A Sleuth’s Guide to Murder and Fine Art
A scandalous art sale. A dead multimillionaire. An accusation of murder. Turning sixty isn’t supposed to be this hard.
Art teacher Hazel Bond feels as though fate has painted a target on her back. Widowed and jobless, she retreats to the picture-perfect alpine community of her childhood to paint, ski, and seek serenity.
But serenity is off the menu. A rumoured sale of art and heritage treasures sparks angry protests. Then a wealthy art collector dies in an apparent accident at a nearby ski field with Hazel as the only witness. Or, as the police view it, the only suspect.
Her hopes of extricating herself aren’t helped when she is drawn deeper into the mystery by two men with their own agendas. Benedict Finlayson is an uptight fish out of water who claims to be an international art expert. Gary Taylor is so laid back that he never left the ’70s. Neither man is quite what he seems to be. Luckily, Hazel’s eccentric godmother is right behind her, even if that means giving her a helpful shove in the back.
Fuelled by wine, cheese, and pig-headed determination, these sleuths of a certain age are not about to let wealth and power get in the way of justice.
Welcome to a murderous mystery tour of the stunning beauty of southern New Zealand.
Preorder now for 24 July 2026 publication date. Exclusive to Kindle Unlimited for 90 days.
A Sleuth’s Guide to Murder and Fine Wine
When Hazel Bond finds a dead body at a romantic picnic, she and her fellow sleuths are drawn into another baffling mystery.
Hazel loves her new life, painting and teaching art classes at a picturesque vineyard. But when her favourite English art expert turns up unexpectedly, she knows trouble cannot be far away.
Their search for a missing winemaker soon uncovers a corpse on a picnic blanket set for two. The death is clearly from natural causes, and yet nobody admits to being the second person.
Outwardly, Paradise Vale seems like a slice of organic tranquillity, but the owners are not the only people with secrets. Dip below the surface and Paradise is buzzing with enough simmering tension to sour an entire vintage of fine wine.
Can a fiendishly clever murderer be lurking amongst the ripening grapes? Hazel and Benedict abandon their hopes of a quiet vacation to join detective Louisa Pyke and cyber-sleuth Gary Taylor in the hunt for answers.
Coming 2 December 2026. Preorder available 20 July 2026.
A Sleuth’s Guide to Murder and Pure Bliss
Pure bliss is crystal-clear alpine water, serenity, and the lure of eternal youth. A luxury wellness retreat with views to die for … and a dead body that definitely wasn’t on the list of spa treatments.
When an old friend receives threatening letters, the sleuths cannot refuse his plea for help. A visit to an alpine resort might be just the tonic they need after their last case. With Hazel and Benedict undercover as art therapists, and Gary and Louisa playing a honeymooning couple, it seems as if nothing can spoil their stay, other than Gary’s loathing for kale smoothies and hot yoga.
But when threats turn to murder, they’ll need more than a detoxifying thermal mud wrap to uncover the murky truth.
Coming 2 June 2027. Preorder available 20 July 2026.
Rose Pascoe 