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Murder at Midnight
by Marshall CookA Catholic pastor in rural Mitchell, Wisconsin is brutally murdered. Authorities turn up plenty of suspects and even the murder weapon but no solid leads.
Murder at Midnight (First Lady #19)
by Elliott RooseveltFrom the Eleanor Roosevelt series, sprightlier (and sexier) than many of the earlier installments. Braintruster Horace Blackwell came to Washington with FDR in 1933, living in a guest room across the hall from Roosevelt's suite. Just months later, his naked, repeatedly stabbed body is found there by an African American White House maid--whom the prim Secret Service man and blowsy D.C. cop in charge of the case quickly nab for murder. The First Lady demands a further (though low-profile) investigation, which reveals Blackwell as a scoundrel and sadist. It is full of the series' offhand insights into New Deal history and vivid glimpses of 1930s celebrities.
Murder at Midnight (LILLY ADLER MYSTERY, A #4)
by Katharine SchellmanPerfect for fans of Deanna Raybourn and Ashley Weaver, when a body is found shot to death after an unexpected snowstorm, Lily Adler quickly realizes that some people will stop at nothing to bury their secrets.Regency widow Lily Adler is looking forward to a quiet Christmastide away from the schemes and secrets she witnessed daily in London. Not only will she be visiting the family of her late husband; she will be reunited with Captain Jack Hartley, her friend and confidante, finally returned after a long voyage at sea.But secrets aren&’t only found in London. Jack&’s younger sister, Amelia, is the center of neighborhood scandal and gossip. She refuses to tell anyone what really happened, even when an unexpected snowstorm strands the neighborhood families together after a Christmas ball. Stuck until the snow stops, the Adlers, Hartleys, and their neighbors settle in for the night, only to be awakened in the morning by the scream of a maid who has just discovered a dead body.The victim was the well-to-do son of a local gentleman—the same man whose name has become so scandalously linked to Amelia&’s.With the snow still falling and no way to come or go, it&’s clear that someone in the house was responsible for the young man&’s death. When suspicion instantly falls on Jack&’s sister, he and Lily must unmask the true culprit before Amelia is convicted of a crime she didn&’t commit.
Murder at Monticello: A Mrs. Murphy Mystery (Mrs. Murphy Mystery #3)
by Rita Mae Brown Sneaky Pie BrownMrs. Murphy digs into Virginia history--and gets her paws on a killer. The most popular citizen of Virginia has been dead for nearly 170 years. That hasn't stopped the good people of tiny Crozet, Virginia, from taking pride in every aspect of Thomas Jefferson's life. But when an archaeological dig of the slave quarters at Jefferson's home, Monticello, uncovers a shocking secret, emotions in Crozet run high--dangerously high. The stunning discovery at Monticello hints a hidden passions and age-old scandals. As postmistress Mary Minor "Harry" Haristeen and some of Crozet's Very Best People try to learn the identity of a centuries-old skeleton--and the reason behind the murder--Harry's tiger cat, Mrs. Murphy, and her canine and feline friends attempt to sniff out a modern-day killer. Mrs. Murphy and corgi Tee Tucker will stick their paws into the darker mysteries of human nature to solve murders old and new--before curiosity can kill the cat--and Harry Haristeen.
Murder at Monticello (The Homer Kelly Mysteries #15)
by Jane LangtonWhen Thomas Jefferson&’s Virginia home becomes a crime scene, scholar/sleuth Homer Kelly must stop a serial killer in this &“surefire winner&” (Booklist, starred review). Thomas Jefferson is in trouble. Two centuries after he became America&’s third President, the nation&’s historians have ganged up on him, intent on shattering the reputation of a man they once idolized. It&’s Fern Fisher&’s job to set the record straight. A hotshot young historian, she has been hired by the people at Monticello to repair Jefferson&’s tattered reputation. If she isn&’t careful, she could get her throat slit for her troubles. In the run-up to the celebration of Jefferson&’s bicentennial, a killer prowls the area around the President&’s historic home, brutally murdering any young women he can find. Harvard professor and casual sleuth Homer Kelly is in Monticello for the festivities, and is eager to reconnect with Fern, a former student. While Fern fights Jefferson&’s character assassination, Homer tries to keep her safe from murder of a more literal kind.
