Beyond reasonable doubt

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Minette Walters

Based on the true story of the 'Chicken Farm Murder' which took place in East Sussex in 1924, Minette Walters brings a thrilling interpretation to this real-life mystery. Young Norman Roche gets caught up with Elsie Cameron and promises to marry her under duress. He buys a chicken farm to try to raise the funds for the wedding. But under financial and emotional stress, he finds himself in an untenable situation ... but does he resort to murder to escape Elsie's clutches?

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Celia Fremlin

Alice Saunders, striking out on her own following the traumatic break-up of her marriage, rents an attic room in a London boarding house. The house contains a curious assortment of people, including the neurotic Mary, who resents Alice's occupation of the attic, and is trying to conceal a murder.

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David Roberts

Verity Browne returns from Prague, where she is reporting for the "New Gazette", with suspected tuberculosis. Lord Edward Corinth to whom she is engaged is naturally desperately anxious about her. The only cure for TB in 1938 is rest and a healthy diet so he suggests she go to a private clinic in Henley-on-Thames run by a Cambridge friend of his, Dr Leonard Bladon. It is convenient for Edward as he can keep an eye on her while he investigates the sadistic murder of his dentist, Eric Silver whose death has a Henley connection. Edward had been his dentist's last appointment during which Silver had told him that he believed three elderly patients of his had been murdered. What was more, Silver had identified an entomological connection between the killings. General Lowther had had a heart attack drinking a wine called Clos des Mouches, Hermione Totteridge, a well-known gardener, had been poisoned by the new insecticide with which she had been experimenting, and James Herold had been stung to death by his bees. All three had lived in or near Henley. Edward goes to stay with his old friend Harry Makin who had recently come back to England from Africa as he had inherited a title and a property in Henley. Edward's investigation comes to a thrilling climax during what many believe will be the last Henley Royal Regatta before a new European war. Both Edward and Verity face death from someone or something wicked.

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M.C. Beaton

The vicar of a nearby village persuades Agatha Raisin to help publicise a church fête. Agatha brings out the crowds for the fête, but there's more going on than innocent village fun. Several of the offerings in the jam-tasting booth turn out to be poisoned, and the festive family event becomes the scene of two murders. Along with her young and (much to her dismay) pretty sidekick, Toni, Agatha must uncover the truth behind the jam tampering, keep the church funds safe from theft, and expose the nasty secrets lurking in the village - all while falling for handsome George Selby, who may have secrets of his own.