British Mystery Classics

You are cordially invited to a murder… Judith Spears was expecting a quiet retirement. Instead, she’s investigating a killing at a country estate. When a loud-mouthed media celebrity is accused of murder, he insists he’s been framed—and for reasons Judith would rather keep to herself, she’s inclined to believe him. So she agrees to help. As Judith begins to dig, it quickly becomes clear that nothing about the case is straightforward. Secrets lurk behind polite smiles. Alibis don’t quite hold. And someone is determined to keep the truth buried. Unfortunately for them— Judith ...

First published in 1944, Fell Murder sees E.C.R. Lorac at the height of her considerable powers as a purveyor of well-made and traditional detective fiction. The book presents a fascinating 'return of the prodigal' mystery set in the later stages of the Second World War, amidst the close-knit farmerfolk community of Lancashire's lovely Lune valley. The Garths had farmed their fertile acres for generations.

Every year, Caroline Reed takes a trip with her best friend, Esme Lamont. They’re usually accompanied by their spouses - but this year, everything’s changed. Esme has just gone through a bitter divorce, and Caroline's wondering if her own marriage is reaching its breaking point as she and her husband, John, cope with the discovery that their son has been abusing drugs. Still, the inseparable duo books a weeklong stay at a beach-front home in Shoreham, Florida, inviting Esme’s brother, Nick, and his new husband. After a blissful first night in the vacation home, tragedy strikes.

Perfect for fans of Peter James, Ann Cleeves, and Faith Martin SIX MURDERS. ONE UNFORGETTABLE DETECTIVE. SALISBURY'S ANCIENT SECRETS TURN DEADLY. Detective Inspector Keith Tremayne is ageing, cynical, and refusing to retire. In the shadow of Salisbury's cathedral and ancient monuments, he investigates murders where history, ritual, and revenge collide. Alongside young Sergeant Clare Yarwood, Tremayne confronts the darkest crimes hidden beneath this market town's genteel surface. DEATH UNHOLY (Book 1) A man reduced to legs and greasy ash in a chair. Spontaneous combustion or murder? The ...

Solving crimes at a crusty old Florida inn was NOT in D.C. urbanite Lilly Livingston’s 5 yr plan. But when she discovers she is the executor of a forgotten stepfather’s will and is gifted Magnolia Manor, in little Drifter’s Cove, Florida, things get a little off track. The town coroner reports her stepfather died of natural causes, but Lilly is not convinced and joins a motley crew of locals to solve her first case. Leaving D.C. for good, Lilly’s excited to start her new small-town life and reopen the inn. But, a murder at the grand opening of her newly inherited inn wasn’t ...

Exiled from Glasgow for exposing corruption, DI Sarah Lynch was sent to Fort William as punishment. The remote Scottish Highlands were meant to end her career. Instead, they became her purpose. From dark lochs to frozen peaks, from burning moorland to ancient forests, DI Sarah Lynch investigates murders that the powerful want buried. Each case transforms her—from bitter outsider to Highland protector, from exile to home. This complete six-book series includes over 180,000 words of atmospheric British crime fiction: 📖 THE DARK LOCH - A body in the water exposes illegal poaching and ...

When Dr Raymond Ferens moves to a practice at Milham in the Moor in north Devon, he and his wife are enchanted with the beautiful hilltop village lying so close to moor and sky. At first they see only its charm, but soon they begin to uncover its secrets - envy, hatred and malice. Everyone says that Sister Monica, warden of a children's home, is a saint - but is she? A few months after the Ferens' arrival her body is found drowned in the mill-race. Chief Inspector Macdonald faces one of his most difficult cases in a village determined not to betray its dark secrets to a stranger.

London, 1878. One April morning, a small boat bearing a young woman’s corpse floats down the murky waters of the Thames. When the victim is identified as Rose Albert, daughter of a prominent judge, the Scotland Yard director gives the case to Michael Corravan, one of the only senior inspectors remaining after a corruption scandal the previous autumn left the division in ruins. Reluctantly, Corravan abandons his ongoing case, a search for the missing wife of a shipping magnate, handing it over to his young colleague, Mr. Stiles. 

Photographer Isla Wilson is thrilled she's landed her dream job, but the clients who hired her are getting stranger by the day. It sounded so perfect—a month's assignment at the lush Scottish Highlands property of architect Alban McGregor, and his wife, Jessica. But in the woods, there's a playhouse with a chilling history. Two years ago, the McGregors' daughter Elodie was abducted and then died in that playhouse. The townspeople insist her abductor had to be a stranger in their town. Alban refuses to knock the playhouse down, even keeping a picture of it on his wall.

