New Daisy Dalrymple mystery!
The Corpse at the Crystal Palace (Daisy Dalrynple Book 23)
Author: Carola Dunn
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Release Date: July 3, 2018
Synopsis:
Daisy decides to take the whole family for an outing to the Crystal Palace, including her 3-year-old twins, their nurse and nurserymaid, and two young visiting cousins. On reaching the immense glass building, filled with exhibits as well as statuary, trees, and fountains, they split up to follow their various interests.
When it's time to rendezvous, Daisy discovers that Nanny has left the twins with the youthful nurserymaid, Bertha, and gone to the ladies room. Bertha says she's been gone for ages. Also, Daisy's stepdaughter Belinda and the two cousins have not turned up. Daisy leaves her friend Sakari in charge and goes in search of Nanny.
In the restroom she finds no trace of Nanny. But in one of the stalls is a different nurse who appears to be very very dead.
In the meantime, Belinda and the boys have spotted the twins' Nanny following yet another nurse. Intrigued, they surreptitiously trail the pair through the building and out into the extensive park. They lose sight of them for a moment, then round a bend to find Nanny sprawled unconscious in a pond.
Daisy's husband, DCI Alec Fletcher, takes over the investigation. Daisy, however, is very worried about Nanny, who has lost all memory of everything that happened after she left the twins. Surely she couldn't possibly have been somehow mixed up in the death of the second nanny, which turns out to be murder--with a very strange twist!
Buy links:
(Available in hardcover, ebook, and audio)
https://www.amazon.com/Corpse-Crystal-Palace-Dalrymple-Mysteries/dp/1250047056/ref
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Corpse-Crystal-Palace-Daisy-Dalrymple/dp/1472125444/ref
https://www.waterstones.com/book/the-corpse-at-the-crystal-palace/carola-dunn/9781472125446
The Corpse at the Crystal Palace (Daisy Dalrynple Book 23)
Author: Carola Dunn
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Release Date: July 3, 2018
Synopsis:
Daisy decides to take the whole family for an outing to the Crystal Palace, including her 3-year-old twins, their nurse and nurserymaid, and two young visiting cousins. On reaching the immense glass building, filled with exhibits as well as statuary, trees, and fountains, they split up to follow their various interests.
When it's time to rendezvous, Daisy discovers that Nanny has left the twins with the youthful nurserymaid, Bertha, and gone to the ladies room. Bertha says she's been gone for ages. Also, Daisy's stepdaughter Belinda and the two cousins have not turned up. Daisy leaves her friend Sakari in charge and goes in search of Nanny.
In the restroom she finds no trace of Nanny. But in one of the stalls is a different nurse who appears to be very very dead.
In the meantime, Belinda and the boys have spotted the twins' Nanny following yet another nurse. Intrigued, they surreptitiously trail the pair through the building and out into the extensive park. They lose sight of them for a moment, then round a bend to find Nanny sprawled unconscious in a pond.
Daisy's husband, DCI Alec Fletcher, takes over the investigation. Daisy, however, is very worried about Nanny, who has lost all memory of everything that happened after she left the twins. Surely she couldn't possibly have been somehow mixed up in the death of the second nanny, which turns out to be murder--with a very strange twist!
Buy links:
(Available in hardcover, ebook, and audio)
https://www.amazon.com/Corpse-Crystal-Palace-Dalrymple-Mysteries/dp/1250047056/ref
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Corpse-Crystal-Palace-Daisy-Dalrymple/dp/1472125444/ref
https://www.waterstones.com/book/the-corpse-at-the-crystal-palace/carola-dunn/9781472125446
EXCERPT:
[Daisy] and Tom went through to the inner room. "It's the far end. The last door. I left the door exactly as I found it."
"You didn't touch her?"
"Only to try to find a pulse in her neck. I didn't...disarrange her at all."
Tom nodded approval. He went on and Daisy followed a few feet behind, noting sadly how he had lost the lightfootedness that had always characterised his walk, despite his bulk. Stopping halfway, she watched him enter the last cubicle.
Not more than a minute and a half later, he came out and beckoned to her.
"She's dead. No obvious sign of injury. I hate to ask this, Mrs. Fletcher, but seeing I'm not strictly a copper, I'd like a corroborative witness. Would it upset you to take a quick look? Just so you could say it's the identical body you found and I've left it as you found it."
"No visible injuries? I don't mind, then."
"Just one thing. I've moved the hat and wig—you were right about that—to show the face. I'll put them back when you've looked at the face. Seeing your nurse has gone missing—"
"I'm sure it's not her."
"I'm sure you're right. But maybe it's a friend of hers you've seen before."
"She wouldn't have a friend come to the house, or stop and talk to one if I were with her."
"Still, you never know. Not that it's my business these days, but humour an old man's curiosity, will you?"
"You'll never be old, Tom, but all right."
"Here." He handed her a small electric torch. "Never go anywhere without one."
Daisy took it and went past him into the cubicle. Though willing, she wasn't exactly keen on examining the dead woman. Keeping the torch beam on the floor, she gave her a cursory glance below the neck. Everything looked the same as before. Then she flashed the beam quickly on her face. She frowned, puzzled.
