Do you love a classic English whodunit? Then meet your favourite new gentleman sleuth: whip-smart Oxford don, Dr Patrick Grant.

He loves rhyming verse, witty banter, strong coffee and solving impossible mysteries from history. Now he must pit his wits against a true-life killer.

Sun, sea - and a body on the beach?

Patrick's hopes of a peaceful holiday - on the sun-drenched island of Crete - are literally dead in the water, when he plunges into the turquoise sea . . . and straight into another swimmer: a fellow who doesn't respond to Patrick's greeting. Because he's dead!

And that's not the half of it.

The man is no stranger to Patrick. It's Felix Lomax, a fellow don who should be hundreds of miles away, lecturing on a luxury cruise ship. Not floating adrift in the Med.

Sensing something fishy afoot, Patrick can't help but delve deeper into the mystery of his friend's death.

But what deadly currents of jealousy, betrayal and revenge await him, just beneath the surface?

The truth has a way of washing up in the end. And so does murder . . .

**A CWA Cartier Diamond Dagger winner for outstanding lifetime achievement!**

A masterclass in misdirection, brimming with village intrigue and sly humour, this page-turning mystery is perfect for fans of Faith Martin, Agatha Christie, Veronica Heley, the Reverend Richard Coles and Clare Chase.

'A writer of stealthy brilliance . . . the Miss Marple of crime fiction.' Andrew Taylor

'Explores the dark undercurrents of village life.' Daily Telegraph

'There was nobody better . . . Margaret Yorke wrote with a pen dipped in acid.' Val McDermid

MEET THE SLEUTH
Dr Patrick Grant is a man of unparalleled intellect, as sharp and complex as his whisky namesake. He'd happily devote every moment to poring over Shakespeare's plays, chortling at student fashions, jotting down lines of iambic pentameter and solving obscure historical puzzles in the library of St Mark's College, Oxford. In this haven of musty old manuscripts and quiet cloisters, he can pursue his passions in peace - if only murder wouldn't keep on getting in the way! Stumbling on crime scenes is becoming a habit for Patrick. And he's never one to shy away from a baffling mystery. But will his curiosity and his brilliant puzzle-solving mind be his undoing . . . ?

Readers love the Oxford Don Mysteries!

'I wholeheartedly recommend! But be warned . . . I'll bet you can't read just one!' Donny, Goodreads

'Jam packed with twists and turns that will leave you guessing till the last page.' Tash, Goodreads

'Yorke never lets me down. Fantastic.' Nicky, Amazon

'Loved every minute - and the surprise ending. Splendid British cozy.' Jill, Amazon