Bøker av Rose Donovan

Halloween masks hide secrets, both petty and passionate. Behind one mask also hides a murderer. Crickle Hythe, Oxfordshire, 1936. Ruby Dove is depressed. So Fina and Pixley lift her spirits with a lighthearted party, though it soon has deadly results. At a Halloween gala in Ruby's village of Crickle Hythe, long-standing grudges and insignificant slights rise to the surface like the bobbing apples awaiting the snap of children's teeth. After the death of a guest, Ruby and Fina are eyed suspiciously by the local police-though there's no shortage of suspects. Crickle Hythe's placid surface hides a hotbed of intrigue from the local witch to the sharp-tongued owner of Chidden Park. Our intrepid detectives are running from the police and running out of time. Will they unmask the murderer before the net tightens around them? Our trio hops aboard Pixley's new narrowboat to plumb the depths of inequity in the gently flowing river of the English countryside. But they know too well that still waters run deep. If you love golden age detection with a dash of history, join our fashionable Oxford sleuth-spies in a delightful mystery romp through the 1930s. Ruby and Fina wager that you'll never guess who did it.

Ready for a snowy ride aboard the Train Blanc? Murder and mayhem await.November, 1935.With its velvet sofas and bone china teacups, the Train Blanc is a haven of 1930s luxury. But for Ruby and Fina, the trip holds some shocking surprises - not least that one of their fellow passengers is a murderer ...As the famous train steams through the cold Alpine night, the detective pair must work out which of the travellers is not what they seem. Could it be the friendly Swiss priest? The glamorous erotica author? The 'artistic' dilettante? Or even the grandmother with the hideous knitting?Ruby and Fina are at the top of their game in this witty, sophisticated tale, which weaves together politics, fashion, intrigue and romance in a mystery with more twists and turns than a train track through the Alps.

Someone is a spy. Someone is a thief. Someone is about to become a murderer. Autumn in Oxford, 1935. Passing exams is the least of Ruby and Fina's worries as they return to their beloved Quenby College. A thief lurks amongst the students and faculty, and when an infamous guest lecturer keels over at the Dean's sherry party, Fina is shocked to find herself the prime suspect. Determined to clear her friend's name, Ruby launches into a hunt for a murderer that takes her to secret college boltholes, dubious pawnshops, and a red-hot jazz club. At least she has allies she can trust - until a coded letter arrives, warning Ruby and Fina that one of their friends is not what they seem... Will the pair evade the spy and find the killer in time to save Fina from the gallows? If you like cozy historical mysteries with a twist, then you'll love Rose Donovan's fashion-spy-amateur sleuth heroes, Ruby Dove and Fina Aubrey-Havelock.

An island off the coast of Italy.A murder.Too many suspects and not enough time.Autumn in Sardinia, 1935.Ruby and Fina find themselves in a world of glamour once again, this time on a private island owned by a famous Italian shoe designer. A riotous guest list of artists, flowing wine, passion and political intrigue guarantee a thrilling time for all. But it could be a little too thrilling unless Ruby and Fina find the murderer. Soon.

A masked ball.Secret negotiations.And a killer with a few tricks up their sleeve.Mardi Gras, 1936.Though the shores of Lake Como Italy may be calm, intrigue roils beneath the surface of the Marchesa’s palatial villa. It’s the only time a cat may dance with a king, Harlequin waltzes with Columbina … and a murderer waits to strike.Ruby and Fina are hoping for a relaxing holiday, enjoying the wintry scenery and delicious food. But while Ruby races to finish the Marchesa’s costume, Fina becomes entangled in what appears to be magic. Pixley, meanwhile, can’t shake the feeling he’s being watched in this villa full of mysteries.Join Ruby, Fina, and Pixley as they uncover a startling truth in this house of mirrors.