12 November 2025.
ISBN: 978-1-06832500-7 (PB)
Julie has been retired for 92 days, in that tine she has moved into Rose cottage in Little Clarsden in Berkshire. Joined a bridge group, a dominoes group, and the WI. She has also volunteered at a local animal sanctuary and read 33 Agatha Christie novels. She likes the village and the narrow High Street that boasts a butcher, a newsagents and Post Office, and Alfred’s general store, which is like a Tardis, stocked with everything. She now siting at her desk trying to think of something to write.
Rose Cottage was left to her by her aunt Lucy, with certain conditions in her will, which are that Julie lives in the cottage for 12 months with her sister Frankie. If one sister decides to leave, the other sister inherits the cottage. Also, if one of them fails to live at the cottage within three months of her death, the cottage passes to the other sister. The three months are now nearly up. Frankie was last heard of in Thailand will she show up? Julia has a mixture of emotions whirling round her head. She doesn’t want to lose Rose Cottage but spending a year with her flamboyant half-sister is quite a different matter. Julia still harbours an old grievance. Will she ever forgive her? Never.
Julie awakes to an almighty crash from downstairs, picks up a vase and prepares to defend herself, but ends up showering Frankie with water. Then as always, an altercation occurs. Frankie, early Sixties is a free spirit. She has meandered through life enjoying herself, but wonders, where does she actually belong. Can Julie manage 12 months of Frankie.
The day of the autumn fete dawns and Julie and Frankie head off to the village green. Frankie decides to visit Madam Zoltar who doesn’t tell her that good fortune will be coming her way, but that she is in danger, when Frankie asks ‘what sort of danger? Madam Zoltar says ‘murder’. However, despite Madam Zoltar dark warning Frankie wins the raffle which turns out to be a murder mystery weekend at the grand Medfield House Estate in the rolling hills of Somerset.
The estate has been owned by the same family since Victorian times, passing to Arthur Quinten thirty years ago. When he died Charles Quinten became the new owner. Charles is like a sloth with attitude and has no interest in the estate. The event is being organised by Kirsty Taylor, whose lives locally. Kirsty has also assumed the role of director. Unfortunately, disaster has struck the lead character who has been taken away by ambulance. Charles agrees to step in.
They sisters have decided to work together to solve the crime as their best chance of winning. As they assemble in the drawing room they meet the other guests, Mrs Robertson and Simon Henson from Chealsea, Laura Harding, mid-thirties, Jack Standed, twenties, late Major Hamilton, Professor Arbara and Miss Scully. Also from the US, Larry and Sarah Reynolds.
After the first evening’s supper, a
“poisoned dart” “kills” one of the guests. In the classic whodunit style of a
country house mystery, the game of tracking down the “killer” is on. After everyone
has retired, the sisters return to the scene of the crime to attempt to see if
they can suss out the killer. But they are not the only ones to be scouring the
house for clues. Then the sisters find a real dead body in a secret passage. However,
when they report their finding of a body it is not there. But now they are looking for a real murderer,
although none of the guests take them seriously until a second murder occurs.
With interesting characters, this is a truly teasing mystery that kept me
turning the pages. I am looking forward to the next book. Recommended.
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Reviewer: Lizzie Sirett
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