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A Promise of Ankles: 44 Scotland Street (14) (44 Scotland Street Ser. #14)
by Alexander McCall SmithThe latest, delectably witty installment of Alexander McCall Smith's sumptuous 44 Scotland Street series.For the residents of 44 Scotland Street, life in Edinburgh's intriguing New Town is a thing to be relished. After all, there are new faces to excite Domenica's anthropological imagination, precious moments with his triplets for Matthew to savor, and the prospect of a trip to the promised land of Glasgow for young Bertie. But there are mysteries that need solving too. Could Angus Lordie's dog, Cyril--the only dog in Scotland with a gold tooth--have unearthed a Neanderthal skull? Does the long-suffering Stuart have any hope of kindling a new relationship when Bruce, ever the navel gazer and consummate seducer, effortlessly steps into his pas de deux? And how will the patrons of Big Lou's cafe react to the menu's imminent culinary transformation? The stories of this wonderfully vibrant cast may take unexpected turns, but the warmth and humor at Scotland's most recognizable address will ultimately affirm the joy life brings us all.
A Promise of Ankles: A 44 Scotland Street Novel (#14) (44 Scotland Street Series #14)
by Alexander McCall SmithFrom the hugely popular 44 Scotland Street series comes the latest adventures of Bertie and his family and friends.The winds of change are blowing through Scotland Street. Though Bertie is getting older, he can't resist an adventure to escape his domineering mother, and Bruce, ever the navel-gazer, will have to bring his best self to navigate the complexities of the pas de deux. While Alexander McCall Smith's delightfully warm and witty comedy takes some surprising turns, the improbable adventures of this quirky cast of Scots will affirm the heart and joy in Edinburgh's New Town.
A Promise of Diamonds (The Patrick Dawlish Mysteries)
by John CreaseyA Scotland Yard detective investigates a South African diamond heist and the murders in its wake in this classic crime novel.In sweltering Kangarmie, South Africa, Della Forrest’s husband promised to return in two months with diamonds. That was two years ago. Della waits—until one day, he staggers out of the Kalahari Desert and collapses at her feet. As he clings to life, he is visited in the night by a strangler . . . A war hero and a former fruit farmer, Patrick Dawlish is now a detective with Scotland Yard. He currently resides in London and is attending the International Crime Conference. There he receives a top-secret report from a South African police officer—a criminal operation has stolen enough uncut diamonds to threaten the global economy. Moments later, the officer is murdered in his hotel room, and the assassin moves on to Dawlish’s flat . . . Armed with a dead man’s knowledge of a vast conspiracy and his own thirst for vengeance, Dawlish heads to South Africa in search of answers and justice. But death in the desert may be all that awaits . . . “First‐rate storytelling . . . and intelligent handling of the private‐vengeance theme make this book a markedly superior thriller.” —The New York Times
A Promise of More: A Disgraced Lords Novel (The Disgraced Lords #2)
by Bronwen EvansIn the second novel in USA Today bestselling author Bronwen Evans's sexy new Disgraced Lords series, two very independent souls find themselves fighting to resist a deepening passion. When Beatrice Hennessey sets out to confront Lord Coldhurst, the notorious rogue who killed her brother in a duel, her intent is to save her family from destitution. She's determined to blackmail the man into a loveless marriage. She'll make the wealthy Lord Coldhurst pay for the rest of his life. But while greeting his ship, Beatrice takes a tumble into the Thames--only to be fished out by a pair of strong masculine arms that tempt her to stay locked in their heated embrace forever. That is, until she realizes those arms belong to Sebastian Hawkestone, Lord Coldhurst himself. The little drowned mermaid has an interesting proposition indeed; one that Sebastian is surprised to find quite agreeable. Although he's had women more beautiful, she is pleasing to the eye, and besides, it's time he fathered an heir. Beatrice promises to be the ideal wife; a woman who hates him with an all-consuming passion is far too sensible to expect romance. However, it isn't long before Sebastian's plan for a marriage of convenience unravels, and he's caught up in the exhilarating undertow of seduction.Praise for A Promise of More "Bronwen's historical romances always make the top of my reading list!"--New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Jen McLaughlin"A page-turning, sensual adventure."--New York Times bestselling author Elizabeth Boyle"Evans pulls the reader into the story and holds them there long after the last page. I can hardly wait to see what's next in this fast-paced, drama-filled [series]. . . . A must read!"--My Book Addiction Reviews"Five out of five stars . . . I just loved this second book in The Disgraced Lords series. I was hooked from the first chapter."--Laura Tague"There is immense power in loving and forgiving someone. Ms. Evans demonstrates that more than once in Sebastian and Beatrice's relationship."--Written Love "This historical has a great setup."--Red Hot Books Includes a special message from the editor, as well as an excerpt from another Loveswept title.
