This Private Plot

February 10, 2014
Quiet country life turns out to be anything but in Beechey’s entertaining third mystery featuring children’s author Oliver Swithin (after 1999’s Murdering Ministers). During a nighttime stroll in the English village of Synne, Oliver discovers a dead body hanging from a tree. Oliver recognizes the corpse as Dennis Breedlove, a well-known children’s radio star known as Uncle. From the length of the rope, Oliver believes the cause of death is murder, not suicide (as the village police suspect). Meanwhile, Oliver’s uncle, Det. Supt. Tim Mallard of Scotland Yard’s Serious Crime Directorate, is in Synne rehearsing for an amateur performance of Hamlet. While Mallard warns Oliver and his girlfriend, Scotland Yard detective Effie Strongitharm, not to interfere, they cannot resist investigating. The author provides numerous colorful suspects and several red herrings leading up to a riotous, yet suspenseful resolution that takes place during the final scene of the Hamlet performance.

May 1, 2014
Oliver Swithin, a children's book author, and his girlfriend, Scotland Yard Sergeant Effie Strongitharm, are visiting his parents in the Cotswolds village of Synne. Effie decides that, following an ancient local custom, a nude nighttime streak across the common will get Oliver over his funk at being in the country. Running into her boss and his wife, Oliver's aunt, who are also observing the custom, ruins the mood. If that weren't enough, Oliver discovers a body hanging from the local gallows tree. The deceased is Dennis Breedlove, a former radio broadcaster, and the police think that it is suicide. Oliver does not agree and finds evidence of blackmail. The investigation reveals a small town full of secrets. This snarky cozy is full of humor and British quirkiness. Agatha Christie meets Monty Python.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2014, American Library Association.)