Murder at the Villa Byzantine : An Antonia Darcy and Major Payne Investigation

When a birthday party for one of their Hampstead neighbors turns deadly, Antonia Darcy and Major Hugh Payne end up investigating the murder of one of Melisande Chevret's other guests. The aging actress becomes a natural suspect, as the victim was her love rival. But after the first murder, a second takes place at the Villa Byzantine. The owner of the house is royal biographer Tancred Vane, who swears he is innocent. And surely Catherine Hope, an elderly lady helping him with his research, can have nothing to do with it. A damning piece of evidence points to the victim's daughter—but why would a teenage girl have a dainty silk handkerchief bearing her monogram? And would she drop it so conveniently beside her mother's body? As the questions mount, Antonia Darcy and Major Payne search desperately for answers. What role does the mysterious Miss Hope, former governess to the Bulgarian royal family, play in the bizarre murder at the Villa Byzantine? And does she in fact actually exist? Antonia Darcy and Major Hugh Payne attend a birthday party for one of their Hampstead neighbours, little knowing they will end up investigating the grisly death of one of Melisande Chevret's other guests. The ageing actress becomes a natural suspect when her love rival is killed. But after that first murder, another murder takes place at the Villa Byzantine. The owner of the exotically styled house is royal biographer Tancred Vane, but he swears he is innocent. And surely his new friend Catherine Hope, an elderly lady helping him with his research, can have nothing to do with it? It looks as though the victim's daughter is to blame - but how likely is it that a teenage girl should have a dainty silk handkerchief bearing her monogram? And would she drop it so conveniently beside her mother's dead body? Praise for R.T. Raichev: 'Deftly mixes dark humor and psychological suspense, its genteel surface masking delicious deviancy.' Kirkus Reviews (starred review) 'Fascinating ... Recalls the best of the Golden Age of Detective fiction.' Lady Antonia Fraser 'Mixes Henry James's psychological insight with Agatha Christie's whodunit plotting skills ... Raichev once again triumphs.' Library Journal (starred review) 'I have read all of Raichev's books. They are very clever. I really am a fan.' R.L. Stine 'A whodunit with more twists than a snake in a basket.' Robert Barnard, Golden Dagger winner 'Adds a P. D. Jamesian subtlety to the comfortable Christie formula. Antonia Darcy is a terrific sleuth, and Raichev is a very clever writer, indeed.' Booklist After a murder at their neighbor's Hampstead birthday party is followed up by a killing at the Villa Byzantine, Antonia Darcy and Major Hugh Payne must sort through a number of varied suspects, including a royal biographer, an elderly researcher, the second victim's daughter, and an aging actress