Virginia and Felix

The murder of a local author has an amateur sleuth and her con artist ex-husband on the case in this mystery by the author of Last Will and Testament. Virginia's trouble is that whenever something awful happens, it is far too easy to imagine that her ex-husband, Felix-that lying, light-fingered charmer-is behind it somehow. So her suspicions are understandably raised when he unexpectedly shows up on her weekend getaway with the Boscotts, just as her friend's engagement party is ruined by the murder of a local author. Luckily for Virginia-not to mention the Boscotts-Felix's talent for lying makes him an expert in sniffing out other people's deceit. Now they must investigate who would want to kill a kindly writer of historical fiction. But can they truly trust Felix, or will past prove to be prologue yet again?

A wealthy woman's last will and testament draws together friends, family, a master felon, and a charming conman in this delightful mystery series debut. Mrs. Arliss was witty. Mrs. Arliss was delightful. But mostly, Mrs. Arliss was rich. And now, Mrs. Arliss is dead. Her friends and relations-gathered to shed a tear, knock back a post-funeral sherry, and determine what loot they've inherited-are horrified to discover that things are not as they might have wished. Only two people seem to have cared for Mrs. Arliss more than for her bank account and exquisite collection of eighteenth-century miniatures. One is her girlish secretary, the very model of a flustered ingenue. The other is Virginia Freer, who had in many ways been a second Arliss daughter. They should be free to mourn, but Virginia has a problem. The miniatures are missing and all clues point to her ex-husband Felix-a man who is charming, affectionate, and a double-dipped scoundrel.

Murder and Felix have the habit of turning up-and turning up together-in Virginia Freer's life, like some macabre set of twinned bad pennies. This time around, a broken leg and the resulting need for soothing ministrations have led Felix to take up residence in Virginia's spare bedroom, giving him a front-row seat to the dramatic doings in the neighborhood. These mostly involve Virginia's friend Ann Brightwell, who has simultaneously come into a legacy and offered a home to a suddenly orphaned young cousin. The excitement only ratchets up when the cousin disappears and a ransom is demanded. Ann is prepared to sell her newly valuable goodies if it will bring her back, but Felix, cynic that he is, isn't sure that's the wisest course of action. He points out, among other things, that the cousin has a history with the police, and that a local mystery writer seems to be taking a curiously keen interest in the whereabouts of this...quite nubile young woman he's only barely met.