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Mr. Zero
by Patricia WentworthA high society house party in the country sets the stage for blackmail, sabotage, illicit passion, and murder in this witty, classic British mystery with a touch of political intrigue The last thing London debutante Gay Hardwicke wants is to become involved in another one of her cousin&’s messy jams. But Lady Sylvia Colesborough is in over her head this time: She claims she&’s being blackmailed by the mysterious Mr. Zero. If she doesn&’t steal important government papers from the safe of her politically connected husband, the distinguished Sir Francis, her gambling debts will be exposed. Gay&’s reluctant attempts to help Sylvia backfire when a murder raises the stakes—and Gay&’s boyfriend, Algy Somers, becomes the prime suspect. Enlisting the aid of her society friends, Gay races to clear Algy&’s name and catch a cagey killer before her own days are numbered.
Mrs. Claus and the Evil Elves (A Mrs. Claus Mystery #3)
by Liz IrelandJessica Fletcher meets Tim Burton in this creative and witty cozy mystery series from Liz Ireland, filled with unconventional characters, year-round Christmas cheer, and a unique heroine who&’s married to the real-life Santa Claus! April Claus has grown to love her new North Pole home almost as much as she loves her husband, Nick—Santa himself. But even in Christmastown, the holidays can be murder . . . April Claus is getting an early gift for her second Christmas in Santaland. Her dear friend, Claire, is visiting from Oregon, and April hopes to show off her adoptive country at its cozy, glittering best. But when the annual ice sculpture contest is derailed by a kamikaze drone-deer, it&’s just the first in a series of un-festive events . . . Drone-deer, created by inventor elf Blinky Brightlow, are none too popular with the genuine, flesh-and-hoof kind, who are currently on strike. With no reindeer games to keep them in shape, Nick worries they may get too chunky to pull his sleigh come Christmas. Now Blinky is missing, his girlfriend, Juniper, is under suspicion, and between rogue reindeer and conniving elves, all of Santaland seems to have gone sugarplum-crazy. Add a dash of murder to the mix, and suddenly April is battling not just to clear Juniper&’s name, but to save herself from being put on ice—permanently . . . Praise for Mrs. Claus and the Halloween Homicide&“Fans of offbeat, humorous cozies will clamor for more.&”—Publishers Weekly&“Multiple plot twists, quirky, characters, plenty of humor, and the lovingly described, magical Santaland distinguish this entertaining cozy.&” —Booklist
Mrs. Claus and the Halloween Homicide (A Mrs. Claus Mystery #2)
by Liz IrelandApril Claus knows being married to the real Santa makes every day feel like Christmas. But when a different holiday arrives at the North Pole, so does murder . . . For the first time ever, Christmastown is celebrating a strange new tradition—Halloween. But not everyone is willing to watch their dependable winter wonderland get overrun by carved pumpkins and costume parties. As a series of scary happenings hit Santaland, each one more intense than the last, April realizes having a role in the festivities could cost her family, friends—even her own life. April isn&’t the only unlucky target. Outspoken elf Tiny Sparkletoe is found dead in the snow outside his cottage, crushed in the middle of what appears to be a monstrous footprint. With mayhem descending like reindeer on rooftops, April must stop the Halloween killer before the fate of Mrs. Claus becomes another creepy tale to tell in the dark . . . &“An exceptional series launch . . . This fun, well-plotted mystery is the perfect holiday entertainment.&” —Publishers Weekly (starred review)
Mrs. Claus and the Nightmare Before New Year's (A Mrs. Claus Mystery #5)
by Liz IrelandIt&’s beginning to look a lot like New Year&’s in this creative and witty mystery featuring a unique heroine who&’s married to the real-life Santa Claus and living in the North Pole. Santaland is scrambling to keep its secrets hidden from a trio of unexpected guests, but before the New Year&’s Eve ball drops, the countdown is on for April Claus to catch a killer… April Claus is looking forward to relaxing with her hubby, Nick (aka THE Santa Claus), in the week between Christmas and New Year&’s Eve. But just after Santa departs for his deliveries, an elf pulls into Santaland with three people he found lost in the frozen wilderness. The survivors of a scientific expedition are injured, but their presence endangers the future of Santaland. So, while the strangers recuperate at the infirmary, April convinces Christmastown to pull off its grandest, most impossible, most magical feat yet . . . pretend to be normal! Posing as a touristy, albeit Christmas-centric, arctic town, the elves cover their ears, snowmen take a vow of silence, and the reindeer keep their hooves on the ground. But as New Year&’s Eve draws closer, hiding their true selves becomes harder to do, especially when one of the uninvited guests dies under highly suspicious circumstances. With a murderer in their midst, April sets out to find the uncorked culprit before any auld acquaintances should be forgot . . . or worse.
