Together with her partner Mike Delaney, Madeline follows the clues to some dark mansions that hide even darker secrets. A grim and terrifying chapter of Madeline&’s past has been reopened, and a soulless predator is now on a quest for vengeance. But while searching for the killer, Madeline soon learns that the victims aren&’t random; they were meant to send her a personal message: &“You&’re next.&”
A High Tide Murder (A Cannabis Café Mystery #2)
by Emily GeorgeThe newest installment in the Cannabis Café cozy mystery series featuring twenty-eight-year-old, classically trained pastry chef Chloe Barnes—sure to appeal to millennial readers as well as lovers of classic cozy mysteries! What a long, strange trip it&’s been for Chloe. After her dream of becoming a Parisian pastry chef—and a wife—crashed and burned, she returned home to the seaside town of Azalea Bay, California and opened a cannabis café. Despite some residents&’ misgivings about how such a business may affect the community&’s reputation, Baked by Chloe has become a popular destination for tourists and locals alike. Nothing mellows out people like sweet edibles and frothy drinks with a dash of CBD. But when it comes to surfers, the only high they want to ride is on a wave. The annual summer Azalea Bay Pro Challenger Surf Competition is underway, and fan favorite Aaron Gill is treading water. Plagued by professional and personal pressures, he finds himself no longer a top contender, and everyone is saddened when he takes his own life. But his best friend Ethan Wilson knows that despite Aaron&’s difficulties, suicide was not on his mind, and he begs Chloe to investigate. Against her better judgment, Chloe dives in and discovers Aaron was surrounded by people motivated enough to help him wipe out—permanently . . . [Cannabis and CBD-infused Recipes Included (always consume responsibly)!] Praise for A Half-Baked Murder&“This fun and fact-filled thematic entry into the cozy mystery genre has it all: a twisty murder investigation, a charming small town, a potential romance with the single guy next door, and recipes. . . Highly recommended.&” —Library Journal, Starred Review&“[A] richly drawn mystery. . .George has laid the foundation for a series that feels fresh, young, and full of surprises.&” —First Clue, Starred Review
A High-End Finish (A Fixer-Upper Mystery #1)
by Kate CarlisleFIRST IN A NEW SERIES! <P> In the seaside town of Lighthouse Cove in northern California, everyone knows the best man for the job is actually a woman--contractor Shannon Hammer. But while Shannon can do wonders with a power drill and a little elbow grease, she's about to discover that some problems aren't so easily fixed.... <P> Shannon's home-renovation and repair business is booming, but her love life needs work. On a blind date with real estate agent Jerry Saxton, she has to whip out a pair of pliers to keep Jerry from getting too hands on. Shannon is happy to put her rotten date behind her, but when Jerry's found dead in a run-down Victorian home that she's been hired to restore, the town's attractive new police chief suspects that her threats may have laid the foundation for murder. <P> Determined to clear her name, Shannon conducts her own investigation--with the help of her four best friends, her eccentric father, a nosy neighbor or two, and a handsome crime writer who's just moved to town. But as they get closer to prying out the murderer's identity, Shannon is viciously attacked. Now she'll have to nail down the truth--or end up in permanent foreclosure....
A High-Stakes Reunion (Sierra's Web #16)
by Tara Taylor QuinnUSA TODAY Bestselling AuthorReunited in danger…And bound by desireMoments after delivering a baby, Dr. Dorian Howell thwarts the infant&’s kidnapping. When Dorian herself is abducted, FBI agent Scott Michaels knows that rescuing her might help him destroy a child-trafficking ring. What he doesn&’t know is how to handle his enduring attraction to a woman he&’s never forgotten. Dorian&’s cool competence is an asset as they work together. But the heat between them might be a deadly distraction…From Harlequin Romantic Suspense: Danger. Passion. Drama.Feel the excitement in these uplifting romances, part of the Sierra's Web series:Book 1: His Lost and Found FamilyBook 2: Reluctant RoommatesBook 3: Tracking His Secret ChildBook 4: Her Best Friend's BabyBook 5: Cold Case SheriffBook 6: The Bounty Hunter's Baby SearchBook 7: On the Run with His BodyguardBook 8: Their Secret TwinsBook 9: Old Dogs, New TruthsBook 10: Not Without Her ChildBook 11: A Firefighter's Hidden TruthBook 12: Last Chance InvestigationBook 13: A Family-First ChristmasBook 14: Danger on the RiverBook 15: Deadly Mountain RescueBook 16: A High-Stakes ReunionBook 17: Baby in Jeopardy
