A river cruise may be sunk by a ruthless criminal in this novel by "the doyenne of traditional mystery writers" (The New York Times).Inspector Alleyn's wife, the artist Agatha Troy, has a special fondness for Constables—the paintings, that is, not the policemen. So she jumps at the chance to take a river cruise through "Constable Country" in the east of England, in honor of the nineteenth-century master of landscapes. Her enthusiasm dims a little, though, when it becomes clear that the ticket became available at the last minute only because a previous passenger was murdered in his cabin . . ."It's time to start comparing Christie to Marsh instead of the other way around." —New York Magazine

In 1970s England, a broke nobleman and a body in a suit of armor present a puzzling mystery in this witty novel by a Diamond Dagger Award winner.It is the early 1970s, and times are tough in the upper reaches of British society. To survive the changing times, the Earl of Ornum has done the previously unthinkable and opened his estate to wandering tourists. One day, a hyperactive little boy and his family are roaming Ornum House delightedly. The curious tyke sees a full suit of armor and lifts the visor . . . only to see a face staring out at him. As Detective Inspector C. D. Sloan soon finds, the man in the suit of armor is dead—and there's a slew of suspects waiting to be interviewed. Was it the ditzy duchess? The disappointing nephew? One of the servants? The earl himself? It's up to Sloan and his wisecracking sidekick, Detective Constable Crosby, to find out before the murderer strikes again. 

Review “A shining . . . star . . . a most ingenious lady . . . The very best in British mystery.” —The New Yorker About the Author Catherine Aird is the author of more than twenty volumes of detective mysteries and three collections of short stories. Most of her fiction features Detective Inspector C. D. Sloan and Detective Constable W. E. Crosby. Aird holds an honorary master’s degree from the University of Kent and was made a Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (MBE) for her services to the Girl Guide Association. She lives in a village in East Kent, England.

From the author of the bestselling Phryne Fisher Series comes Cocaine Blues, the first historical mystery featuring the sensual, posh, and intrepid murder detective Phryne Fisher…"Phryne can not get enough of adventure and the reader can not get enough of Phryne."—Deadly PleasuresLooking for a riveting historical mystery series? This book is for you:Perfect for Fans of Rhys Bowen and Dorothy SayersInspired the Netflix show Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries, starring Essie DavisMovie Currently Streaming on Acorn TVThe London season is in full fling at the end of the roaring 1920s, but the Honourable Phryne Fisher—she of the green-gray eyes, diamant garters, and outfits that should not be sprung suddenly on those of nervous dispositions—is rapidly tiring of the tedium of arranging flowers, making polite conversations with retired colonels, and dancing with weak-chinned men. Instead, Phryne decides it might be rather amusing to try her hand at being a lady detective in Melbourne, Australia.Almost immediately from the time she books into the Windsor Hotel, Phryne is embroiled in mystery: poisoned wives, cocaine smuggling rings, corrupt cops, and communism—not to mention erotic encounters with the beautiful Russian dancer, Sasha de Lisse—until her adventure reaches its steamy end in the Turkish baths of Little Lonsdale Street. Tension and danger rise like steam, and Phryne must save herself and other young women before it's too late. Find these historical mystery series in Kindle books or in print—this lady detective will chase criminals to the end of the line!

Gardner may prove to be the author who finally equals Conan Doyle.' The Omaha MetroThree dramatic historical mysteries from the perspective of Sherlock Holmes' greatest enemy — Professor Moriarty.London believed him dead. Sherlock Holmes thought the battle was over. They were wrong.From the shadows of Victorian London’s underworld rises Professor James Moriarty—the most brilliant, ruthless criminal mind of his age. Based on the supposedly lost secret journals of the Napoleon of Crime himself, this gripping series reveals the hidden truth behind the man Holmes feared above all others.As Moriarty rebuilds his shattered empire, he wages a covert war against the law, rival crime lords, and the relentless Inspector Angus McCready Crow. Assassins, anarchists, traitors, and kings of the European underworld converge as Moriarty extends his reach from London to Paris, Rome, and beyond — pulling the strings of crime, politics, and revolution with chilling precision.Told from the villain’s perspective, these dark, intelligent thrillers lift the curtain on the brutal machinery of organised crime at the turn of the twentieth century . . . and the dangerous brilliance of the man who controlled it all.This is the Sherlock Holmes world as you’ve never seen it before.Perfect for fans of Arthur Conan Doyle, Roger Riccard, David Marcum, Val Andrews, Andrew Lane, Nicholas Meyer and Bonnie MacBird.PRAISE FOR JOHN GARDNER:'Superb.' St. Louis Post-Dispatch'A tale to make The Godfather seem tame.' Charleston Evening Post'An excellent tale of the dark side of London during the time of Sherlock Holmes.' New York Herald Tribute????? ‘A captivating dive into the world of one of literature's most iconic villains.' ND????? ‘The book was so well written I lived in the times and enjoyed the trials and tribulations of the characters.' Trevor O.????? ‘I think this is a terrific read.' bluesmaddog????? ‘You know you've got a talented writer on your hands when you actually find yourself rooting for the villains!' Kindle Reader.

Murder, Mystery and a dog of distinctionBook 8 in the Heathcliff Lennox series.Major Heathcliff Lennox is called in, along with ex Detective Inspector Swift, to help the police investigate a macabre death. The dead man is Lord De Ruyter, a man inextricably linked to the notorious Birdcage Murders.Nothing is as it appears, witnesses to De Ruyter's murder are not the strangers they purport to be, everyone present had a reason to be there and it all relates to the Birdcage Murders.Major Heathcliff Lennox - ex WW1 war pilot, 6feet 3inch, tousled dark blond hair, age around 30 – named after the hero of Wuthering Heights by his romantically minded mother – much to his great annoyance.

When the predator becomes the prey… blood will run in the gutters of Tudor London.Myles Devereux rules the streets. A ruthless gangster in the lawless underbelly of Tudor London, he controls the brothels, the taverns, the enforcers — and everyone knows not to cross him.But someone just did.His bookkeeper turns up dead. His debtors are being picked off one by one. And now the sheriff’s men are at his door, accusing him of murder.Then the Queen’s emissary arrives with a more dangerous accusation: heresy — and death by fire.This is no random attack. It’s a carefully laid trap.Hunted by the law and betrayed from within, Devereux must uncover who is behind the killings before the hangman’s noose — or the flames — find him first.Step into the brutal world of Tudor London’s criminal empire, where deceit is currency, power is survival, and mercy is for the dead.Buy now and discover the dark heart of history in this gritty Tudor crime thriller.