Francis Meadowes Mystery

A literary festival turns lethal, in this sharp-witted series debut: "A marvellous set of unsavoury suspects . . . good, nasty fun with a ring of truth." -The Mail on Sunday, Thriller of the Week Bryce Peabody is ready to give a scandalous talk at the annual literary festival in the pretty English town of Mold-on-Wold. Scathing in his reviews and unseemly in his affairs, Bryce is known to have many enemies. So when he's discovered dead in his hotel room, festival attendees are desperate to know what happened. Could one of the numerous writers he has insulted have taken revenge? Or perhaps one of his scorned lovers? Soon, author Francis Meadowes is drawn into a role he knows only from his own fiction-that of amateur detective. But will he catch the culprit before more festival-goers meet a grizzly end? "A rollicking read." -London Evening Standard "A very engaging literary romp." -The Sydney Morning Herald "Ingenious." -The Independent Chosen for the Independent on Sunday's "Alternative Booker Prize Longlist" "Raunchy goings-on at fictional festival Mold-on-Wold . . . A rollicking read." -The Evening Standard "A wicked send-up of literary festivals . . . A crime novel with a cute concept." -Suzi Feay, TheIndependent "An old-fashioned murder mystery with . . .neatly disguised clues . . . and a satisfyingly unexpected culprit." -The Literary Review "This has been quite the year for thinly disguised literary romans-à-clef, with Mark McCrum's novel causing gossip in literary circles." -The Independent on Sunday

A sleuthing crime writer may be out of his depth when two passengers die aboard a luxury liner, in this "entertaining mystery" (Publishers Weekly). Crime writer Francis Meadowes has landed an enviable job lecturing aboard the luxurious Golden Adventurer as it cruises down the West African coast. His fellow passengers, including opinionated retired surgeon Klaus, mischievous elderly widow Eve, flamboyant designer Sebastian, beautiful American aid worker Sadie, and her tedious but extremely wealthy aunt Marion, are an eclectic group. But when one guest is found dead in bed and another disappears overboard, Francis must employ all his professional expertise to find out which of the colorful characters on the ship is capable of murder . . . Praise for the Francis Meadowes mysteries "A rollicking read." -Evening Standard "Ingenious." -The Independent

Darkness lurks in sunny Italy after a woman dies at a creative writing retreat and her teacher must investigate: "Amusing . . . Readers will have fun." -Publishers Weekly Named a "Book of the Year" by Mail on Sunday and Literary Review Francis Meadowes is soaking up the late summer sun in Italy, running a creative writing course at the beautiful Villa Giulia, deep in the remote Umbrian countryside. His students include snooty, irritating Poppy and her ex-ambassador husband; eccentric Northern Irishman Liam, who writes angry poems about the Troubles; kooky American Sasha, younger than most of the group; and mysterious possible spy Tony, amongst others. But what should have been a magical week turns into something sinister when one of the group is found dead in the sauna. The local police quickly turn to amateur sleuth Francis for help. Uncovering betrayal, lies, secrets, and old scores to be settled, Francis soon realizes danger is lurking beneath the genteel and civilized veneer . . . "A neat twist on the classic English-country-house formula." -Kirkus Reviews

A novice detective joins a rock star's entourage to follow a trail of sex, drugs, and suspicious deaths, in this brand-new murder mystery by the author of Murder Your Darlings. Crime writer Francis Meadowes has just been offered his first paid detective gig-which means going on the road with gender-fluid rock star JonniK, tagging along as the musician's entourage travels from Berlin to Brussels and beyond. Jonni's manager is already worried by a guitar tech's fatal overdose on a tour bus, but then the star himself is attacked on stage . . . Another shock comes as Jonni's lead guitarist is electrocuted by his own instrument in the middle of a gig-and Francis realises he is in a dangerous race against time to find out exactly what is going on . . . Praise for the Francis Meadowes mysteries "A rollicking read." -London Evening Standard "Very engaging." -The Sydney Morning Herald "Readers will have fun." -Publishers Weekly

The first four novels in the series starring a globetrotting sleuth whose travels include some deadly detours. The Festival Murders Scathing in his reviews and unseemly in his affairs, Bryce Peabody is ready to give a talk at the annual literary festival in the pretty English town of Mold-on-Wold-until he's found dead in his hotel room. Soon, author Francis Meadowes is drawn into a role he knows only from his own fiction-that of amateur detective . . . "A wicked send-up of literary festivals." -The Independent Cruising to Murder Francis is lecturing aboard a luxurious ship as it cruises down the West African coast. Among the passengers are a retired surgeon, a mischievous elderly widow, and a beautiful American accompanied by her tedious but extremely wealthy aunt. But when two of them die, the sleuthing crime writer may be out of his depth . . . "[An] eclectic mix of characters-none of whom would be out of place in an Agatha Christie tale." -Daily Mail "A likable and smart series lead." -Booklist   Murder Your Darlings-A Mail on Sunday Book of the Year Francis is in Italy, running a creative writing course at an Umbrian villa. His students include snooty Poppy and her husband; a Northern Irishman who writes angry poems about the Troubles; a kooky American; and a possible spy. But things turn sinister when a body is found in the sauna.   "A neat twist on the classic English-country-house formula." -Kirkus Reviews   Murder on Tour On his first paid detective gig, Francis joins a rock star's entourage as they tour from Berlin to Brussels and beyond. The musician's manager has been concerned about some dangerous events-but the biggest shock comes from the guitar that electrocutes a bandmate . . .</

Three novels in the acclaimed series starring an author whose itinerary often leads him to crime scenes . . .   The Festival Murders Bryce Peabody is ready to give a talk at the annual literary festival in the pretty English town of Mold-on-Wold-until he's found dead in his hotel room. Soon, author Francis Meadowes is drawn into a role he knows only from his own fiction-that of amateur detective . . . "A marvellous set of unsavoury suspects . . . good, nasty fun with a ring of truth." -The Mail on Sunday, Thriller of the Week Cruising to Murder Francis has landed a job lecturing aboard a luxurious liner as it cruises down the West African coast. His fellow passengers include an eclectic mix of characters. But when two of them die, the sleuthing crime writer discovers he may be out of his depth . . . "[An] entertaining mystery." -Publishers Weekly Murder Your Darlings Francis is soaking up the sun in Italy, running a creative writing course at a villa in the Umbrian countryside. But what should have been a magical week turns sinister when a body is found in the sauna . . . A Mail on Sunday Book of the Year "A neat twist on the classic English-country-house formula." -Kirkus Reviews