The Cold Light of Mourning (Penny Brannigan Mystery, Book 1) (A Penny Brannigan Mystery)

SUMMARY: "Marriage. Murder. Nail polish...One woman's would-be wedding has an entire Welsh town on edge in Elizabeth J. Duncan's "The Cold Light of Mourning"--winner of the Malice Domestic Best First Traditional Mystery Novel Competition."THERE GOES THE BRIDE...The picturesque North Wales market town of Llanelen is shocked when Meg Wynne Thompson, a self-made beauty who has turned out to be something of an unpopular bride, goes missing on her wedding day--and turns up dead. WAS SHE LOVED TO DEATH?The last person believed to have seen Meg alive is local manicurist Penny Brannigan, who vows to find the killer. Seems that several people--including those on the guest list--had reasons to wish Meg dead. But when the trail leads Penny to the groom, a red-hot secret threatens to shake the small town to its very core..."Admirable and appealing...a worthy plot, a congenial heroine."--"Richmond-Times Dispatch""""Duncan lulls readers with her depiction of small-town life...then startles them with a shocker."--"Library Journal"""

Marriage. Murder. Nail polish...One woman’s would-be wedding has an entire Welsh town on edge in Elizabeth J. Duncan’s The Cold Light of Mourning—winner of the Malice Domestic Best First Traditional Mystery Novel Competition.

THERE GOES THE BRIDE…

The picturesque North Wales market town of Llanelen is shocked when Meg Wynne Thompson, a self-made beauty who has turned out to be something of an unpopular bride, goes missing on her wedding day—and turns up dead. 

WAS SHE LOVED TO DEATH?

The last person believed to have seen Meg alive is local manicurist Penny Brannigan, who vows to find the killer. Seems that several people—including those on the guest list—had reasons to wish Meg dead. But when the trail leads Penny to the groom, a red-hot secret threatens to shake the small town to its very core…

“Admirable and appealing...a worthy plot, a congenial heroine.”

—Richmond-Times Dispatch

“Duncan lulls readers with her depiction of small-town life…then startles them with a shocker.”—Library Journal

 

Jo Ann Vicarel - Library Journal

On her wedding day, Meg Wynne Thompson disappears between having a manicure and getting her hair done. The quiet Welsh town of Llanelen is stunned by a full police investigation, the arrest of Meg's fiancé, and the death of his father. But manicurist Penny Brannigan, an expatriate Canadian, realizes the woman who came to her salon was an imposter and seeks to find the truth. Duncan, the first Canadian winner of the Minotaur/Malice Domestic Best First Traditional Mystery Novel competition, lulls readers with her soothing prose and depiction of small-town life in Wales and then startles them with a shocker of a denouement. Readers who enjoy Louise Penny, another Canadian mystery author of note, and Charlaine Harris's Aurora Teagarden mysteries will love this one. [Library marketing.]

Elizabeth J. Duncan spins a charming tale of murder and intrigue in this winning first novel.The picturesque North Wales market town of Llanelen is shocked when Meg Wynne Thompson, a self-made beauty who has turned out to be something of an unpopular bride, goes missing on her wedding day...and turns up dead. The last person believed to have seen her is manicurist Penny Brannigan, an expatriate Canadian who has lived in North Wales for almost twenty-five years. When Penny notices that something is not quite right at the funeral of her dearest friend, she becomes emotionally invested in the case, and sets out to investigate. It seems that several people, including the bride’s drunken, abusive father, had reasons to wish Meg dead, but when the trail leads to her groom’s home, an explosive secret will shake the small town.With its bucolic Welsh setting and vivid, colorful characters, this mystery is sure to delight the most discerning of traditional-mystery fans. Elizabeth J. Duncan spins a charming tale of murder and intrigue in this winning first novel. The picturesque North Wales market town of Llanelen is shocked when Meg Wynne Thompson, a self-made beauty who has turned out to be something of an unpopular bride, goes missing on her wedding dayand turns up dead.The last person believed to have seen her is manicurist Penny Brannigan, an expatriate Canadian who has lived in North Wales for almost twenty-five years. When Penny notices that something is not quite right at the funeral of her dearest friend, she becomes emotionally invested in the case, and sets out to investigate. It seemsthat several people, including the brides drunken, abusive father, had reasons to wish Meg dead, but when the trail leads to her grooms home, an explosive secret will shake the small town. With its bucolic Welsh setting and vivid, colorful characters, this mystery is sure to delight the most discerning of traditional-mystery fans. The Picturesque North Wales Market Town Of Llanelen Is Shocked When Meg Wynne Thompson, A Self-made Beauty Who Has Turned Out To Be Something Of An Unpopular Bride, Goes Missing On Her Wedding Day, And Turns Up Dead. The Last Person Believed To Have Seen Her Is Manicurist Penny Brannigan, An Expatriate Canadian Who Has Lived In North Wales For Almost Twenty-five Years. When Penny Notices That Something Is Not Quite Right At The Funeral Of Her Dearest Friend, She Becomes Emotionally Invested In The Case, And Sets Out To Investigate. --from Publisher Description (http://catdir.loc.gov/catdir/enhancements/fy0906/2009004487-d.html) Elizabeth J. Duncan. "There goes the bride... The picturesque North Wales market town of Llanelen is shocked when Meg Wynne Thompson, a self-made beauty who has turned out to be something of an unpopular bride, goes missing on her wedding day-and turns up dead. Was she loved to death? The last person believed to have seen Meg alive is local manicurist Penny Brannigan, who vows to find the killer. Seems that several people-including those on the guest list-had reasons to wish Meg dead. But when the trail leads Penny to the groom, a red-hot secret threatens to shake the small town to its very core..."--BOOK COVER The picturesque North Wales market town of Llanelen is shocked when Meg Wynne Thompson, a self-made beauty who has turned out to be something of an unpopular bride, goes missing on her wedding day. The last person believed to have seen her is manicurist Penny Brannigan, an ex-patriate Canadian who has lived in North Wales for almost 25 years. When an unpopular self-made beauty goes missing on her wedding day, manicurist Penny Brannigan, an ex-patriate Canadian who has lived in the bride's North Wales market town for nearly twenty-five years, realizes that another woman had posed as the bride