A Highland Christmas (Christmas Fiction)
by M.C. BeatonIn dark, wintry Lochdubh, Christmas Cheer is about as welcome as a flat tyre on a deserted road. The Calvinist element in town has always resisted what they view as secular frivolity, so for most of the townsfolk there'll be no carols, feasting, gifts - or even whisky on Christmas Day!And for PC Hamish Macbeth there's no holiday from crime - he finds himself hunting for a missing cat belonging to a lonely spinster. Curt and unfriendly, the woman is convinced her pet has been stolen but once behind her heavily-bolted door, Hamish can spot her true problem - she lives in fear, though of who or what he cannot guess.Then someone steals a Christmas tree and lights from the nearby village of Cnothan. So it is up to Hamish to sort all these problems out - and he had better do it quickly, for the church bells will soon peal on the eve of Christmas.This one-off standalone story is a special Christmas treat for all fans of Hamish Macbeth and can be read at any point in the ongoing series.Also features the first UK publication of a Hamish Macbeth short story, Knock, Knock, You're Dead!Praise for the Hamish Macbeth series:'First rate ... deft social comedy and wonderfully realized atmosphere.' Booklist'It's always a treat to return to Lochdubh.' New York Times'Readers will enjoy the quirks and unique qualities of the cast ... Beaton catches the beauty of the area's natural geography and succinctly describes its distinct flavour.' Library Journal'Befuddled, earnest and utterly endearing, Hamish makes his triumphs sweetly satisfying.' Publishers Weekly
A Highland Christmas (Hamish Macbeth #15)
by M.C. BeatonIn dark, wintry Lochdubh, Christmas Cheer is about as welcome as a flat tyre on a deserted road. The Calvinist element in town has always resisted what they view as secular frivolity, so for most of the townsfolk there'll be no carols, feasting, gifts - or even whisky on Christmas Day!And for PC Hamish Macbeth there's no holiday from crime - he finds himself hunting for a missing cat belonging to a lonely spinster. Curt and unfriendly, the woman is convinced her pet has been stolen but once behind her heavily-bolted door, Hamish can spot her true problem - she lives in fear, though of who or what he cannot guess.Then someone steals a Christmas tree and lights from the nearby village of Cnothan. So it is up to Hamish to sort all these problems out - and he had better do it quickly, for the church bells will soon peal on the eve of Christmas.This one-off standalone story is a special Christmas treat for all fans of Hamish Macbeth and can be read at any point in the ongoing series.Also features the first UK publication of a Hamish Macbeth short story, Knock, Knock, You're Dead!Praise for the Hamish Macbeth series:'First rate ... deft social comedy and wonderfully realized atmosphere.' Booklist'It's always a treat to return to Lochdubh.' New York Times'Readers will enjoy the quirks and unique qualities of the cast ... Beaton catches the beauty of the area's natural geography and succinctly describes its distinct flavour.' Library Journal'Befuddled, earnest and utterly endearing, Hamish makes his triumphs sweetly satisfying.' Publishers Weekly
A Hint of Death (A Bob Skinner Short Story)
by Quintin JardineAn original digital short story featuring DS 'Sauce' Haddock and Edinburgh's finest, Chief Constable Bob Skinner, from Scotland's Crime Master.When DS 'Sauce' Haddock visits his old teacher to investigate an alleged jewellery theft, it quickly becomes clear that another, far darker truth, lies beneath the surface. With Chief Constable Bob Skinner's help, Haddock will soon discover that outward appearances are never as they seem, and that no crime can go unpunished...*Also features an extract from Quintin Jardine's latest Bob Skinner mystery, HOUR OF DARKNESS*
A Hint of Death (A Bob Skinner Short Story)
by Quintin JardineAn original digital short story featuring DS 'Sauce' Haddock and Edinburgh's finest, Chief Constable Bob Skinner, from Scotland's Crime Master.When DS 'Sauce' Haddock visits his old teacher to investigate an alleged jewellery theft, it quickly becomes clear that another, far darker truth, lies beneath the surface. With Chief Constable Bob Skinner's help, Haddock will soon discover that outward appearances are never as they seem, and that no crime can go unpunished...*Also features an extract from Quintin Jardine's latest Bob Skinner mystery, HOUR OF DARKNESS*
A Hint of Mischief (A Fairy Garden Mystery #3)
