Murder in Steeple Martin (Libby Sarjeant Series #1)

by Lesley Cookman

Overview

THERE'S A BAFFLING MYSTERY IN THE VILLAGE OF STEEPLE MARTIN...BUT ACTRESS AND AMATEUR SLEUTH LIBBY SARJEANT IS ON THE CASE!

'The characters are so likeable. I would love to visit the mythical Steeple Martin!' ***** GoodReads review

Libby Sarjeant, former actress and artist, loves life in the idyllic English countryside. She's busy with her friends preparing a play for the pretty new Oast House Theatre in Steeple Martin when there's suddenly news of a baffling mystery - the murder of a cast member.

Written by Libby's friend Peter, the play is based on real events from his family's history, and it seems that these events still cast a long shadow in Steeple Martin. From the Pink Geranium restaurant to the Manor Farm, Libby risks causing a scene as she uncovers secrets hidden in the village.

Can Libby, with best friend Fran and Sidney the cat in tow, find the culprit and get her show on the road?

The first book in Lesley Cookman's bestselling series featuring amateur sleuth Libby Sarjeant, this unputdownable cozy crime novel is perfect for fans of Betty Rowlands, Faith Martin, J.R. Ellis, LJ Ross, Miss Marple and Midsummer Murders.
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Praise for the bestselling series:

'Cozy village mystery with an amateur theater and links to the past. What's not to love?' ***** Goodreads reviewer

'Absolutely fabulous read. I couldn't put it down and had to finish it, reading through bath, breakfast and getting dressed' ***** Goodreads review

'I'm surprised this is not a BBC series... it's that good and I for one intend to read more of Libby's adventures' ***** Goodreads review

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781908917072
Publisher:	Headline
Publication date:	05/01/2012
Series:	A Libby Sarjeant Murder Mystery Series , #1
Sold by:	Hachette Digital, Inc.
Format:	eBook
Pages:	309
File size:	2 MB

About the Author

Like many authors, Lesley started writing stories as a child. After a checquered beginning, including jobs as varied as actor, model, cabin crew and nightclub DJ, she fell into feature writing for publications including Business Matters, Which Computer and Poultry Farmers Weekly.

She progressed to short stories for the vibrant Women's magazine market and, following a Master's Degree where she met her publisher, she turned to her first literary love of Traditional British Mysteries. The Libby Sarjeant series is still going strong, and has been joined by The Alexandrians, an Edwardian mystery series.


Lesley also continues to work with her local theatre, which often finds its way into her books.

Read an Excerpt

Number 17 Allhallow's Lane was in the middle of a terrace of three, red-bricked with small white-painted windows, and a step down to trap the unwary immediately behind the front door.

Sidney, a large silver tabby with an unpredictable nature, glared at Libby from his vantage point half-way up the stairs as she tripped down the step.

'All right, I know I'm late,' she said and wondered why she was saying it. There was no need to apologise, no excuses to make, nobody to placate. Not now. Not at all - not ever, if she didn't want to. But old habits died hard. After twenty years of living with other people, being on one's own came as rather a shock and not always a welcome shock at that, if she were honest. She wove her way between assorted tables and chairs, displacing several newspapers, books and typescripts as she did so and switched on the kitchen light. Sidney had been at the bread bin again.

'Listen,' she said, as he jumped up on to the table, having tried the Rayburn once or twice and suffered the indignity of burnt paws. 'You are not a vegetarian - neither am I. And cats don't like bread.'

She moved the big kettle on to the hot-plate and hunted round for the half-full tin of cat food.

'There,' she said, decanting it into a chipped Victorian saucer. 'Get on with that and shut up.'

She made her coffee, took it into the living room and sat down by the empty fireplace. The script of The Hop Pickers lay on the hearth, interleaved with pages of untidy notes. She picked it up and riffled through it.

She had been so enthusiastic about this project, everything falling into place just as she was in the process of buying the cottage. Peter's lovely play and the newly converted Oast House theatre had fired her imagination and given her an entree into the village community. But now her enthusiasm was ebbing away, leaving behind it a flat, uncomfortable sensation rather like thinking there was an extra step and finding that there wasn't.

'It isn't fair, you know,' she said out loud to Sidney, who spread himself out on her feet and gave a desultory purr. 'After all I've been through, this bit should go right.'

Sidney opened one eye to a slit and slowly closed it again.

Sighing, she began to read the first page of the script where the young Hetty met the handsome young squire's son Gregory. Incredible really, that this positively Shakespearean plot should be true and should actually have happened to people still living here.

Table of Contents

Chapter One: 1

Chaoter Two: 10

Chapter Three: 22

Chapter Four: 28

Chapter Five: 38

Chapter Six: 47

Chapter Seven: 56

Chapter Eight: 68

Chapter Nine: 87

Chapter Ten: 91

Chapter Elevne: 109

Chapter Twelve: 126

Chapter Thirteen: 141

Chapter Fourteen: 148

Chapter Fifteen: 153

Chapter Sixteen: 161

Chapter Seventeen: 170

Chapter Eighteen: 183

Chapter Nineteen: 192

Chapter Twenty: 203

Chapter Twenty One: 224

Chapter Twenty Two: 231

Chapter Twenty Three: 234

Chapter Twenty Four: 250

Chapter Twenty Five: 254

Chapter Twenty Six: 264

Chapter Twenty Seven: 276

Chapter Twenty Eight: 285

Chapter Twenty Nine: 294

Chapter Thirty: 305

Chapter Thirty One: 316

Chapter Thirty Two: 327

Chapter Thirty Three: 340

Chapter Thirty Four: 349

Editorial Reviews

With facinating characters and intriguing plot, this is a real page turner. Katie Fforde



Take Murder in Steeple Martin on the plane with you, and annoy your fellow-passengers by laughing out loud. Judith Cutler in Shots Magazine

From the Publisher

The stories feature ex-actress Libby Sarjeant and are set in a small village in Kent.

'Delightful. The characters are quirky, the dialogue witty, and the plot revolves around the theatre. I’m really looking forward to getting my hands on the others. A hit for all you lovers of the traditional English cosy.’

Marian Misters

SLEUTH OF BAKER STREET - Marian Misters

The stories feature ex-actress Libby Sarjeant and are set in a small village in Kent.

'Delightful. The characters are quirky, the dialogue witty, and the plot revolves around the theatre. I’m really looking forward to getting my hands on the others. A hit for all you lovers of the traditional English cosy.’

 

Marian Misters

— Marian Misters

SLEUTH OF BAKER STREET