Veronica Heley

Ellie Quicke is shocked when her daughter, Diana, turns up at her door with a suitcase in tow. Bunny Brewster has died of an overdose, and Diana's husband, Evan, is convinced that she is responsible for his friend's death. It seems that Diana and four other neglected, bored wives of Evan's friends recently joked about ways to kill their husbands. Diana's suggested method of murder involved muddling up pills--could this be how Bunny died, or was it...

Attending a birthday celebration for two young girls, Bea Abbot tries not to let superstition get the better of her when she realizes that there are thirteen people at dinner. What she doesn't anticipate is that the evening will end in sudden, violent death. Chaos descends when a fire breaks out. While two members of the host family are rushed to the hospital, Bea and a fellow guest search for the birthday girls in a house which has been plunged into...

"No good deed goes unpunished, as Ellie Quicke finds out in this engaging and entertaining mystery.Ellie Quicke believes in helping people in trouble. But it would appear that her latest good deed has returned to bite her when she takes in a weeping girl who needs somewhere to stay. Selfish, thoughtless and irresponsible, Angelica is by no means the easiest of house guests, confident that someone else will always pick up the bill. But when a dead...

When the family castle is besieged by an ancient enemy, Ursula rides of help to Aylmer, who has asked for her hand in marriage. Ursula admires and respects Aylmer, who is much older than she. He loves her dearly and promises to help lift the siege. Aylmer offers the services of Benedict de Huste, a young man with a tragic past whom Aylmer regards as an adopted son. Together Ursula and Benedict fight a double battle. They fight for their lives in the...

Bea Abbot's domestic agency does not, repeat not, investigate murder . . . that is, until she finds herself in the company of a dead man dressed as a pantomime dame. It looks like suicide, but why don't his red-spangled shoes fit? Why is the mans daughter so keen to hustle his mortal remains away without publicity? Then again, which of the women around him--two surviving wives and a daughter--really cared about him, rather than his money?

He was like no other hermit she had ever seen. He was young, strong, dark and vowed to silence. His name was Keren, but he was always called the Hermit. And as he touched her arm, and healed it, a bond was forged between them – a hopeless bond, for she was Joanna of Leybourne, ward of the Count, and he was a man sentenced to build a church with his bare hands, as expiation for the crime of murdering his wife. . . This title was originally published...

Ellie's friend on the police force asks her to enquire about some deaths in the community which might or might not be suicide, and various relatives of the deceased confirm their suspicions. Unbeknown to the police, an elderly lady moving in and out of dementia has come across some drugs and is using them to ease people in pain out of their misery. At the same time, the project to turn the quirky, turreted Pryce House into a hotel is dogged by problems...

"When a client turns up, bearing a briefcase full of priceless jewels, Bea Abbot finds herself drawn into the affairs of the dysfunctional Rycroft family. Magda had been entrusted with the briefcase by her employer, wealthy art expert Lucas Rycroft - but other family members are determined to get their hands on the jewels - whatever it takes."--Publisher's description.

"Wealthy Marcia Tredgold and her daughter, Charlotte, want Bea Abbot to find them replacements for staff who have left under a cloud. Bea discovers that all those dismissed were close to Marcia Tredgold, and senses that something is not right. Were they framed, and if so by whom - and why? Even more curiously, when Marcia Tredgold gets Bea alone, she asks her to find out who killed her two cats. Bea resists becoming involved in the strange goings-on...