Murder at Mullings: A 1930s country house murder mystery (A Florence Norris Mystery (1))

An intriguing 1930s country house murder mystery: first in the brand-new Florence Norris series In its 300-year history, there has never once been a scandal at Mullings, ancestral home of the decent but dull Stodmarsh family. Until, that is, Edward Stodmarsh makes an ill-advised second marriage to the scheming Regina Stapleton, who insists on bringing her family's 'ornamental hermit' to live on the estate. Suddenly everyone wants to visit Mullings to glimpse this mysterious figure. Strange but harmless, thinks Florence Norris, the family's longstanding housekeeper. But events take a sinister turn with the arrival of sudden, violent death - and suddenly the hermit doesn't seem so harmless after all. A 1930s housekeeper stars in “an Agatha Christie–like whodunit with touches of Olde World England and a soupçon of romance” (Booklist). In its three-hundred-year history, there has never once been a scandal at Mullings, ancestral home of the decent but dull Stodmarsh family. Until, that is, Edward Stodmarsh makes an ill-advised second marriage to the scheming Regina Stapleton, who insists on bringing her family's “ornamental hermit” to live on the estate. Suddenly everyone wants to visit Mullings to glimpse this mysterious figure. Strange but harmless, thinks Florence Norris, the family's longstanding housekeeper. But events take a sinister turn with the arrival of sudden, violent death—and suddenly the hermit doesn't seem so harmless after all... “Fans of mannered English mysteries will likely not be disappointed.”—Chicago Tribune “Strong characters...this mix of romance and crime will appeal to a wide range of readers.”—Booklist A 1930s housekeeper stars in “an Agatha Christie–like whodunit with touches of Olde World England and a soupçon of romance” ( Booklist ). In its three-hundred-year history, there has never once been a scandal at Mullings, ancestral home of the decent but dull Stodmarsh family. Until, that is, Edward Stodmarsh makes an ill-advised second marriage to the scheming Regina Stapleton, who insists on bringing her family's “ornamental hermit” to live on the estate. Suddenly everyone wants to visit Mullings to glimpse this mysterious figure. Strange but harmless, thinks Florence Norris, the family's longstanding housekeeper. But events take a sinister turn with the arrival of sudden, violent death—and suddenly the hermit doesn't seem so harmless after all... “Fans of mannered English mysteries will likely not be disappointed.”— Chicago Tribune “Strong characters...this mix of romance and crime will appeal to a wide range of readers.”— Booklist When there's a brutal murder at Mullings, ancestral home of the wealthy Stodmarsh family, housekeeper Florence Norris and local publican George Bird are determined to protect their nearest and dearest from suspicion. Could there be a connection with the mysterious 'ornamental hermit' who lives on the estate? It's up to Florence to find out An ill-advised second marriage between dull Edward Stodmarsh and the scheming Regina Stapleton culminates in a scandal involving an eccentric member of the bride's family who becomes a subject of curiosity and suspicion