A Promise of Ruin (Dr. Genevieve Summerford Mystery #2)
by Cuyler Overholt"A riveting period puzzler, filled with history, mystery, and romance." —Susan Elia MacNeal, New York Times bestselling author of the Maggie Hope seriesThe second book in the Dr. Genevieve Summerford mystery series, A PROMISE OF RUIN follows Genevieve as she is drawn into the investigation of a young Italian immigrant woman who has gone missing, and walks straight into New York's underworld.As Dr. Genevieve Summerford watches from the docks, the body of a young Italian woman is pulled from the East River, dampening the city's Independence Day festivities. Although the police suspect random violence, when Genevieve is asked to help find another young Italian woman who's gone missing, she wonders if something more sinister might be afoot.Desperate to find the missing woman before she too meets a grisly end, Genevieve must rely on all of her skills as a psychiatrist—both to understand the mind of a cunning predator, and to help the victims he's left behind. But none of her training can prepare her for what happens when she herself is captured, bringing the case much closer to home than she'd ever anticipated.
A Promise to Kill: A Clyde Barr Novel (A Clyde Barr Novel #2)
by Erik StoreyFrom the author dubbed by Jeffery Deaver “a born storyteller” whose first novel Nothing Short of Dying was hailed as “exceptional,” “a rollercoaster read,” and “adrenaline-fueled” by publications on both sides of the Atlantic, this is Erik Storey’s next entry in the Clyde Barr series, a locomotive-paced brawler that has its hero teaming with besieged members of a Native American reservation to thwart outlaw bikers who are putting hundreds of thousands of lives at risk.Clyde Barr, the drifter with lethal skills, is alone again, wandering the highways of the American West in search of something to believe in. As summer turns to autumn, he trades his car for a horse and heads for the mountains, planning to clear his head and regain his edge with some hunting. But when he runs across an elderly sick man—a Ute Indian from a nearby reservation—Clyde’s dream of solitude is quickly dashed. On the reservation, Clyde finds the old man’s daughter, Lawana, and grandson, Taylor, as well as a group of menacing bikers called Reapers running wild in the economically depressed, half-abandoned village. Gripped by the desire to do good in a hard world, Clyde offers to stay on Lawana’s ranch to help out until her father is released from the hospital. He controls himself around the bikers, even when he sees them harass a few Native American women—but when the Reapers attack a local boy Clyde has to do something. As tensions rise between the locals and the Reapers, Clyde’s efforts to protect the reservation become a fight for his, Lawana’s, and Taylor’s lives. And then the stakes ratchet up even more. In the remote Utah desert, surrounded by enemies, with no law enforcement presence, and with communication effectively cut off, Clyde must find a way to save his new friends, defeat the gang, and, hopefully, escape with his own skin intact. A Promise to Kill is an edge-of-the-seat thriller, pushing its no-hold-barred hero to new levels of improvisation and bare-knuckled blunt force.
