Amateur Detective

London, 1815. Amateur sleuth Atlas Catesby is about to discover the dark side of the bright lights. His long-awaited night at the opera with Lady Lilliana ends abruptly when a notorious courtesan is shot to death in Covent Garden. The infamous victim was the mistress of the powerful Marquess of Vessey. Atlas believes that the marquess - his former brother in law - is responsible for the long-ago death of Atlas' sister, Phoebe. Atlas seizes the opportunity to potentially avenge his sister's death.

A series of mysterious deaths shakes the quiet town of Phoenix, leaving the police baffled. The townspeople are left on edge as they don’t know who will be next. Nick Brown, a pathologist, is drawn into the investigation after witnessing a suspicious mark on one of the victim's body. But he is thrown into the world of the supernatural when an unknown driver knocks him down. Nick is caught in the middle of the mysterious deaths after he starts losing the people he cares about. But with the help of his ghost friend, Zigi, and his new psychic abilities, he uncovers a pattern among the bodies...

After a long career as a police officer, Moira hopes a move to a luxury retirement community will mean she can finally leave the detective work to the youngsters and focus on a quieter life. But it turns out The Homestead is far from paradise. When she discovers the body of a young woman floating in one of the pools, surrounded by thousands of dollar bills, her crime-fighting instinct kicks back in and she joins up with fellow ex-cops - and new neighbours - Philip, Lizzie and Rick to investigate the murder.

For Ellery Queen, there is no puzzle that reason cannot solve. In his time, he has faced down killers, thugs, and thieves, protected only by the might of his brain - and the odd bit of timely intervention by his father, a burly New York police inspector. But when a university professor asks Queen to teach a class, the detective finds there are people whom reason cannot touch: college students. Queen's adventure on campus is only the first of this incomparable collection of short mysteries.

There’s no shortage of thrillers in my bookstore, but I never expected to stumble over a body in the suspense aisle—especially when the main suspect is me. What was supposed to be a quiet life running my cozy bookstore has turned into the scene of a chilling crime. The victim? An irritating author with a long list of enemies. Among them: an ex-brother-in-law drowning in debt, a scorned girlfriend desperate for revenge, and others with motives as twisted as a thriller plot. Determined to clear my name, I team up with Peanut, my loyal Labrador, and my sharp-tongued best friend. Together, ...

Stephen Munro, a demobbed army officer, reconciles himself to taking a job as a footman to make ends meet. Employed at Wintringham Hall, the delightful but decaying Sussex country residence of the elderly Lady Susan Carey, his first task entails welcoming her eccentric guests to a weekend house-party, at which her bombastic nephew—who recognises Stephen from his former life—decides that an after-dinner séance would be more entertaining than bridge. Then Cicely disappears!

When Newport's most sought after investment adviser meets her death while cruising on a sail boat surrounded by several of her biggest clients, amateur sleuth Caroline Kent finds herself in the middle of another murder investigation. Newport police detective Lt. Hank Nightingale is sure he knows who murdered Althea Tanner, but Caroline is certain that the police detective is mistaken. It is up to Caroline to solve the mystery. The story is one of greed and betrayal in the city best known for its gilt and glamour and offers a tale of financial intrigue straight from today's news headlines.

A vanished young woman. A chilling news article. A secret shrouded in darkness... Are Joselyn’s psychic visions the key to unlocking the mystery of Anna Fawn’s disappearance? Joining forces with a determined friend of Anna’s, who has tirelessly searched for her, Joselyn delves into a cold trail littered with forgotten clues. In Anna’s bedroom, preserved as a shrine to her memory, a touch of a worn book catapults Jocelyn into a harrowing vision of Anna’s last known argument—over a boy, who, intriguingly, was the last person to see her alive. As their investigation draws them ...

In The Red Thumb Mark, the doctor works to clear young Reuben Hornby of stealing a parcel of diamonds from his uncle's safe, despite the apparently damning evidence. Then, in The Eye of Osiris, an amateur Egyptologist abruptly goes missing, leaving behind a strangely vexatious will. In The Mystery of 31 New Inn, Thorndyke's long-time collaborator Dr. Jervis consults his mentor regarding a mystery who may be being slowly poisoned. And in A Silent Witness, someone is making very determined attempts to murder inoffensive newly-qualified Doctor Humphrey Jardine.

It's National Library Week, and the Athena Public Library is planning an exhibit to honor the centenary of famous novelist Electra Barnes Cartwright - creator of the beloved Veronica Thane series. Charlie has a soft spot for Cartwright's girl detective stories (not to mention an extensive collection of her books!). When the author agrees to make a rare public appearance, the news of her whereabouts goes viral overnight, and series devotees and book collectors converge on Athena.

