Murder at the Villa Byzantine
Feb 2011 · Hachette UK
Ebook
224
Pages
family_home
Eligible
info
reportRatings and reviews aren’t verified Learn More
About this ebook
What role does the mysterious Miss Hope, former governess to the Bulgarian royal family, play in the bizarre murder at the Villa Byzantine? And does she in fact actually exist?
Antonia Darcy and Major Hugh Payne attend a birthday party for one of their Hampstead neighbours, little knowing they will end up investigating the grisly death of one of Melisande Chevret's other guests. The ageing actress becomes a natural suspect when her love rival is killed. But after that first murder, another murder takes place at the Villa Byzantine. The owner of the exotically styled house is royal biographer Tancred Vane, but he swears he is innocent. And surely his new friend Catherine Hope, an elderly lady helping him with his research, can have nothing to do with it?
It looks as though the victim's daughter is to blame - but how likely is it that a teenage girl should have a dainty silk handkerchief bearing her monogram? And would she drop it so conveniently beside her mother's dead body?
Praise for R.T. Raichev:
'Deftly mixes dark humor and psychological suspense, its genteel surface masking delicious deviancy.'
Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
'Fascinating ... Recalls the best of the Golden Age of Detective fiction.'
Lady Antonia Fraser
'Mixes Henry James's psychological insight with Agatha Christie's whodunit plotting skills ... Raichev once again triumphs.'
Library Journal (starred review)
'I have read all of Raichev's books. They are very clever. I really am a fan.'
R.L. Stine
'A whodunit with more twists than a snake in a basket.'
Robert Barnard, Golden Dagger winner
'Adds a P. D. Jamesian subtlety to the comfortable Christie formula. Antonia Darcy is a terrific sleuth, and Raichev is a very clever writer, indeed.'
Booklist
Antonia Darcy and Major Hugh Payne attend a birthday party for one of their Hampstead neighbours, little knowing they will end up investigating the grisly death of one of Melisande Chevret's other guests. The ageing actress becomes a natural suspect when her love rival is killed. But after that first murder, another murder takes place at the Villa Byzantine. The owner of the exotically styled house is royal biographer Tancred Vane, but he swears he is innocent. And surely his new friend Catherine Hope, an elderly lady helping him with his research, can have nothing to do with it?
It looks as though the victim's daughter is to blame - but how likely is it that a teenage girl should have a dainty silk handkerchief bearing her monogram? And would she drop it so conveniently beside her mother's dead body?
Praise for R.T. Raichev:
'Deftly mixes dark humor and psychological suspense, its genteel surface masking delicious deviancy.'
Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
'Fascinating ... Recalls the best of the Golden Age of Detective fiction.'
Lady Antonia Fraser
'Mixes Henry James's psychological insight with Agatha Christie's whodunit plotting skills ... Raichev once again triumphs.'
Library Journal (starred review)
'I have read all of Raichev's books. They are very clever. I really am a fan.'
R.L. Stine
'A whodunit with more twists than a snake in a basket.'
Robert Barnard, Golden Dagger winner
'Adds a P. D. Jamesian subtlety to the comfortable Christie formula. Antonia Darcy is a terrific sleuth, and Raichev is a very clever writer, indeed.'
Booklist
About the author
R T Raichev is a researcher and writer who grew up in Bulgaria. He has lived in London since 1989 and all his previous titles were published by Constable.
Rate this ebook
Tell us what you think.
Reading information
Smartphones and tablets
Install the Google Play Books app for Android and iPad/iPhone. It syncs automatically with your account and allows you to read online or offline wherever you are.
Laptops and computers
You can listen to audiobooks purchased on Google Play using your computer's web browser.
eReaders and other devices
To read on e-ink devices like Kobo eReaders, you'll need to download a file and transfer it to your device. Follow the detailed Help Center instructions to transfer the files to supported eReaders.
