Recommendations based on "The Author's Guide to Murder: A Novel"

Seven Deadly Sins -- Seven Motives For Murder. An attractive hardback of seven of the best Agatha Christie crime thrillers, themed around the timeless motives of Sin! Murder and murderers abound in this seasonal edition, filled with some of the very best murder mysteries ever written. With flawless plotting, masterful characterisation and enough twists and turns to keep even the most talented armchair detective puzzled, these stories will enthral and entertain as the reader can only sit back and marvel as avarice, sloth, gluttony, lust, pride, envy and wrath devour their victims, and their victims, one by one! THE ABC MURDERS Pride is the excessive belief in one's own abilities. A murderer has the arrogance to challenge Hercule Poirot's detective prowess! A MURDER IS ANNOUNCED Envy is the desire for another's status and abilities. A mysterious joker is eager for Miss Blacklock's money -- and her death! EVIL UNDER THE SUN Lust is the craving for the pleasures of the body. Actress Arlena Stuart has the reputation of a 'man-eater' -- until her murder! SPARKLING CYANIDE Sloth is the idle avoidance of work. Money doesn't need to be earned: it can be married, won or inherited -- so long as someone dies! ENDLESS NIGHT Avarice is the greed for material gain. Buy the perfect piece of land for your dream house -- but be wary of curses and psychopaths! AT BERTRAM'S HOTEL Gluttony is the appetite to consume more than you need. Miss Marple wonders if a series of robberies are for money -- or just the thrill! FIVE LITTLE PIGS Wrath is the fury when love is spurned. A woman is convicted of poisoning her adulterous husband -- but there are five other suspects!

The villagers of Chipping Cleghorn are agog with curiosity when the Gazette advertises: 'A murder is announced and will take place on Friday October 29th, at Little Paddocks at 6:30 p.m.'A childish practical joke? Or a spiteful hoax? Unable to resist the mysterious invitation, the locals arrive at Little Paddocks at the appointed time when, without warning, the lights go out and a gun is fired. When they come back on, a gruesome scene is revealed.An impossible crime?Only Miss Marple can unravel it.'Establishes firmly her claim to the throne of detection. Th plot is an ingenious as ever...'A. A. Milne

Step into the shoes of a detective and investigate the most mysterious crime of your career.There’s been a murder at Elysium, a wellness retreat set in an English country manor. You arrive to find the body of a local businessman on the lawn – with a rose placed in his mouth. It appears he was stabbed with a gardening fork and fell to his death from the balcony above. But that balcony can only be accessed through a locked door, the key is missing, and everyone in Elysium is now a suspect…Gather the evidence and examine the clues. Choose who to interview next, and who to accuse as your prime suspect. But remember that every decision you make has consequences – and some of them will prove fatal…Do you have what it takes? Can YOU solve the murder?

Step Into The Shoes Of A Detective And Investigate The Most Mysterious Crime Of Your Career. There's Been A Murder At Elysium, A Wellness Retreat Set In An English Country Manor. You Arrive To Find The Body Of A Local Businessman On The Lawn—with A Rose Placed In His Mouth. It Appears He Was Stabbed With A Gardening Fork And Fell To His Death From The Balcony Above. But That Balcony Can Be Accessed Only Through A Locked Door, The Key Is Missing And Everyone In Elysium Is Now A Suspect. Gather The Evidence And Examine The Clues. Choose Who To Interview Next, And Who To Accuse As Your Prime Suspect. But Remember That Every Decision You Make Has Consequences—and Some Of Them Will Prove Fatal . . . Do You Have What It Takes? Can You Solve The Murder?

‘Tis the season in Briar Creek, and this year festivities become fatalities in the newest Library Lover’s Mystery from the New York Times bestselling author of Fatal First Edition. During the most wonderful time of the year, famous author Helen Monroe arrives in Briar Creek to be the writer in residence, but her “bah humbug” attitude excludes her from the many local holiday celebrations. To try to spread some Christmas cheer, library director Lindsey Norris invites the new writer in town to join her crafternoon club. Helen politely refuses and when an altercation happens between Helen and another patron, Lindsey begins to suspect the author has been keeping to herself for a reason. Another newcomer, Jackie Lewis, reveals she’s visiting Briar Creek to be near Helen because she believes they are destined to meet. Having dealt with a stalker in the past, Lindsey feels compelled to tell Helen about Jackie, as she suspects that Helen is unaware her “number one” fan is in town. When Jackie’s body is later discovered in the town park beneath the holiday-light display with a copy of Helen’s latest manuscript in her hand, the reclusive novelist becomes the prime suspect in the murder of her self-proclaimed mega-fan. Helen’s frosty demeanor melts when Lindsey offers her help, and now the librarian and her crafternoon pals must prove the author innocent before "The End" becomes Helen's final sentence.