Catching a killer is a piece of cake... Or is it? When Mindy's much-despised ex-boyfriend Liam is wrongly accused of being a killer, Mindy and Beth need to leave their aversion behind and clear Liam's name. But when the killer decides that Mindy needs to disappear, the duo must pull out all the stops to uncover the truth. Praise for A.R. Winters: "The perfect balance of being lighthearted, but still a serious page-turning mystery." - Jaycie D, Amazon.com "A fun cozy mystery with engaging and entertaining characters" - lq, Amazon.com "A cute light read with a final twist at the end." - ...

It’s springtime in Provence! Trees are in bloom and critters are abuzz— including a murderer or two. Pastry chef Julie Cavallo is gearing up for the Easter weekend. Life is blissfully tranquil… until she learns of a wrongful conviction. Chiropractor Quentin Vernet was found guilty of fatal malpractice, stripped of his license and imprisoned for a year. And now he has lost all hope of clearing his good name. If only there was a way to help him! Unfortunately, Julie has nothing to go on. Her crew of amateur sleuths deems the case too cold and too sticky. Her gendarme boyfriend warns her...

In The Accountant’s Cookbook for Murder, buttoned-up accountant Martin Wells never expected murder at the Redwood County Cook-Off. When a food critic dies mid-bite, Martin must follow the breadcrumbs—through sabotage, suspects, and savory secrets—to solve the case. It’s a cozy mystery where spreadsheets meet sabotage, and the recipe for murder gets personal.

After an eventful first few months in Provence, it seems Penelope is finally settling into her delightful new life, complete with a gorgeous love interest in the mayor of St. Merlot. When Penelope and the mayor attend a glamorous gallery opening, Penelope’s biggest worry is embarrassing herself in front of her date. But the evening takes a horrifying turn when a controversial expat painter, Roland Doncaster, chokes to death.

Six dachshunds, one inheritance, and a killer who’s unleashed chaos. Dogwood Valley is buzzing with gossip. Agatha Worthington, the 90-year-old matriarch, has shocked the town by leaving her fortune to her six dachshunds instead of her feuding relatives. Liv Barker, former lawyer turned dog walker, is hired to care for the dachshunds. But when suspicious events unfold, Liv must sniff out the truth before someone with greedy intentions puts an end to Agatha’s plans—and possibly her dogs’ lives.

In 2009, Edie had New York’s social world in her thrall. Mercurial and beguiling, she was the shining star of a group of recent graduates living in a Brooklyn loft and treating New York like their playground. When Edie’s body was found near a suicide note at the end of a long, drunken night, no one could believe it. Grief, shock, and resentment scattered the group and brought the era to an abrupt end.

When Gemma’s romantic holiday with her boyfriend is cancelled, the tearoom sleuth finds herself heading to Vienna instead with her cat Muesli and the nosy Old Biddies for company. And it’s not long before they stumble across a murder right in the heart of Austria’s historic capital. A handsome art critic dies suspiciously at their hotel, and the Old Biddies are determined to sniff out the killer. Is it the bitter hotel owner nursing a grudge? The critic’s jealous mistress wanting revenge? Or even the American horse trainer who seems inexplicably nervous around the police?

"Rarely have I read descriptions that have left me gasping, in both their hilarity and their painful truth. A wonderful read." ―Louise Penny recommending G.M. Malliet's novel WICKED AUTUMN Is it ever okay to take the law into your own hands? That's the question at the heart of this original short story by award-winning author G.M. Malliet. Maria Ignatius Jona writes an advice column - an "Agony Aunt" column - for the daily Santa Fe Orbital. She inherited the column ten years before from her aunt Bettina, and soon discovered she'd also inherited her aunt's intuition and knack for helping ...

Tiffany, Rosie and Stone head to Southern Illinois to enjoy an old-fashioned holiday including a short cruise on a riverboat… Unfortunately, their idyllic vacation is ruined when a guest on the cruise is murdered, and Tiffany is tasked with investigating. Who could’ve killed the grumpy patriarch? Many of his family were unhappy with him, but was anyone unhappy enough to kill? When the murderer threatens to strike again, the trio must move quickly before someone else is hurt… Praise for A.R. Winters: "The perfect balance of being lighthearted, but still a serious page-turning mystery."...

The eccentric Olive Kettering swore someone was trying to harm her. Too bad no one listened, though plenty wanted her dead. When Olive is shot and killed, Mrs. Jeffries has no problem speaking her mind to see justice served.