Synopses & Reviews
Agatha Award-winning author G. M. Malliet has charmed mystery lovers, cozy fans, and Agatha Christie devotees everywhere with
Wicked Autumn,
A Fatal Winter, and
Pagan Spring, the critically acclaimed mysteries featuring handsome former-spy-turned-cleric Father Max Tudor.
In A Demon Summer, someone has been trying to poison the 15th Earl of Lislelivet. Since Lord Lislelivet has a gift for making enemies, no one—particularly his wife—finds this too surprising. What is surprising is that the poison was discovered in a fruitcake made and sold by the Handmaids of St. Lucy of Monkbury Abbey. Max Tudor, vicar of Nether Monkslip and former MI5 agent, is asked to investigate. But just as Max comes to believe the poisoning was accidental, a body is discovered in the cloister well.
G.M. Malliet continues to delight readers in this standout mystery, the fourth book in her clever and engaging Max Tudor series.
Review
“Entertaining . . . The ending with a traditional gathering of the subjects will please Golden Age fans.” —
Publishers WeeklyPraise for Wicked Autumn
"A contemporary and deliciously wicked homage to Agatha Christie's village mysteries, with an equally delicious hero who is infinitely sexier than Miss Marple."—Deborah Crombie, New York Times bestselling author of Necessary as Blood
"A tongue-in-cheek village mystery to be savored."
—Julia Spencer-Fleming
"Provid[es] the sort of comfort a quintessential cozy can offer."
—Kirkus
Review
Praise for
Wicked AutumnAgatha Award Finalist
Included in the Today Shows “Sizzling Summer Reads”
“Best Mysteries of 2011”— Library Journal and The Boston Globe
“A superb novel! … A wonderful read.”
—Louise Penny, author of A Trick of the Light
“If you love traditional mysteries youll enjoy Wicked Autumn... Its a classic.”
—Charlaine Harris, author of the True Blood series
Praise for A Fatal Winter
Finalist for the Agatha Award
“Agatha Christie fans will relish Malliets delicious second Max Tudor novel.”
—Publishers Weekly (starred review)
“For Louise Penny fans.”
―Library Journal (starred review; a top mystery pick for 2012)
Praise for Pagan Spring
Nominated for an Agatha Award
“A well-told tale whose greatest beauty, its charming cast of characters, binds together two generations.” —Kirkus Reviews
Review
“Highly entertaining… Wry humor permeates A Demon Summer. After all, haven't most of us thought that fruitcakes were, in some way, lethal? Yet Malliet also weaves in a serious subplot about families, devotion and the reasons that attract some people to a near cloistered life. Each visit to Nether Monkslip with its mix of eccentric and ordinary residents has been a delight. A Demon Summer pays tribute to the village mystery while showing its relevance to modern times.” -Associated Press
“Wittier than Louise Penny, lighter than Tana French, smarter than Deborah Crombie, G.M. Malliet has made a name for herself with her cozy-but-cutting English mysteries. A Demon Summer makes the case that she may be the best mystery author writing in English at the moment (along with French). She's certainly the most entertaining, with her delightful but surprisingly deep series about sleuthing vicar Max Tudor… As usual, Malliet's story is filled with gorgeous descriptions of scenery and food, cutting wit and profound insight about the human condition. More than a few references to Penny's The Beautiful Mystery, set in a Canadian monastery, are a nice, winky touch, too.” -Cleveland Plain Dealer
“With clever plotting that draws on classic elements of the British village mystery, characters conceived with care, an evocative setting and frequent doses of humor to leaven the inevitable sadness, Malliet continues her elegant and entertaining series, one that discerning fans of the genre will find stimulating, rewarding — and a ton of fun.” -Richmond Times-Dispatch
"Im a fan of G.M. Malliet, and A Demon Summer is more of a return to the roots of the series. Father Max Tudor, former MI5 operative turned Anglican priest, must visit Monkbury Abbey at the order of his bishop. A peer has been poisoned, though not fatally, by a fruitcake prepared by the Handmaids of St. Lucy, a contemplative order. Just when Max is concluding the poisoning was accidental, one of the visitors to the Abbey is done to death. Once again, Max must find the killer . . . this time so he can home to his handfasting to the pregnant Awena.” -Charlaine Harris
“Entertaining . . . the ending with a traditional gathering of the subjects will please Golden Age fans.” —Publisher's Weekly
"The fourth fun entry in this charming English cozy series is delighful in tone. Think Agatha Christie meets Ian Fleming." —Library Journal
Praise for the Max Tudor Series
“There are certain things you want in a village mystery: a pretty setting, a tasteful murder, an appealing sleuth… Malliet delivers all of that.” -Marilyn Stasio, New York Times
"G.M. Malliet's Sly humor rivals Jane Austen's.” —The Boston Globe
"A classic and ingenious whodunit laced with clues for the alert reader, A Fatal Winter out-Christies Christie. Pray you dont miss it." --Richmond Times-Dispatch
“Wittier than Louise Penny, lighter than Tana French, smarter than Deborah Crombie, G.M. Malliet has made a name for herself with her cozy-but-cutting English mysteries. A Demon Summer makes the case that she may be the best mystery author writing in English at the moment (along with French).” -Cleveland Plain Dealer
"A superb novel! Rarely have I read descriptions that have left me gasping, in both their hilarity and their painful truth. A wonderful read." —Louise Penny on Wicked Autumn
Synopsis
In this new mystery, someone has been trying to poison the 15th Earl of Lislelivet. Since Lord Lislelivet has a gift for making enemies, no one—particularly his wife—finds this too surprising. What is surprising is that the poison was discovered in a fruitcake made and sold by the Handmaids of St. Lucy of Monkbury Abbey. The powerful Lord complains loudly to the local bishop, who asks Father Max Tudor, vicar of Nether Monkslip and former MI5 agent, to investigate. Just as Max comes to believe the poisoning was accidental, a body is discovered in the cloister well. Can Max Tudor solve the case and restore order in time to attend his own nuptials? A Demon Summer is another superb mystery from rising talent G.M. Malliet.
Synopsis
*Nominated for the 2014 Agatha Award*
Agatha Award-winning author G. M. Malliet has charmed mystery lovers, cozy fans, and Agatha Christie devotees everywhere with Wicked Autumn, A Fatal Winter, and Pagan Spring, the critically acclaimed mysteries featuring handsome former-spy-turned-cleric Father Max Tudor.
In A Demon Summer, someone has been trying to poison the 15th Earl of Lislelivet. Since Lord Lislelivet has a gift for making enemies, no one particularly his wife finds this too surprising. What is surprising is that the poison was discovered in a fruitcake made and sold by the Handmaids of St. Lucy of Monkbury Abbey. Max Tudor, vicar of Nether Monkslip and former MI5 agent, is asked to investigate. But just as Max comes to believe the poisoning was accidental, a body is discovered in the cloister well.
G.M. Malliet continues to delight readers in this standout mystery, the fourth book in her clever and engaging Max Tudor series.
"
About the Author
G. M. MALLIET's book A Fatal Winter was shortlisted for the Agatha Award and named one of the top 5 mysteries of 2012 by Library Journal (with Wicked Autumn on that list in 2011.) In addition, Malliet won an Agatha Award for Death of a Cozy Writer, which initially won the Malice Domestic grant. It was nominated for both a Macavity and an Anthony Award and chosen as one of the Best Books of 2008 by Kirkus Reviews. She lives in the Washington, D.C., area.