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The Maypole Murders
(2025)(The fourth book in the Kit and Mary Aston Mystery series)
A novel by Jack Murray
Morris dancing, maypoles and…murder
As the picturesque village of Upper Outwell buzzes with anticipation for its May Day festivities—complete with Morris dancers, flower garlands, and enough Victoria sponge cakes to require emergency reinforcement of the trestle tables—a shadow falls over the celebrations. A man is discovered dead in the vicarage library, his identity as enigmatic as the circumstances of his murder. Who was he? Why was he killed?
Kit and Mary Aston, a sharp-witted husband-and-wife duo with an uncanny talent for uncovering trouble, investigate. Alongside them is Kit’s indomitable Aunt Agatha, a woman who can dismantle alibis as effortlessly as she downs a glass of Napoleon Brandy, her astute friend Betty Simpson, flamboyant police artist Rufus Watts and Kit's old sparring partner, Chief Inspector Hook. Together, they delve into the labyrinthine secrets of Upper Outwell, where every villager harbours a hidden past but no obvious reason for murder.
As the investigation unfolds, the case takes unexpected twists and turns—through a possible miscarriage of justice, long-buried scandals, a Maypole dance that could conceal deadly intentions and an encounter with a rather carnivorous Pike called Mungo. With each clue, the Aston team inches closer to the truth, but the path is fraught with deception and danger.
Brimming with humour, intrigue, and a finale that will leave readers breathless, The Maypole Murders is a masterful blend of cozy mystery, wry wit, and cunning deduction. Perfect for fans of Agatha Christie, Richard Osman, and anyone who relishes a murder mystery served with a generous helping of tea and scandal. The perfect summer read!
Funny and heartbreaking in equal measure, the first Kit Aston mystery in nearly two years might be the best yet...
Five star reviews from previous Kit Aston mysteries:
"If you haven't yet discovered Jack Murray, his novels are definitely worth a read. He is a clear cut above the rest of the 20's murder mysteries and fills page after page with humour, tension, brilliant writing and wonderfully sculpted characters..."
"I think the Kit Aston series of stories by Jack Murray are the best of the genre."
"...love the various components of characters..prose..and twists and turns…delightful…nicely done..hope this story line continues…I will buy every one!"
Genre: Historical Mystery
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