Dead Before Morning
Part 1 of the Rafferty and Llewellyn Police Procedural series
A murder investigation…and Joe Rafferty's already got trouble in spades.
His first case in charge looks like being his last. Because he suspects that the case of the 'Faceless Lady' is a poisoned chalice. Gifted by his new boss, who is only waiting for Rafferty to fail, to put the boot in.
When even his ma adds seems to add to the kicking…Does she really expect him to supply a Get Out of Jail Free card for his cousin, Jailhouse Jack? When what his cousin needs is a miracle.
And Jack's not the only one. Rafferty's boss looks hand-rubbing ready in anticipation of his failure. If he's got some detective favourite ready to slot into his space, the case of the 'Faceless Lady' looks likely to be the one to do it. His ma's little problem just adds the cherry on the top.
All he can do is grit his teeth and hope for a lucky break. But when he gets it, it's from such an unlikely source that he suspects the fates are having a laugh at his expense. But it's the only clue he's got, so he has to follow it up.
Will he end up with egg on his face? Or solve the murder against all the odds? Rafferty wishes he knew. The only thing he's sure of is that his boss won't hesitate to get rid of him if he drops the ball. Determined to deprive him of that satisfaction, he goes with his gut-instinct, but keeps his fingers crossed all the way.
Down Among the Dead Men
Part 2 of the Rafferty and Llewellyn Police Procedural series
RAFFERTY & LLEWELLYN BRITISH MYSTERY SERIES #2'I have fallen in love with her slow-paced but interesting books.'For those who like mysteries, with Detectives who have a sense of humour. When beautiful Barbara Longman is found murdered in a meadow, uprooted wildflowers strewn about her, and, in her hand, a single marigold, British Detective Joe Rafferty at first believes the murder may be the work of the serial killer over the county border in Suffolk. But then he meets the victim's family-and after liaising with the Suffolk police, he rapidly comes to believe that the mystery killing is the work of a copycat…one much closer to home; someone among the descendants of the long-dead family patriarch, Maximillian Shore.Everyone, it seems, had a motive: Henry the grieving widower; the victim's brother-in-law, Charles Shore the ruthless tycoon; Henry's first wife the Bohemian Anne, who has lost the custody of her teenage son, to the saintly Barbara. Even the long-dead patriarch, Maximillian Shore, seems, to Rafferty, to have some involvement in the murder, though how, or why, Rafferty doesn't understand until he finally grasps the truth behind the reasons for the killing. A truth sad and dreadful and which had been evident from the start, if only he had had the eyes to see. 'Evans' humour seriously added to my enjoyment of her book. This, her first, as well as the rest in the series, are well written, with standout central characters and clever plots.' AUNT AGATHA'S BOOKSHOP, ANN ARBOUR, USA 'I love this series. Great cozy mysteries and Rafferty and Llewellyn are great characters.' READER REVIEWER 'I'm really enjoying the author's subtle wit and the overall quality of the writing.' READER REVIEWER RAFFERTY & LLEWELLYN BRITISH MYSTERY SERIESDead Before Morning #1Down Among the Dead Men #2Death Line #3The Hanging Tree #4Absolute Poison #5Dying For You #6Bad Blood #7Love Lies Bleeding #8Blood on the Bones #9A Thrust to the Vitals #10Death Dues #11All the Lonely People #12Death Dance #13Deadly Reunion #14Kith and Kill #15Asking For It #16The Spanish Connection #17Game of Bones #18
Absolute Poison
Part 5 of the Rafferty and Llewellyn Police Procedural series
Superstitious British Detective Joseph Rafferty is having a bad week - not an unusual occurrence - and he can't help feeling trouble comes in threes. Also niggling in his mind is the fact that Llewellyn, his posh sergeant, has brought a 'bargain' suit from Rafferty's Ma. Sure to be stolen goods, the suit is bound to drop Rafferty in it when the holier-than-thou Llewellyn wears it on his wedding day -- with the loathed, sharp-eyed, Superintendent Bradley amongst the guests.
Rafferty's first premonition turns out to be accurate when a company manager is found dead at his desk. The tyrannical Barstaple had known full well that he was hated by most of the office. But did he really deserve to be poisoned? And so horribly.
Rafferty's week goes from bad to worse and worse again. And when you take the 'bargain' suit into the equation and Superintendent Bradley's anticipated reaction to this stolen piece of shmutter, the week really has gone to Hell in a handcart. And taken Rafferty with it. But maybe even Hell will be the better destination compared to the possibilities the Superintendent is sure to have in mind.
