Book tour: Murder on the Nile, by Verity Bright

Book Description:-

A cruise down the Nile, a camel ride around the pyramids, lunch in the shadow of the Sphinx… And a very dead body! 1924. Lady Eleanor Swift and her butler Clifford are touring the great, ancient sights of Egypt on a much-anticipated extended vacation. But when the pair arrive at the docks in Cairo expecting to board the luxurious paddle steamer advertised in their brochure, they are baffled by the crumbling old cruiser waiting for them. And things only go from bad to worse as death stalks the decks of the SS Cleopatra… Two days into the trip one of their fellow passengers, Lieutenant Baxter, is found shot dead in his locked cabin. Immediately suspicious and desperate to see justice done, Eleanor discovers a half-finished note addressed to her hidden in Baxter’s travelling trunk. In it he asks her to deliver a vitally important letter to the authorities at their next stop down river: a priceless treasure worthy of a king has been stolen and an innocent man’s life hangs in the balance. But before the sands of time wipe away all evidence on board, Eleanor must uncover who among the other travellers wanted Baxter dead. Was it the anxious archaeologist who doesn’t have an alibi, the reptile expert with a passion for the murderous Nile crocodile or the art dealer with a devious secret? With the killer readying to strike again much closer to home, can Eleanor dig up the truth before she’s trapped in a tomb under the pyramids forever? A gripping and twisty 1920s murder mystery set in Egypt, perfect for fans of Agatha Christie, T.E. Kinsey and Lee Strauss!

The Author:-

Author Bio:-

Verity Bright is the pseudonym for a husband-and-wife writing partnership that has spanned a quarter of a century. Starting out writing high-end travel articles and books, they published everything from self-improvement to humour, before embarking on their first historical mystery. They are the authors of the fabulous Lady Eleanor Swift Mystery series, set in the 1920s.

https://twitter.com/BrightVerity

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Buy Link:

Amazon: https://geni.us/B0CYQBKJLNsocial

What I thought:- 

Cruises on the Nile are having a bit of a moment: my sister took one last year with her husband, and my daughter's friend is on one right now.  However, it was, it seems, also possible a century ago, and Verity Bright's book has allowed me to enjoy one from the comfort of my magic armchair.  This is an enjoyable journey through the land of the pyramids and the temptations posed by archaeology, plus the excitement of experiencing a different culture.  A murder on board the river cruiser means that Lady Eleanor and Clifford are in their element, helping to solve this crime.  The new chief of police is also, conveniently, travelling on board to his new posting and at first is reluctant to accept their assistance.  Eventually the intrepid pair win him over and are kept very busy trying to get to the bottom of what is going on.  This is an entertaining tale set in an exotic location, great for escaping from the current stormy weather.

Book on Tour: Murder in the Countryside by Helena Dixon

 

Book Description:

A meandering drive on a beautiful day, a visit to a local apple orchard, a chance for Bertie the dog to stretch his legs but… has Kitty Underhay just found a dead farmer?

England, 1936. On a clear autumn day, Kitty and her mischievous spaniel Bertie take a drive to a nearby village. After a long walk in the rolling country hills and lunch in a pretty tearoom, what could be nicer than to buy a couple of bottles of local cider for her husband – and partner-in-crime solving – Matt? Instead, she finds a body in the orchard…

Kitty is shocked to discover Titus Blake dead, crushed by his own cider press. The new local detective arrives swiftly, making it clear he has no time for amateur sleuths, especially a woman. Hearing his words, Kitty and Matt are determined to get to the bottom of the mystery before the sour inspector. Titus’s estranged brother, reclusive housekeeper and even his long-suffering son soon make their suspect list.

But when the police get wind of Kitty and Matt’s snooping, the inspector firmly tells them to keep their noses out. Now in a race to find the killer, the inquisitive pair are stopped in their tracks when their chief suspect is also found dead in the barn. Can Kitty find the rotten apple before it’s too late, or will the killer feed her a poisoned fruit first?

If you love Agatha Christie, T.E. Kinsey or Lee Strauss, you will be utterly gripped by this totally charming cozy murder mystery!