Horniman, Birley and Craine is a highly respected legal firm with clients reaching to the highest in the land. When a deed box in the office is opened to reveal a corpse, the threat of scandal promises to wreak havoc on the firm's reputation - especially as the murder looks like an inside job. The partners and staff of the firm keep a watchful and suspicious eye on their colleagues, as Inspector Hazlerigg sets out to solve the mystery of who Mr Smallbone was - and why he had to die.

The shocking murder of Sir Henry Claybourne leaves Regency London shaken and horror-struck. But for genteel spinster Miss Emmeline St. Germaine, the crime slices far too close to home. Just hours before the knight's death she held a dagger to him, threatening him to stay silent as she rescued a scullery maid he had procured for his pleasure. Did the man - or woman - who murdered the knight know of her visit? Her secret identity at risk, her reputation and life in jeopardy, Emmeline must solve the crime or face scandalous exposure and ruination for a crime she did not commit.

Detective Chief Inspector Isaac Cook should have been made a superintendent by now. Tall, urbane, and one of London's finest detectives, he's been held back by office politics—not his results. Alongside DI Larry Hill and veteran Sergeant Wendy Gladstone, Cook investigates the murders that others can't solve. Perfect for fans of Peter James, Ian Rankin, and Lynda La Plante. Murder is a Tricky Business (Book 1) – A soap opera actress has vanished, and everyone assumes she's been murdered. But it's not the first time she's gone missing. Why has DCI Cook been pulled from serious crimes to ...

They call him the gourmet detective; the only thing sharper than his mind is his palate. When chefs need a rare ingredient, an ancient wine, or simply a new idea to gain that extra Michelin-star boost, they come to the detective's cozy London office and plead for his help. For top-notch cooking, he is always happy to lend his taste buds to the cause. 

Meet maverick British detective DI Skelgill... "mad, bad and just a little bit cozy." WHEN A HIGH-FLYING ADMAN is stabbed to death on a company weekend in the English Lake District, local detective Daniel Skelgill finds himself wrenched from his rural Cumbrian comfort zone. As the investigation...

Perfect for fans of Peter James, Ian Rankin, and Lynda La Plante START AT THE BEGINNING. THREE LONDON CRIME THRILLERS. DETECTIVE CHIEF INSPECTOR ISAAC COOK'S FIRST CASES. Meet DCI Isaac Cook as he takes on his first major investigations—a missing actress with deadly secrets, a thirty-year-old corpse in a fireplace, and a methodical female killer carving numbers in blood. From the glamorous world of television to family secrets buried for decades to a serial killer stalking London's streets, Isaac proves why he'll become one of the Met's finest detectives. MURDER IS A TRICKY BUSINESS (Book...

A cosy mystery compilation perfect for fans of Sally Smith, Steve Higgs, LJ Ross, Robert Thorogood, and Richard Osman. When she relocates to Spain’s Costa del Sol, Karen McLaren turns her back on an unfaithful husband and a long teaching career. She arrives at the Club Britannia complex for the over-60s carrying many plans for her future… …finding herself investigating crimes along with an eccentric group of Spanish and expat friends isn’t one of them. But Karen discovers she has a real talent as an amateur sleuth. She’s aided by her sharp intellect, the expert lip-reading skills ...

Through the double clamour of Big Ben and the shrill sound of the bell rang a revolver shot. A financier is found shot in the House of Commons. Suspecting foul play, Robert West, a parliamentary private secretary, takes on the role of amateur sleuth. Used to turning a blind eye to covert dealings, West must now uncover the shocking secret behind the man's demise, amid distractions from the press and the dead man's enigmatic daughter.

“M.G. Cole is a brilliant new addition to the echelon of British crimewriters.” Peter James "Dark, grim, tense. A compelling new voice." PAUL FINCH, author of the Detective Mark Heckenburg novels. Books 1-3 - plus a prequel novelette - of the thrilling DCI Garrick crime series. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Holy crap what a way to end a book! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Couldn’t put it down! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ If you want to get in at the beginning of a good series, this is the one! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ I can't wait to read the next in the series ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ A refreshing change. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Will keep you ...

A playwright is murdered, seemingly in connection with the suspected blackmail of his friend—a rising young MP who, without explanation, disappeared from public view before his untimely death. With a number of high-profile suspects to investigate, the key to solving the case rests on a written clue left behind by the killer....

Finished a wonderful British mystery and wondering what to watch next? Classic British Mysteries to Watch Next is a spoiler-light guide to 75 detective films, television mysteries, and unforgettable whodunits. Whether you prefer quiet villages, imposing country houses, eccentric amateur sleuths, brilliant professional detectives, locked rooms, family secrets, or carefully constructed alibis, this illustrated guide will help you choose the right mystery for your next evening at home. Inside you will discover: • Classic Agatha Christie screen adaptations • Golden Age films and suspense ...