Falconer Files: Brief Cases

On Christmas Day DI Harry Falconer and DS Davy Carmichael are summoned to a block of apartments in Market Darley, to investigate the unexplained death of a young woman whose fiancé was due to move in with her on New Year's Day. At first, her death seems a complete mystery, then, something that Dr Christmas discovers on the internet indicates that her death could just have been a tragic accident, or was it?

The town has recently opened it's new theatre and the Town's Women's Guild is to present it's first live performances of the pantomime 'Jack and the Beanstalk' - over Christmas. DI Harry Falconer has managed to duck two days spent over the festive season in the Carmichael household by pleading other commitments, but treating the whole family, himself included, to tickets to the first performance, on Boxing Day. But he seems to be able to do nothing straight forward, and when tragedy strikes in the very first Act, he is catapulted back into his professional role with a vengeance: and on a Bank Holiday, too.

DS Carmichael is accompanying his step-sons on their 'trick or treat' rounds in Castle Farthing, while DI Falconer holds the fort at Market Darley police station this Hallowe'en. In fact, it is DC Roberts who has drawn the evening's short straw and has been dispatched to the small town of Carsfold, to the south of the market town, for a second interview with a householder, without a clue that an unexplained explosion will not only land him in hospital yet again, but kick off another case of murder for his two colleagues.

The Falconer Files Brief Cases follows DI Harry Falconer and DS Carmichael solving murders in and around Market Darley. Each story presents a unique murder mystery with a seasonal or thematic twist: • "Love Me To Death" - A young woman is found dead in her apartment on Christmas Day, just before her fianc was to move in. What appears to be a mysterious death might be a tragic accidentor murder. • "A Sidecar Named Expire" - A Valentine's Day cocktail evening goes terribly wrong, leading to a death that requires Falconer and Carmichael's investigation. • "Battered To Death" - A murder at a local chip shop forces the detectives to cut their rest day short. They must determine if the killing is connected to unruly customers or someone closer. • "Toxic Gossip" - Falconer investigates harassment against Miriam Darling, questioning his judgment as he tries to protect her from anonymous threats. • "Driven To It" - A lunch reunion between old school friends Abigail Wentworth and gossip-loving Alison Fairweather takes a dark turn when a face from the past appears, sending Abigail's life spiralling. • "All Hallows" - On Halloween, a man is found dead with a hollowed pumpkin on his head and his shed destroyed. The investigation reveals a web of troubled relationships among neighbours. • "Written Out" - During the Christmas filming of antiques show "Get One Over" in Market Darley, one of the TV stars meets their end, pulling Falconer and Carmichael into the investigation. • "Death of a Pantomime Cow" - Falconer's Boxing Day theater outing with the Carmichael family is interrupted when tragedy strikes during the first act, forcing him back into detective mode during the holiday.