Hello there, my name’s Edna. Edna Sweet. Nice to meet you. If you’ve got stuck in traffic just outside Oxford – maybe on your way to see its famous spires and colleges – you might have seen the signposts to the village where I have my tea shop, or maybe not. It’s a small place, and we’re all rather glad we don’t get the tourists some of our neighbors do. But that doesn’t mean there isn’t good trade for me here. Indeed, since I opened my tea room a month or so back, it’s all gone a lot better than I could have dared hope.
I think my toasted teacakes have a lot to do with my success; I use a family recipe and make them from scratch, every day. And I never use one of those nasty toaster things - no, I pop them under the grill at the top of the stove so they only toast on the cut surface where they’ll be buttered, leaving the underside nice and soft. Oh heck, have I given away a secret now? Ah well, you can try it at home if you like - you’ll find it makes a big difference.
I’ve dreamed of owning a genteel tea shop in a quaint village since I was about ten years old when I was living in anything-but-quaint North London…and now I’ve finally made it happen. I spent weeks clearing out the place I bought; I’m surprised the previous owner hadn’t killed someone, the kitchen was in such a dreadful mess. But now everything’s just right: blue and white gingham tablecloths, dark wood tables and chairs, and a lovely big Welsh dresser bedecked with classic Willow Pattern china. Perfect. At least, that’s what I thought…until I overheard a conversation the other day that set me back on my heels. I’m wondering if I was mistaken…why on earth would anyone be talking about poison in my tea room?
You can meet Edna Sweet – and a host of other characters – in Cathy Ace’s brand new anthology MURDER KEEPS NO CALENDAR, which is available for pre-order at amazon.com now! GREAT NEWS…If you’re a fan of Cathy’s Cait Morgan Mysteries you can find out how Cait Morgan and Bud Anderson first met, and for those of you who enjoy spending time with the women in Cathy’s other series, The WISE Enquiries Agency Mysteries, you can be there when the four women decide to set up in business together!
The anthology contains eight novellas and four short stories – one for each month of the year – two of which have already been produced for BBC Radio 4. The book is available for pre-order on Kindle NOW, and print copies can reach you before Christmas...what a super gift idea - right? Enter today to win a print copy - Cathy will contact the winner on Thursday afternoon.
Click here for the print book
Click here for the Kindle book
Click here for the print book
Click here for the Kindle book
Leave a comment below by midday, Eastern, on Thursday 23rd November (with your name and an email address) and your name might be plucked from the proverbial hat to win a print copy of the book. Good luck! Open to anyone, anywhere in the world!
Cathy Ace is the Bony Blithe Award-winning author of The Cait Morgan Mysteries and The WISE Enquiries Agency Mysteries. You can find out more about Cathy, her work and her characters at her website, where you can also sign up for her newsletter with news, updates and special offers: http://cathyace.com/
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From reading the above I know I'll enjoy this book. Thanks for giving me this opportunity. Ginger is my name, my address is: gheruska44(at)gmail(dot)com Happy Thanksgiving!
ReplySo pleased you like the sound of it, Ginger. And Happy Thanksgiving to you too :-)
Sounds great...thanks for the contest.
ReplyMarilyn [email protected]
So pleased you like the sound of it :-)