In this cozy mystery that "entertains right up to the end," Mrs. Malory attends her seaside village's annual cultural festival—and the first act kills (Kirkus Reviews).

The Taviscombe Festival has traditionally been a modest local event in the small English seaside village. But this year, it has been appropriated and aggrandized beyond recognition by new resident Adrian Palgrave, a poet and biographer of little renown. But the proceedings take a sobering turn when Palgrave is found beaten to death during the festival's first performance.

Palgrave had unexpectedly been named literary executor for Lawrence Meredith, a celebrated author of the 1920s and 30s. His selection turned plenty of heads at the time, and now leaves plenty of suspects. TV documentary-maker Oliver Stevens fears disclosure of an affair. Young Robin Turner, treasurer for the festival, had been criticized frequently by the dead poet. As more victims fall, Mrs. Malory searches for the long-held secrets that bred fatal consequences.

Book 4 in the Mrs. Malory Mystery series.

"Delightful . . .works a traditional mode to good effect." —The Plain Dealer