Murder at Moose Jaw: And, Murder At Moose Jaw (The Simon Bognor Mysteries #6)
by Tim HealdBognor braves the frost to discover who has murdered Canada&’s richest manIn his lavish private train car, Sir Roderick Farquhar draws a bath. When it has been filled to his satisfaction, the portly captain of industry tips in three drops of bath oil and lowers himself into the steam. Within seconds, the poison in the oil has stopped his heart and ruined Simon Bognor&’s winter. A special investigator for Britain&’s Board of Trade, Bognor makes the mistake of believing a Canadian friend&’s assurances that Toronto is never cold in November. He is coatless and shivering when he learns the news about Farquhar, an unsavory businessman whom the Board of Trade had previously suspected of drug smuggling, identity fraud, and worse. Sir Roderick had ties to organized crime, pro-Nazi groups, and Amtrak, and Bognor will have to determine which faction poisoned the man&’s bath—or shiver to death trying.
Murder at Moot Point: Murder At Moot Point, Death Of The Office Witch, Murder In A Hot Flash, And Voices In The Wardrobe (The Charlie Greene Mysteries #1)
by Marlys MillhiserHollywood agent Charlie Greene gets tangled up in a world of holistic intervention, out-of-body experiences, and murder in this thrilling paranormal mystery Hollywood literary agent and single mother Charlie Greene heads out of town to fog-bound Moot Point, Oregon, to meet a client, reclusive New Age author Jack Monroe. But Charlie barely has time to sample a veggie meal and bond with Jack's bronze Buddha statue before she runs into trouble: Local gossip Georgette Glick and her Schwinn bicycle have just been found under the wheels of Charlie's Toyota--which makes Charlie the prime suspect in Georgette's murder. Luckily, Moot Point sheriff Bennett discovers that Glick was shot, not run over, so Charlie is in the clear. But there are still too many unanswered questions. Who delivered the fatal bullet to Glick's head? And why was the seventy-eight-year-old riding her bike on a night with zero visibility in the first place? Alongside Sheriff Bennett, whose interest in Charlie seems decidedly more than professional, she resolves to find the murderer among the town's eccentrics, who include the suspiciously nongrieving widower, a holistic veterinarian, the victim's terrified neighbor, and a Byronic artist whose painting of a century-old local shipwreck matches the one in Charlie's recent nightmares. With the killer still at large, Charlie may be tempting an out-of-body experience of her own in this quirky and suspenseful novel.
Murder at Morningside (A Missy DuBois Mystery #1)
by Sandra BrettingHat designer Missy DuBois opened her shop, Crowning Glory, along Louisiana's Great River Road to cater to the sophisticated Southern bride. But bless her heart, who knew creating stylish wedding veils would lead to murder? Hired to craft a veil for a socialite getting married at Morningside Plantation means Missy can bask in the height of antebellum atmosphere. But when the bride is found dead in a women's bathroom, Missy the milliner finds herself entangled in one unfashionable murder. With the list of suspects thicker than the sweltering Louisiana heat, including a gaggle of bridesmaids shedding nary a tear and a family with no shortage of enemies, it seems anyone at the mansion may have done away with the bride-to-be. While Missy has Southern charm to spare, she's going to need more than manners and a manicure to put a hat pin on this murderous affair . . .
