The world can wait

  Blurb :   Candle for a Corpse: A Berdie Elliott Advent Mystery by Marilyn Leach is a Christmas whodunit with plot twists, shifty suspects, and loving villagers.   All of it’s sprinkled with English grace and humor.   Who would believe an advent wreath could solve a murder?   It can when Berdie Elliott’s at hand, a vicar’s wife and sleuth extraordinaire.   Fresh brewed tea, and high adventure with a spoonful of romance make the season bright. Excerpt : In Candle for A Corpse, the caroling party at the vicarage gets heated, and it’s not from the comforting fireplace. Miss Livingston ignored the vicar, “And you.” She shook her cane toward Edsel, making the pink scars on her left cheek go twice crimson. “Your father would shudder to see the loss of integrity, the shoddy craftsmanship, and disgrace you’ve brought to his business.” “You stupid cow!” It was Jamie who railed at the elderly woman. “Steady on,” Hugh cautioned the young man. “You’ll get y...

Avaliable now for pre-order Enigma of Fire: A Berdie Elliott Pentecost Mystery LOG LINE:  In the English village of Aidan Kirkwood, no divine gifts are going spare when Berdie Elliott flames into action and demystifies the enigma of fire. BLURB When English village, Aidan Kirkwood, experiences an explosive fire, the entire parish is aflame with rumor and innuendo until Berdie Elliott, the scorching sleuth and vicar’s wife, can douse the flames with cold, hard facts that expose the perpetrator.  A heroic dog, elusive book, and military champions come together to reveal the enigma of fire. EXCERPT  “Cedric, Don’t chance it. Please,” Doug’s voice trembled as he shot out the command. “Don’t what?” Berdie asked herself as much as Doug. “Down, Mrs. Elliott.”  Doug’s eyes wide, his breathing was short and rapid for the toil of making his wheels go toward them as fast as he could manage. “Down?  What are you talking about?” Berdie suddenl...

A Christmastide Outing Lively anticipation was to the full as our journey through winding roads and tidy storybook villages of Berkshire and Derbyshire brought us to Waddeston Manor, one time weekend retreat for the extremely well-to-do Rothschild’s. The ascent up the modest hill where the manor house sat did not prepare me for the grandiose home, nor for the extensive countryside view. Built in the French Chateau style, it looked more like something Louis XIV may have lived in. Statuary sprinkled the garden walk alongside the fountains that lead to the grand entrance. Once inside the imposing doorway, the opulence of the place left me daunted.  Waddeston Manor contains not only a grandiose interior of marble, carved work, and period furniture, it holds the largest impressionist and nineteenth century art collection outside the Louvre Art Museum of Paris. In fact, the structure was built to house the Rothschild’s extensive art collection. Well, not just house it but show i...

Ascension Sunday balloons are not the only things disappearing in the English village of Aidan Kirkwood.  When the villagers celebrate the first Ascension Sunday Processional in fifty years, someone goes missing.  A well off window that was amongst the crowd has vanished into thin air.  And, she’s not the only one who’s nowhere to be found.  Berdie Elliott, the local vicar’s wife, goes into sleuth mode as eccentric cat lovers, a secretive informant, Portuguese holidays, an enigmatic “tree” house, and tangled family dynamics all add to the perplexing affair.  Don’t let this mystery slip from your sight. Into the Clouds Excerpt With the ferocity of a sudden clap of thunder in a spring storm, the vicarage door bell invaded the treasured moment. Hugh sighed. “I’ll get it.”  Berdie pulled herself away and made way to the front door, deciding not to grumble but cherish the past uninterrupted hours shared with Hugh. “Lillie,” Berdie greeted her n...