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.
Publication date: 24 July 2026. E-book exclusive to Kindle Unlimited for 180 days. Available to libraries from 1 Nov 2026.
A Sleuth’s Guide to Murder and Fine Wine
Fine wine, a romantic picnic, a secluded spot. The perfect romantic gesture, except for the dead body on the picnic blanket. It looks like a tragic accident, but the sleuths detect trouble in paradise.
For Hazel Bond, life doesn’t get much better than teaching art classes at a vineyard, especially when her favourite English art expert pays a surprise visit. Benedict is hoping for lively company to celebrate a fresh start. Finding the body of a missing winemaker was definitely not part of the plan.
The winemaker’s death doesn’t appear to be suspicious, so why will nobody admit to being the second person at the picnic? Hazel promises to find out, but is she willing to put Benedict at risk to unravel the secrets shielding an ingenious killer?
Fortunately, they have cyber-sleuth Gary Taylor and detective Louisa Pyke to watch their backs, because Paradise Vale is buzzing with enough tension to sour an entire vintage of fine wine.
Publication date: 28 October 2026. E-book exclusive to Kindle Unlimited for 90 days. Available to libraries from 1 Nov 2026.
A Sleuth’s Guide to Murder as Plotted
What could be more blissful than a stay at a luxury spa hotel? Or so the sleuths think, until a murder mystery game turns deadly.
An old friend of Benedict’s is desperate for guests to stay at his restored historic homestead with alpine views to die for. With rumours of ghostly wailing and flickering lights, it’s going to take a miracle. Undaunted, the owners are plotting to revive their fortunes by staging a Golden Age murder mystery with an antiques theme. But they’re going to need help after unfortunate accidents take out the antiques expert and the director.
The Sleuths of a Certain Age come to the rescue, expecting nothing more than second-rate antiques, amusing distractions, and relaxing spa treatments. When the mystery game ends with a dead body rather than a dramatic flourish, the sleuths are back on the hunt for a killer. They’ll need more than a detoxifying thermal mud wrap to uncover the murky truth in this investigation.
Preorder now for publication 25 March 2027
