Showing titles in Amateur Sleuths

Dr Nell Ward is an ecologist, not a detective. But when she's the prime suspect in a murder, only her unique set of skills could help to clear her name... In the sleepy village of Cookingdean, Dr Nell Ward is busy working in the grounds of a local manor house. Whilst inspecting an old tunnel...

‘An immersive and really satisfying mystery’ Faith Martin ‘As an iced drink in a heatwave … These characters and their families feel like old friends. A fantastic addition to the series.’ Fiona Leitch Retired schoolteachers and amateur sleuths Liz, Pat and Thelma have a brand-new...

Murder is a dish best served ice cold... In the idyllic, small town of Dewstow, Margery and Clementine are eagerly awaiting retirement from their work on the front-line serving meals to the students at Summerview secondary school. Their peaceful life is shattered when their kitchen manager is found dead in the school’s walk-in freezer. The police are adamant that it’s an open-and-shut case of accidental death. But Margery and Clementine are convinced that something more sinister is afoot and take it upon themselves to investigate.

When their vacation in Bar Harbor, Maine, turns deadly, amateur sleuths Lily and Cassie find themselves entangled in a web of secrets dating back to the days of pirates. With their spirited ghost companion, Ri, and the clues hidden in a series of stolen artifacts, the duo must piece together the puzzle before time runs out. As danger lurks in every corner of this quaint coastal town, they’ll need all their wits—and maybe a little paranormal help—to crack the case and avoid becoming the next victims.

Every day after school, whilst his classmates swap football stickers, 12-year-old Steven digs holes on Exmoor, hoping to find a body. His uncle disappeared aged 11 and is assumed to have fallen victim to the notorious serial killer Arnold Avery – but his body has never been found. Steven's Nan does not believe her son is dead. She still waits for him to come home, standing bitter guard at the front window while her family fragments around her.

A charming seaside town. A haunted mansion. Secrets that refuse to stay buried. Welcome to the Lily & Cassie by the Sea Mysteries—a cozy paranormal mystery series filled with small-town intrigue, unexpected twists, and a touch of the supernatural. When Lily Bennett and her daughter, Cassie MacGuire, move to Hideaway Bay for a fresh start, they never expect their new home—Whispering Manor—to come with ghostly legends, unexplained disturbances, and long-forgotten secrets. But when the pair begin digging into a decades-old cold case, they uncover more than they bargained for.

Gaillac, southwest France. Gil Petty, America's most celebrated wine critic, is found strung up in a vineyard, dressed in the ceremonial robes of the Order of the Divine Bottle and pickled in wine. For forensic expert Enzo Macleod, the key to this unsolved murder lies in decoding Petty's mysterious reviews - which could make or break a vineyard's reputation.

May Day should mark the start of spring. But this year, it means murder... Fortunately antique store owner and amateur detective Bella Winter is on the case! Everyone in Hope Eaton climbs the hill to Sweet Agnes’ Spring on May Day, to greet the dawn and leave tokens among the flowers. Antique store owner Bella Winter grumbles about the early start, but she has to admit that watching the sun rise over the flower-strewn grove is worth it.

Arriving in the mountain town of Lily Rock for the Fourth of July weekend, Avery plans to rent a room from Stella Rawlins—a friendly local known for her love of books and quiet acts of defiance. When Stella is killed by a sabotaged firecracker hidden inside her library, Avery becomes the discovery witness…and an immediate suspect.

Summoned to a historic Tudor manor, Jason and Daniel are charged with investigating the heart-wrenching murder of two small boys. To discover who would have a motive to commit such a heinous crime, they must delve into the unexpectedly complicated relationships between the manor’s inhabitants.

When widow Mrs Pargeter has her morning coffee, her intention is to admire her beautiful garden in peace and quiet. Little does she expect one of the patio's paving slabs to crack in two, revealing a human skull with a neat hole in the middle of its forehead! Mrs Pargeter decides to investigate. And who better to assist than her late husband's 'business associates', private investigator Truffler Mason and chauffeur Gary?

'An outstanding cosy crime debut. Death by Noir is the sparkling start to a corking new series!' JANICE HALLETT, bestselling author of The Killer Question 'Uncork this sparkling delight and quaff deep. With high notes of comedy, suspense and fruity characterisation Olly Smith's debut is...

Summerview Secondary School is holding its annual charity auction. Margery and Clementine Butcher-Baker are on hand to prepare delicious baked goods for the big day - with the assistance of Clementine's mysterious sister, Maria. As the auction begins, chaos erupts when Eleanor Black, the owner of Dewstow Museum, is found murdered in the stage storeroom. Maria has vanished. Her fingerprints cover the crime scene. Clementine refuses to believe her sister is capable of murder and is sure they need to widen the search – Eleanor has a long list of enemies.

Brought to you by Penguin. Secrets, murder and mayhem collide as this unlikely sleuthing duo - an under-butler and a foul-mouthed octogerian - hunt a killer in a manor sealed against the end of the world. Cornwall, 1910. On a remote tidal island, the Viscount of Tithe Hall is absorbed in...

It's all kicking off in Piddlington Minster... Harry Hedges is a desperate man. Desperate to be a journalist again. Desperate to pay off his overdraft. And desperate to find a decent coffee. In a paper cup. With a lid on. There's not much chance of that in Dorset, where he's trying to revive an...

With the arrival of six senior reading group members at the Merry Ghost Inn, the long-awaited grand opening week has finally begun for Melanie West and her grandmother Liza. All is well with the Oregon coast-side B&B until Melanie's dog, Max, finds the dead body of one of their guests.

When Stella lands a job working at Titheridge Farm, she's thrilled. Stella plans a weekend at the farm for the family and invites five VIP guests, in a bid to win them over. Forty-eight hours later, someone is dead. Trapped by the weather and all with secrets of their own, one of the partygoers is lying and one isn't who they say they are.

Miss Silver joins a friend from Scotland Yard to investigate a suspicious suicide. Frank Abbott’s vacations never last very long, and his trip to Field End is no exception. He has hardly enjoyed a moment of Jonathan Field’s hospitality before tragedy strikes. A niece ventures into old Jonathan’s study at night to ask him a question, and finds him stone cold with a revolver by his hand. An obvious suicide, it seems, but Inspector Abbott is not so sure.

Brought to you by Penguin. You are one of five strangers whose day will start with the worst phone call imaginable. Your loved one is in danger. They are part of a group trapped in a café in a sleepy marina town. The young barista on the early shift The bestselling novelist looking for a...

Murder and smuggling, conspiracy and treason - can Reverend Hardcastle catch a killer? Kent, 1796. Shocked to discover a dying man on his doorstep - and lucky to avoid a bullet himself - Reverend Hardcastle finds himself entrusted with the victim's cryptic last words. With smuggling rife on England's south-east coast, the obvious conclusion is that a dodgy deal has gone wrong. But why is the leader of the local Customs service so reluctant to investigate?