Bad Blood
Part 7 of the Rafferty and Llewellyn Police Procedural series
A Little Laughter. A Little Mayhem. A Little MURDER ... For Readers of who enjoy detective novels with a little British humour.
A robbery gone wrong, Detective Joe Rafferty thought, when the latest murder victim, wealthy widow, Clara Mortimer was found battered to death in her home. Then Rafferty learned she wasn't a widow at all - and her estranged husband was living in the same block under a false name.
But that's not the only suspicious aspect of the case: Clara Mortimer's family add another complication, not eased either by their several deceptions or by the difficulties in Rafferty's personal life, which, as always, seems to be guided by a malign fate and take his eye off the investigatory ball. But could he help it if his automatic reaction when his live-in girlfriend Abra said she might be pregnant, wasn't exactly New Man?
Their investigation brings Rafferty and Llewellyn face to face with just how down and dirty families can be... and not just the families of murder victims.
Kith and Kill
Part 15 of the Rafferty and Llewellyn Police Procedural series
A Little Laughter. A Little Mayhem. A Little MURDER...
For those who like detective mysteries with a little British humour.
When Sophia Egerton, matriarch of a family of fashion designers is murdered on her ninetieth birthday, British Detective Joe Rafferty wonders if one of her family thought she'd lived too long. Because most of the suspects just happen to be the wealthy Sophia's ever-loving relatives.
Rafferty's murder investigation is thwarted by his own parish priest, Father Roberto Kelly. The priest, so frequently Rafferty's bête-noire, has turned up to offer succour to one of his lady parishioners. And Rafferty realises that it is only by getting the willful priest on-side that he will ever get to solve this murder mystery and get a conviction.
But can he ever persuade the willfully self-righteous priest that helping to solve a murder is more worthy of a nod from God, than protecting the secrets of the confessional?
Game of Bones
Part 18 of the Rafferty and Llewellyn Police Procedural series
Award-winning author.
DI Joe Rafferty knows that the murder case against Professor Babbington is as much of a sure thing as he is ever likely to get. So why does every piece of evidence against him also prove his innocence?
If you like Detective Series with a few laughs, you'll like this.
Sergeant Llewellyn's remark that, perhaps, 'Someone ELSE had made them a gift of Professor Anthony Babbington' as the murderer, was just sour grapes, in Detective Joe Rafferty's opinion.
But Llewellyn could plant a doubt where none had existed before. And Rafferty, sure in his own mind that they had the culprit, disregarded Llewellyn, who was known to greatly admire Babbington. They had so much proof it was embarrassing: Babbington's fingerprints on the murder weapon; the victim's blood on his shirt; and his DNA on the dead man.
Rafferty couldn't believe it when his 'sure thing' began to slowly unravel. He refused to admit his growing doubts about Babbington's guilt to Llewellyn, who championed the professor, and was as convinced of Babbington's innocence as Rafferty was of his culpability.
But gradually, all Rafferty's certainty vanished into dust, and he was left to prepare himself to face the music when Superintendent Bradley came back from his expensive holiday, to find that the 'sure thing' he had left with Rafferty, had inexplicably become anything but.
Unless Joe Rafferty could find some way to turn defeat into triumph...
Rafferty & Llewellyn Boxed Set
Books #9-12
Part of the Rafferty and Llewellyn Police Procedural series
RAFFERTY & LLEWELLYN BOOKS 9 - 12
Blood on the Bones #9
A Thrust to the Vitals #10
Death Dues #11
All the Lonely People #12
BLOOD ON THE BONES
'Clever plotting and polished prose make this a cracking good British police procedural.' BOOKLIST
Lapsed Catholic DI Joe Rafferty's latest case is in an enclosed Catholic convent. It is anybody's guess whether he catches the murderer before religion catches him.
A THRUST TO THE VITALS
ʻI immediately connected to the characters and wonderful plot.'
*
Can DI Joe Rafferty find the real murderer before he is forced to arrest his brother, Mickey, for the crime?
DEATH DUES
ʻGeraldine Evans penned a wonderfully entertaining story.'
With his wife-to-be's wedding budget spiralling out of control, and a series of muggings now escalated to murder, DI Joe Rafferty's attempts to control the situations, land him in hot water on both counts.
