A local businessman disappears during a meal shared by old friends. When he is later found dead, DI Munro must cut through a densely-woven web of deceit to find out why.

The Carduccis and the Buchanans have been best of friends for years, but simmering under the surface are

long-held jealousies

and disagreements that only the

criminal affairs

of the men have kept at bay.When, during a meal, Angus Buchanan steps out of the house to fetch a bottle of wine from the car and subsequently

disappears

, the police are quickly informed. But when the most likely explanations are ruled out, detectives Munro and West are called upon to

investigate possible foul play

.When Buchanan is later found, having

suffered a violent death

, pathology rules out natural causes and it becomes clear that a terrible murder has occurred. Faced with the

lack of real cooperation

from the parties involved, who are clearly protecting their nefarious business interests, the man responsible for Buchanan's death is found relatively quickly. But when he pretty much

laughs in the face of the detectives' accusations

, Munro and West realise that there must be much bigger fish to fry.In an investigation that takes them as far afield as

Oslo, Norway,

and into the past of a troubled Polish man, Munro's dream of a tranquil life in the countryside is further put on hold, and the ever ravenous Charlie West, must continue to battle the ways and mores of a

Scottish backwater

without losing her cool.With more red herrings than a Norwegian fishing boat in the sunset, DUPLICITY is a

highly entertaining

cosy Scandinavian-style murder mystery that will appeal to anyone who enjoys a

gripping read

where guessing the identity of the murderer is key.DUPLICITY is the fourth novel by Pete Brassett to feature Detective Inspector James Munro and Detective Sergeant Charlotte West. The books can be enjoyed as stand-alone titles or as part of a series. The full list, in order of publication, is as follows:1. SHE2. AVARICE3. ENMITY4. DUPLICITY5. TERMINUS6. TALION7. PERDITION8. RANCOUR9. PENITENT10. TURPITUDE11. HUBRIS12. PENURY13. RUSEAll these books are available FREE with Kindle Unlimited, and in paperback.

Murder strikes a sour note at a jazz concert in this classic detective novel from the Mystery Writers of America Grand Master.

Lord Pastern and Bagott is given to passionate, peculiar enthusiasms, the latest of which is drumming in a jazz band. His wife is not amused, and she is even less so when her daughter falls for Carlos Rivera, the band’s sleazy accordion player. Nobody likes Rivera very much, so there’s a wealth of suspects when he is shot in the middle of a performance. Happily, Inspector Alleyn is in the audience, ready to make a killer face the music.

Also published under the title

A Wreath for Rivera“A succulent novel.” —

The New York Times

A grand party in a snowbound mansion, a dead body beside the Christmas tree, and a master detective on hand to crack the case.

England, 1926. Lord Edgington and his loyal assistant embark on a Christmas holiday only for a blizzard to block their path. Forced to seek shelter, they find a remote manor where a group of famous actors are celebrating the season. But the luxurious house at Weston Moor is not the sanctuary it seems. One of its inhabitants hides a dark past and, when an intruder spoils the party, the first body falls.Past scandals, a stolen fortune, and hidden secrets come to light as the clock ticks closer to Christmas Day and the body count rises. But will the incognito sleuth, his hapless grandson, and their well-fed golden retriever be able to catch the killer before it’s time for Christmas dinner?A warm and witty golden-age whodunit featuring a unique cast of characters, a cunning conclusion and plenty of Christmas cheer. “The Snows of Weston Moor” is a festive mix of Agatha Christie's “The Sittaford Mystery” and “Hercule Poirot’s Christmas” with a dash of Downton Abbey thrown in.This is a spoiler-free entry in the bestselling “Lord Edgington Investigates” series. It can be read as a standalone novel and does not give away any secrets from the previous books.

For unwed mother Nell Lillington, 1876 Chicago—and her new wealth—offer the promise of longed-for independence. She dreams of a place in society for her daughter Sarah and contentment for her friend Tess. Yet how can she settle in a town where she’s far too likely to run into Martin Rutherford and his glittering, faithless wife, Lucetta? Can she resist her love for Martin for Sarah’s sake?Martin was doubtless joking when he told Nell that if she got herself mixed up with a murderer for the third time, he’d disown her. But when Martin himself is arrested for murder, Nell’s dreams appear to be swallowed up in the new web of secrets she constructs to help him. Secrets that threaten to alienate Tess, Sarah, and even Martin . . .The third book in the House of Closed Doors series will take you to a Chicago teeming with opportunistic new Americans, luxury-loving merchant princes and hard-hearted denizens of the underworld.