Murder at Morrington Hall (A Stella and Lyndy Mystery #1)
by Clara McKennaStella Kendrick is an all-American heiress who can’t be tamed. But when the lively aspiring equine trainer tangles with British aristocracy, she meets her match—and a murderer . . . Spring, 1905: Free-spirited like the Thoroughbreds she rides across the Kentucky countryside, Stella takes adventure by the reins when she’s asked to attend a mysterious wedding in rural England. But once she arrives at the lush Morrington Hall estate, her cold and ambitious father confesses that he won’t only give away his best racehorses as gifts—he has also arranged to give away his daughter as bride to the Earl of Atherly’s financially strapped son . . . Stella refuses to be sold off like a prized pony. Yet despite a rough start, there’s something intriguing about her groom-to-be, the roguish Viscount “Lyndy” Lyndhurst. The unlikely pair could actually be on the right track with each other . . . until they find the vicar who was to marry them dead in the library. With culture clashes mounting between families, a scandalous murder case hangs over Morrington Hall. Now, Stella and Lyndy must go from future spouses to amateur sleuths as they team up to search for the truth—and prevent an unbridled criminal from destroying their new life together right out of the gate . . .
Murder At Morses Pond
by Linda RosencranceA Brutal MurderThe upscale suburb of Wellesley, Massachusetts hadn't seen a murder in 30 years. Then came Halloween, 1999. That brisk morning, Dr. Dirk Greineder, 60, and his wife of 32 years, Mabel, took one of their dogs for a walk in Morses Pond park. A short time later, Dr. Greineder led police to the corpse of his wife. She'd been bludgeoned, stabbed and her throat slashed. Her husband claimed an unknown assailant had committed the act--possibly the same person responsible for two unsolved murders in nearby towns. A Double LifeDirk Greineder was a well-respected allergist whose home was valued at half a million dollars. He and Mabel had raised three children, who had all attended Yale, like their father. But the "good" doctor also indulged in a secret life involving phone sex, Internet porn, and motel trysts with prostitutes. A Family DestroyedA dogged investigation finally yielded enough evidence to lead to Greineder's arrest, and in a six-week trial that would make national headlines, he was supported by his three children, while the dead woman's sister and niece testified for the prosecution. There in the courtroom, a jury would learn the grisly details of cold-blooded murder. . . and the community of Wellesley would learn that you never really know your neighbors. . . 16 Pages Of Shocking Photos
Murder at Mount Ephraim (Whitstable Pearl Mysteries #9)
by Julie WassmerMurder at Mount Ephraim is the ninth book in Julie Wassmer's popular crime series - now a major Acorn TV drama, Whitstable Pearl, starring Kerry Godliman as private detective and restaurateur, Pearl Nolan'While Oxford had Morse, Whitstable, famous for its oysters, has Pearl' Daily MailPearl Nolan receives a wedding invitation from an old school friend. Journalist Amy has chosen somewhere very special for the wedding ceremony - the historic Kent manor house of Mount Ephraim - and the invite includes a pre-nuptial stay for Pearl and other guests at this venue. Nestled in an 800-acre estate, and surrounded by beautiful gardens and a lake, Pearl sees this break as a chance to leave crime behind, along with her own detective agency and her restaurant, The Whitstable Pearl.Accepting the invitation, Pearl looks forward to meeting the happy couple's friends and family, as well as Amy's fiancé, Guy, a handsome and successful adventurer who appears to be Mr Perfect. She also has time to reflect on her own engagement to Canterbury CID detective, DCI Mike McGuire...But before any wedding bells sound, murder strikes - and Pearl and McGuire are thrust together again - as partners in crime. Praise for Julie Wassmer's Whitstable Pearl Mysteries...'One of the best episodes in Wassmer's longrunning Whitstable saga' Daily Mail'As light as a Mary Berry Victoria sponge, this Middle-England romp is packed with vivid characters' Myles McWeeney, Irish Independent'All of the thrills without any of the gore' The Sun'This is a quality title...a very entertaining read' The Puzzle Doctor'A wonderful way to explore Whitstable . . . if you love cosy mysteries, then get acquainted with Pearl (and her mum and her cats!) and enjoy a trip to Whitstable through the eyes of this very convincing author' Trip Fiction'Proves she's mistress of her craft' John McGhie, author of White Highlands'Good, solid whodunits, without gruesome details or gratuitous violence, Murder on Sea may be just your cup of tea' Bec StaffordPraise for the TV series...'Scandi noir meets the English seaside in Whitstable Pearl, a murder mystery series based on Julie Wassmer's novels...' Drama Quarterly'...explores all the murder and debauchery in the seemingly perfect English seaside town of Whitstable...' Washington Post'...you never know what might turn up, either on the menu or alongside an oyster boat.' Wall Street Journal
