Val & Arbie Mysteries

At the Old Forge in the quiet village of Maybury-in-the-Marsh a cry of anguish rings out: lady of the house Amy Phelps has been discovered dead. But with all the windows and doors to her room locked from inside, how – and by whom – was she killed? Arbuthnot 'Arbie' Swift finds himself in the unlikely position of detective. The celebrated author of is staying at the Old Forge to investigate a suspected spectre, but now the more pressing matter of Amy's murder falls to him too. With old friend Val, he soon uncovers a sorry tale of altered wills, secret love affairs and tragic losses – and plenty of motives for murder. When events take another sinister turn, Arbie must find the killer, fast. And to do so will mean cracking a most perfectly plotted crime… '… The story grabbed me from the beginning and ' NetGalley reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ '' NetGalley reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ '. I thought I knew who was the killer but I was wrong.' NetGalley reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ '… I highly recommend this book.' NetGalley reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ '… All of the clues are provided, but so are a number of very good red herrings… .' NetGalley reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ '' NetGalley reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ' since I last read the Thursday Murder Club series!' NetGalley reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Arbuthnot 'Arbie' Swift arrives at Dashwood House, a glamorously modern hotel in the up-and-coming resort of Galton-next-the-Sea, but all plans for a relaxing stay are scuppered when one of the guests is found dead. The body is found in the writing room, the victim part of a set visiting the seaside town for an engagement party, which happens to include Arbie's old friend, Val. Familiar with Val and Arbie's previous experience in solving puzzling crimes, the bride asks the pair to investigate. They quickly discover that the victim had no shortage of enemies, and many of the guests are up to no good. But who is simply hiding a secret, and who is hiding murder? .' 'The perfect village mystery. A golden-age world with an energy that is totally contemporary.' 'A charming and clever take on a locked room murder.'