The Wounded Snake

by Fay Sampson

Overview

Amateur sleuths Hilary Masters and Veronica Taylor face a real-life murder mystery at a crime writing weekend. Is a dark conspiracy unfolding on a West Country estate?

Friends Hilary Masters and Veronica Taylor are eager to embark upon their weekend-long masterclass in crime writing at the evocative, fourteenth-century Morland Abbey, hoping to gain inspiration for their own novels. The queen of crime fiction herself, Dinah Halsgrove, is the guest of honour, giving the opening talk. But when Dinah suddenly falls ill later that evening, the pair can't help being suspicious. Has her mysterious illness been staged by the organisers, or does someone in their writing group have murderous intent?

A series of sinister incidents draw Hilary and Veronica into a real-life murder mystery as gripping as any bestselling crime novel, but the biggest twist is yet to come . . . Can they separate fact from fiction to solve a deadly puzzle?

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780727889300
Publisher:	Severn House
Publication date:	06/01/2019
Series:	A West Country Mystery , #2
Edition description:	First World Publication
Pages:	208
Product dimensions:	5.55(w) x 8.74(h) x (d)

About the Author

Fay Sampson now lives in Devon, after many years abroad. A keen genealogist, she has traced some of her ancestors to before the Norman Conquest, and is constantly adding to her tree. She is the author of both children’s and adult books, many of which are based on history or myths and legends.

Editorial Reviews

2019-03-18
A master class in crime writing unintentionally offers a real murder to solve.

Gavin Standforth is using his reputation, based on one highly successful mystery novel, The Long Crippler, to run a weekendlong class at historic Morland Abbey in Devon, England, now a posh hotel. Hilary Masters, a retired teacher with a love for history, and her recently widowed friend, Veronica Taylor, have signed up. As an added attraction, there is an opening session with 92-year-old Dinah Halsgrove, the reigning queen of crime writing. A mixed bag of attendees enjoys Halsgrove's lecture and the next day's boat trip on the River Dart, which Halsgrove does not attend for the very good reason that she has been found collapsed. That night, Hilary is disturbed by someone attempting to enter her room; it turns out to be Gavin's helper, Melissa, who he claims was sleepwalking. Gavin has divided the wannabe authors into three groups—the Toads, the Snakes, and the Slowworms—and he offers a prize to the person who can explain the derivation. He challenges the group to start off their stories with a strong sense of place, and, to that end, they scatter, looking for inspiration. Hilary visits nearby Totnes and follows the mysterious Leechwell Street to three basins served by three springs that a passer-by tells her have healing powers and are called the Toad, the Snake, and the Long Crippler—which is another name for a slowworm. Some students think Halsgrove's illness is part of a stunt to make the class more interesting, but that idea is quashed when the police arrive asking questions. Hilary and Veronica walk to Totnes to see the well only to find Melissa, who it turns out is Gavin's wife, lying in the Long Crippler. Hilary's CPR attempts fail, and this time the police have no doubts it was murder but are not interested in Hilary and Veronica's theories. Hilary is quite determined to solve the case, but how can she know what might motivate anyone in the disparate group of mystery mavens to kill?

The second (The Wounded Thorn, 2015) in a new series could benefit from some pruning but offers plenty of suspects and does not make it easy to winkle out the killer.

Kirkus Reviews

'Entertaining... the plot twists will keep readers guessing as they turn the pages.'

Booklist

'Entertaining... the plot twists will keep readers guessing as they turn the pages.'

Booklist

'Offers plenty of suspects and does not make it easy to winkle out the killer.' Kirkus Reviews

'Entertaining... the plot twists will keep readers guessing as they turn the pages.' Booklist

'Readers interested in the history of Devon will find plenty to like.' Publishers Weekly

From the Publisher