'A new Simon Brett is an event for mystery fans' P. D. JAMES 'One of the wittiest crime writers around' ANTONIA FRASER 'Murder most enjoyable' COLIN DEXTER Very little disturbs the ordered calm of Fethering, a pleasingly self-contained retirement town on England's southern coast. Which is precisely why Carole Seddon, who has left behind both her husband and her career at the Home Office, has chosen to reside there. So Carole is surprised to encounter...

'Few crime writers are so enchantingly gifted . . . as Simon Brett' Sunday Times 'Simon Brett writes stunning detective stories' JILLY COOPER 'King of the witty village mystery' Telegraph Grant and Kim Roxby had hoped that their first dinner party at Pelling House would make an impression with their new neighbours. And the next day it's certainly the talk of the village in Fethering. For their guests – including the couple's old friend Jude...

The Hopwicke Country House Hotel once boasted a clientele of the rich and famous. But hard times call for hard measures, so owner Suzy Longthorne throws open her doors to welcome the Pillars of Sussex—an elitist group of local businessmen whose social gatherings revolve around drinking and off-color commentary.
 
Short staffed, Suzy recruits Jude as a waitress to help keep the spirits flowing. But the next morning, Jude discovers...

'King of the witty village mystery' Telegraph 'Simon Brett writes stunning detective stories' JILLY COOPER 'Crime writing just like in the good old days, and perfect entertainment' Guardian It's time to celebrate in Fethering Village, as Carole's son is getting married to a wonderful girl, albeit one with rather odd parents. Not only do they have no interest in the wedding preparations, but the mere thought of talking about the event frightens them...

Welcome to Fethering! Carole has a bad hair day when a haircut leads to murder in this quirky, cozy, British village mystery. The last thing Carole expects when she goes to Connie's Clip Joint for a trim is to find the body of Kyra, Connie's assistant, in the back room. Kyra's boyfriend, Nathan, has vanished, but his family, an eccentric, controlling bunch, don't seem overly concerned. Instead, they are bizarrely obsessed with a family...

The affluent seaside resort of Smalting is unaccustomed to crime. So when human remains are found beneath the floorboards of one of its beach huts, the community is awash with suspicion and fear.

The genteel game of Real Tennis takes a murderous twist when Jude's boyfriend's friend winds up dead on the court.

Reluctantly taking a vacation at a friend's luxurious Turkish villa, Carole and Jude investigate threats against their host tied to his ruthless business deals, complicated love affairs and the mysterious fate of his first wife.

"When a talk by successful author Burton St Clair at Fethering Library ends in sudden, violent death, Jude finds herself the prime suspect in the ensuing murder investigation. She must enlist the help of her neighbour Carole not just to solve the crime, but to prove she didn't commit it"--Publisher's description.