Rack, Ruin and Murder


Book Description

“Fans of Granger’s earlier Mitchell and Markby series will not be disappointed with the crimes put before Campbell and Carter.” —Oxford Mail When old Monty Bickerstaffe discovers a dead body in his drawing room, it’s up to Inspector Jess Campbell to get to the bottom of the mystery. Monty is a recluse, holed up in his crumbling manor house being generally unpleasant to everyone, even those relatives he actually likes. When his family and locals claim they’ve never seen the murder victim before, Campbell smells a lie. With the help of Superintendent Ian Carter, she will have to dig deep into the murky past of Monty and his family, all the way to the shocking truth. Rack, Ruin and Murder is a pulse-pounding adventure, perfect for fans of T. E. Kinsey, Ann Cleeves and Faith Martin. Praise for the writing of Ann Granger “A well-written, well-crafted traditional British mystery by a writer with an assured grasp of her technique.” —reviewingtheevidence.com “Characterization, as ever with Granger, is sharp and astringent.” —The Times “The story just gets more complex, mysterious and chilling.” —Good Book Guide “For once a murder novel which displays a gentle touch and a dash of wit.” —The Northern Echo “A clever and lively book.” —Margaret York




Rack, Ruin and Murder (Campbell & Carter Mystery 2)


Book Description

A dead body shatters the tranquillity of a Cotswold village... Inspector Jess Campbell and Superintendent Ian Carter are put to work after the discovery of a dead body in a cosy Cotswold village. Ann Granger's second Campbell and Carter mystery, Rack, Ruin and Murder, will enthral fans of Rebecca Tope, Agatha Christie and ITV's Midsomer Murders. 'She is on to another winner' - Birmingham Post When old Monty Bickerstaffe finds a dead body in his drawing room it comes as a nasty surprise - the first of many. Monty lives alone in a crumbling Cotswold manor house and the last thing he wants is the police sniffing around his property. Not that he has anything to hide... The identity of the corpse and how and why it was left in Monty's home remain a mystery. The locals swear they've seen nothing unusual and Monty's relatives claim they've never set eyes on the stiff before. But Inspector Jess Campbell is convinced that someone's lying and, with the help of Superintendent Ian Carter, she must dig deep into Monty's family history to reveal the shocking truth... What readers are saying about Rack, Ruin and Murder: 'The book contains humour, intrigue, poignancy and the entire story is one which is easily followed' 'Ann Granger's best ever murder mystery with a brilliant ending of unguessable twists and turns - unputdownable' 'A great follow up to the first book in this series. The descriptions made you feel like you were there'




Mud, Muck and Dead Things


Book Description

First in “a quirky and intriguing crime series in which the eclectic cast often comes close to stealing the show from the plotline” (The Gazette). When the body of a young woman is discovered in the cowshed of Cricket Farm, the tranquility of the British countryside is shattered. Inspector Jess Campbell is on the case, but with few leads, a grumbling partner, and the new superintendent Ian Carter piling on the pressure, she’s beginning to wonder why she chose to be a detective in the first place. The shifty land-owner Eli Smith seems to have something to hide, and as Campbell delves into the gruesome past of the dilapidated farm, the mystery deepens. A flashy Mercedes spotted fleeing the scene of the crime leads to a suspect, but when another body turns up, it looks as though Campbell’s lead is nothing but a dead end . . . Book one in the Campbell and Carter Mysteries, Mud, Muck and Dead Things will thrill fans of M. C. Beaton, Joy Ellis and the Midsomer Murders. Praise for the writing of Ann Granger “A well-written, well-crafted traditional British mystery by a writer with an assured grasp of her technique.” —reviewingtheevidence.com “Characterization, as ever with Granger, is sharp and astringent.” —The Times “The story just gets more complex, mysterious and chilling.” —Good Book Guide “For once a murder novel which displays a gentle touch and a dash of wit.” —The Northern Echo “A clever and lively book.” —Margaret York




An Unfinished Murder: Campbell & Carter Mystery 6


Book Description

AN UNFINISHED MURDER is the sixth Cotswold village crime novel in Ann Granger's Campbell and Carter series. Sure to appeal to fans of Midsomer Murders and M. C. Beaton's Agatha Raisin mysteries. Mitchell and Markby come out of retirement to crack a cold case... As young children, Josh Browning and his sister, Dilys, stumbled across a dead body while playing on the outskirts of their Cotswold village. Terrified by what they'd seen, neither of them told a soul. Now, twenty years later, Josh finds the dead woman's charm bracelet among his sister's possessions. Who better to tell than his trusted friend, the man he gardens for, retired Superintendent Alan Markby? As Markby listens to Josh's confession, alarm bells start to ring. The dates and details tie in with a missing person case that was never solved. Joining forces with Superintendent Ian Carter, who also investigated the original case, and Inspector Jess Campbell, from the region where the missing girl was last seen, Markby delves into the unsolved mystery. Together, they are determined to catch a clever killer who almost got away with murder...




Bricks and Mortality


Book Description

BRICKS AND MORTALITY is the third Cotswold village mystery by Ann Granger, featuring Inspector Jess Campbell and Superintendent Ian Carter. It is sure to appeal to fans of Midsomer Murders. In the cold light of dawn, a dead body is found entombed in the smouldering remains of a burnt-out Cotswold manor. Key House has stood empty for years, but its owner, Gervase Crown, is rumoured to have been seen in Weston St Ambrose prior to the blaze. Could he be responsible for the fire and the tragic death that followed, or was he in fact the intended target? As Inspector Jess Campbell and Superintendent Ian Carter begin their investigation it becomes clear that Gervase wasn't the most popular and his return reawakens old memories, not all of which are good.