A Promise to Kill: A Clyde Barr Thriller
by Erik StoreyDiscover a new hero…Clyde Barr, the drifter with lethal skills, is alone again, wandering the highways of the American West in search of something to believe in. As summer turns to autumn, he heads for the mountains, planning to clear his head and regain his edge with some hunting. But when he runs across an elderly sick man—a Ute Indian from a nearby reservation—Clyde’s dream of solitude is quickly dashed. On the reservation, Clyde finds the old man’s daughter, Lawana, and grandson, Taylor, as well as a group of menacing bikers called Reapers running wild in the struggling, half-abandoned village. Gripped by the desire to do good in a hard world, Clyde offers to stay on Lawana’s ranch to help out until her father is better. As tensions rise between the locals and the Reapers, Clyde’s efforts to protect the reservation become a fight for his, Lawana’s and Taylor’s lives…A Promise to Kill is an edge-of-the-seat thriller, pushing its no-hold-barred hero to new levels of improvisation and bare-knuckled blunt force.Praise for Clyde Barr and Erik Storey:?‘Clyde Barr — remember the name, because he could just become as famous as Lee Child’s anti-hero Jack Reacher. Utterly compelling from the first page...for my money, it will become a worldwide sensation’ DAILY MAIL‘Very, very good. Reacher is keeping an eye on this guy’ LEE CHILD ‘A singular new talent! Nothing short of brilliant. It grabs you from page one and simply doesn't let go. This man is a born storyteller!’ JEFFERY DEAVER'Nothing Short of Dying features great action scenes, fast pacing, and well-drawn characters, with sharp and blunt dialogue that always rings true’ Nelson DeMille 'Erik Storey’s writing is exceptional. This is a splendid debut, harsh and gripping throughout' THE TIMES ‘…the best debut thriller of the year – and don’t be surprised if before long Erik Storey ranks among the giants of the genre’ THE WASHINGTON TIMES
A Promise to Protect
by Suzanne BrockmannHis most tempting mission…Taylor’s Temptation byNew York Times Bestselling Author Suzanne BrockmannWhen it came to protecting the innocent, Navy SEAL Bobby Taylor was your man. But when his best friend asked him to keep an eye on his little sister, Bobby wanted to take a pass. Gorgeous Colleen Skelly didn’t look like anyone’s kid sister! Colleen had been trying for years to get Bobby to notice her. And now that she’d finally succeeded, she was determined to show Bobby she was the woman for him…FREE BONUS STORY INCLUDED IN THIS VOLUME!Gut Instinct byUSA TODAY Bestselling Author Barb HanFBI agent Luke Campbell has never been more determined to catch the serial killer who’s eluded him for two years. Because this time the monster is after Julie, the ex he walked out on when he returned from Iraq. Once they’re at a safe house, it’s clear to Luke that the passion they once shared hasn’t cooled. Can Luke redeem himself and protect the woman he refuses to let go of again?
A Promise to Protect (Men of Valor)
by Liz JohnsonA woman goes under the protection of her brother’s best friend and gets a second chance at love in this inspirational romantic suspense.Navy SEAL Matt Waterstone knows about keeping people safe. When his best friend’s sister is attacked, Matt promises no harm will come to Ashley Sawyer—not on his watch. But Matt’s not the only protective one. Ashley will do anything to safeguard the residents of the battered women’s shelter she runs. She’s sure she can handle the threats she gets in return. What she can’t handle is the way Matt scales the walls around her heart. Yet when she falls prey to a crime web far more sinister than she’d realized, trusting Matt could be the only way to survive.
A Proper Marriage: A Novella
by Dorothy LoveFrom a hasty union begun in shame, a young man and woman struggle to build a lasting love.Following a brief romance with George Mackenzie, Blue Gap, North Carolina&’s most desirable suitor, Olivia Brooks finds herself abandoned and expecting a child. She is cast out of her father&’s house and hastily weds George&’s brother Luke, whom she has known since childhood. Luke hopes that giving his brother&’s child a name will prove his own worth and provide a home for the woman he has long admired.Determined to make a fresh start, they set off for Laurel Grove, Tennessee, but an accident on an icy mountain road forces them to take refuge with a Quaker family in Sweetbriar Creek. As Olivia and Luke recover from their injuries and await the birth of the child, they must confront their past mistakes and make peace with old hurts and betrayals if they are ever to forge a proper marriage.
