Murder on the Marlow Belle

Thorogood’s delightful fourth cozy featuring 79-year-old crossword puzzle creator and amateur sleuth Judith Potts (after The Queen of Poisons) sees her investigating the murder of a local actor. When Verity Beresford’s husband, Oliver, fails to return home after attending an exclusive boat party for the board members of the Marlow Amateur Dramatic Society, Verity marches over to Judith’s home to ask for her help. Judith speaks with other party guests, none of whom saw Oliver leave the boat. A few days later, Oliver’s body is found on a riverbank with two bullet holes in his torso. With suicide and accident off the table, Judith swings into action with the help of her exuberant DJ friend, Suzie Harris, and the local vicar’s wife, Becks Starling. Together, the group finds that, though Oliver had plenty of petty rivals within Marlow’s dramatic society, this case might stretch decades into the past. Thorogood serves up everything cozy fans want: colorful characters, snappy dialogue, and a fair-play mystery with genuinely surprising plot twists. This will thrill series fans and new readers alike. Agent: Ginger Clark, Ginger Clark Literary. (Sept.)