"Death from manual strangulation after a blow that slightly fractured the skull."Ludovic Travers, private investigator, is approached by a slight acquaintance from his past, one Isabel Herne. She has seemingly fallen into the hands of a charming con-man, who has promised her the earth, including a very expensive racehorse. When the race-horse fails to materialize, and the man vanishes, she tasks Ludovic with finding the latter and, if possible, recovering her money. But what appears to be one kind of case soon plunges headlong into another - one of blackmail, black magic, a black sheep, and murder. Ludo will have to pit his wits against a desperate killer-and his wife Bernice will play an unexpectedly active part.The Case of the Jumbo Sandwich was originally published in 1965. This new edition features an introduction by crime fiction historian Curtis Evans.
Callaghan awoke and looked at the ceiling. His lips were dry and his tongue felt like a yellow plush sofa. Outside he could hear the rain pattering on the windows. He looked at his wrist-watch. It was eight o'clock.Vivacious Mrs. Riverton has hired Slim to find her missing stepson, whom she admits she hates.A dame has to have more than beauty and breeding to stop Slim Callaghan doing things his way. Mrs. Riverton has plenty of both, but when she begins to interfere in Slim's search, things start to hot up.Slim's motto is: 'We get there somehow and who the hell cares'. The problem is that someone does . . .'Dangerous Curves was originally published in 1939.'Peter Cheyney is the Damon Runyon of crime' The Times'Slim Callaghan's quick wit and knowledge of rough and tumble place him in the top ranks of private eyes. What a man!' New York Times
Yes, her job was the loneliest in the world. No king, no dictator set high upon a pinnacle, was as friendless as the headmistress of a girls' school.Charlotte Fairlie loves her position at the illustrious St. Elizabeth's, but it's not without its challenges-first among them her trouble-making maths mistress Miss Pinkerton, who yearns for Charlotte's job and spares no effort to complicate her life. Then there's the charming Lawrence Swayne, headmaster of a nearby boys' school, who has plans of his own for Charlotte's future. But it's the arrival of Tessa MacRynne, desperately homesick for the Scottish isle of Targ and distraught about her parents' impending divorce, who really stirs things up-giving Miss Pinkerton fresh ammunition, helping the unfortunate Eastwoods, who cower beneath their father's snide, critical personality, and inspiring Charlotte to spend an unforgettable holiday on Targ. Adventures, pleasures, misunderstandings, and tragedies follow, told with D.E. Stevenson's inimitable sensitivity and humour, and Charlotte's loneliness is soon forgotten . . .First published in 1954 and long out of print, Charlotte Fairlie is the irresistible, sometimes poignant tale of a talented professional woman gaining a new lease on life. This new edition includes an autobiographical sketch by the author."e;Miss Stevenson has her own individual and charming way of seeing things."e; Western Mail
"e;Do you know anything about her, Richard?"e;"e;Nothing except that she lives in London, is obviously well off and very impulsive. . . . She bought the house as if it were-a bun. She bought it straight off without seeing it."e;"e;She must be mad!"e;The arrival of novelist Kate Hardy at the lovely Dower House in Old Quinings, with her staunch ally and housekeeper Martha, has the whole village talking. But Kate is not in fact mad, merely in need of escape from her selfish sister Milly and spoiled niece Minty. Though welcomed warmly by Richard Morven at the Manor House and the charming, widowed Mrs. Stark, Kate likewise finds herself taken for a witch and is then one of the targets of a poison pen campaign-not to mention the rumours that her new home is haunted by its past inhabitant. With the arrival of Mrs. Stark's son Walter, back from his wartime triumphs and finding readjustment to village life difficult, Kate may find that the country allows her as little time for writing as London!First published in 1947 and providing a fascinating glimpse of English life in the immediate postwar years, Kate Hardy is an irresistible tale of village life, challenging family relations, romance, and D.E. Stevenson's incomparable storytelling. Also included in this edition is an autobiographical sketch by the author."e;Miss Stevenson has her own individual and charming way of seeing things."e; Western Mail