Murder at Mount Ephraim (Whitstable Pearl Mysteries #9)
by Julie WassmerMurder at Mount Ephraim is the ninth book in Julie Wassmer's popular crime series - now a major Acorn TV drama, Whitstable Pearl, starring Kerry Godliman as private detective and restaurateur, Pearl Nolan'While Oxford had Morse, Whitstable, famous for its oysters, has Pearl' Daily MailPearl Nolan receives a wedding invitation from an old school friend. Journalist Amy has chosen somewhere very special for the wedding ceremony - the historic Kent manor house of Mount Ephraim - and the invite includes a pre-nuptial stay for Pearl and other guests at this venue. Nestled in an 800-acre estate, and surrounded by beautiful gardens and a lake, Pearl sees this break as a chance to leave crime behind, along with her own detective agency and her restaurant, The Whitstable Pearl.Accepting the invitation, Pearl looks forward to meeting the happy couple's friends and family, as well as Amy's fiancé, Guy, a handsome and successful adventurer who appears to be Mr Perfect. She also has time to reflect on her own engagement to Canterbury CID detective, DCI Mike McGuire...But before any wedding bells sound, murder strikes - and Pearl and McGuire are thrust together again - as partners in crime. Praise for Julie Wassmer's Whitstable Pearl Mysteries...'One of the best episodes in Wassmer's longrunning Whitstable saga' Daily Mail'As light as a Mary Berry Victoria sponge, this Middle-England romp is packed with vivid characters' Myles McWeeney, Irish Independent'All of the thrills without any of the gore' The Sun'This is a quality title...a very entertaining read' The Puzzle Doctor'A wonderful way to explore Whitstable . . . if you love cosy mysteries, then get acquainted with Pearl (and her mum and her cats!) and enjoy a trip to Whitstable through the eyes of this very convincing author' Trip Fiction'Proves she's mistress of her craft' John McGhie, author of White Highlands'Good, solid whodunits, without gruesome details or gratuitous violence, Murder on Sea may be just your cup of tea' Bec StaffordPraise for the TV series...'Scandi noir meets the English seaside in Whitstable Pearl, a murder mystery series based on Julie Wassmer's novels...' Drama Quarterly'...explores all the murder and debauchery in the seemingly perfect English seaside town of Whitstable...' Washington Post'...you never know what might turn up, either on the menu or alongside an oyster boat.' Wall Street Journal
Murder at Mullings: A 1930s Country House Murder Mystery (The Florence Norris Mysteries #1)
by Dorothy CannellA 1930s housekeeper stars in &“an Agatha Christie–like whodunit with touches of Olde World England and a soupçon of romance&” (Booklist). In its three-hundred-year history, there has never once been a scandal at Mullings, ancestral home of the decent but dull Stodmarsh family. Until, that is, Edward Stodmarsh makes an ill-advised second marriage to the scheming Regina Stapleton, who insists on bringing her family's &“ornamental hermit&” to live on the estate. Suddenly everyone wants to visit Mullings to glimpse this mysterious figure. Strange but harmless, thinks Florence Norris, the family's longstanding housekeeper. But events take a sinister turn with the arrival of sudden, violent death—and suddenly the hermit doesn't seem so harmless after all… &“Fans of mannered English mysteries will likely not be disappointed.&”—Chicago Tribune &“Strong characters…this mix of romance and crime will appeal to a wide range of readers.&”—Booklist
Murder At The Music Hall (Auguste Didier Mystery #8)
by Amy MyersThe eighth Auguste Didier mystery.It's 1902 and Auguste Didier finds himself reluctantly recruited for a week's work at the Old King Cole music hall in the East End. Ostensibly there as chef of its greasy run-down eating house, Auguste has another role: to prevent a possible foul murder by being constant bodyguard to famous comedian Will Lamb.At first Will's fears of being the victim of someone's murderous intentions seem unfounded. After all, he's only had a portentous dream and he's really rather popular. But when other more sinister omens occur, Auguste begins to sense real danger - and Will Lamb dies on stage in front of his eyes. The search is on for a killer - and it has to be someone who's had access to the props.Auguste's job is made more complicated by the fact that a national treasure has also been reported missing from Windsor Castle. And there are enough tenuous threads to indicate that the crimes must somehow be linked...