Mrs. Claus and the Santaland Slayings: A Funny & Festive Christmas Cozy Mystery (A Mrs. Claus Mystery #1)
by Liz Ireland&“Exceptional…the perfect holiday entertainment.&”— Publishers Weekly STARRED REVIEW This Christmas season, travel to the North Pole you&’ve never seen before—where Santa&’s new wife, April Claus, is not only set on creating the perfect holiday—she&’s also set on solving the perfect crime… Love is full of surprises—though few compare to realizing that you&’re marrying the real-life Santa. April Claus dearly loves her new husband, Nick, but adjusting to life in the North Pole is not all sugarplums and candy canes. Especially when a cantankerous elf named Giblet Hollyberry is killed—felled by a black widow spider in his stocking—shortly after publicly arguing with Nick. Christmastown is hardly a hotbed of crime, aside from mishaps caused by too much eggnog, but April disagrees with Constable Crinkle&’s verdict of accidental death. As April sets out to find the culprit, it&’ll mean putting the future of Christmas on the line—and hoping her own name isn&’t on a lethal naughty list . . .
Mrs. Claus and the Trouble with Turkeys (A Mrs. Claus Mystery #4)
by Liz IrelandJessica Fletcher meets Tim Burton in this creative and witty cozy mystery series filled with unconventional characters, a year-round Christmas setting, and a unique heroine who&’s married to the real-life Santa Claus—and this time, there are two holidays in the mix. At Castle Kringle, the elves are excitedly arranging their first ever Thanksgiving day feast. April&’s husband, Nick—the real Santa—has some misgivings, since it&’s tough to get ready for Christmas when everyone is obsessed with helium balloons and pie recipes. Chaos erupts when Gobbles, the live turkey imported for the castle feast, is bird-napped. That crime is quickly overshadowed at a pre-Thanksgiving potluck when Nick&’s cousin, Elspeth, face-plants into her mashed potatoes—dead. Someone poisoned Elspeth, and April believes Constable Crinkle is hauling the wrong suspect off to jail. An ominous message, written in what seems to be blood and urging April to stop investigating, only convinces her more. But who&’s really to blame? Where is Gobbles the turkey? And can April solve a double helping of mystery in time for everyone to sit down to a non-deadly dinner together? Praise for Mrs. Claus and the Evil Elves&“Funny, well-paced . . . Ireland&’s bizarre series conceit works, a tribute to her deft juggling of sleuthing and satire. Fans of Leigh Perry&’s Family Skeleton mysteries will be tickled.&” —Publishers Weekly
Mrs. God
by Peter StraubFrom the New York Times bestselling author of Mystery, Shadowland, and The Talisman, the tale of an inspired literary sojourn that turns into something far more sinister Esswood House. Home and estate of the Seneschal family, aristocratic patrons of the literary arts for well over a hundred years. D. H. Lawrence, T. S. Eliot, Ford Madox Ford, and Henry James were privileged to call themselves guests and Esswood Fellows. Even minor poets such as Isobel Standish found in Esswood a respite from the outer world and its refined atmosphere an inspiration for her work. There was always talk of a hidden secret in Esswood's past, and the Seneschal children were often so pale and sickly, but don't all English manor houses have a few ghost stories to call their own? When Professor William Standish receives the rare honor of an Esswood Fellowship, and the chance to study Isobel's private manuscripts at close hand, he is thrilled beyond his wildest ambitions. But something seems slightly off at Esswood House, a feeling Standish cannot quite put his finger on. He hears faint laughter in the halls, the pitter-pattering of small feet in the night; strange faces appear in the windows of the library, and there are those giant dollhouses in the basement . . . Never before published as a separate volume, Mrs. God is a very different kind of ghost story from one of America's most celebrated authors.
