June Drummond

[Drop Dead] is a short mystery written in the 70's. No city or country is mentioned and I finally decided that the author was using a fictional stand-in for any English speaking city. Here she is looking at why some people choose suicide, some life, and some even choose murder. The time is just before Christmas, somewhere in the North (a snow storm is on its way to the city), and the book opens with a young woman taking a large amount of cash from her bank account. Later we discover that she uses it at Kuper's General Store, a multi-floor department store catering to the more affluent citizen's of the city where she buys numerous gifts to be gift-wrapped for 'David'. Then, after buying herself a new coat, the woman makes her way up to the ninth floor and goes out onto a balcony with the intention of jumping when the storm arrives. Much of the mystery revolves around David's identity and whereabouts. There are also the secrets that everyone is keeping. This was an interesting book and I would read more by this author.… (plus d'informations)

A charming English mystery featuring a tiny village with a number of dirty little secrets relating to murder and adultery. A woman happens upon the town as her car breaks down and she spends a few days, meeting an interesting cast of characters and finding a woman's grave from about fifty years before with poisonous plants carved on the tombstone. She investigates and uncovers a number of interesting scandals. The main character has her own mysterious past, which is slowly revealed. Well written and tightly composed, a quick read, recommended to mystery lovers.… (plus d'informations)

This is an old-school (school of Georgette Heyer, that is) Regency Romantic adventure. Our aristocratic hero takes on a tutoring job for a bet – only intending to stick it out for a week. Our heroine spots him for a fake and decides he is up to No Good and he becomes involved in a plot by ruffianly smugglers to kidnap his pupil...
Fast-paced, entertaining and witty, this was an enjoyable lightweight read. Good feel for place, mores and manners – let down occasionally by an iffy use of slang.… (plus d'informations)