Murder on the English Coast

In the third installment of the Four Queens of Crime mystery series, DCI Lilian Wyles is settling into retirement by the sea, until a murder derails all her plans.

1949, England. After thirty years of service, DCI Lilian Wyles is happily retired on the English coast. Launching a new life adventure, she now co-owns a guest house in Torquay with her best friend Elspeth.  

Meanwhile, Ngaio Marsh is finally returning to England after ten long years, and Agatha Christie has the clever idea to host a week-long reunion for the four queens of crime at Lilian’s guest house. With the arrival of Dorothy L. Sayers, Margery Allingham, and Lilian’s former colleague DCI May Lee, the group is a full house. 

The reunion celebration starts off brilliantly, until they stumble upon a body and realize that the guest house may be central to a local murder. Meanwhile, town gossip has labelled the guest house cursed, and they begin to experience mysterious incidents that validate the rumors. When Lilian’s former CID partner, Richard Davidson—currently in MI5—joins the crew, he admits he’s on the job, tracking enemy agents he suspects are being smuggled into England nearby.  

Understanding there is an escalating threat of a new invisible war—the race for the Bomb—this seemingly innocent-looking seaside town is now ominous. Full of potential murder suspects, enemy agents, and international intrigue, this quiet holiday will turn into the highest-stakes mission the group has ever faced.