Murder By Candlelight

In the early nineteenth century, a series of murders took place in and around London which shocked the whole of England. The appalling nature of the crimes—a brutal slaying in the gambling netherworld, the slaughter of two entire households, and the first of the modern lust-murders—was magnified not only by the lurid atmosphere of an age in which candlelight gave way to gaslight, but also by the efforts of some of the keenest minds of the period to uncover the gruesomest details of the killings.These slayings took place against the backdrop of a London in which the splendor of the fashionable world was haunted by the squalor of the slums. Sir Walter Scott, Lord Byron, Thomas De Quincey, Thomas Carlyle, and Percy Bysshe Shelley and others were fascinated by the blood and deviltry of the macabre. In their contemplations of the most notorious murders of their time, they discerned in the act of killing itself a depth of hideousness that we have lost sight of, now living in an age in which murder has been reduced to a problem of social science and skillful detective work. Interweaving these cultural vignettes alongside criminal history, acclaimed author Michael Beran paints a vivid picture of a time when homicide was thought of as the intrusion of the diabolic into ordinary life.

In the new Secret, Book, and Scone Society novel from New York Times bestselling author Ellery Adams, the rain in Miracle Springs, North Carolina, has been relentless—and a flood of trouble is about to be unleashed . . . Nora Pennington figures all the wet weather this spring is at least good for business. The local inns are packed with stranded travelers, and among them Nora finds new customers for her store, Miracle Books. Since a little rain never hurt anyone, Nora rides her bike over to the flea market one sodden day and buys a bowl from Danny, a Cherokee potter. But the next day, after Miracle River overflows its banks, and Danny’s body is found floating within the churning waters, Nora decides it’s time for the Secret, Book, and Scone Society to spring into action. A crucial clue may lie within the stone walls of the Inn of Mist and Roses: a diary, over a century old and spattered with candle wax, that leads Nora and her friends through a maze of intrigue—and onto the trail of a murderer . . . “A love letter to reading, with sharp characterizations and a smart central mystery.” —Entertainment Weekly on The Whispered Word

It's May, 1935, and the country remains in the throes of the Great Depression. In the seaside enclave of Carmel-By-The-Sea, the villagers are embroiled in another type of struggle. Many residents wish to censor and prevent an allegedly obscene novel from being circulated in the public library. Along with the town's bohemian writers and artists, Nora Finnegan, a free-lance reporter for The Carmel Pine Cone, finds herself on the side of free expression. Matters take an ominous turn when an outspoken activist is found brutally murdered. Even more suspicious, the Theatre of the Golden Bough, the site where several controversial plays have been staged, is set ablaze. Arson is suspected. Nora wonders if the fire might have been set by a vindictive person intent on silencing the theater's owner, and even the town.

One suspicious death. Two amateur sleuths. And an utterly impossible crime... ‘The perfect village mystery. A golden-age world with an energy that is totally contemporary’ J.M. Hall, author of A Spoonful of Murder ‘All the ingredients of a classic mystery... enormous fun’ Orlando Murrin, author of Knife Skills for Beginners