A Proper Mother
by Isobel ShirlawSometimes it's your own child you're most afraid of... 'Scarily good.' Guardian, Crime and thrillers of the month 'I devoured this truly superb and extraordinary book... A must-read that will haunt me for a long time!' Kathryn Croft, author of The Girl With No Past Ever since an ominous palm-reading on her honeymoon, Frankie has suspected that her youngest son, Michael, is different. From an early age he sees things no one else can. As he grows up – academically gifted, a musical prodigy and with an unshakeable religious faith – his mother can no longer deny there is something strange about him, or that it frightens her. It is only when Frankie learns Michael is sliding into drugs and violence that she realises she can't keep ignoring the past. But by confronting her destructive marriage and her own responsibility for all that has gone wrong, she begins to see there is something darker at play. 'Captivating and intriguing.' C. L. Jennison, author of What's Mine is Yours
A Proposal to Die For
by Molly HarperA fast-paced, witty, and delightful new mystery about a marriage proposal planner whose biggest job yet is threatened by a dead body (or two).Jessamine Bricker loves a plan. Contingency plans and pros-and-cons lists are her love language, and because of that, her proposal planning business is thriving. But with rent costs rising at her office building, Jess jumps at the chance to plan a proposal between her snobby high school classmate, Diana, and her very wealthy boyfriend, Trenton Tillard…the Fourth.Roped into joining Diana&’s &”pre-bridal&” retreat at the exclusive Golden Ash resort, Jess hopes to fade into the background, get some work done, and maybe find some time to unwind. Their first day is anything but relaxing: Diana is furious about the mountain spa&’s lack of cell phone reception, the couple next door argues constantly, and Jess swears she just saw a drug deal go down. To top it all off, she&’s warned to stay out of the woods by the gruff and sexy chef, Dean Osbourne. Is this a retreat or a horror movie?As Jess tries to do her job while placating the bride-to-be and her increasingly over-the-top demands, she spends more and more time with the resort owners, finding herself much more in tune with the laid-back Osbourne family than her social climbing &“boss.&” Between a meditation garden-related drowning and Jess&’s discovery of a body in a sauna, it's clear that deadly secrets abound at the Golden Ash. Now it&’s up to Jess to unravel the mysteries here in the mountains—before all her plans are cancelled…permanently.
A Prospect of Vengeance
by Anthony PriceBy the CWA Gold Dagger award-winning author of Other Paths to GloryThe evacuation of Philip Masson's body near Mrs Griffin's cottage resurrects several old ghosts that send the newshounds scurrying to dig in their clippings archives. Rumours, matured with the passing years since Masson's 'disappearance' way back in 1978, once more abound.But the investigative team of Ian Robinson and Jenny Fielding are already on a trail of discovery that leads back to the end of the Wilson/Callaghan era. Jenny has overheard a snatch of gossip at an embassy party which seems to implicate British Intelligence's David Audley in the original cover-up of Masson's death . . . and Jenny has a personal interest in that affair.But it is not until the labyrinthine trails come together on a Spanish battlefield that Jenny learns why it is that Philip Masson had to die....
A Prospect of Vengeance (Murder Room #30)
by Anthony PriceBy the CWA Gold Dagger award-winning author of Other Paths to GloryThe evacuation of Philip Masson's body near Mrs Griffin's cottage resurrects several old ghosts that send the newshounds scurrying to dig in their clippings archives. Rumours, matured with the passing years since Masson's 'disappearance' way back in 1978, once more abound.But the investigative team of Ian Robinson and Jenny Fielding are already on a trail of discovery that leads back to the end of the Wilson/Callaghan era. Jenny has overheard a snatch of gossip at an embassy party which seems to implicate British Intelligence's David Audley in the original cover-up of Masson's death . . . and Jenny has a personal interest in that affair.But it is not until the labyrinthine trails come together on a Spanish battlefield that Jenny learns why it is that Philip Masson had to die....