Mrs. God: A Novel
by Peter StraubA tale of an inspired literary sojourn that turns into something far more sinister. Esswood House. Home and estate of the Seneschal family, aristocratic patrons of the literary arts for well over a hundred years. D. H. Lawrence, T. S. Eliot, Ford Madox Ford, and Henry James were privileged to call themselves guests and Esswood Fellows. Even minor poets such as Isobel Standish found in Esswood a respite from the outer world and its refined atmosphere an inspiration for her work. There was always talk of a hidden secret in Esswood's past, and the Seneschal children were often so pale and sickly, but don't all English manor houses have a few ghost stories to call their own? When Professor William Standish receives the rare honor of an Esswood Fellowship, and the chance to study Isobel's private manuscripts at close hand, he is thrilled beyond his wildest ambitions. But something seems slightly off at Esswood House. He hears faint laughter in the halls, the pitter-pattering of small feet in the night; strange faces appear in the windows of the library, and there are those giant dollhouses in the basement . . . Never before published as a separate volume, Mrs. God is a very different kind of ghost story from one of America's most celebrated authors.
Mrs. Jeepers Is Missing! (The Bailey School Kids Super Special #1)
by Debbie Dadey Marcia Thornton JonesThere are some pretty weird grown-ups living in Bailey City. But could Jeepers, the third-grade teacher with green glowing fingernails and a mysterious green brooch, really turn into a vampire at her own party?<P><P> The Bailey School Kids are going to find out! "We're the batty ones for hanging around this creepy place," Howie said. "We should go home."<P> "We can't," Melody said. "The storm is terrible, it'd be dangerous to go outside."<P> "We can't go home," Liza said. "I'm worried about Mrs. Jeepers. We have to look for her."<P> Eddie shook his head. "As far as I'm concerned, a missing teacher is the best kind of teacher. I say we get out of here while we can!"
Mrs. Jeffries Aims to Win (A Victorian Mystery #41)
by Emily BrightwellMrs. Jeffries must help Inspector Witherspoon crack a new case and catch a killer in this next installment of the beloved Victorian Mystery series.Successful businessman Jeremy Marks wasn&’t highly regarded by any of the members of the West London Archery Club. Most of them considered him a buffoon and a bore. But everyone was stunned when the fellow was murdered during a lull in the club&’s annual archery competition. He&’d been shot with arrows from a longbow during a raging thunderstorm.But those who knew Marks well understood that the unkempt "court jester" persona adopted by the late, unlamented man was as fake as the smile he wore. As Inspector Witherspoon investigates the murder, he discovers the victim had real enemies among the assembled archery contestants. Marks was notorious for not paying his bills, cheating vendors, bad-mouthing business rivals, and worst of all, betraying his business partners. The dead man had built a whole career and amassed quite a substantial fortune by harming those who trusted him. It will take Mrs. Jeffries and the inspector&’s household as well as their friends to sort out fact from fiction and target a killer.
Mrs Jeffries And The Missing Alibi (Mrs Jeffries)
by Emily BrightwellRarely had Mrs Jeffries encountered a murderer as brazen as the killer of Peter Hornsley, who even left behind his name . . . which was Inspector Witherspoon! Mrs Jeffries knew that her mild-mannered employer couldn't possibly be the real culprit, but would she be able to solve the mystery and convince Scotland Yard of the truth in time. This charming series of Victorian murder mysteries features mild-mannered Inspector Witherspoon of Scotland Yard and, more importantly, Mrs Jeffries, his housekeeper. A policeman's widow herself, her quick wits allow her to nudge the Inspector in the right direction to solve the crime.
Mrs. Jeffries and the Alms of the Angel (A Victorian Mystery #38)
by Emily BrightwellWhen a wealthy widow is murdered, Mrs. Jeffries investigates what happens when money can't buy your life in this all-new installment in the beloved Victorian Mystery series.Margaret Starling wasn’t the sort of woman anyone expected to be murdered. She was on the advisory board of the London Angel Alms Society, she was an active member of St. Peter’s Church, and, best of all, she was always willing to lend a hand to a friend or a neighbor in need of advice. She was also a wealthy upper-class widow. But money alone won’t protect you when someone decides it’s high time you met your maker. Margaret’s next-door neighbor considered her an odious busybody, the Reverend Reginald Pontefract wished she’d never set foot in St. Peter’s, and half the advisory board of the London Angel Alms Society heartily hoped she’d come down with pneumonia before the next quarterly meeting. All in all, Margaret wasn’t as well regarded as she’d always thought she was. But Mrs. Jeffries and Inspector Witherspoon know that justice isn’t a popularity contest, and they won’t rest until they sift through the suspects to catch a sinister scrooge.
Mrs. Jeffries and the Best Laid Plans (A Victorian Mystery #22)
by Emily BrightwellA friendless old miser, banker Lawrence Boyd, is found dead at home. Called to the scene, Inspector Witherspoon is lucky to have Mrs. Jeffries's help-since the list of suspects includes just about everyone Boyd's ever met.