Murder At The Music Hall (Auguste Didier Mystery 8)
by Amy MyersThe eighth Auguste Didier mystery.It's 1902 and Auguste Didier finds himself reluctantly recruited for a week's work at the Old King Cole music hall in the East End. Ostensibly there as chef of its greasy run-down eating house, Auguste has another role: to prevent a possible foul murder by being constant bodyguard to famous comedian Will Lamb.At first Will's fears of being the victim of someone's murderous intentions seem unfounded. After all, he's only had a portentous dream and he's really rather popular. But when other more sinister omens occur, Auguste begins to sense real danger - and Will Lamb dies on stage in front of his eyes. The search is on for a killer - and it has to be someone who's had access to the props.Auguste's job is made more complicated by the fact that a national treasure has also been reported missing from Windsor Castle. And there are enough tenuous threads to indicate that the crimes must somehow be linked...
Murder at Ochre Court (A Gilded Newport Mystery #6)
by Alyssa MaxwellIn the summer of 1898, reporter Emma Cross investigates a shocking death among the bright lights of Newport's high society . . . After a disappointing year as a society columnist for the Herald and staying with her more well-heeled Vanderbilt relatives in New York City, Emma has returned to the salty air, glittering ocean vistas, and grand stately mansions of Newport, Rhode Island, more determined than ever to report on hard news. But for now she’s covering the social event of the season at Ochre Court, a coming-out ball designed to showcase Cleo Cooper-Smith, who will be literally on display, fittingly as Cleopatra, in an elaborate tableau vivant. Recently installed modern electricity will allow Miss Cooper-Smith to truly shine. But as the deb ascends to her place of honor, the ballroom is plunged into darkness. When the lights come back on, Cleo sits still on her throne, electrocuted to death. Quickly establishing that the wiring was tampered with, Emma now has a murder to investigate. And the array of eligible suspects could fill another ballroom—from a shady New York real estate developer to a neglected sister and the mother of a spurned suitor. As Emma begins to discover this crime has unseen connections to a nefarious network, she puts her own life at risk to shine a light on the dark motives behind a merciless murder.
Murder At Plums (Auguste Didier Mystery 3)
by Amy MyersThe third Auguste Didier mystery.For the first time in its history, Plum's, that palace of respectability where English gentlemen can find refuge from the world, has agreed to admit ladies. Nothing has been right since.A series of bizarre incidents plague the club. A rat appears on the dining table, newspapers are mutilated, obscene letters are sent to the doorman, and a member's portrait is slashed. 'Pranks,' say the members. Then a slightly less than lethal dose of poison in the brandy cream dessert turns master chef Auguste Didier into the Master Detective again. And just in time. Then the impossible happens - a murder at Plum's! One of the members is found dead - and Auguste and his friend Inspector Egbert Rose of Scotland Yard are on a not-so-discreet hunt for a demonically clever and ruthless killer. A gentleman perhaps.