A Psalm for Lost Girls
by Katie BayerlI&’ll Give You the Sun meets True Detective in this brilliant YA debut about saints, sisters, and learning to let go.Tess da Costa is a saint—a hand-to-god, miracle-producing saint. At least that&’s what the people in her hometown of New Avon, Massachusetts, seem to believe. And when Tess suddenly and tragically passes away, her small city begins feverishly petitioning the Pope to make Tess&’s sainthood official. Tess&’s mother is ecstatic over the fervor, while her sister Callie, the one who knew Tess best, is disgusted—overcome with the feeling that her sister is being stolen from her all over again. The fervor for Tess&’s sainthood only grows when Ana Langone, a local girl who&’s been missing for six months, is found alive at the foot of one of Tess&’s shrines. It&’s the final straw for Callie. With the help of Tess&’s secret boyfriend Danny, Callie&’s determined to prove that Tess was something far more important than a saint; she was her sister, her best friend and a girl in love with a boy. But Callie&’s investigation uncovers much more than she bargained for—a hidden diary, old family secrets, and even the disturbing truth behind Ana&’s kidnapping. Told in alternating perspectives, A Psalm for Lost Girls is at once funny, creepy and soulful—an impressive debut from a rising literary star.
A Public Body: Eddathorpe Mystery #2
by Raymond FlynnOne cocked hat, one red robe trimmed with black rabbit and one silver-gilt chain with a gold and enamel knobbly bit at the end...Eddathorpe's mayoral regalia has disappeared in the possession of Councillor William 'Klondike Bill' Lynch, a colourful drunk who has devised the perfect revenge on Eddathorpe's new mayor, his much-detested second wife Muriel. But the joke's not funny when Muriel Lynch turns up dead, with the regalia - and Klondike Bill - carefully arranged in the next room. And less funny still when Robert Graham's least-loved superior officer arrests Bill for a murder he probably didn't commit...
A Public Body: Eddathorpe Mystery #2
by Raymond FlynnOne cocked hat, one red robe trimmed with black rabbit and one silver-gilt chain with a gold and enamel knobbly bit at the end...Eddathorpe's mayoral regalia has disappeared in the possession of Councillor William 'Klondike Bill' Lynch, a colourful drunk who has devised the perfect revenge on Eddathorpe's new mayor, his much-detested second wife Muriel. But the joke's not funny when Muriel Lynch turns up dead, with the regalia - and Klondike Bill - carefully arranged in the next room. And less funny still when Robert Graham's least-loved superior officer arrests Bill for a murder he probably didn't commit...
A Pumpkin Spice Killing (A Farm-to-Fork Mystery)
by Lynn CahoonAngie Turner&’s Idaho restaurant, the County Seat, owes its success not only to its farm-fresh fare, but also to its devoted and passionate staff. But a team-building retreat turns into much more than they bargained for . . . Angie and her County Seat staff are all prepared for some much-needed R&R. Hope&’s been hinting at an arts-and-crafts themed retreat. Instead, they end up at a military veteran&’s home, where it&’s their job to get it spic and span for summer. In between weeding the garden and painting the rooms, Angie starts up a conversation with an older vet who wants to make amends with his son before it&’s too late. Unfortunately, he has no idea of his son&’s whereabouts. It&’s the perfect side job for the County Seat team, but someone keeps blocking their efforts. And the more they try to find out why, the more they&’re certain someone&’s life might be in danger . . . Praise for Lynn Cahoon's Mysteries &“Well-crafted . . . Cat and crew prove to be engaging characters and Cahoon does a stellar job of keeping them—and the reader—guessing.&” —Mystery Sceneon A Story to Kill &“One Poison Pie deliciously blends charm and magic with a dash of mystery and a sprinkle of romance.&” —Daryl Wood Gerber, Agatha winner and nationally bestselling author of the Cookbook Nook Mysteries and Fairy Garden Mysteries
A Purely Private Matter
by Darcie WildeThe Rosalind Thorne Mysteries—inspired by the novels of Jane Austen—continue as the audacious Rosalind strives to aid those in need while navigating the halls of high society…Rosalind Thorne has slowly but assuredly gained a reputation as “a useful woman”—by helping respectable women out of some less-than-respectable predicaments. Her latest endeavor is a tragedy waiting to happen. Desperate Margaretta Seymore is with child—and her husband is receiving poisoned pen letters that imply that her condition is the result of an affair with the notorious actor Fletcher Cavendish. Margaretta asks Rosalind to find out who is behind the scurrilous letters. But before she can make any progress, Cavendish is found dead, stabbed through the heart. Suddenly, Rosalind is plunged into the middle of one of the most sensational murder trials London has ever seen, and her client’s husband is the prime suspect. With the help of the charming Bow Street runner Adam Harkness, she must drop the curtain on this fatal drama before any more lives are ruined.From the Trade Paperback edition.