by Daryl Wood GerberThe proprietor of a fairy garden and tea shop in Carmel-by-the-Sea, Courtney Kelly has an occasional side gig as a sleuth—with a sprinkling of magical assistance. . . . Courtney has thrown a few fairy garden parties—for kids. But if a local socialite is willing to dip into her trust fund for an old sorority sister&’s fortieth birthday bash, Courtney will be there with bells on. To make the job even more appealing, a famous actress, Farrah Lawson, is flying in for the occasion, and there&’s nothing like a celebrity cameo to raise a business&’s profile. Now Courtney has less than two weeks to paint a mural, hang up tinkling windchimes, plan party games, and conjure up all the details. While she works her magic, the hostess and her girlfriends head off for an indulgent spa day—which leads to a fateful facial for Farrah, followed by her mysterious death. Could the kindhearted eyebrow waxer who Farrah berated in public really be the killer, as the police suspect? Courtney thinks otherwise, and with the help of her imaginative sleuth fairy, sets out to dig up the truth behind this puzzling murder . . . Praise for Daryl Wood Gerber&’s A Sprinkling of Murder &“Enchanting series launch from Agatha Award winner Gerber. . . . Cozy fans will wish upon a star for more.&” —Publishers Weekly &“A winner. . . . Fans of Laura Childs&’ work will enjoy.&”—Booklist
A Hint of Witchcraft
by Anna GilbertMargot is a happy teenager looking forward to a wonderful future in the idyllic countryside she loves. Her father is tolerant and prosperous, her mother lively, understanding and admired by everyone, her big brother is exuberant, the orphan she has grown up with will become a doctor and her friends congregate at her hospitable country home. Among those friends is painfully shy Katie to whom Margo is gentle and kind, and Linden, the new girl at school who Margo regards as the ideal beauty. Then a necklace goes missing from a local shop and Margo's world shatters. Katie is blamed, but could she possibly be guilty. Margo's mother becomes ill, her father resigns, her brother falls in love with Linden but flees to Africa, the man Margot thought was her true love is avoiding her, servants are telling Margot frightening secrets, the town simmers with suspicion and Margot sees Linden at the heart of all the suffering. Does sincere feeling and purity of spirit have a chance against greed and deception? Somehow Margot must find out, grow up and put her life together again.
A Hiss Before Dying: A Mrs. Murphy Mystery (Mrs. Murphy #26)
by Rita Mae BrownRita Mae Brown and her feline co-author Sneaky Pie Brown are back chasing mystery with their unique circle of Southern sleuths. And though the changing colors of fall are a beauty to behold, this year the scattered leaves hide a grim surprise. Autumn is in the air in the Blue Ridge Mountain community of Crozet, Virginia—and all the traditions of the changing seasons are under way. Mary Minor “Harry” Haristeen cleans her cupboards, her husband, Fair, prepares the horses for the shorter days ahead, and the clamorous barking of beagles signals the annual rabbit chase through the central Virginia hills. But the last thing the local beaglers and their hounds expect to flush out is a dead body. Disturbingly, it’s the second corpse to turn up, after that of a missing truck driver too disfigured to identify. The deaths seem unrelated—until Harry picks up a trail of clues dating back to the state’s post-Revolutionary past. The echoes of the Shot Heard Round the World pale in comparison to the dangerous shootout Harry narrowly escapes unscathed. Next time, it may be the killer who gets lucky. But not if Harry’s furry friends Mrs. Murphy, Pewter, and Tucker can help it. Lending their sharp-nosed talents to the hunt, they’ll help their mistress keep more lives from being lost—and right an injustice buried since the early days of America’s independence.“As feline collaborators go, you couldn’t ask for better than Sneaky Pie Brown.”—The New York Times Book Review
A History of American Crime Fiction
by Chris RaczkowskiA History of American Crime Fiction places crime fiction within a context of aesthetic practices and experiments, intellectual concerns, and historical debates generally reserved for canonical literary history. Toward that end, the book is divided into sections that reflect the periods that commonly organize American literary history, with chapters highlighting crime fiction's reciprocal relationships with early American literature, romanticism, realism, modernism and postmodernism. It surveys everything from 17th-century execution sermons, the detective fiction of Harriet Spofford and T. S. Eliot's The Waste Land, to the films of David Lynch, HBO's The Sopranos, and the podcast Serial, while engaging a wide variety of critical methods. As a result, this book expands crime fiction's significance beyond the boundaries of popular genres and explores the symbiosis between crime fiction and canonical literature that sustains and energizes both.