The new Blackbird Sisters mystery from the bestselling author of A Crazy Little Thing Called Death. Down-to-earth debutante Nora Blackbird is having a meltdown-and it isn't because of Philadelphia's heat wave, or an overdose at the city's Chocolate Festival. A noted Philly philanthropist has taken a swan dive from an office balcony-and Nora's friend Lexie stands accused of the murder. Then Nora's scheming parents reappear, sending all three Blackbird sisters into a panic. Now Nora must uncover the scandalous hijinks her parents are plotting-before she winds up taking all the heat and strangling her father with his own ascot.

Investigating the brutal murder of a Midsomer Worthy Writers' Circle club member, Chief Inspector Barnaby and his colorful sidekick, Sergeant Troy, delve into the secret passions of the eccentric club to find a killer. Reprint.

Lady Georgiana “Georgie” Rannoch is just like any other new mother, balancing responsibilities of being 34th in line for the British throne and solving the shocking deaths of several young men, in this new Royal Spyness novel from the queen of historical mystery, Rhys Bowen.Georgie may be figuring out what it means to be a new mother but she does know one thing for sure: she absolutely despises the strict nanny who was foisted upon her by her meddlesome sister-in-law. In search of a new nanny, Georgie travels to London to see her old friend ZouZou only to find her about to depart for a funeral, after the unexpected death of a young man in her social circle. It quickly becomes clear there’s more than one mysterious death around town, when another friend reveals he’s also just returned from the funeral of a school friend, who seemingly died in a boating accident. But when word arrives that the son of family friend has also died tragically and unexpectedly, Georgie is certain it can’t be a coincidence. Yet the victims don’t seem to have any connection to one another.ZouZou shares Georgie’s suspicions that the deaths were not an accident and begs Georgie to solve the case. As Georgie delves deeper, she can’t help worrying that her own husband, Darcy, may be next. It seems likely there is a serial killer at work and Darcy fits the bill to be their next victim. Will Georgie solve the murders before it’s too late for Darcy, and manage to find the perfect nanny all at the same time?

Murder is on the to-do list when construction contractor Shannon Hammer looks for a killer in the fifth Fixer-Upper Mystery...Don't miss the Hallmark Movies & Mystery Originals starring Jewel, based on the Fixer-Upper Mystery series!At the annual Victorian Home and Garden Tour, Lighthouse Cove, California’s premier contractor, Shannon Hammer, realizes that the competition is about to turn deadly....   Shannon is in high demand among rival homeowners, who will do anything to win Best in Show. One-upmanship and even espionage break out among neighbors, construction crews, decorators, and landscapers. Thanks to several new hires, Shannon is sure she can handle the extra load—until murder throws a wrench in the works.   The small town’s corrupt building inspector is found dead on one of Shannon’s jobsites, and soon plenty of suspects are coming out of the woodwork. When another body is discovered, Shannon calls on her team of close friends and devilishly astute thriller writer Mac to help her nail down the details and build a case against the killer before the door shuts on someone else—for good.

'A cosy romp of cream teas, double-barrelled names and murder.' THE SUN The new book in the Val and Arbie mysteries from the multi-million-copy selling author Faith Martin. One of these guests has a date with death... Arbuthnot ‘Arbie’ Swift arrives at Dashwood House, a glamorously modern hotel in the up-and-coming resort of Galton-next-the-Sea, but all plans for a relaxing stay are scuppered when one of the guests is found dead. The body is found in the writing room, the victim part of a set visiting the seaside town for an engagement party, which happens to include Arbie’s old friend, Val. Familiar with Val and Arbie’s previous experience in solving puzzling crimes, the bride asks the pair to investigate. They quickly discover that the victim had no shortage of enemies, and many of the guests are up to no good. But who is simply hiding a secret, and who is hiding murder? Readers have fallen in love with The Last Word is Death 'Absolutely gorgeous storytelling with characters and setting perfect for the time frame’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'This one is perfect for readers who love Agatha Christie-style stories and cosy murder mysteries. A great second book!'⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'It has the hallmarks of an Agatha Christie mystery’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