ALL THE LONELY PEOPLE
ʻI'm hooked! After reading the first two books in the series, I'm a definite fan of Geraldine Evans. Well written, nicely plotted, very entertaining.'
*
When Detective Inspector Joseph Rafferty visits his local pub for a quick drink, he's looking to forget his troubles, not add to them.
His ex-fiancée Abra is still refusing to talk to him, and he's fast losing hope of a reconciliation. But Rafferty is not destined to enjoy his drink in peace. Because a man is found dead - stabbed in the pub's car park - and a preoccupied Rafferty is to lead the investigation.
Rafferty & Llewellyn Boxed Set
Books #9-12
Part of the Rafferty and Llewellyn Police Procedural series
'I liked Ms Evans tortured detective, DI Joe Rafferty from the first page.'
*
RAFFERTY & LLEWELLYN BOOKS 9 – 12
*
Blood on the Bones #9
A Thrust to the Vitals #10
Death Dues #11
All the Lonely People #12
*
BLOOD ON THE BONES
*
'Clever plotting and polished prose make this a cracking good British police procedural.' BOOKLIST
*
Lapsed Catholic DI Joe Rafferty's latest case is in an enclosed Catholic convent. It is anybody's guess whether he catches the murderer before religion catches him.
*
A THRUST TO THE VITALS
*
ʻI immediately connected to the characters and wonderful plot.'
*
Can DI Joe Rafferty find the real murderer before he is forced to arrest his brother, Mickey, for the crime?
*
DEATH DUES
*
ʻGeraldine Evans penned a wonderfully entertaining story.'
*
With his wife-to-be's wedding budget spiralling out of control, and a series of muggings now escalated to murder, DI Joe Rafferty's attempts to control the situations, land him in hot water on both counts.
*
ALL THE LONELY PEOPLE
*
ʻI'm hooked! After reading the first two books in the series, I'm a definite fan of Geraldine Evans. Well written, nicely plotted, very entertaining.'
*
When Detective Inspector Joseph Rafferty visits his local pub for a quick drink, he's looking to forget his troubles, not add to them.
*
His ex-fiancée Abra is still refusing to talk to him, and he's fast losing hope of a reconciliation. But Rafferty is not destined to enjoy his drink in peace. Because a man is found dead – stabbed in the pub's car park – and a preoccupied Rafferty is to lead the investigation.
Rafferty & Llewellyn Boxed Set
Books #5-8
Part of the Rafferty and Llewellyn Police Procedural series
British Detectives are always more fun.'
For Readers who like Detective Series with a bit of humor.
ABSOLUTE POISON #5
DYING FOR YOU #6
BAD BLOOD #7
LOVE LIES BLEEDING #8
ABSOLUTE POISON #5
ʻAn ingeniously constructed plot, deft dialogue, well-drawn characters, and a few humorous touches, make this an enjoyable intriguing read.'
Superstitious British Detective Joseph Rafferty is having a bad week -- not an unusual occurrence -- and he can't help feeling trouble comes in threes.
Rafferty's premonition turns out to be accurate when a company manager is found dead at his desk. The tyrannical Barstaple had known full well that he was hated by most of the office. But did he really deserve to be poisoned? And so horribly.
DYING FOR YOU #6
'Wit, charm, good writing, great characters, red herrings and a superb plot are just part of the reason this book is so good.'
Detective Inspector Joe Rafferty manages to become chief suspect in his own double murder investigation. And all he'd been doing was looking for love...
With his fortieth birthday on the horizon, he decides it's time to take the initiative. So he signs up with the Made in Heaven dating agency, persuading his more up-market cousin to let him borrow his identity for reasons of discretion. It's just unfortunate that the first two women with whom he strikes up a rapport should wind up murdered and with himself - or rather his alter ego - in the frame for the crimes.
Put in charge of the double murder investigation, Rafferty is forced to keep a low profile, soothe his cousin's fury at wearing the murderer's badge of shame, and at the same time find the girls' real killer.
BAD BLOOD #7
ʻAnother page turner!'
A robbery gone wrong, Detective Joe Rafferty thinks, when murder victim, wealthy widow Clara Mortimer was found battered to death in her home. Then Rafferty learned she wasn't a widow at all - and her estranged husband was living in the same block under a false name.
Their investigation brings Rafferty and Llewellyn face to face with just how down and dirty families can be...and not just the families of murder victims.