Dead in the Water


Book Description

In a sleepy Cotswold village, heavy rains reveal the body of a barmaid and troubling mystery for a local police inspector. As Christmas approaches in the sleepy English village of Weston Saint Ambrose, the rains bring the wettest winter on record and the farmer’s fields are submerged. The water uncovers all manner of things, however, including a dead body, dredged up from its watery grave. Reclusive writer Neil Stewart is shocked to find the victim snagged on the jetty at his house, and even more surprised when he recognizes her. And he’s not the only one. When Inspector Jess Campbell investigates, she recognizes the body of Courtney Higson—a local barmaid with a doting, ex-con father, Terry. He is set on finding his daughter’s killer, and Jess must get to the bottom of this quickly, before he takes the law into his own hands . . . Perfect for fans of T. E. Kinsey and Ann Cleeves. Praise for Dead in the Water “Think . . . Midsomer Murders—but without the hammy horror and unfeasibly high body count—add a cast of seductively real characters and a large helping of super sleuthing, and you have the fourth Campbell and Carter murder mystery from one of the nation’s best-loved crime writers.” —Blackpool Gazette




Squire


Book Description

The third book in the New York Times bestselling series from the fantasy author who is a legend herself: TAMORA PIERCE. The path to knighthood is full of surprises. . . . Keladry of Mindelan dreams of becoming squire to the famous female knight Alanna the Lioness, but she worries that she will not be selected by her hero—perhaps not by any knight master. When Kel is picked instead by the legendary Lord Raoul, the unexpected honor shocks her enemies across the realm. Kel must quickly prove herself up to the task, mastering her fighting and leadership skills while discovering what it takes to be part of the royal guard. A new romance is blossoming as well, bringing with it the rush of first love and the unexpected challenges of balancing knight work and a relationship. All the while, Kel prepares for her biggest fear: the infamous “Ordeal,” the last challenge that stands between her and knighthood. More timely than ever, the Protector of the Small series is Anti-Bullying 101 while also touching on issues of bravery, friendship, and dealing humanely with refugees against a backdrop of an action-packed fantasy adventure. "Tamora Pierce's books shaped me not only as a young writer but also as a young woman. She is a pillar, an icon, and an inspiration. Cracking open one of her marvelous novels always feels like coming home." —SARAH J. MAAS, #1 New York Times bestselling author "Tamora Pierce didn't just blaze a trail. Her heroines cut a swath through the fantasy world with wit, strength, and savvy. Her stories still lead the vanguard today. Pierce is the real lioness, and we're all just running to keep pace." —LEIGH BARDUGO, #1 New York Times bestselling author




Gaslight Arcanum


Book Description

From the comforting glow of Baker Street gas-lamps to the gloom of the ocean's depths, Sherlock Holmes lays bare the secrets of men, monsters and evil in twelve new tales of the bizarre, the uncanny and the arcane.




A Matter of Murder


Book Description

A MATTER OF MURDER is the seventh Cotswold village crime novel in Ann Granger's Campbell and Carter series. Sure to appeal to fans of Midsomer Murders and M. C. Beaton's Agatha Raisin mysteries. Two years ago, Miff Ferguson chose to opt out of the rat race. Since then he's been living rough and happily so. That is until now. For, as the first signs of winter approach, everything changes. While looking for shelter, Miff stumbles across the dead body of a young woman inside a dilapidated warehouse. Quickly realising he's not alone, and what's worse he's been spotted, Miff becomes embroiled in a game of cat-and-mouse with a killer that forces him to abandon his life on the streets and take refuge with his aunt and uncle in the village of Weston St Ambrose. But, despite his best efforts to lie low, trouble seems to follow him and when another dead body is discovered at a local farm, it's clear Miff is not free from danger. With the clock ticking, Inspector Jess Campbell and Superintendent Ian Carter must join forces once again with the team of police at Bamford to piece together the puzzle before another innocent life is lost... Praise for Ann Granger's crime novels: 'Characterisation, as ever with Granger, is sharp and astringent' The Times 'Her usual impeccable plotting is fully in place' Good Book Guide 'A clever and lively book' Margaret Yorke 'This engrossing story looks like the start of a highly enjoyable series' Scotsman




The Southern Book Club's Guide to Slaying Vampires


Book Description

“This funny and fresh take on a classic tale manages to comment on gender roles, racial disparities, and white privilege all while creeping me all the way out. So good.”—Zakiya Dalila Harris, author of The Other Black Girl Steel Magnolias meets Dracula in this New York Times best-selling horror novel about a women's book club that must do battle with a mysterious newcomer to their small Southern town. Bonus features: • Reading group guide for book clubs • Hand-drawn map of Mt. Pleasant • Annotated true-crime reading list by Grady Hendrix • And more! Patricia Campbell’s life has never felt smaller. Her husband is a workaholic, her teenage kids have their own lives, her senile mother-in-law needs constant care, and she’s always a step behind on her endless to-do list. The only thing keeping her sane is her book club, a close-knit group of Charleston women united by their love of true crime. At these meetings they’re as likely to talk about the Manson family as they are about their own families. One evening after book club, Patricia is viciously attacked by an elderly neighbor, bringing the neighbor's handsome nephew, James Harris, into her life. James is well traveled and well read, and he makes Patricia feel things she hasn’t felt in years. But when children on the other side of town go missing, their deaths written off by local police, Patricia has reason to believe James Harris is more of a Bundy than a Brad Pitt. The real problem? James is a monster of a different kind—and Patricia has already invited him in. Little by little, James will insinuate himself into Patricia’s life and try to take everything she took for granted—including the book club—but she won’t surrender without a fight in this blood-soaked tale of neighborly kindness gone wrong.