For Adults
‘Miss Hortense is sharper than Poirot, tougher than Vera and a better cook than Columbo! It’s Murder She Wrote as you’ve never seen it before’ – Sir Lenny Henry
‘Your new favourite literary sleuth! Fresh, original and intriguing from start to finish’ – Janice Hallett, bestselling author of The Examiner and The Appeal
‘What a read!’ – Jennie Godfrey, author of The List of Suspicious Things
About the book
Retired nurse, avid gardener, renowned cake maker and fearless sleuth Miss Hortense has lived in Bigglesweigh, a quiet Birmingham suburb, since she emigrated from Jamaica in 1960. She takes great pride in her home, starching her lace curtains bright white, and she can tell if she’s been short-changed on turmeric before she’s even taken her first bite of a beef patty. Thirty-five years of nursing have also left her afraid of nobody – be they a local drug dealer or a priest – and an expert in deciphering other people’s secrets with just a glance.
Miss Hortense uses her skills to investigate the investments of the Pardner network – a special community of Black investors, determined to help their people succeed. But when an unidentified man is found dead in one of the Pardner’s homes, a Bible quote noted down beside his body, Miss Hortense’s long-buried past comes rushing back to greet her, bringing memories of the worst moment of her life, one which her community has never let her forget.
It is time for Miss Hortense to solve a mystery that will see her, and those she loves, tested to their limits.
A community can protect its members. Can it hide a killer?
About the offer
If you fancy winning one of three sets of 10 copies of A Murder for Miss Hortense for your book club, please get in touch with us with the email below for the chance to take part. Tell us a little about your group – how many members you have, how often you meet, why you’d like to read this book, and whether you would be happy to share images from your book club on social media. Please do tag us at @BaskervilleJMP.
You will have eight weeks after you receive the book to send back individual reviews.
