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And Hope to Die
(1995)(The fifth book in the Philipa Lowe and Oliver Simpson series)
A novel by Roger Ormerod
Philipa Lowe doesn't consider herself a detective.
And yet she often finds herself in the middle of a case.
This time it's at an auction sale at a large country estate.
Following the suicide of the owner, Richard Drew, the house and contents must be sold off, leaving the family in a vulnerable state.
One item for sale is a painting by her late husband, Graham Tonkin, and Philipa is asked to judge whether it is authentic.
On her arrival, she's taken into the confidence of Pattie Drew, who believes her father didn't commit suicide.
If Philipa can prove it was murder, the life insurance company will pay out, saving the family from financial ruin.
The problem is, Richard Drew was found shot in the library which was locked from the inside.
When Philipa inspects the painting - which is kept in the locked library - and notices the subject's birthmark is missing, she deems it a fake.
But the birthmark is present in the painting the next morning.
Does this mean there is another entrance to the library?
Was it suicide, or murder?
Philipa delves into the family's history and finds some troubling facts.
And as she navigates the murky waters of the Drews' past, she must decide how deep she's willing to go.
Deep enough to warrant her own death?
'And Hope to Die' is a fast-paced mystery that will keep readers guessing till the end.
"Eclectic, underrated Ormerod can be relied upon to come up with the startling goods" Sunday Times
"I am glad to announce that the detective novel is still alive and well in Mr Ormerod's skillful hands" The Spectator
Roger Ormerod was a prolific writer of ingenious and densely plotted crime novels. He lived in Wolverhampton and amongst other things worked as a civil servant and as a Social Security inspector - backgrounds which he made full use of in his fiction, as he did with his hobbies of painting and photography.
Genre: Mystery
And yet she often finds herself in the middle of a case.
This time it's at an auction sale at a large country estate.
Following the suicide of the owner, Richard Drew, the house and contents must be sold off, leaving the family in a vulnerable state.
One item for sale is a painting by her late husband, Graham Tonkin, and Philipa is asked to judge whether it is authentic.
On her arrival, she's taken into the confidence of Pattie Drew, who believes her father didn't commit suicide.
If Philipa can prove it was murder, the life insurance company will pay out, saving the family from financial ruin.
The problem is, Richard Drew was found shot in the library which was locked from the inside.
When Philipa inspects the painting - which is kept in the locked library - and notices the subject's birthmark is missing, she deems it a fake.
But the birthmark is present in the painting the next morning.
Does this mean there is another entrance to the library?
Was it suicide, or murder?
Philipa delves into the family's history and finds some troubling facts.
And as she navigates the murky waters of the Drews' past, she must decide how deep she's willing to go.
Deep enough to warrant her own death?
'And Hope to Die' is a fast-paced mystery that will keep readers guessing till the end.
Praise for Roger Ormerod:
"Eclectic, underrated Ormerod can be relied upon to come up with the startling goods" Sunday Times
"I am glad to announce that the detective novel is still alive and well in Mr Ormerod's skillful hands" The Spectator
Roger Ormerod was a prolific writer of ingenious and densely plotted crime novels. He lived in Wolverhampton and amongst other things worked as a civil servant and as a Social Security inspector - backgrounds which he made full use of in his fiction, as he did with his hobbies of painting and photography.
Genre: Mystery
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