Mrs Jeffries and the Best Laid Plans (Mrs Jeffries)
by Emily BrightwellHome and hearth is never safe when you have this many enemies.A friendless old miser, banker Lawrence Boyd, is found dead at home. Called to the scene, Inspector Witherspoon is lucky to have Mrs. Jeffries's help - since the list of suspects includes just about everyone Boyd's ever met.Praise for the Mrs Jeffries Mysteries:'It's murder most English all the way!' The Literary Times'Fascinating murder mystery . . . wit and style . . . a winning series. Mrs. Jeffries is the Miss Marple of Victorian Mystery' The Paperback Forum
Mrs Jeffries and the Feast of St Stephen (Mrs Jeffries)
by Emily BrightwellThe case is an unexpected bother for Inspector Witherspoon's household, already abuzz with plans for the holidays, but Scotland Yard wants this crime solved before Christmas. Now the busy sleuths must rally in support of their Inspector - especially since the clues are harder to find than a silver sixpence in a plum pudding . . .Praise for the Mrs Jeffries Mysteries:'It's murder most English all the way!' The Literary Times'Fascinating murder mystery . . . wit and style . . . a winning series. Mrs. Jeffries is the Miss Marple of Victorian Mystery' The Paperback Forum
Mrs. Jeffries and the Feast of St. Stephen (Mrs. Jeffries #23)
by Emily BrightwellA Yuletide dinner in West Brompton should have been a festive occasion, until the host, wealthy Stephen Whitfield, dropped dead before the second course. Now Mrs. Jeffries and the busy sleuths must rally in support of their Inspector?especially since the clues are harder to find than a silver sixpence in a plum pudding.
Mrs. Jeffries and the Merry Gentlemen: A Victorian Mystery (Mrs. Jeffries #32)
by Emily BrightwellTHE BUSINESS OF DEATH Orlando Edison is a stockbroker using London's infatuation with foreign mining ventures to make a fortune.<P><P> He has curried favor with the nation's most respected aristocrats, even inviting three influential investors--known as the Merry Gentlemen--to be part of his latest enterprise. Edison is welcomed in the highest circles and moves with ease among the rich and powerful. But a few days before Christmas, he is found murdered.Inspector Witherspoon and his household are looking forward to the festive season. But they all know their duty, and led by the intrepid Mrs. Jeffries, they plan to see justice served for the holidays . . .
Mrs. Jeffries and the Midwinter Murders (A Victorian Mystery #40)
by Emily BrightwellMrs. Jeffries and Inspector Witherspoon should be checking off their Christmas present list but instead they're listing murder suspects in this latest entry of the beloved Victorian Mystery series.Harriet Andover had no intention of dying young like her silly siblings had. She intended to outlive them and outdo them as she always had. But Harriet discovers that the best intentions can lead to murder when she is strangled inside her mansion with a house full of holiday guests.As much as Inspector Witherspoon enjoys his job delivering justice, the last thing he wanted was a complicated murder case just a week before Christmas. He soon discovers that Harriet's own husband and grown stepchildren are not overcome with grief and neither are most of her friends. And to put the icing on the Christmas cookies, the room where Harriet's body was found was locked from the inside and she had the only key in her pocket.Mrs. Jeffries and the household have no intention of letting their inspector down and learn that Harriet's sister may have died from foul play as well. As the clues mount, this dedicated band of merry sleuths will not rest until they've delivered a stocking full of coal to a crafty killer.
Mrs. Jeffries and the Missing Alibi (Mrs. Jeffries #8)
by Emily BrightwellHousekeeper Mrs. Jeffries must use all her extraordinary sleuthing skills when she is forced to take over an investigation when her employer, Scotland Yard Inspector Witherspoon, becomes a prime suspect in the murder of Peter Hornsley.
Mrs. Jeffries and the One Who Got Away: A Victorian Mystery (Mr.s Jeffries #33)
by Emily BrightwellNormally dead bodies in a graveyard are buried--but not this one. When a woman is found strangled in a North London cemetery with an old newspaper clipping clutched in her hand, Inspector Witherspoon is surprised to find that he and the victim have crossed paths before. <P><P> Alice Robinson was a respectable widow who ran a quiet Islington lodging house. None of her lodgers have any apparent motive to murder their landlady. But nagging suspicions are lodging in the Inspector's mind--only he knows that "Alice Robinson" is not her real name. Now he'll need the help of Mrs. Jeffries to revisit an old case that has haunted him for years and to get the real story.