A History of Fear: A Novel
by Luke DumasThis &“disorienting, creepy, paranoia-inducing reimagining of the devil-made-me-do-it tale&” (Paul Tremblay, author of The Cabin at the End of the World) follows the harrowing downfall of a tortured graduate student arrested for murder.Grayson Hale, the most infamous murderer in Scotland, is better known by a different name: the Devil&’s Advocate. The twenty-five-year-old American grad student rose to instant notoriety when he confessed to the slaughter of his classmate Liam Stewart, claiming the Devil made him do it. When Hale is found hanged in his prison cell, officers uncover a handwritten manuscript that promises to answer the question that&’s haunted the nation for years: was Hale a lunatic, or had he been telling the truth all along? The first-person narrative reveals an acerbic young atheist, newly enrolled at the University of Edinburgh to carry on the legacy of his recently deceased father. In need of cash, he takes a job ghostwriting a mysterious book for a dark stranger—but he has misgivings when the project begins to reawaken his satanophobia, a rare condition that causes him to live in terror that the Devil is after him. As he struggles to disentangle fact from fear, Grayson&’s world is turned upside-down after events force him to confront his growing suspicion that he&’s working for the one he has feared all this time—and that the book is only the beginning of their partnership. &“A modern-day Gothic tale with claws&” (Jennifer Fawcett, author of Beneath the Stairs), A History of Fear marries dread-inducing atmosphere with heart-palpitating storytelling.
A History of Wild Places: A Novel
by Shea Ernshaw&“What a wonderful rabbit hole to fall down.&” —Erika Swyler, author of Light from Other Stars and The Book of Speculation &“A terrifying and timely book.&” —Erica Ferencik, bestselling author of The River at Night and Into the Jungle &“As spine-chilling as it is beautifully crafted.&” —Ruth Emmie Lang, author of Beasts of Extraordinary Circumstance The New York Times bestselling author of The Wicked Deep weaves a richly atmospheric adult debut following three residents of a secluded, seemingly peaceful commune as they investigate the disappearances of two outsiders.Travis Wren has an unusual talent for locating missing people. Hired by families as a last resort, he requires only a single object to find the person who has vanished. When he takes on the case of Maggie St. James—a well-known author of dark, macabre children&’s books—he&’s led to a place many believed to be only a legend. Called Pastoral, this reclusive community was founded in the 1970s by like-minded people searching for a simpler way of life. By all accounts, the commune shouldn&’t exist anymore and soon after Travis stumbles upon it…he disappears. Just like Maggie St. James. Years later, Theo, a lifelong member of Pastoral, discovers Travis&’s abandoned truck beyond the border of the community. No one is allowed in or out, not when there&’s a risk of bringing a disease—rot—into Pastoral. Unraveling the mystery of what happened reveals secrets that Theo, his wife, Calla, and her sister, Bee, keep from one another. Secrets that prove their perfect, isolated world isn&’t as safe as they believed—and that darkness takes many forms. Hauntingly beautiful, hypnotic, and bewitching, A History of Wild Places is a story about fairy tales, our fear of the dark, and losing yourself within the wilderness of your mind.
A Hitch at the Fairmont
by Jim AverbeckAn intrepid boy teams up with Alfred Hitchcock himself in this rollicking mystery rife with action, adventure, intrigue, and all the flavor of film noir.After the mysterious death of his mother, eleven-year-old Jack Fair is whisked away to San Francisco’s swanky Fairmont Hotel by his wicked Aunt Edith. There, he seems doomed to a life of fetching chocolates for his aunt and her pet chinchilla. Until one night, when Aunt Edith disappears, and the only clue is a ransom note written…in chocolate?Suddenly, Jack finds himself all alone on a quest to discover who kidnapped Aunt Edith and what happened to his mother. Alone, that is, until he meets an unlikely accomplice—Alfred Hitchcock himself! The two embark on a madcap journey full of hidden doorways, secret societies, cryptic clues, sinister villains, and cinematic flair. Including an author’s note about the real Hitchcock and an appendix of film references, this “fine read” is a “love letter to all that Hitchcock stood for” (Kirkus Reviews).
A Hive of Glass
by P. M. HubbardJohnnie Slade harbours an obsessive love for fine glass objects, so his interest is piqued when he sees photographs of the fabulous Verzelini tazza in a magazine. He follows its trail and finds that someone may already have committed murder to get their hands on it. If, indeed, it ever existed. And what is the relevance of the entry in the dead man's diary that reads 'Dunstreet'?Johnnie finds out what it means - and he also finds Claudia. But his pursuit of both the tazza and the girl are complicated not only by Claudia's blind and autocratic Aunt Elizabeth, but also by the dawning realisation that he is not alone in his quest. And death, of course, is just around the corner.
