Table of Contents
PRAISE FOR
Expos!
Spend an afternoon with Vicky in Gipping-on-Plymyoull enjoy your visit and be back for more!
Reader to Reader Reviews
Dennison provides plenty of laughs in this third installment in the seriesand a tricky plot, too. Miss Marple might not recognize Gipping-on-Plym, but its guaranteed to make you smile.
Richmond Times-Dispatch
Her heroine is charmingly gullible and gets herself into a lot of tight spots. The plot is very Agatha Christie-like and Vicky Hill is delightful and very amusing. Dont miss this cozy English mysteryyoull love it.
Once Upon a Romance Reviews
Scoop!
Vickys story is a cozy mystery with a dash of Bridget Jones-type humor thrown in. Fans who enjoy a mystery yarn without the violence should check this one out.
NewsandSentinel.com
A Vicky Hill Exclusive!
A dizzy romp with an endearingly gullible investigator and a plot twist on every page.
Ann Purser, author of the Lois Meade Mysteries
Hannah Dennison rings up a laugh a page... a racy romp and hilarious debut.
Carolyn Hart, author of Dare to Die
A smashing debut! Yes, Vicky is more Lucy Ricardo than Christiane Amanpour, but CNNs loss is Gipping-on-Plyms gainand ours. Hannah Dennison writes a delightfully clever mystery with wit and warmth to spare. May the dead bodies abound.
Harley Jane Kozak, award-winning author of Dead Ex
Vicky Hill is a delightful heroine who would be right at home in a Jane Austen novel. When author Hannah Dennison plunges her into an Agatha Christie-like plot, she gives readers the best of both worlds.
Linda Palmer, author of the Daytime Mysteries
An intriguing journalist investigative mystery because the heroine has such a vivid imagination that is not always anchored in just the facts... Fans will enjoy Hannah Dennisons front page whodunit.
The Best Reviews
Berkley Prime Crime titles by Hannah Dennison
A VICKY HILL EXCLUSIVE!
SCOOP!
EXPOSE!
THIEVES!
For Brenda Dennison, the best mum in the world
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Writing can be a lonely labor of love, which is why treasured company, helpful guidance, selfless encouragement, and endless snacks fed by family and friends make each book a team effort.
Id like to continue to acknowledge my wonderful friend and mentor, Claire Carmichael.
My IOU tally has gone beyond the purchase of a small island to an entire galaxy.
Mark Davis, chairman of Davis Elen Advertising and my long-suffering boss, whose constant refrain is this is your last book, isnt it? but who continues to give me paid days off to meet my deadlines.
Linda Palmer, who finds time in her own busy writing and teaching life to boost my morale and provided the spark that inspired the plot in this, Vickys fourth adventure.
Credit and a special thanks go to my daughter Sarah and her sister Emily for creating a new character for Gipping-on-Plym. May Phil Burrows live on.
A huge thank-you to kindred spirits Carolyn Hart, Rhys Bowen, and Marcia Talley, who are all inspiration personified. Thanks to Gail Elen for her innovative spirit and creative PR strategies, and to Cam Galanos friendship and endless generosity.
Heartfelt thanks to Natalee Rosenstein, my wonderful editor at Berkley, along with Michelle Vega, a multitasking superwoman, and to my amazing agent, Betsy Amster. Thank you for everything you do.
And last, but foremost in my heart, my husband, Jason, who had no idea what he was letting himself in for when he encouraged me to follow my dream. Jasonwithout you, none of this would be possible.
You cant leave now! Barbara Meadows cried as I drifted nonchalantly toward her front door to make my escape.
Its nearly one in the morning, I protested. How many more hen parties can the human body take? Im really tired.
Youll miss all the excitement. Barbara readjusted her glittering tiaraHERE COMES THE BRIDEthat had slipped rakishly over one ear. You youngsters have no stamina.
It wasnt that I begrudged our receptionist her newfound happiness at the grand age of sixty-plus. This was the third hen party of Barbaras that Id been to in the last two weeks, and I knew of at least three more in the works.
Olive bought the directors cut of The Full Monty on eBay, Barbara burbled on. Were in for a real treat.
That settled it. There are some things a young woman should never be subjected toand full-frontal nudity in a room filled with members of the Graying Tigers Society was definitely one.
I grabbed my safari jacket from the hall coat stand and pulled it on. Sorry, Ive got to be at St. Peters the Martyr Church at eight tomorrow. It was only a tiny white lie. The service didnt start until nine thirty.
Why bother? No one will go to Gladys Trenfolds funeral, Barbara said with scorn. She was a horrid old bag.
Maybe not, I said. But the Gipping Gazette does have a reputation to keep up.
Obituaries were my area of expertise, and it was my responsibility to make sure that no funeral went unreported and no mourner was left out. Unless youd like to have a word with your fianc and ask for an exception?
Oh no, dear, said Barbara quickly. Wilf is a stickler for tradition. She stretched out her left hand and gazed rapturously at the solitaire diamond ring on her finger. I still cant believe he proposed.
I couldnt either! I was still grappling with the idea that after years of working together, Barbara was marrying our illustriousand intimidatingeditor, Wilf Veysey.
It had all happened so suddenlybut at least it gave me hope. It was never too late to find love.
Olive Larch emerged from the kitchen accompanied by the raunchy sounds of Donna Summers Hot Stuff starting up for the fourth time. Perched atop her sleek gray bob was a pair of striped cats ears. She carried a silver tray of tumblers decorated with slices of fruit and was moving toward us at glacial speed.
Good grief, Olive, said Barbara. Were all dying of thirst. What took you so long? She turned to me and mouthed, Shes always so slow.
Vicky, youre not leaving, are you? said Olive aghast. You cant!
Sorry, I hate to go, but I really must.
Well, you shouldnt Olive started to titter nervously. Tell her, Barbara.
It wasnt my idea, Barbara declared.
Tell me what?
Someoneand we wont say whoadded a teensy weensy bit of vodka to the fruit punch, said Olive.
The punch was spiked? I was flabbergasted, particularly as Id had five glasses. I could lose my job!
Spearheaded by the odious Detective Inspector Stalk, Gipping Constabulary was in the midst of an aggressive campaign to clamp down on driving while intoxicated. Whats more, he was working closely with the Gazette. Every week, names of Gipping citizens who had been stopped by the police and ordered to take a Breathalyzer testoften in broad daylight and without due causewere listed in MOTORIST MENACE OF THE WEEK.
So youll stay? said Barbara hopefully. Wed love a youngsters opinion.
Opinion on what? Ill take the back road via Mudge Lane, I said firmly. We havent had that much rain, so the ford wont be deep. As a shortcut linking Lower Gipping to Middle Gipping, access was through a shallow stream that could be unpredictable at times.
