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G Malliet - Death of a Cozy Writer

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The traditional British cozy is alive and well. Delicious. I was hooked from the first paragraph. Rhys Bowen, award-winning author of Her Royal Spyness Death of a Cozy Writer, G. M. Malliets hilarious first mystery, is a must-read for fans of Robert Barnard and P. G. Wodehouse. Im looking forward eagerly to Inspector St. Justs next case! Donna Andrews, award-winning author of The Penguin Who Knew Too Much A house party in a Cambridgeshire mansion with the usual suspects, er, guests-a sly patriarch, grasping relatives, a butler, and a victim named Ruthven (what else?)-I havent had so much fun since Andersons Affair of the Bloodstained Egg Cosy. Pass the tea and scones, break out the sherry, settle down in the library by the fire and enjoy Malliets delightful tribute to the time-honored tradition of the English country house mystery. Marcia Talley, Agatha and Anthony award-winning author of Dead Man Dancing and six previous mysteries Death of a Cozy Writer is a romp, a classic tale of family dysfunction in a moody and often humourous English country house setting. A worthy addition to the classic mystery tradition and the perfect companion to a cup of tea and a roaring fire, or a sunny deck chair. Relax and let G. M. Malliet introduce you to the redoubtable Detective Chief Inspector St. Just of the Cambridgeshire Constabulary. Im sure well be hearing much more from him! Louise Penny, author of the award-winning Armand Gamache series of murder mysteries *** From deep in the heart of his eighteenth century English manor, millionaire Sir Adrian Beauclerk-Fisk writes mystery novels and torments his four spoiled children with threats of disinheritance. Tiring of this device, the portly patriarch decides to weave a malicious twist into his well-worn plot. Gathering them all together for a family dinner, he announces his latest blow a secret elopement with the beautiful Violet who was once suspected of murdering her husband. Within hours, eldest son and appointed heir Ruthven is found cleaved to death by a medieval mace. Since Ruthven is generally hated, no one seems too surprised or upset least of all his cold-blooded wife Lillian. When Detective Chief Inspector St. Just is brought in to investigate, he meets with a deadly calm that goes beyond the usual English reserve. And soon Sir Adrian himself is found slumped over his writing desk an ornate knife thrust into his heart. Trapped amid leering gargoyles and concrete walls, every member of the family is a likely suspect. Using a little Cornish brusqueness and brawn, can St. Just find the killer before the next-in-line to the family fortune ends up dead?

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G M Malliet Death of a Cozy Writer The first book in the St Just Mystery - photo 1

G M Malliet

Death of a Cozy Writer

The first book in the St. Just Mystery series, 2008

For my husband.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Many people helped this book into existence, but it might not have made it at all but for the early encouragement of playwright Terryl Paiste.

My sincerest thanks also to the tireless volunteers of the Malice Domestic conference, who further midwifed this novel via their generous award of the Malice Domestic Grant (now renamed in memory of the beloved William F. Deeck).

The members of Sisters in Crime, particularly those of the Chesapeake Chapter, were there when I needed them, which was often.

I would also like to offer heartfelt thanks to the staff of Midnight Ink, beginning with Barbara Moore.

Many thanks also to Muir Ainsley, who patiently and correctly answered all my questions about British arcana without once asking me to please leave him alone. Any mistakes in the novel are entirely mine.

And as always, thanks to my husband, for his patience, love, and support through what must have seemed to him an endless and everlasting process.

AUTHORS NOTE

While the city and University of Cambridge, England, are of course real, as are Scotland and Cornwall, I have entirely invented the characters in this book who act out their imagined lives against these beautiful backdrops.

Peterhouse likewise exists, but DCI Arthur St. Just is not a real-life alumnus of that hallowed seat of learning.

In some cases, I have invented a village or manor house, such as Newton Coombe and Waverley Court, and placed them somewhat randomly in Cambridgeshire.

And there is now a castle in Scotland that exists only in my imagination.

CAST OF CHARACTERS

Ruthven Beauclerk-Fisk-eldest son of Sir Adrian, ruthless Ruthven was heir-apparent to his fathers vast fortune, until his father unexpectedly announced plans to remarry.

Lillian Beauclerk-Fisk-Ruthvens social-climbing wife, she mostly found murder frightfully inconvenient.

Sarah Beauclerk-Fisk-fuddled and unhappy, she inherited her fathers gift for penning best-selling books. Did she inherit his mean streak, as well?

Albert Beauclerk-Fisk-Sir Adrians youngest son. A failed actor and designated black sheep of the family, Alberts one remaining ambition was to protect sister Sarah from suspicion of murder.

