Death at Wentwater Court reissued

Minotaur has just reissued my first Daisy Dalrymple mystery (of 22) in trade paperback, with a great new cover.

The series is set in the 1920s in England. Daisy has just achieved an assignment to write a magazine article about an earl's mansion, Wentwater Court, so she has joined a family and guest house-party.

Excerpt:

In the morning, Daisy rose with the sun, which, as Wilfred

had pointed out, was not particularly early at the beginning of

January. Skipping the cold bath and postponing the outdoor

exercise, she dressed warmly and went down to the breakfast

parlour, a pleasantly sunny east-facing room. James, Fenella,and Sir Hugh were there before her. Sir Hugh lowered his Financial Times momentarily to wish her a good morning before retreating once more behind that bastion.

She helped herself to kedgeree from the buffet on the

sideboard and joined them at the table.

"Will you skate with us this morning, Daisy?" Fenella asked.

"I know you're frightfully busy but this weather may not last and

we don't get such spiffing freezes very often."

"Yes, I'd like to, if I can borrow skates?"

"We have a cupboardful," James assured her. "There's bound

to be something to fit you."

"Jolly good. I'll finish off the roll of film in the camera

down at the lake, and spend the rest of the morning developing my

pictures."

Sir Hugh, emerging from his newspaper, told her he owned

shares in the Eastman Kodak company and asked about the

developing and printing process. Daisy explained as she ate.

James and Fenella lingered over their coffee until she had

finished her breakfast, then took her to look for a pair of

skates.

Outside, the air was crisp and still. Daisy couldn't resist

leaving a footprint or two in the glistening untrodden snow

beside the path. It crunched underfoot.

James carried the skating boots down the hill for her as she

was laden with camera and tripod. While she set them up, he and

Fenella sat on the bench and put on their skates. They circled

slowly at the near end of the lake, waiting for her.

"Go ahead," she called, already chilled fingers fumbling

at the stiff catch that attached the camera to the tripod. "I'll

be with you in half a mo."

Waving to her, they joined hands and whizzed off towards the

bridge. As they reached it, James yelled, "Stop!"

They swerved to a halt beneath the arch. James moved

cautiously forward into the black shadow cast by the low sun.

And then Fenella screamed.

Support an indie bookstore at Seattle Mystery Bookshop or Mysterious Galaxy

or order from Amazon