Short Synopsis
Dorothy Cannell presents Book 1 in the Ellie Haskell Mysteries series.

Full Synopsis
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.