Chloe, Lady Beauclerk-Fisk-Sir Adrians former wife, and the mother of his unhappy brood. Did life with Sir Adrian drive her to drink-or to murder?

Sir Adrian Beauclerk-Fisk-a famous writer of mystery novels in the cozy genre, Sir Adrian had a devilish talent for making noirish mischief.

Jeffrey Spencer-Sir Adrians secretary, an earnest American expat in search of his roots. His attentions to Sarah Beauclerk-Fisk enraged his employer.

Maria Romano-Sir Adrians long-time cook, she was the only person at Waverley Court who seemed to have a soft spot for the cantankerous author.

William Watters-The elderly gardener of Waverley Court saw no evil-until someone tried to frame him for murder.

Jim Tanner-Proud proprietor of the local Thorn and Crown.

George Beauclerk-Fisk-Neer-do-well son, failed entrepreneur, and playboy, his siblings death increased Georges chances in the inheritance sweepstakes.

Natasha Wellings-Georges latest girlfriend: slim, dark, and beautiful. People wondered: Whatever did she see in George?

Paulo Romano-Butler to Sir Adrian, Mrs. Romanos son spent little time butlering and vast amounts skulking about Waverley Court.

Violet Mildenhall-Notorious in her heyday, her marriage of convenience to Sir Adrian proved less than convenient when it thrust her into the middle of a murder investigation-again.

Martha-Mrs. Romanos daily help.

Constable Porter, Sergeant Garwin Fear, and Dr. Malenfant- Loyal aides-de-camp to Detective Chief Inspector St. Just of the Cambridgeshire Constabulary.

DCI Arthur St. Just-Crime halted his plans for a ski holiday when Sir Adrians devious machinations snowballed into murder.

Mrs. Ketchen-Elderly maid to Chloe, Lady Beauclerk-Fisk.

MandaCroom-Ruthvens efficient business associate and once-besotted paramour, she viewed murder at Waverley Court as a career opportunity.

Quentin Coffield, Esq.-a supercilious solicitor who played along with Sir Adrians dangerous propensity to change his will, at will.

Mrs. Butter-Sir Adrians former secretary. Albert enlisted her help in learning what the secretive Adrian had been plotting.

Mrs. Mott-a nurse in Cornwall.

Agnes Grant-a cook who bore witness to a crime long, long ago in Scotland.

No one reigns innocently

SAINT-JUST

1. INVITATIONTO A WEDDING

THE INVITATION, THOUGH EMBOSSED on the stiffest 100 percent rag-content paper Gribbleys, Stationers to Her Majesty, could produce, nonetheless had more than a whiff of the prepackaged Marks & Sparks sales offering about it. Ruthven could not remember ever having seen a missive so entirely festooned with angels, or, given his background, decorated with anything more festive than black engraving on woven cream.

Yet here, naked seraphim and cherubim peeked coyly from the pink lining of the envelope, and from every corner of the thick pink card itself, grinning lasciviously as they held aloft a lavender banner announcing what appeared to be an upcoming event, perhaps the end of the world. Their sly expressions duplicated that which normally appeared on Ruthvens own somewhat round features, which tended to hold a smirk, even in repose. He first scanned the card, then studied it more closely, then groaned aloud.

The old fools gone and done it. Hes really gone and done it. He threw the invitation across the breakfast table in the general direction of his wife. It missed (for it was a very large table), ricocheted off the silver toast rack, and skidded off onto the highly polished wooden floor.

Done what, dear? Lillian, her gaze held by a large display advertisement for precious gemstones, and herself inured, by long years of marriage, to her husbands tantrums, ignored the card, which now lay face downward on the floor.

Hes actually marrying one of his little tarts, thats what.

Lowering the paper, she peered at him over the headlines relating the latest brawl in Parliament. Lillian, skimming the front page on her way to the advertisements, had noted it seemed to have something to do with child care. If they couldnt take care of the little brats, why did they keep having them, she wondered? The accompanying photo showed the Prime Minister emerging with a preoccupied scowl from 10 Downing Street, in conscious imitation of Churchill during the darkest days of the war.

She also had taken a glance in passing at the obituaries. She found it interesting that the unimportant people always seemed to die in alphabetical order. She was about to comment on this observable fact when the full import of Ruthvens words took hold.

Marrying? Her voice caught on the last syllable. Which one? Not the one with the enormous-

Probably. Even with his wife, or especially with his wife, Ruthven could not bring himself to use the vulgarities that were the bedrock of his vocabulary in all-male company.

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