Murder At Plums (Auguste Didier Mystery 3)
by Amy MyersThe third Auguste Didier mystery.For the first time in its history, Plum's, that palace of respectability where English gentlemen can find refuge from the world, has agreed to admit ladies. Nothing has been right since.A series of bizarre incidents plague the club. A rat appears on the dining table, newspapers are mutilated, obscene letters are sent to the doorman, and a member's portrait is slashed. 'Pranks,' say the members. Then a slightly less than lethal dose of poison in the brandy cream dessert turns master chef Auguste Didier into the Master Detective again. And just in time. Then the impossible happens - a murder at Plum's! One of the members is found dead - and Auguste and his friend Inspector Egbert Rose of Scotland Yard are on a not-so-discreet hunt for a demonically clever and ruthless killer. A gentleman perhaps.
Murder at Queen's Landing: A Captivating Historical Regency Mystery (A Wrexford & Sloane Mystery #4)
by Andrea PenroseThe many strands of a dark mystery entangle Lady Charlotte Sloane and the Earl of Wrexford in a dangerous web of secrets and lies that will call into question how much they really know about the people they hold dear—and about each other . . . When Lady Cordelia, a brilliant mathematician, and her brother, Lord Woodbridge, disappear from London, rumors swirl concerning fraudulent bank loans and a secret consortium engaged in an illicit—and highly profitable—trading scheme that threatens the entire British economy. The incriminating evidence mounts, but for Charlotte and Wrexford, it&’s a question of loyalty and friendship. And so they begin a new investigation to clear the siblings&’ names, uncover their whereabouts, and unravel the truth behind the whispers. Charlotte and Wrexford also struggle to navigate their increasingly complex feelings for each other. But the clock is ticking—a cunning mastermind has emerged . . . along with some unexpected allies—and Charlotte and Wrexford must race to prevent myriad disasters as they are forced into a dangerous game of wits in an attempt to beat the enemy at his own game. Praise for the Wrexford & Sloane Historical Mysteries &“Penrose deftly combines a Regency romance with a tricky mystery that delves into social unrest and the darker side of this storied period.&” —Kirkus Reviews&“Its complex story line and authentic historical details bring the early days of the Industrial Revolution vividly to life. Bound to fascinate readers of C.S. Harris and even fans of Victorian mysteries.&”—Library Journal, Starred Review
Murder at Redwood Cove (A Kelly Jackson Mystery #1)
by Janet FinsilverBed, breakfast...and a body! If it weren't for the fact that she's replacing a dead man, Kelly Jackson would love her new job managing the Redwood Cove Bed and Breakfast on the coast of Northern California. But Bob Phillips did plunge off the cliff to his death...and Kelly's starting to think it may not have been an accident. Bob's retired friends--The "Silver Sentinels"--are also on the case, especially when Kelly is attacked...and another body turns up. Kelly has her hands full with overseeing the B&B's annual Taste of Chocolate and Wine Festival, but she's also closing in on the killer...who's ready to send Kelly on her own permanent vacation...
Murder at Roissy
by John WarrenSet in Roissy, a weekend resort for sado-masochists in the Arizona desert, the ropes around Mistress Raven's throat were tight, too tight...