Sometimes she wished she could stick up a large notice saying: "e;FOUR CHILDREN ARE NOT TOO MANY"e; . . .Raising four young children on her own in the years of postwar rationing, widowed Dinah tends to be the subject of sympathetic murmurs. But though she has little money, is perpetually tired, and remains haunted by unresolved issues from her troubled marriage, Dinah rejects all offers of pity. When her twin brother Dan returns from the military, he sends her and the children on holiday among the scenes of their childhood, staying with their unflappable Nannie at Craigie Lodge, their old family home, in a beautiful coastal town in Scotland. There, amidst happy memories, old friends, and new acquaintances, Dinah and her brood weather delightful adventures, awkward misunderstandings, and, perhaps, the tentative beginnings of new romance.First published in 1949, Young Mrs. Savage is a charming holiday story, a perceptive tale of overcoming past unhappiness to make a fresh start, and one of D.E. Stevenson's most irresistible novels. This new edition includes an autobiographical sketch by the author."e;Miss Stevenson has her own individual and charming way of seeing things."e; Western Mail
"We must be very nice to him," said Mrs. Braithwaite, looking up at her daughter with large blue eyes."Nice to him!" echoed Miss Braithwaite in some surprise. "Well, of course we'll be nice to him. I mean, why shouldn't we?"It's the spring of 1938, the threat of war looms across England, and widowed, slightly dizzy Sophie Braithwaite and her daughter Wynne await the arrival of a distant cousin, Franz von Heiden-from Nazi Germany no less. Franz turns out to be a stiff, formal young man whose father (unbeknownst to the Braithwaites) is a personal advisor to Hitler and has sent Franz to observe English attitudes, but they do indeed welcome him nicely. Soon nicknamed Frank, his defenses are broken down by the kindness, informality, and humour of his cousins-particularly the charming Wynne. But when the dreaded war breaks out and Franz returns to Germany, Wynne must wait in suspense to learn his fate.First published in 1940, in the early days of World War II, The English Air is one of D.E. Stevenson's best works-by turns atmospheric and entertaining, poignant and funny, tense and romantic. This new edition includes letters-never previously published-between D.E. Stevenson and her publishers, which provide a striking glimpse of the historic moment at which the novel was first written and published. Also included here is an autobiographical sketch by the author."Miss Stevenson has her own individual and charming way of seeing things." Western Mail
"e;Now, listen to me,"e; said Mr. Green earnestly. "e;I've brought up my little girl as a girl should be brought up. I've sheltered her from the world. She's uncontaminated by the modern ideas-uncontaminated. What d'you think of that?"e;Young George Ferrier's frivolous jaunt in London ends with an unexpected encounter with wealthy Mr. Green, old friend of his father, who spontaneously drafts George to be a trustee for his daughter Elma. George accepts (primarily due to the payment involved) and puts it out of his mind, returning home to his high-spirited Irish mother, distracted astronomer father, and friends Peter Seeley and his sister Cathy. But Mr. Green's sudden death-and the discovery that his fellow trustees are distinctly on the shady side-launches George into a series of rollicking adventures as he attempts to secure the overly-sheltered Elma's wealth, protect her from fortune-hunters, and shield her from her own naive instincts.First published in 1939 and out of print for many years, Green Money is a delightful tale of fortune and fraud, innocence and experience-and of course romance. This new edition includes an autobiographical sketch by D.E. Stevenson."e;Miss Stevenson has her own individual and charming way of seeing things."e; Western Mail
"e;Murder and Mardi Gras together! Ain't we got fun?"e;For years New Orleans has been enthralled by the secret society dedicated to Dis, Greek god of Inferno, whose membership of fifty is closely guarded from the press, and whose rites burlesque the proud tradition of the city's Mardi Gras festival. Lovely Cynthia Fontenay gives Dis a ball each year, and no member of the order has ever been seen without satanic mask and sinister robes of black and scarlet-this is well known, but despite many efforts, the secret of its roster has never been penetrated.When murder strikes with vicious efficiency in this charmed circle, its visit casts a shadow over the city. Captain Murphy, of the Homicide Squad, and Wade, New Orleans journalist, confront a case of fifty suspects, smouldering motives which overnight become front page news, and incredible circumstances which make for the most famous of many unusual crimes on the Police Calendar.The Mardi Gras Murders was first published in 1932. This new edition includes an introduction by crime fiction historian Curtis Evans.