A Hive of Glass (Murder Room #19)
by P. M. HubbardJohnnie Slade harbours an obsessive love for fine glass objects, so his interest is piqued when he sees photographs of the fabulous Verzelini tazza in a magazine. He follows its trail and finds that someone may already have committed murder to get their hands on it. If, indeed, it ever existed. And what is the relevance of the entry in the dead man's diary that reads 'Dunstreet'?Johnnie finds out what it means - and he also finds Claudia. But his pursuit of both the tazza and the girl are complicated not only by Claudia's blind and autocratic Aunt Elizabeth, but also by the dawning realisation that he is not alone in his quest. And death, of course, is just around the corner.
A Hive of Homicides (A Henny Penny Farmette Mystery #3)
by Meera LesterA honey of a crime. . . When Abigail Mackenzie left the police force to become a farmer and beekeeper in beautiful Las Flores, California, she thought her days of criminal investigation were behind her . . . Her present life is mostly filled with hard work and happy occasions, including the upcoming event with her friend Paola, a truffle maker, who's renewing her vows with her husband Jake, owner of the Country Schoolhouse Winery. Abby is delighted to provide her trademark lavender honey for the occasion. But after the ceremony, the guests of honor are nowhere to be found. When Abby goes looking for them, she hears a gunshot and discovers Jake dead in his car and Paola injured beside him. Who was the intended target? Jake had a reputation as a busy bee with the ladies. Is it possible that one of his flings, stung by rejection, took revenge? Or could it be sour grapes with one of his colleagues at the winery? If Paola was meant to be the victim, Abby needs to protect her as she searches for the shooter. When a second murder occurs, it's up to Abby to crush the clues—before the killer gets her over a barrel . . . Includes farming tips and delicious recipes!
A Hobby of Murder
by Elizabeth FerrarsRetired professor Andrew Basnett had been at a loose end since he'd finished writing his book, and a country visit with friends seemed just the diversion he needed. But when seven friends gather to welcome him to their village, conviviality soon turns to crime as guests suddenly start dying - and Basnett finds himself seeking a clever killer who is sure to strike again.'Her fans will love it'Kirkus Reviews
A Hobby of Murder (Andrew Basnett)
by Elizabeth FerrarsRetired professor Andrew Basnett had been at a loose end since he'd finished writing his book, and a country visit with friends seemed just the diversion he needed. But when seven friends gather to welcome him to their village, conviviality soon turns to crime as guests suddenly start dying - and Basnett finds himself seeking a clever killer who is sure to strike again.'Her fans will love it' Kirkus Reviews
A Hobby of Murder: An Andrew Basnett Mystery (Andrew Basnett)
by E. X. FerrarsThe irresistible Andrew Basnett series may have been written in the 1980s and ‘90s, but its soul lies with the classic crime fiction of the 1930s. Here, for example, is A Hobby of Murder, with its setting at—wait for it—a classic country-house party, that staple of the Golden Age. Rounding out the guest list are, among others, a mystery writer, a lawyer with a reason to dislike him, a doctor, a retired teacher with a passion for photography, and the lord of the local manor, keen amateur chef Sam Waldron—so keen that he has recreated an 18th-century dinner. His skills may not match his ambition, but he didn’t mean to poison the coffee. Oh, no? The local police inspector isn’t so sure, but in the finest Golden Age tradition he’s rather an idiot, so when the bodies start piling up, it’s a good thing that Basnett is on hand to sort things out!
A Hoe Lot of Trouble
by Heather WebberThere's a serpent loose in Nina's garden ... Nina Colette Ceceri Quinn's business, Taken by Surprise -- a landscaping firm specializing in surprise garden makeovers -- is the only thing in her life that seems to be thriving. Her marriage to adulterous police detective Kevin Quinn has wilted. Her antisocial stepson Riley is spreading trouble around like pungent manure. Even her gardening tools are disappearing, including a rather valuable set of hoes. Worst of all, the delightful old man who first introduced her to the joys of horticulture is dead -- and not by natural causes. Something evil has taken root in Nina's Ohio small town, and the local police -- including dearly unbeloved Kev -- are baffled. But it's amazing what a resourceful gardener can dig up when she puts her mind to it -- though, by sticking her hands too deeply into this fetid, fertile soil, Nina might well end up planted beneath her own petunias.
A Hole In The Head
by Nicholas FiskThe dog gasped, mouthed, swung its head. It gaped and showed sharp white teeth. Then, as if it were being sick, it brought up words. The dog spoke . . .Madi and her brother Jonjo live on the OzBase, a research center near the North Pole. Their mother is one of an international team of scientists investigating a hole in the ozone layer over the Arctic. Others, however, are involved in less honourable experiments - as the children soon discover . . .