A masterful tale of murder and intrigue in a small French town, from the celebrated author of the Maigret series
Not only had the rain in the dark streets, with a halo around each light and reflections on the ground, always given him a certain thrill, it also made it easier for him to move around.
It has been raining for twenty days in La Rochelle - ever since the first murder. Since then, five more bodies have been found. In the cafes, over card games, a quiet terror of the killer in their midst spreads through the little town.…
I’m currently obsessed with novels written in the 1930s, a strange and
uncertain era when the First World War’s terrible legacy engulfed Europe.
Although
the book’s title suggests otherwise, most of the action takes place inside a
London lodging house and describes a shabbily genteel way of life that has long
since disappeared.
I’m a bit of a London Transport geek, so I also loved the
detailed description of the underground murder site. You even get a plan of
the station circa 1934!
'This detective novel is much more than interesting. The numerous characters are well differentiated, and include one of the most feckless, exasperating and lifelike literary men that ever confused a trail.' Dorothy L. Sayers, Sunday Times, 1934 When Miss Pongleton is found murdered on the stairs of Belsize Park station, her fellow-boarders in the Frampton Hotel are not overwhelmed with grief at the death of a tiresome old woman. But they all have their theories about the identity of the murderer, and help to unravel the mystery of who killed the wealthy 'Pongle'. Several of her fellow residents - even…
I was given this book by a friend, and it turned out to be a great
holiday read. The plot revolves around a young Manhattanite who was mysteriously left a grand Miami mansion in the will of a recluse.
A modern fairy tale with
plenty of twists and turns as our heroine discovers the truth about the legacy and about herself. The house in which the action takes place was
based on a property the author rented during lockdown – lucky him!
After receiving a crumbling Mediterranean mansion, Liz Galin uncovers clues that will solve a century-old murder...and reveal a forbidden love story that mirrors a modern one.
Everyone fantasizes about receiving a gift from a stranger.
Liz Galin, an out-of-work fashion stylist, lives in a walk up studio apartment in Alphabet City in Manhattan. She has put her life on hold during COVID-19 to care for her mother going through chemo, and cannot see her boyfriend Cary as he is an emergency room doctor during the height of the pandemic. One Monday morning, she receives a cryptic letter from a Miami…
London's old buildings hold a
wealth of clues to the city's rich and vibrant past.The
histories of some, for example, the Tower of London and Westminster Abbey, are
well documented. However, these magnificent, world-renowned attractions are not
the only places with fascinating tales to tell.
Down a narrow, medieval lane on
the outskirts of Smithfield stands 41–42 Cloth Fair – the oldest house in the
City of London.
Fiona Rule uncovers the fascinating survival
story of this extraordinary property and the people who owned it and lived in
it, set against the backdrop of an ever-changing city that has prevailed over
war, disease, fire, and economic crises.
