It’s a real pleasure today to welcome author Louise R. Innes as my guest – on publication day for the first in her new three-book cozy mystery series. Let me hand over to Louise – I’ll let her tell you more…
Thank you, Anne, for allowing me to showcase my new release on your blog. Death at a Country Mansion is a quintessential manor house mystery set in the fictional village of Edgemead in Surrey. It is the first of a three-book series published by Kensington, and features sassy hairdresser-turned-sleuth, Daisy Thorne and her eclectic bunch of friends.
When famous opera diva, Dame Serena Levanté is murdered in her country mansion, her daughter, socialite, Floria asks her best friend, Daisy Thorne to investigate.
Daisy has a knack for this sort of thing and owning the only hair salon in village means she knows everybody and has access to all the local gossip!
There is no shortage of suspects. Dame Serena was divorcing her fourth husband, who was leaving her for an air stewardess. She had three illegitimate daughters that nobody knew about, as well as an overworked housekeeper, an opportunistic maid and a disgruntled attorney. All with a motive to kill her.
Standing in her way is the gruff but handsome detective DI Paul McGuinness, who warns Daisy not to get involved. Too late! As the two butt heads, Daisy works to unravel the clues and determine who the murderer is.
With more twists than a French braid, Death at a Country Mansion will keep readers guessing until the grand finale, which (true to form) takes place in the glorious, old manor house itself.
I’m a huge fan of classic murder mysteries, having grown up reading Agatha Christie, M.C. Beaton and the like, so when it came to penning my own, I naturally turned to this genre that I know and love.
Daisy is not alone in her hunt for the killer. Helping her are her eccentric crew at the Ooh La La hair salon, including senior stylist, ex-model Penny; gay, Indian colour-coordinator, Krish; and junior hair-washer, Asa. They all have interesting and unique character traits that assist with the investigation in some way.
I like to keep the reader guessing, and this book contains enough misdirection and red herrings to do just that! Plus, it’s peppered with wry humour and a hint of romance as Daisy and her gruff detective lock horns before settling into an uneasy, but mutual beneficial working relationship.
This is the first book in the Daisy Thorne mystery series and is available across all retail platforms.
Thanks Louise! I was just taking a look at when you were last my guest, and I see that I interviewed you back in 2016 (you’ll find the post here): you’d just released your sixth book, A Passion So Wild. And now it’s 18 romances, 4 cozy mysteries and the crime-writing as your alter ego – goodness, you have been busy! Wishing you every success with this new series.
Death at a Country Mansion (click title or cover for universal link)
Fans of Agatha Christie won’t want to miss this delightful new mystery set in the charming village of Edgemead in Surrey, England, where you’ll find the latest styles, the juiciest gossip – and the most tantalizing murder clues…
No one would ever accuse famous opera star Dame Serena Levanté of lacking a flare for the dramatic. Unfortunately, it’s curtains down on the dysfunctional diva when she’s found dead at the bottom of a staircase in her elegant home. Solving an opera singer’s murder may not be the typical hairdresser’s aria of expertise. But Dame Serena was the mother of Daisy’s best friend Floria, so Daisy must do-or-dye her best to get to the roots of the case.
When a priceless Modigliani painting in the house is reported missing, the mystery gets even more tangled. Even though the gruff but handsome Detective Inspector Paul McGuinness tells the stylist to stay out of his hair, Daisy is determined to make sure the killer faces a stern makeover – behind bars.
“A promising debut with scads of interesting characters, a spirited heroine, and a hint of romance.” – Kirkus Reviews
“Enjoyable…will appeal to readers of Elizabeth J. Duncan’s ‘Penny Brannigan’ mysteries.” – Library Journal
“Death at a Country Mansion has more twists than a French braid.” – Sherry Harris
“If you enjoy British manor houses, a touch of budding romance, and a good mystery (like I do), I highly recommend Death at a Country Mansion.” – Vikki Walton
“A little romance, a little art history, and a gorgeous mansion . . . a page-turner that is fun and intriguing.” – ACF Bookens
About the author
Louise R. Innis writes contemporary romance, romantic suspense, and cozy mysteries. She lives in leafy Surrey in the United Kingdom with her family, and when she’s not writing, she can be found traipsing through the countryside or kayaking on the River Thames.
Her romantic suspense novels are usually set in exotic or dangerous destinations such as West Africa, the Caribbean, Mozambique, and Middle Eastern war zones: her cozy mysteries are typically English and set in a fictional Surrey village. She also writes hard-boiled crime fiction under the pen name B.L. Pearce.