A Brush with Death: A Susie Mahl Mystery

(Paperback)

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Description

If secrets could be taken to the grave many of us would have an ear to the ground. But as Alexander, Earl of Greengrass, discovers one clear Sunday morning late in November, death is a most efficient way of revealing the cavern of cover-ups in a guilty conscience. Caught with his trousers down in Spire village graveyard whilst his faithful wife was playing the organ inside the church, this wealthy landowner meets a gruesome end. Luckily pet portraitist Susie Mahl is on hand to sort things out, as shes been recently commissioned to paint Situp, the aristocratic ash grey deerhound at the villages Glebe House. Susie discovers an unexpected zest for truth and an awesome nosey parker instinct, and soon the newly appointed Pet Detective is digging out the truth with a dogged determination. InA Brush with DeathAli Carter conjures a winsome murder mystery enriched with candid observations of the British social classes, observations on an artists craft, and a strong dose of good humour.

Reviews

'Absorbing, charming and funny,A Brush With Deathheralds a fresh and welcome new voice in crime writing. Susie Mahl is also a welcome new detective: witty, warm and very inquisitive.'

* Antonia Fraser *

'A delicious new voice in crime writing... Excellent on the English aristocracy and written in a fine wry style.'

* Daily Mail *

'A riveting, charming and very funny new crime series from the fabulously talented Ali Carter.'

* Piers Morgan *

'An entertaining read, and one that had me up to the wee small hours.'

* Crimesquad *

A Brush with Death is a perfectly English mystery, with an abundance of all the right jokes, details, and muddy dogs. Author Ali Carters first book is a lovely romp and shows promise for a wonderful tongue-in-cheek mystery series.

* Foreword Reviews *

'Brilliantly enjoyable; coolly observed.'

* The Tablet *

Animal lovers, Anglophiles, and fans of humorous, socially observant whodunits will look forward to the next Susie Mahl mystery.

* Publishers Weekly *

Its rich details on the British leisure class may interest fans of Downton Abbey and G.M. Malliet's "Max Tudor" mysteries.

* Library Journal *

Fans of country-house cozies will delight in this series debut.

* Booklist *

'This is a crime novel for mystery fans sick of gore and sexual violence.Just curl up and lose yourself happily in this world of animals and toffs closely observed by a beady-eyed artist turned amateur sleuth who realises all is not as innocent as it looks and is determined to do something about it.'

* Ruth Dudley Edwards, author of The Robert Amiss Mysteries *

A Brush with Death is a charming and amusing murder mystery. It contains great character observations and is written with humour. She brings to life the world of the aristocracy and everything that goes with it. A pleasant change from the dark Norwegian Noir genre. It is definitely a book to take on holiday.

* Country Wives *

A Brush with Death is the first in a charming new series about pet portraitist and amateur sleuth Susie Mahl.

* Crime Reads *

Carter is a fresh and welcome new voice in crime writing and Susie Mahl a very different new detective.

* Crime Review *

'The first book in a promising new series will remind you of Downton Abbey and Miss Marple, except that this Miss M is a pet portraitist with a penchant for rather expensive underwear, and it's purely for her own pleasure.'

* Bookbag *

Author Bio

Ali Carterwas born in Scotland in 1983. She read art history at St Andrews, followed by an eclectic career before settling in for the long run as a fine artist. She specializes in oil paintings from life with an emphasis on colour. Writing, walking and cooking all accompany her painting. Ali lives in East Sussex with her husband Sam.A Brush with Deathis her first novel.