Murder at Rough Point (A Gilded Newport Mystery #4)
by Alyssa MaxwellIn glittering Newport, Rhode Island, status is everything. But despite being a poorer relation to the venerable Vanderbilts, Emma Cross has shaped her own identity--as a reporter and a sleuth.As the nineteenth century draws to a close, Fancies and Fashion reporter Emma Cross is sent by the Newport Observer to cover an elite house party at Rough Point, a "cottage" owned by her distant cousin Frederick Vanderbilt that has been rented as an artist retreat. To her surprise, the illustrious guests include her estranged Bohemian parents--recently returned from Europe--as well as a variety of notable artists, including author Edith Wharton.But when one of the artists is discovered dead at the bottom of a cliff, Rough Point becomes anything but a house of mirth. After a second murder, no one is above suspicion--including Emma's parents. As Newport police detective Jesse Whyte searches for a killer, Emma tries to draw her own conclusions--with the help of Mrs. Wharton. But with so many sketchy suspects, she'll need to canvas the crime scenes carefully, before the cunning culprit takes her out of the picture next . . .Praise for Alyssa Maxwell and her Gilded Newport Mysteries"Another entertaining entry in this cozy series." --Library Journal on Murder at Beechwood"Maxwell's second entry has a credible mystery, solved by a female detective who's likeable." --Kirkus Reviews on Murder at Marble House
Murder at Royale Court (A Cleo Mack Mystery #2)
by G. P. GardnerThis ebook includes an exclusive knitting pattern!Harbor Village is a vivacious retirement paradise known for its beachy locale and active senior scene. But ever since murder moved in, the idyllic coastal community is becoming a little less lively . . . With the first annual antique car show cruising into the tranquil bayside oasis of Fairhope, Alabama, there are bumpy roads ahead for Harbor Village director Cleo Mack. As an automobile-themed lecture series gets off to a rough start, she finds herself balancing one too many responsibilities—and dodging advances from a shady event sponsor. It’s enough to make Cleo feel twice her age. But the festivities reach a real dead end when she discovers a body at the Royale Court shopping center . . . When an innocent man lands in the hot seat for murder, Harbor Village residents look to Cleo to crack the case. Aided by an eclectic group of energetic seniors, Cleo races to identify the true culprit from a growing list of harmless Sunday drivers—before a killer revs up for another hit and run!
Murder at St. Adelaide's
by Gerelyn HollingsworthLikable, 30-ish Frances Finn, a PI who inherited her father's Kansas City detective agency, makes her uneven but promising debut in this mystery set in a convent high school. Frances is called back to her alma mater by aged Mother Superior Celeste, who is dying-as is the order of St. Adelaide's and its once bustling outpost in Braddock, Kans. Informing Frances that the accidental death, 30 years before, of Sister Barbara Ross, was no accident, Mother Celeste asks her former student to oversee a meeting at which, it soon appears, Sister Sharon, Frances's old friend and now acting Mother Superior, will be implicated as a murderer. As Frances delves into long-ago events, probing Barbara Ross' dysfunctional family, still a potent force in Braddock, and Mother Celeste's own local connections, she uncovers a chain of misdeeds that lead to a present-day murder and threaten her own life. Repetitious details of convent routines, old and new, slow an already fussy plot. The prose is often flat-footed and primer-like, but there are enough interesting angles to keep this first novel readable, if unriveting.
Murder at St. Winifred's Academy (A Ferrara Family Mystery #5)
by J.D. GriffoTranquility, New Jersey&’s amateur drama troupe is staging a murder mystery at St. Winifred&’s Academy and Alberta Scaglione couldn&’t be more thrilled. Even her Italian-American famiglia are getting in on the act. But someone&’s making deadly revisions to the script . . . Alberta can hardly believe it. Her childhood screen idol, 1950s Hollywood starlet Missy Michaels, has signed up for the local Tranquility Players revival of the classic Arsenic and Old Lace. But before Missy memorizes a single line, she&’s found dead in her dressing room wrapped in lace and clutching a bottle of arsenic. The ultimate drama-queen suicide? Everyone thinks so—except Alberta. A Ferrara woman knows murder when she sees it. Alberta also knows producer Nola Kirkpatrick&’s checkered past: whenever she&’s around, trouble abounds. Alberta and her crime-reporting partner-in-sleuthing granddaughter, Jinx, have a hunch the murderer is among the Players. So Alberta joins the cast—reluctantly playing Missy&’s role—to get closer to the truth. She notices the director is a little unbalanced, but aren&’t they all? The leading man is a wildly obsessive Missy Michaels fanboy—but a murderer? Of course, the show must go on. But if Alberta and Jinx can&’t nab the killer before opening night, it may mean curtains for more Players . . . including Alberta. Includes Italian recipes from Alberta&’s kitchen! &“Imagine the Golden Girls starting a detective agency and you&’ll get the general idea of J.D. Griffo&’s charming Ferrara Family mystery series.&” —Criminal Element