Francis Meadowes Mysteries Books One to Four

Book excerpt: The first four novels in the series starring a globetrotting sleuth whose travels include some deadly detours. The Festival Murders Scathing in his reviews and unseemly in his affairs, Bryce Peabody is ready to give a talk at the annual literary festival in the pretty English town of Mold-on-Wold—until he’s found dead in his hotel room. Soon, author Francis Meadowes is drawn into a role he knows only from his own fiction—that of amateur detective . . . “A wicked send-up of literary festivals.” —The Independent Cruising to Murder Francis is lecturing aboard a luxurious ship as it cruises down the West African coast. Among the passengers are a retired surgeon, a mischievous elderly widow, and a beautiful American accompanied by her tedious but extremely wealthy aunt. But when two of them die, the sleuthing crime writer may be out of his depth . . . “[An] eclectic mix of characters—none of whom would be out of place in an Agatha Christie tale.” —Daily Mail “A likable and smart series lead.” —Booklist Murder Your Darlings—A Mail on Sunday Book of the Year Francis is in Italy, running a creative writing course at an Umbrian villa. His students include snooty Poppy and her husband; a Northern Irishman who writes angry poems about the Troubles; a kooky American; and a possible spy. But things turn sinister when a body is found in the sauna. “A neat twist on the classic English-country-house formula.” —Kirkus Reviews Murder on Tour On his first paid detective gig, Francis joins a rock star’s entourage as they tour from Berlin to Brussels and beyond. The musician’s manager has been concerned about some dangerous events—but the biggest shock comes from the guitar that electrocutes a bandmate . . .