One suspicious death. Two amateur sleuths. And an utterly impossible crime... The NUMBER ONE ebook bestseller! 'Amuses and intrigues in equal measure... a splendid start to what promises to be a long-running series' Daily Mail 'The perfect village mystery. A golden-age world with an energy that is totally contemporary' J.M. Hall, author of A Spoonful of Murder 'All the ingredients of a classic mystery... enormous fun.' Orlando Murrin, author of Knife Skills for Beginners 'Brilliant characters that leap off the page.' The Sun The Cotswolds, 1924. At the Old Forge in the quiet village of Maybury-in-the-Marsh a cry of anguish rings out: lady of the house Amy Phelps has been discovered dead. But with all the windows and doors to her room locked from inside, how - and by whom - was she killed? Arbuthnot 'Arbie' Swift finds himself in the unlikely position of detective. The celebrated author of The Gentleman's Guide to Ghost-Hunting is staying at the Old Forge to investigate a suspected spectre, but now the more pressing matter of Amy's murder falls to him too. With old friend Val, he soon uncovers a sorry tale of altered wills, secret love affairs and tragic losses - and plenty of motives for murder. When events take another sinister turn, Arbie must find the killer, fast. And to do so will mean cracking a most perfectly plotted crime... Perfect for fans of The Thursday Murder Club, The Appeal and The Marlow Murder Club, don't miss this stunning new series from the multi-million bestselling author! Readers LOVE Murder by Candlelight! 'I absolutely loved this... The story grabbed me from the beginning and I devoured it.' NetGalley reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'A beautifully constructed puzzle... I so hope this will be the start of a series.' NetGalley reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'Very entertaining... Full of red herrings, plot twists and turns. I thought I knew who was the killer but I was wrong.' NetGalley reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'What an utterly delightful and clever mystery... I highly recommend this book.' NetGalley reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'Terrifically good, and just great fun!... All of the clues are provided, but so are a number of very good red herrings... I can't wait to see more of Arbie and Val.' NetGalley reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'WOW. I loved this book.' NetGalley reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'Absolutely perfect! This is the book I have been craving since I last read the Thursday Murder Club series!' NetGalley reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

"Francesca Eve thought she was prepared for anything at the events she caters for in her pretty little Shropshire village. Missing canapes? No problem. Burnt brownies? A piece of cake... But a dead body? Now that’s a recipe for disaster. Francesca is nervous about catering her first ever murder mystery party, but it’s clear from the clink of champagne flutes and piles of empty plates that the evening is a roaring success. The guests look spectacular in their disguises, whispering and giggling as they try to identify who killed beautiful young Becky. But days later the game takes a sinister turn when Becky is found poisoned, and all the signs point to the culprit being a party guest. From the woman having an affair to the guest hiding her true identity, everyone had a secret – and it turns out that Becky knew them all. As Fran finds herself centre-stage in a real-life murder mystery, the finger of suspicion points at each guest in turn. And Fran starts to wonder, were any of these secrets dangerous enough to kill for? Then the body of a second guest is found, and it becomes clear a deranged killer is going off-script. It seems anyone who was involved in the game that night is in their sights, even Fran. Can she unmask the murderer before the final curtain falls?"--Back cover.

In 1927 a young girl was murdered in Manhattan New York. What appeared to be a random killing, in reality, was planned, but contrived. J.P. Fox, a private investigator, is called upon by the police to investigate the crime. At every turn, Fox discovers clue after clue - creating a chain of despair. Something lurks in the shadows, something dark, and sinister. The killer acts alone, but is he? His motivations run deep. Time is running out. Fox must muster all his skills and experiences to find the killer, expose the eugenics movement, and flush out a deadly cult.

The truth is rarely pure and never simple...

There’s a new girl at Rookwood School, and new mystery for Scarlet and Ivy to solve.

Fleeing a disastrous love affair, university librarian Amy Webber moves in with her aunt in a quiet, historic mountain town in Virginia. She quickly busies herself with managing a charming public library that requires all her attention with its severe lack of funds and overabundance of eccentric patrons. The last thing she needs is a new, available neighbor whose charm lures her into trouble. Dancer-turned-teacher and choreographer Richard Muir inherited the farmhouse next door from his great-uncle, Paul Dassin. But town folklore claims the house’s original owner was poisoned by his wife, who was an outsider. It quickly became water under the bridge, until she vanished after her sensational 1925 murder trial. Determined to clear the name of the woman his great-uncle loved, Richard implores Amy to help him investigate the case. Amy is skeptical until their research raises questions about the culpability of the town’s leading families... including her own. When inexplicable murders plunge the quiet town into chaos, Amy and Richard must crack open the books to reveal a cruel conspiracy and lay a turbulent past to rest in A Murder for the Books, the first installment of Victoria Gilbert’s Blue Ridge Library mysteries.