Murder on the Pier by Merryn Allingham

Murder on the Pier by Merryn Allingham

Meet Flora Steele - bookshop owner, bicycle-rider, daydreamer and amateur detective

Sussex, 1955: When bookshop owner Flora Steele goes for a walk along the pier she isn't expecting to spot a young woman's body in the stormy waters below. And she's shocked to discover the victim is someone she knows...

Convinced the death was not an accident, Flora persuades attractive local crime writer Jack Carrington to help her find out what really happened to poor Polly Dakers, a popular young woman with a complicated love life, who'd been at the heart of village life in Abbeymead.

Jack is reluctant to get involved in another murder case at first but even he can't deny that Polly's fall seems fishy. An argument at a party, a missed hairdresser's appointment and a red woollen bobble found on the wooden boards where Polly last stood provide a trail of clues...

As they grow closer to solving the puzzling mystery, the unlikely pair stumble upon several surprising secrets about those closest to Polly. A number of potential suspects begin to emerge. But who really disliked Polly enough to kill her? Was it Raymond, her jilted first love? Harry, her latest beau? Or Evelyn, Harry's jealous estranged wife?

As the investigation brings them closer to the truth, Flora is intent on unmasking the killer - but will her stealthy sleuthing lead her down a dangerous path?

An utterly delightful cozy crime novel set in the fictional Sussex village of Abbeymead. Perfect for fans of Agatha Christie, Faith Martin and Joy Ellis

Readers love the Flora Steele Mysteries:

'I absolutely love this book I was so captivated by Flora and Jack that I could not put this book down... I absolutely loved the way that this book twists and turns... I cannot wait to read more of the Flora Steele books ' NetGalley, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'What a joy... fabulous village setting... a totally fantastic tale... I highly recommend this outstandingly fabulous book.' Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'Wonderful book I absolutely adored this book ... had me reading and finishing the book in no time I highly recommend this book ... I was drawn into the murder mystery plot instantly.' Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'I loved this book. Flora is the ultimate amateur sleuth; she is fearless, funny, determined, and defiant. I had a lot of fun trying to solve the mystery with her... a cozy, heart-warming, fast read. It felt like Scooby-doo meets Agatha Raisin. I am here for it ... delightful.' Frosta Wings It, ⭐⭐⭐⭐

'Love... The story twisted along, with everyone becoming a suspect... A fab read, that I devoured in a day.' Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐

'Fantastic cozy mystery ... fun to read... This author knows how to keep the reader's attention from the first chapter ' Books and Benches, ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Merryn Allingham was born into an army family and spent her childhood on the move. Unsurprisingly, it gave her itchy feet and in her twenties she escaped from an unloved secretarial career to work as cabin crew and see the world. The arrival of marriage, children and cats meant a more settled life in the south of England where she's lived ever since. It also gave her the opportunity to go back to 'school' and eventually teach at university.

Merryn has always loved books that bring the past to life, so when she began writing herself the novels had to be historical. She finds the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries fascinating eras to research and her first book, The Crystal Cage, had as its background the London of 1851. The Daisy's War trilogy followed, set in India and London during the 1930s and 40s.

Her latest novels explore two pivotal moments in the history of Britain. The Buttonmaker's Daughter is set in Sussex in the summer of 1914 as the First World War looms ever nearer and its sequel, The Secret of Summerhayes, forty years later in the summer of 1944 when D Day led to eventual victory in the Second World War. Along with the history, of course, there is plenty of mystery and romance to keep readers intrigued.
If you would like to keep in touch with Merryn, sign up for her newsletter at www.merrynallingham.com