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| RULES OF MURDER |
| A Drew Farthering Mystery |
| From his black Homburg hat to the crease in his stylish cheviot trousers, Drew Farthering is the epitome of the well-bred English gentleman of 1932, but things at Farthering Place are not quite so ideal. There’s been a murder at the old manor house. With the help of the alluring Madeline Parker, Drew sets out to solve the crime and save the family fortune. Before long, he realizes no one at Farthering Place is who he appears to be – not the blackmailer, not the adulterer, not the embezzler and not even Drew himself. |
| EXCERPT: Having met just the day before, Drew and Madeline step away from the stylish party being held at Farthering Place to get a breath of fresh air and become better acquainted. A sudden storm comes up. With flash of lightning and a rattling clap of thunder, the clouds burst without warning. “Quick!” He grabbed her hand and ran toward the greenhouse. It wasn’t far away, but by the time they reached shelter they were both soaked through with cold rain and warmed with running and laughter. The smell of earthy decay in here seemed stronger than usual, Drew thought as he hunted down a lantern and a dry match, and there was another nasty smell, too, but rain did that sometimes. Soon they had a small circle of light. “I’m afraid your lovely dress is spoilt,” he said, plucking at her rain-spotted sleeve. She laughed. “You’re not much better.” She pushed a lock of dark hair from his forehead and wiped away the little rivulet of water that had run down from it onto his nose. “We shall look a sight, the pair of us, going back into the house like this.” He gave her a daring smile. “We could stay out here and create a scandal. Or, I should say, have one invented for us.” She pursed her Cupid’s bow lips and leaned conspiratorially closer, clinging more tightly to his arm. “You mean when they find us out here frozen to death?” “Oh, I say! What an idiot! Of course you’re cold!” He began struggling out of his sodden dinner jacket, but she stopped him. “No, thank you. I’m drenched enough as it is.” “Well–” He held up the lantern, shining its feeble light around the greenhouse. “Ah, just the thing. Come along.” He marched her over to the pile of mackintoshes tossed in the corner. “We mustn’t have you catch your death. It simply isn’t done.” He picked up the coat on top of the pile and held it up for her to put on, but she wrinkled her nose, shrinking back. The nasty smell was stronger than ever now. “It doesn’t look entirely clean, does it?” he admitted, slightly embarrassed. She took the lantern and examined the next one down. “This one’s worse, I think. Smells sort of sickening.” “Hold that closer,” he said, puzzling over the dark stain. Something had spilled or soaked over the coat, and he pulled it back to see if the rest of the pile were in the same shape. Madeline gave a sudden, stifled cry and he grabbed the lantern before she let it crash to the floor. She didn’t make another sound, but she clutched his shoulder painfully hard, her breath coming in little smothered gasps. He threw the coat hastily back into place and stood up, as shaken as she. “Come on. Let’s go back inside.” “Drew, that’s–” “Come on,” he urged, and he led her back to the house, through the kitchen door, and into the chair nearest the fire. “Are you all right?”he asked, dropping to one knee on the stone floor beside her. “Here, give me that.” He snatched a drink from a passing tray and pressed her hands around it. “Drink that down. You all right?” “I don’t–” “Drink it,” he insisted, and she managed a sip. “Is the young lady ill, sir?” the girl with the tray asked. Drew looked up, distracted. “No. Yes. Go and get Mr. Parker straight away.” “Yes, sir.” She bobbed a tiny curtsy and disappeared through the kitchen’s swinging doors. A moment later, the doors swung again and Mason came into the kitchen. “Drew? Madeline, my dear, what is the matter?” Drew got to his feet. “David Lincoln’s been killed. We just found his body in the greenhouse. I’m afraid he’s taken a load of buckshot to the head.” RULES OF MURDER is still a work in progress, but I will be posting updates as they become available. I'd love to hear any comments you may have about this new series. I think it's going to be a lot of fun! |
| DeAnna Julie Dodson |