Dandy Gilver and the Proper Treatment of Bloodstains - by Catriona McPherson (Paperback)

About the Book

Fans of Jacqueline Winspear are sure to be totally enamored of this series featuring Dandy Gilver, a witty, wealthy, and totally original aristocrat who puts her status to good use by solving crimes. When Dandy gets a letter from a woman who thinks her husband is going to kill her, she must go undercover as a maid to get the complete story.

Book Synopsis

One of The Boston Globe's Best Mysteries of 2011

"Agatha Christie lives! You'll love this book." --John Lescroart

Welcome to Edinburgh, 1926. Dandy Gilver, a wealthy and witty aristocrat (and sometimes amateur sleuth) receives a letter from Lollie Balfour, who insists that her husband of five years is having her followed and her mail is being steamed open.

The only way for Dandy to help is by pretending to applying for a job as a lady's maid in Lollie's house. Dandy gets a crash course from her own maid and arrives at 31 Heriot Row, ready to put all of her detection skills to good use. Why does Mr. Balfour want to get rid of his wife? And can Dandy stay in disguise long enough to evade the villains?

Charming and funny, Dandy Gilver is an irresistible sleuth who is sure to win over mystery lovers everywhere. Readers who can't get enough of Dorothy L. Sayers, Barbara Pym, and Dorothy Parker will definitely find a new favorite in Catriona McPherson's smart and original mystery Dandy Gilver and the Proper Treatment of Bloodstains.

Review Quotes

"A dandy series opener from a Scottish-born author; wit, humor, clues, and red herrings abound." --The Boston Globe

"A great choice for Jacqueline Winspear, Carola Dunn, and Amy Patricia Meade fans...A real contender for the Agathas!" --Library Journal (starred)

"If you haven't met Dandy Gilver yet, I encourage you to do so now...You can't help but enjoy her new adventure as she goes undercover to foil a murder plot." --RT Book Reviews (four stars)

"Agatha Christie meets Upstairs, Downstairs." --Publishers Weekly

"The upstairs-downstairs milieu of 1926 Scotland provides a delightful backdrop for this entertaining cozy." --Booklist

"Proves that it's still possible to write compelling crime fiction capable of showing us the Golden Age from a new perspective... Dandy herself holds the series together with a fluent and likeable narrative voice - it's a pleasure to spend three hundred pages in her company." --Mystery Scene

"McPherson's charmingly witty heroine once again keeps you guessing while you enjoy the historical tidbits." --Kirkus

About the Author

CATRIONA MCPHERSON was born near Edinburgh, where she received her Ph.D. She now lives in Davis, California, with her husband and two cats.