What I thought: 

An enjoyable whodunnit mystery, set somewhere near my home in cider-making country (although at times it feels a sight more menacing).  There are plenty of suspects raising their heads as the story progresses, and the police are not doing very well at catching the killer, despite the apparent ambitions of the Inspector leading the investigation.  It is a very close-knit farming community, where everyone knows everyone else (even if they don't get on) and the neighbours are keen to see justice done and safety reinstated. They are only too pleased to enlist the help of temporary residents Kitty and Matt in discovering the truth, as they have past experience of investigation.  This story is well written and the characters interesting.  A lovely read, on holiday or at home.

Author Bio:

Helena Dixon is the author of the best-selling Miss Underhay murder mystery series and
lives in Devon. Married to the same man for over thirty-five years she has three daughters, a
cactus called Spike, and a crazy cockapoo. She is allergic to adhesives, apples, tinsel and
housework. She was winner of The Romance Prize in 2007 and Love Story of the Year 2010
as Nell Dixon.

https://www.nelldixon.com/

https://www.facebook.com/nelldixonauthor/

https://www.instagram.com/helenadixonuk/

https://twitter.com/NellDixon

Buy Link: Amazon: https://geni.us/B0D49V3G2Vsocial

Oops, I did it again.  Travelling and touring can be very disorienting, and I am a day late - for which I can only apologise.  Normal service will be resumed as soon as possible, I promise.

Blog tour: Murder in the Scottish Highlands by Dee MacDonald

 

I am so relaxed on my holidays (and had a difficult internet connection at our last stop) that I have managed to miss my slot on the blog tour by a day.  My stop is coming to you from Seville rather than Jerez, and where it's considerably warmer than the Scottish Highlands! 

Book description:-

Majestic mountain views, whisky by the fire and… a murder to solve? Join Ally McKinley at her cosy little guesthouse in the Scottish Highlands as she tackles her first puzzling case!

For recently retired Ally McKinley, the tiny village of Locharran is the perfect place to open the guesthouse of her dreams in a lovingly restored old Scottish malthouse. Before long she is making friends with the locals, including Hamish Sinclair, the earl who owns the nearby castle. But things take an unexpected turn when her first paying guest, American tourist Wilbur Carrington, is found sprawled across her cobblestoned courtyard with a dagger in his back…

With the police baffled, Ally’s instincts get the better of her, and she can’t resist launching her own investigation. In no time at all she and her Labrador puppy Flora are on the case, making enquiries over tea and excellent shortbread. She finds that Wilbur, a keen amateur genealogist, was convinced that he was the rightful Earl of Locharran… Even worse, he had plans that would put many people out of their jobs and even their homes.

But which of the locals resorted to murder? The hotel owner furiously trying to save his business? Locharran Castle’s fiercely loyal housekeeper who’d do anything for the earl? Or the earl himself, whose entire way of life was threatened by what Wilbur knew?

Looking for clues, Ally finds a faded photograph in a hidden drawer in Wilbur’s room. Could this be the key to solving the mystery? But when one of her suspects dies in a suspicious accident, Ally realises that things are getting a wee bit too close for comfort… Can she uncover the truth or will a killer get off scot-free?

An utterly unputdownable new Scottish cosy mystery series from bestselling author Dee MacDonald. Perfect for fans of Agatha Christie, Faith Martin and Clare Chase.

What I thought:-

A very enjoyable story about a woman intending to make a new start by escaping life in the city and intending a quiet semi-retirement surrounded by the beauty of the Highlands of Scotland, funded by the opening of a Bed and Breakfast Guest House in her newly converted Malt House in a small village.  As she opens for business, she becomes embroiled in a murder investigation, and discovers an ability to discover and order information while the local police seem to be floundering.  Despite the drama of the murder, Ally finds her rooms are in demand and some rather odd guests arrive and all is not as it seems.  Romance also raises its head, but Ally manages to avoid unwanted distractions and all is well that ends well.   The characters are interesting, there is plenty of wry humour and it is a good, agreeable read.  I am looking forward to the next book in the series. 

Author Bio:

Aged 18, Dee arrived in London from Scotland and typed her way round the West End for a couple of years before joining BOAC (forerunner of British Airways) in Passenger Services for 2 years and then as a stewardess for 8 years.

She has worked in Market Research, Sales and at the Thames TV Studios when they had the franchise.

Dee has since relocated to Cornwall, where she spent 10 years running B&Bs, and only began writing when she was over 70!

Married twice, she has one son and two grandsons.

https://www.facebook.com/AuthorDeeMacDonald
https://twitter.com/dmacdonaldauth

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Buy Link:

Amazon: https://geni.us/B0D388V9HPsocial

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