Book Shopping, Day Seven
I love mysteries. All kinds of mysteries. Historical mysteries, of course. Contemporary mysteries, from cozy to noir. I love the classics—Agatha Christie and Dorothy L. Sayers, Ngaio Marsh and Margery Allingham—and I also love the edgy and quirky books of today. And speaking of quirky, here’s a book-gift idea for the mystery fan on your list.
Dana Fredsti’s Murder for Hire: The Peruvian Pigeon is, of course, a riff on The Maltese Falcon. (Oh, Dashiell Hammett! The Thin Man is another huge favorite.) The story centers on Murder for Hire, Inc., a theatrical troupe which has “pastiched, parodied and lampooned everything from gothics to Sherlock Holmes.” Unfortunately, when MFH is hired to perform at a weekend festival celebrating the life and works of a legendary mystery writer, real murder muscles its way in. MFH impresario (impresaria?) Connie Garrett finds herself knee-deep in fictional detectives, real detectives, and dead bodies. Will one of them be her own? Will the show go on?
This is a delightful tale, twisty and funny, crammed with an insider’s knowledge of acting and the entertainment industry. A perfect stocking stuffer for your favorite mystery fan.
Order Murder for Hire: The Peruvian Pigeon from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Books-a-Million, Yellowback Mysteries, or your favorite independent bookstore.
The Second Duchess
Read the First Chapter
The Second Duchess is available on iBookstore!
