WHISPER THE DEAD a gripping Cotswolds murder mystery full of twists
About WHISPER THE DEAD a gripping Cotswolds murder mystery full of twists
Looking for a gripping murder mystery with a feisty female sleuth? Meet Alex Duggins in this new series from a bestselling author.
WOULD SOMEONE KILL TO STOP THEIR BEAUTIFUL VILLAGE BEING BLIGHTED BY NEW HOMES?
A new year arrives and winter holds the Cotswolds in its icy grip once more. But it's the construction of a new housing development that's causing the residents of Folly-on-Weir most concern.
As she passes the site late one afternoon, pub owner and village sleuth Alex Duggins is confronted by the terrifying scene of a construction trailer on fire and a man desperately trying to break the door down.
BUT WHAT THE FIREMEN FIND INSIDE IS FAR WORSE
Alex and her friend Tony are drawn into a major murder investigation whose tentacles will reach right to the heart of the tight-knit Folly community — and into Alex's own past.
CAN ALEX STOP MORE MURDER IN THE COTSWOLDS?
Perfect for fans of Faith Martin, Agatha Christie, J. R. Ellis, and Clare Chase.
Stella Cameron is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author with over fourteen million copies of her books in print.
MEET ALEX AND TONY
People think Alex is the perfect girl-next-door, but she’s made of sterner stuff than most girls-next-door. Divorced pub owner and graphic artist, she meets challenges head on, especially when she decides to stand up for justice and the underdog. Alex is no stranger to trouble, never has been since she was a scrappy young girl with no dad, and a mum working around the clock to keep them together.
Alex’s friend Tony Harrison is a vet — to the disappointment of his GP dad. A quiet man with a sharp wit and strong belief in the goodness of others, he has taken hard knocks, not the least of these, the loss of a young wife who disappeared, never to be found.
THE VILLAGE
A view of Folly from The Hill — as locals call it — is cause for a smile in any season. Let’s try December, early on a cold morning. Snow covers frozen twigs that crackle beneath your feet. The snowfall is only a fine swirl now. On a high point to the west stands ruined Tinley Tower, the folly the village was named for. Below, across the green with its frozen duck pond, honey-yellow cottages huddle. Thin smoke straggles from chimneys and lights shine through small leaded windows. Villagers wake early here. The Black Dog, Alex Duggins’ pub, sits at the heart of it all, strands of coloured lights shining along its eaves. George’s bakery van is already on its rounds, as is the Lovell’s Dairy lorry. It’s too early for the scarlet-blazered children to be climbing on the school bus, but dog walkers are already marching through the narrow streets and across the green. Idyllic. Deceptively so?
WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING ABOUT THE ALEX DUGGINS BOOKS
“I stayed up most of the night turning pages!” D. Liao
“Cozy fans who are fond of dogs and cats, and who believe that a nice cup of tea can solve almost any emotional trauma, will be rewarded.” Publishers Weekly
“This is an entertaining and diverting read.” Itheamazone
“A fearless, feisty heroine, a touch of romance, and an intriguing look at English village life, combined with taut suspense and unexpected twists, transform what starts out looking like a British village cozy into a mesmerizing, knuckle-whitening thriller.” Booklist
“A thrilling conclusion, combined with cliffhanger chapter endings, guarantees readers will be flipping the pages late into the night.” Library Journal
“Fast moving murder mystery.” Kricket
THE ALEX DUGGINS MYSTERIES
Book 1: FOLLY
Book 2: OUT COMES THE EVIL
Book 3: MELODY OF MURDER
Book 4: LIES THAT BIND
Book 5: WHISPER THE DEAD
Book 6: TRAP LANE