A Purple Place for Dying (Travis McGee #3)
by John D. Macdonald Lee ChildFrom a beloved master of crime fiction, A Purple Place for Dying is one of many classic novels featuring Travis McGee, the hard-boiled detective who lives on a houseboat. Travis McGee's taking his retirement in installments while he's still young enough to enjoy it. But sooner or later, his money runs out and he has to work. This time McGee's lured out West to a strangely secretive meeting with a woman in trouble, in a place whose beauty hides some ugly, dangerous secrets. "John D. MacDonald created a staggering quantity of wonderful books, each rich with characterization, suspense, and an almost intoxicating sense of place."--Jonathan Kellerman Mona is in love with a poor, young college professor and married to a wealthy man whom she is convinced is stealing from her trust fund. So she does what any self-respecting girl would do: She hires someone to steal her money back so she can run away with the love of her life. Travis isn't sure he wants to help out until he sees Mona getting shot and killed out on the cliffs near her cabin. Now he's a lead suspect in a plot to help her escape, and to clear his name, he needs to get to the bottom of things. But the murders just keep mounting, and for Travis, even working with Mona's husband doesn't seem to help matters. Will he be able to uncover the complex plot in time to save his own skin? Features a new Introduction by Lee Child
A Purrfect Date (A Cat Yoga Mystery)
by Alex EricksonUp-and-comer Ashley Branson usually aims to keep both feet placed firmly on the ground—unless she&’s instructing a class at her trendy cat yoga studio. But she soon finds herself caught in a downward spiral when a stretch beyond her comfort zone leads to murder . . .Ashley Branson is sure of one thing after experiencing a disastrous blind date—she would much rather enjoy the single life and hang out with playful felines at her studio, A Purrfect Pose, than ever compromise her inner peace like that again. When the mysterious guy makes a late arrival then has the nerve to dine and dash, it&’s embarrassing. But when he winds up dead in his apartment that same night? Ash suddenly finds herself thrust into a twisted murder investigation and questioning if she might be shaping up to be the suspect . . . or the next victim.Ash races to claw through a web of lies, hidden identities, and love lives even more complicated than her own to uncover the truth. Adding to the chaos, she believes her shifty neighbor—covered in unexplained injuries and rumored to harbor a crush on her—could be connected to the crime. Now, with more leads than she needs, Ash must take a deep breath, pull on her big-girl leggings, and move faster than the cunning killer who wants to put her in corpse pose for good . . .
A Puzzle For Fools: A Peter Duluth Mystery
by Patrick QuentinA series of horrifying murders rips through a sanatorium - and only the patients can stop the killings.'Baffling crimes, brilliant writing' SATURDAY REVIEW'Quentin is a craftsman of the first class' TIMES LITERARY SUPPLEMENTPeter Duluth turned to drink after his wife's untimely death; now, two years later and desperate to dry out, he enters a sanitorium, hoping to turn his life around. But he doesn't quite get the calm relaxation he expected. Strange, malevolent occurrences plague the hospital - and Peter hears his own voice crying out the warning 'There will be murder.' With a murderer is on the loose, and the staff every bit as erratic as the idiosyncratic patients, everyone is a suspect - including Peter, who is desperate to clear his name before the killer strikes again.