"e;Thou Shalt Not Kill."e;All New Orleans is disturbed at the rumour that one of its civic treasures, a fragment of the Gutenberg Bible, has been stolen. But when the rumour becomes a fact and is followed by a series of murders so hideous that every paper's headlines screamed each new phase of the case, the concern changes to panic. Each new crime centres on the same group of people: wealthy, respected and influential. Yet the police and District Attorney struggle to find a definite clue on which to base an arrest.Each of the suspects could benefit from the death of the murder victims, and each new clue further embroils the seemingly most innocent. In the deft weaving of the plot, and in the vivid delineation of District Attorney Dan Farrell-honest, capable and trustworthy-the journalist Wade-shrewd and persistent-Terry Sheldon-rich, impulsive and hot-headed-and Winifred Gonzales, with a charm too rich for youth and face too young for age, the authors have provided a set of characters the reader will remember long after the book is finished.The Gutenberg Murders was originally published in 1931. This new edition includes an introduction by crime fiction historian Curtis Evans.
"e;A woman in a red raincoat killed Linton Barclay."e;Paradise Island, the brightest spot of all playgrounds edging the Gulf of Mexico, caters gladly to those who can afford to pay well for their entertainment. Twelve miles from the mainland, it has, under the suave management of Brett Allison, come to be known for sports, gaming tables, and the Peacock Club.For some time Federal authorities have suspected a connection between the Island and the increased activities in the drug traffic along the coast, but when Major Jack Raymond, stocky as the cigars he smokes, and Andrew Dillingham, scion of one of the south's oldest families, are sent to investigate, they encounter in the person of lovely Eva Shale, whose wealth comes from an unknown source, an enigma of the first order.A tropical storm, so common to the locale, which sweeps the island, brings with it a murder which fastens its suspicious fingers upon every resident of the Peacock Club-save Daisy Dillingham who does as she pleases, says what she pleases, and for years has been dreaded, adored and obeyed.Two and Two Make Twenty-Two was originally published in 1932. This new edition includes an introduction by crime fiction historian Curtis Evans.
"e;Do not doubt me, my friends; you shall all be dead before morning."e;New Orleans, 1930. Eight guests are invited to a party at a luxurious penthouse apartment, yet on arrival it turns out that no one knows who their mysterious host actually is. The latter does not openly appear, but instead communicates with the guests by radio broadcast. What he has to tell his guests is chilling: that every hour, one of them will die. Despite putting the guests on their guard, the Host's prophecy starts to come horribly true, each demise occurring in bizarre fashion. As the dwindling band of survivors grows increasingly tense, their confessions to each other might explain why they have been chosen for this macabre evening-and invoke the nightmarish thought that the mysterious Host is one of them. The burning question becomes: will any of the party survive, including the Host . . . ?The Invisible Host (1930) established one of the best-loved and most durable forms in classic mystery fiction. It was famously to reappear in Agatha Christie's And Then There Were None (1939). How much Christie's novel is indebted to its predecessor is open to conjecture (and the subject is discussed in our new introduction, by crime fiction historian Curtis Evans). Whatever the verdict, readers will delight in The Invisible Host, an innovative and most unusual mystery from the golden age of crime fiction. It was adapted into a play, and a Hollywood movie as The Ninth Guest (1934).