"She does look sort of familiar," she admitted, leaving the cubicle, "but I can't place her. And she seems a bit odd, too, though I'm not sure why."
Tom was wearing his inscrutable expression. "Ah. No doubt you'll mention that to the officer who comes to investigate."
"It's just a feeling. Alec would say—"
"Aunt Daisy!" The anguished cry came from the entrance.
Daisy and Tom swung round. Mrs. Hatch had Charlie by the ear. At least the children had turned up, Daisy thought thankfully as she hurried over.
"Charlie, you shouldn't come in here!"
"Mrs. Aunt Sakari said to. Make the old witch let me go!" He aimed a kick at the attendant's skinny ankle.
Mrs. Hatch dodged with surprising agility, keeping a hold on his ear and screeching an unprintable comment about heathen brats.
"Let go of him," said Daisy in the grande dame voice she'd learned from her mother. "Charlie, apologise for being rude."
"Sorry," he muttered. "But, Aunt Daisy, it's urgent. We found Mrs. Gilpin in the water with the monsters and she's not moving and Ben and Bel went in to try and pull her out and Bel told me to fetch Mr. Uncle Tom Tring. So will you come, please, sir, quick!"
[Daisy] and Tom went through to the inner room. "It's the far end. The last door. I left the door exactly as I found it."
"You didn't touch her?"
"Only to try to find a pulse in her neck. I didn't...disarrange her at all."
Tom nodded approval. He went on and Daisy followed a few feet behind, noting sadly how he had lost the lightfootedness that had always characterised his walk, despite his bulk. Stopping halfway, she watched him enter the last cubicle.
Not more than a minute and a half later, he came out and beckoned to her.
"She's dead. No obvious sign of injury. I hate to ask this, Mrs. Fletcher, but seeing I'm not strictly a copper, I'd like a corroborative witness. Would it upset you to take a quick look? Just so you could say it's the identical body you found and I've left it as you found it."
"No visible injuries? I don't mind, then."
"Just one thing. I've moved the hat and wig—you were right about that—to show the face. I'll put them back when you've looked at the face. Seeing your nurse has gone missing—"
"I'm sure it's not her."
"I'm sure you're right. But maybe it's a friend of hers you've seen before."
"She wouldn't have a friend come to the house, or stop and talk to one if I were with her."
"Still, you never know. Not that it's my business these days, but humour an old man's curiosity, will you?"
"You'll never be old, Tom, but all right."
"Here." He handed her a small electric torch. "Never go anywhere without one."
Daisy took it and went past him into the cubicle. Though willing, she wasn't exactly keen on examining the dead woman. Keeping the torch beam on the floor, she gave her a cursory glance below the neck. Everything looked the same as before. Then she flashed the beam quickly on her face. She frowned, puzzled.
"She does look sort of familiar," she admitted, leaving the cubicle, "but I can't place her. And she seems a bit odd, too, though I'm not sure why."
Tom was wearing his inscrutable expression. "Ah. No doubt you'll mention that to the officer who comes to investigate."
"It's just a feeling. Alec would say—"
"Aunt Daisy!" The anguished cry came from the entrance.
Daisy and Tom swung round. Mrs. Hatch had Charlie by the ear. At least the children had turned up, Daisy thought thankfully as she hurried over.
"Charlie, you shouldn't come in here!"
"Mrs. Aunt Sakari said to. Make the old witch let me go!" He aimed a kick at the attendant's skinny ankle.
Mrs. Hatch dodged with surprising agility, keeping a hold on his ear and screeching an unprintable comment about heathen brats.
"Let go of him," said Daisy in the grande dame voice she'd learned from her mother. "Charlie, apologise for being rude."
"Sorry," he muttered. "But, Aunt Daisy, it's urgent. We found Mrs. Gilpin in the water with the monsters and she's not moving and Ben and Bel went in to try and pull her out and Bel told me to fetch Mr. Uncle Tom Tring. So will you come, please, sir, quick!"
About the Author:
Carola Dunn was born and grew up in England and now lives in the US. She is the author of 23 Daisy Dalrymple mysteries, 4 Cornish mysteries, and 32 Regencies. She is a member of Sisters in Crime.
Contact the Author:
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/Carola.Dunn.Author/
https://www.facebook.com/DaisyDalrympleMysteries/
https://www.facebook.com/CornishMysteries/
https://www.facebook.com/RegenciesByCarolaDunn/
Website:
https://caroladunn.weebly.com/
Amazon Author page:
https://www.amazon.com/author/caroladunn
Carola Dunn was born and grew up in England and now lives in the US. She is the author of 23 Daisy Dalrymple mysteries, 4 Cornish mysteries, and 32 Regencies. She is a member of Sisters in Crime.
Contact the Author:
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/Carola.Dunn.Author/
https://www.facebook.com/DaisyDalrympleMysteries/
https://www.facebook.com/CornishMysteries/
https://www.facebook.com/RegenciesByCarolaDunn/
Website:
https://caroladunn.weebly.com/
Amazon Author page:
https://www.amazon.com/author/caroladunn
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