Maybridge Murder Mystery #4
It’s a golden summer’s day in the Cotswolds. And garden designer Abby Finch is about to uncork the perfect murder!
I am absolutely thrilled to introduce my latest Maybridge Murder Mystery, Murder in the Vineyard, which is available for pre-order now and will be published on 8 September.
This is the fourth outing of garden designer, Abby Finch, who has the unfortunate habit of stumbling over dead bodies and, on a couple of occasions, falling under suspicion as the perpetrator.
It’s a strong motive for doing her best to uncover the truth with the help of her friends, estate agent Megan West and police officer Dee Newcombe.
One of the main differences between writing romance, which I did for thirty years, and crime, is the amount of research involved. If anyone in my own circle died in suspicious circumstances, my search history would certainly raise eyebrows.
Research
My search for poisons – especially the less detectable ones – has been extensive! As is my library…
But before I get to the murder method, I need a victim and a location. In some instances, the one leads to the other.
In the case of Murder in the Vineyard, it was the location that came first.
The Liberta Hive, plus a couple of other author friends and their partners, were on a writing retreat in Dorset which, happily, was located next to the Bride Valley Vineyard.
The Vineyard
A vineyard tour and tasting was booked. Well, it would have been rude not to. And here we are sitting under an awning, with the vineyard in the background and a lot of glasses on the table. The wine was wonderful. Quite a lot of it went home with us.
So, having my location – and a title – my victim wasn’t hard to find. After that, it’s all about finding who might have wanted them dead. Oh, and what to do about the dog? Did I mention that there’s a dog? There’s a picture of her lower down.
For those of you who have read the previous books, June and Beattie have a bigger role in this story. I love them, but I put them both through the wringer this time.
Lovely Jake is there of course, urging caution, worrying about Abby getting herself into danger but well aware that once she’s got her teeth into a problem, she won’t let go.
And it isn’t only a suspected murder that has Abby worried. She has other responsibilities that are causing her concern. She has a lot on her mind. And then she encounters a dog.
The dog
The dog came out of nowhere and Abby Finch, with no time to brake, instinctively swerved.
Her tyres squealed in protest and the hedge rattled against the colourful paintwork of her van before it jerked to a halt and stalled. It wouldn’t have won any prizes as an emergency stop but both she and the dog were in one piece.
But that, of course, is not the end of the problem. Abby can’t leave the dog running loose on a busy road. She’s wearing the collar of an animal rescue centre, close by on land owned by the May Valley Vineyard, and that’s where she takes it.
What happens next?
Searching for the current carer of the dog, Abby and the woman who runs the rescue centre, find Clementine Courtenay.
The elegant, stately lady, a doyenne of the county set and a total legend as a vigneron, is lying beside a stream in the vineyard she had planted fifty years earlier. And it’s clear that she’s celebrated her last prize winning vintage.
The police assume that she must have slipped and drowned. But June, Abby’s neighbour and Clemmie’s close friend, is adamant that something is wrong. Before she knows it, Abby is up to the handle of her border fork in a murder investigation.
Between jilted lovers, greedy offspring and bitter rivals, Clementine kept her friends close and her enemies closer still. What secrets will Abby find fermenting in the darkest corners of the Courtenay family cellar?
And how will Abby handle an affair that comes uncomfortably close to home?
The early reviews from Netgalley are coming in. Here are a few of the comments.
“Great atmosphere, enjoyable plot, and characters who feel like old friends.”
“…wonderfully reminiscent of a classic Agatha Christie-style mystery…”
“I’m sorry, why isn’t this already being made into a brit box/masterpiece mystery episode?”
“Perfect for anyone who loves quintessentially British cosy mysteries.”
“Cannot wait to see what Abby gets up to next.” (I’m busy working on it!)
“And the dog!” (Her name is Scout.)
Murder in the Vineyard is available to pre-order here at a launch price of 99p/99c or, if you’re a reviewer, it’s available on Netgalley, here.
And my publisher, Joffe Books, are celebrating the publication of the new Abby Finch mystery with a fabulous prize for one lucky reader – a £50 Virgin Experience Voucher. Sign up for their newsletter – free books every week – or their FB page to get the latest news.
Dundee (photo Hans Musil)
