Voted one of the 100 Favorite Mysteries of the 20th Century by the Independent Mystery Booksellers Association of America



In this delectable debut that earned her instant acclaim, award-winning author Dorothy Cannell serves up a cozy murder mystery to be savored . . .



Ellie Simons stands to inherit her Uncle Merlin's huge English country house. But on three utterly bizarre conditions. One: she must lose sixty-three pounds (rude!). Two: she must marry the fake fiancé she's been passing off as her true love all weekend. And three: she must catch whoever killed Uncle Merlin in the first place.



Her family constantly mock her single status (and her weight!), so Ellie hired a boyfriend for this latest awful family reunion at Merlin's Court. Bentley T. Haskell is devastatingly handsome and so annoying—and he's making this fake engagement very difficult . . .



But Bentley and her catty family are the least of Ellie's worries. Uncle Merlin's death looks more than a little bit like murder. Which can only mean one thing. One of her horrid relatives is the killer . . .



AN UTTERLY CHARMING ENGLISH COZY MURDER MYSTERY TO SINK YOUR TEETH INTO.