A Puzzle for Fools: A Peter Duluth Mystery (The Peter Duluth Mysteries #1)
by Patrick QuentinThis first act of a mystery series by an Edgar Award winner, Broadway producer/amateur sleuth Peter Duluth delivers &“your money&’s worth of theatrics&” (Kirkus Reviews). Patrick Quentin, best known for the Peter Duluth puzzle mysteries, also penned outstanding detective novels from the 1930s through the 1960s under other pseudonyms, including Q. Patrick and Jonathan Stagge. Anthony Boucher wrote: &“Quentin is particularly noted for the enviable polish and grace which make him one of the leading American fabricants of the murderous comedy of manners; but this surface smoothness conceals intricate and meticulous plot construction as faultless as that of Agatha Christie.&” Peter Duluth was once an up-and-comer on the Great White Way. But after his wife died, he dove into a bottle and stayed there. It&’s only when he&’s about to hit rock bottom that he decides to dry out, admitting himself into rehab to save his life. Unfortunately, Peter&’s new home turns out to be even more dangerous than the outside world when a staff member is murdered, and a patient soon checks out in a similar manner. Peter thinks he may have an idea of what&’s going on, but isn&’t sure what he&’s hearing and seeing is real, or if the DTs are still playing with his head. When a beautiful fellow patient falls under suspicion, Peter realizes that the deadly mystery is offering him not only a new life, but also a new love. All he has to do now is find a crazed killer in a place where crazy is the norm . . .
A Puzzle in Pearls (The Patrick Dawlish Mysteries)
by John CreaseyA stolen necklace has British detective Patrick Dawlish running in circles to find the culprit in this classic Golden Age mystery. A famous jewel thief has struck again, stealing a fortune of gems from Lord Hillmorton and kidnapping his daughter to ensure his silence. But there&’s one man to call when there are no other options: Patrick Dawlish. Hot in pursuit, Dawlish, his wife, and Cedric Forbes find themselves caught between a notorious gang of thieves and a quirky family who may or may not have their own part to play in the crime. As a strand of valuable pearls changes hands, it&’s up to Dawlish to orchestrate a plan to root out the fakes from the genuine article—and bring the innocent home alive . . .
A Puzzle in a Pear Tree
by Parnell HallThe Chicago Sun-Times crowns Parnell Hall’s Puzzle Lady mysteries “a joy for lovers of both crosswords and frothy crime detection...Cora Felton is a lovable and unique sleuth.” Now the crime-solving powers of the inimitable Cora and her clever niece, Sherry Carter, are put to the ultimate test as they square off against a yuletide killer who hides within the white-and-black shadows of an acrostic....A Puzzle In A Pear Tree’Tis the season to be jolly, but Cora Felton, shanghaied into “The Twelve Days of Christmas” as a most reluctant maid-a-milking, has every right to feel like a grinch. When someone steals the partridge from the pear tree and replaces it with a cryptic puzzle she has no hope of solving, it’s almost more than the Puzzle Lady can bear. But then smug crossword creator Harvey Beerbaum solves the acrostic, and it turns out to be a poem promising the death of an actress. This is more like it! Could the threat be aimed at Cora and her thespian debut? Or at Sherry, one of the ladies-dancing? Or at Sherry’s nemesis, the pageant’s predatory lead, Becky Baldwin? Cora and Sherry barely have time for a mystery, what with trimming Christmas trees and buying Christmas presents, but rehearsals go on, under police protection--until a killer strikes elsewhere in a most unexpected manner.Ordinarily Cora Felton would be delighted to have two murders to solve. But this time she finds herself vying with a visiting Scotland Yard inspector who appears to have an all-too-personal stake in solving the crimes. Cora does too when her own niece becomes a prime suspect and the murderer strikes again. Is someone trying to shut down the Christmas pageant? Cora would be only too happy if that were the case, but she fears the secrets lie deeper. Now she is interviewing witnesses, breaking into motel rooms, finding evidence, planting evidence, and having a merry old time. In fact, she would be perfectly happy--if this wasn’t turning out to be a Christmas to die for!From the Hardcover edition.