Arbuthnot ‘Arbie’ Swift arrives at Dashwood House, a glamorously modern hotel in the up-and-coming resort of Galton-next-the-Sea, but all plans for a relaxing stay are scuppered when one of the guests is found dead. The body is found in the writing room, the victim part of a set visiting the seaside town for an engagement party, which happens to include Arbie’s old friend, Val. Familiar with Val and Arbie’s previous experience in solving puzzling crimes, the bride asks the pair to investigate. They quickly discover that the victim had no shortage of enemies, and many of the guests are up to no good. But who is simply hiding a secret, and who is hiding murder?

Don’t miss the latest instalment of the cosy crime thriller series, Val & Arbie Mysteries, from best-selling author Faith Martin. Pre-order now! Oxford University, 1927. Arbuthnot ‘Arbie’ Swift thought he was returning to St Bede’s College for High Table gossip, sherry-soaked reunions, and perhaps a ghost story to inspire his latest book. Instead, he wakes to the news that the wife of one of the Oxford scholars has been found dead, apparently by her own hand. But Arbie suspects there is more hidden behind the whispers and stiffly offered condolences than meets the eye. With a scandal-conscious Principal, an officious inspector, and his quick-witted friend Val, he must navigate academic rivalries and long-buried secrets – before another death turns Oxford’s dreaming spires into a crime scene. Readers LOVE the Val & Arbie 'The conclusion to this story is startling, surprising, and very clever. I never stood a chance of guessing this one!’⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'It was entertaining, full of twists and turns with a few red herrings, suspenseful and unputdownable’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'This book delivers exactly what cosy crime fans hope for’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'This is a golden age style mystery that was a pleasure to read’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Another engaging story, that will keep you guessing from start to finish' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