While on a visit to a country estate, a lady and her maid "devise a clever plan to catch the killer" in this mystery set in post-WWI England (Kirkus).
Lady Phoebe Renshaw and her sister Julia are eager for a summer getaway at High Head Lodge, their cousin Regina's newly purchased estate. But they are not the only houseguests. Regina's mother and brother-bitter over the unequal distribution of her father's inheritance-have descended on the house to confront her.
In addition to the family tension, Eva is increasingly suspicious of Julia's new maid, wondering why she left her former employer so suddenly-and why she seems to make Regina so ill at ease. But things go from tense to tragic when their hostess is mysteriously murdered in her bed with no sign of struggle. Now, with suspects in every room, Phoebe and Eva must catch a killer before their brief getaway leaves them gone for good.
Lady Phoebe Renshaw and her sister Julia are eager for a summer getaway at High Head Lodge, their cousin Regina's newly purchased estate. But they are not the only houseguests. Regina's mother and brother-bitter over the unequal distribution of her father's inheritance-have descended on the house to confront her.
In addition to the family tension, Eva is increasingly suspicious of Julia's new maid, wondering why she left her former employer so suddenly-and why she seems to make Regina so ill at ease. But things go from tense to tragic when their hostess is mysteriously murdered in her bed with no sign of struggle. Now, with suspects in every room, Phoebe and Eva must catch a killer before their brief getaway leaves them gone for good.
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As Lady Phoebe and her betrothed say their vows of holy matrimony, a killer has vowed unholy vengeance on the town's chief inspector . . .
June 1922: The blessed day has finally arrived. Phoebe Renshaw and Owen Seabright are to be wed, and lady's maid Eva Huntford could not be more delighted for her lady's happiness. But she is disturbed by one notable absence from the ceremony-her beau, Police Constable Miles Brannock. When Miles finally does appear, breathlessly running into the reception at Foxwood Hall, he brings grim news: he's found Chief Inspector Isaac Perkins murdered, shot in his home in his favorite parlor chair with his own gun.
A policeman naturally makes enemies, especially those of questionable character. In charge of finding his former boss's killer, Miles reviews the details of the crime scene. The murder weapon has been wiped clean and left on the table next to the remnants of the chief inspector's breakfast: sausage pasty and coffee reeking of a bit of whiskey. No sign of forced entry. A seemingly peaceful scene-other than the bullet hole in the victim.
Before Miles can make much progress in his investigation, a Scotland Yard detective arrives in Little Barlow to take over the case-and promptly focuses his suspicions on the constable himself, who he reasons had motive and opportunity. Coming to their maid's defense, Phoebe and Owen postpone their honeymoon to join Eva in clearing her beau's good name and unmasking the identity of the true killer . . .
June 1922: The blessed day has finally arrived. Phoebe Renshaw and Owen Seabright are to be wed, and lady's maid Eva Huntford could not be more delighted for her lady's happiness. But she is disturbed by one notable absence from the ceremony-her beau, Police Constable Miles Brannock. When Miles finally does appear, breathlessly running into the reception at Foxwood Hall, he brings grim news: he's found Chief Inspector Isaac Perkins murdered, shot in his home in his favorite parlor chair with his own gun.
A policeman naturally makes enemies, especially those of questionable character. In charge of finding his former boss's killer, Miles reviews the details of the crime scene. The murder weapon has been wiped clean and left on the table next to the remnants of the chief inspector's breakfast: sausage pasty and coffee reeking of a bit of whiskey. No sign of forced entry. A seemingly peaceful scene-other than the bullet hole in the victim.
Before Miles can make much progress in his investigation, a Scotland Yard detective arrives in Little Barlow to take over the case-and promptly focuses his suspicions on the constable himself, who he reasons had motive and opportunity. Coming to their maid's defense, Phoebe and Owen postpone their honeymoon to join Eva in clearing her beau's good name and unmasking the identity of the true killer . . .