Mrs. Jeffries and the Silent Knight: A Victorian Mystery (A Victorian Mystery #20)
by Emily BrightwellSir George Braxton was found lying face down in a frozen fountain with the back of his skull bashed to bits. <P><P>The case is complicated by a distinct lack of holiday cheer in the victim's three argumentative middle-aged daughters and their sullen houseguests. Even the cranky cat hates everyone. To top it all off, the Home Secretary has called in Inspector Witherspoon over the heads of some touchy local lads, making matters stickier than a plum pudding. Only the help of his housekeeper, Mrs. Jeffries, and her crime-solving staff will give the poor Inspector any chance of sleeping in heavenly peace on Christmas Eve... <P> She keeps house for Inspector Witherspoon...and keeps him on his toes. Everyone's awed by his Scotland Yard successes--but they don't know about his secret weapon. No matter how messy the murder or how dirty the deed, Mrs. Jeffries' polished detection skills are up to the task...proving that behind every great man there's a woman--and that a crimesolver's work is never done.
Mrs Jeffries and the Silent Knight (Mrs Jeffries)
by Emily BrightwellSir George Braxton was found lying face down in a frozen fountain with the back of his skull bashed to bits. The case is complicated by a distinct lack of holiday cheer in the victim's three argumentative middle-aged daughters and their sullen houseguests. Even the cranky cat hates everyone. To top it all off, the Home Secretary has called in Inspector Witherspoon over the heads of some touchy local lads, making matters stickier than a plum pudding. Only the help of his housekeeper, Mrs. Jeffries, and her crime-solving staff will give the poor Inspector any chance of sleeping in heavenly peace on Christmas Eve . . .Praise for the Mrs Jeffries Mysteries:'It's murder most English all the way!' The Literary Times'Fascinating murder mystery . . . wit and style . . . a winning series. Mrs. Jeffries is the Miss Marple of Victorian Mystery' The Paperback Forum
Mrs. Jeffries and the Three Wise Women
by Emily BrightwellAs the holidays approach, all is merry and bright for Inspector Witherspoon, Mrs. Jeffries, and the staff at Upper Edmonton Gardens...but murder knows no season.MURDER UPON A MIDNIGHT CLEARChristopher Gilhaney isn’t a popular man, and he proves why once again when he insults every guest at Abigail Chase’s Guy Fawkes Night dinner party. When Gilhaney is shot dead under the cover of the night’s fireworks, his murder is deemed a robbery gone wrong. But when the case hasn’t been solved six weeks later, Inspector Witherspoon is called upon to find the killer—and quickly!With Christmas almost here, Inspector Witherspoon and everyone in his household is upset at the possibility of having to cancel their holiday plans—all to solve a case that seems impossible. Only Luty Belle, Ruth, and Mrs. Goodge refuse to give up and let the crime become a cold case. In fact, the American heiress, the charming next-door neighbor, and the formidable cook use all of their persuasive powers to get the others on board, because these three wise women know justice doesn’t take time off for Christmas.
Mrs. Jeffries and the Yuletide Weddings
by Emily BrightwellThe week before Christmas, Inspector Gerald Witherspoon's staff prepares for the long-awaited wedding of Betsy and Smythe. But when a middle-aged spinster is killed in what looks like a random crime, the Inspector suspects otherwise. With uncooperative witnesses, sulking relatives, and a second Christmas wedding, a simple investigation seems as unlikely as catching St. Nick at work.
Mrs. Jeffries Appeals the Verdict (A Victorian Mystery #21)
by Emily BrightwellGUILTY BYSTANDERSAfter a perfectly decent local woman is killed during a robbery, the Witherspoon household receives a surprising visit from a stranger named Blimpey Groggins. He claims his best buddy was convicted of the crime. He also claims the peaceable chap didn't even know how to fire a gun. And considering he's to be hanged in three weeks, Blimpey's desperate to find the real killer. With the trail cold, the crime allegedly solved, and the evidence mucked up, Mrs. Jeffries and her belowstairs cohorts have their work cut out for them if they want to save an innocent man from the gallows.A Mrs. Jeffries MysteryShe keeps house for Inspector Witherspoon...and keeps him on his toes. Everyone's awed by his Scotland Yard successes--but they don't know about his secret weapon. No matter how messy the murder or how dirty the deed, Mrs. Jeffries' polished detection skills are up to the task...proving that behind every great man there's a woman--and that a crimesolver's work is never done.First Time in Print!