'I've got the details written down here for you. It's a little matter of a murderous assault, which took place in or near the Marshes' tea estate.'When Christine Marsh returns to live in the Sussex town where she grew up, the only person to greet the news with enthusiasm is her nearly senile mother Dolly. Christine's put-upon cousin Martha Kershaw knows how selfish Christine is: Martha takes care of Dolly with little recompense and has now been asked to find a large, elegant house at an impossibly low price for the Marshes.When Christine arrives, attended by both her current and former husbands, the temperature rises. Billy Jones, the architect supervising the conversion of her house, is a former flame she callously discarded. She accuses the workmen of stealing and cruelly tells the hopeful Dolly she won't be sharing the grand new house. Then Christine's husband, wealthy Derek Marsh, is found murdered. Detective Chief Superintendent Wiseman ('Old Tubby') suspects both Christine and her first husband, but they and the other suspects all have good alibis. Morice is her usual savagely witty self, and this solid mystery is social comedy as well.Design for Dying was originally published in 1988. This new edition features an introduction and afterword by crime fiction historian Curtis Evans.'A light hand, an engaging ease, and an inventive mind: all welcome qualities in the writing of crime novels.' Financial Times'What makes her such good company . . . is not her deductive skill but her shrewd eye and quick tongue for people and situations.' Daily Telegraph
It was unlikely that many had actually prayed for the murder of Mr Waddington, and they did not light beacons on the Downs or rejoice openly when it came about, but most had probably uttered a silent word of thanks.There is no shortage of murderous feelings among the eccentric country folk opposed to the development of a new 'model village'. But when a nosy estate agent and her friend peer into the windows of the country house at the centre of the development scheme, they spy an actual corpse. Their action sets off a series of incidents that include staged pranks and cold-blooded murder. As always, Morice provides not only a solid and satisfying plot but also marvellous, witty dialogue that illuminates both character and class. Anne Morice's final novel maintains her considerable powers as a creator of complex puzzles.Planning for Murder was originally published in 1990. This new edition features an introduction and afterword by crime fiction historian Curtis Evans."e;A light hand, an engaging ease, and an inventive mind: all welcome qualities in the writing of crime novels.' Financial Times'What makes her such good company is not her deductive skill but her shrewd eye and quick tongue for people and situations.' Daily Telegraph
'Rotten news, isn't it?''Rotten,' I agreed, taking it that he referred to the state of the national economy, 'but I daresay it will come all right in the end.'He stared at me as though I were either raving mad or drunk, which was excusable, since it turned out that he had been talking about the untimely death of Eliza Deverell.The renowned Deverell theatrical family, gathers to celebrate the 80th birthday of its matriarch, actress Evadne Proctor, on a TV show specializing in celebrities' lives. An unexpected guest is daughter Eliza, a former actress now married to an anthropologist and living on a Pacific island. Always a source of tension in a bickering family, Eliza is soon found in her hotel room, dead from a mixture of pain-killers and alcohol.Actress Tessa Crichton and her husband, chief inspector Robin Price, become involved, and while Evadne angles for a suicide verdict, Tessa finds that Eliza had a lot to live for. Soon other members of the Deverell clan excite Tessa's suspicions. This final 'Tessa Crichton' mystery shows Anne Morice's dry wit and keen observations in full effect.Fatal Charm was originally published in 1988. This new edition features an introduction and afterword by crime fiction historian Curtis Evans.'A light hand, an engaging ease, and an inventive mind: all welcome qualities in the writing of crime novels.' Financial Times'What makes her such good company - and the whole point of Miss Morice's book is to converse, as it were, with Tessa Crichton - is not her deductive skill but her shrewd eye and quick tongue for people and situations.' Daily Telegraph
'How was she killed?''Strangled, I gather, with her own silk scarf.'A murder involving a group of Americans on an English 'Mystery Tour' has actress Tessa Crichton investigating members of the group, including a young lady recently released from a psychiatric hospital who claims she is seeing ghosts.When a woman is found strangled, Tessa is on the case, along with detective husband Robin. But it will be Tessa's insight that helps Robin to solve the case as events reach a suspenseful climax.Treble Exposure was originally published in 1987. This new edition features an introduction and afterword by crime fiction historian Curtis Evans.'A light hand, an engaging ease, and an inventive mind: all welcome qualities in the writing of crime novels.' Financial Timesi 'What makes her such good company - and the whole point of Miss Morice's book is to converse, as it were, with Tessa Crichton - is not her deductive skill but her shrewd eye and quick tongue for people and situations.' Daily Telegraph
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