Invitation to a Killer - (Augusta Hawke Mystery) by G M Malliet

About the Book

Crime novelists Augusta Hawke expects to be quizzed her on writing skills when she's invited to a dinner party by aspiring writer Callie Moore. What she doesn't expect is to be solving a mystery, but that's just want happens when one guest suddenly dies, and Augusta suspects it is not a heart attack that killed the kindly celebrity doctor...

Book Synopsis

Crime writer turned sleuth, Augusta Hawke finds herself drawn into her second mystery when a celebrity doctor is found dead at a party she is attending!

Callie Moore is no ordinary aspiring writer. Notorious wife of a Washington lobbyist, Callie believes no publicity is bad publicity and that publishing her scandalous memoirs will help her achieve her heart's desire: a diplomatic posting. She just needs crime novelist Augusta Hawke to be her ghostwriter.

It's hard to say no to Callie, but Augusta does agree to attend her dinner party. The guest list is impressive, and it's Augusta's chance to meet celebrity doctor Doc Burke. But before Augusta really gets a chance to chat with the famous humanitarian, the evening ends in his untimely death.

Signs point to a heart attack, but Augusta isn't convinced. Especially when his niece tells Augusta about the mystery woman who claimed the doctor's remains.

Augusta decides to host a writers' retreat and invite all the suspects, most of whom are connected in some way with writing. Isn't that what Agatha Christie would do? But the remote lodge soon becomes snowed in and the group starts to crack when it becomes clear the killer may not be finished killing. Can Augusta flush out the culprit before anyone else gets hurt?

Review Quotes

An enjoyable mystery . . . Amateur sleuth Hawke is engaging and humorous
-- "Booklist"

[Augusta] comes into her own as an investigator-- "Library Journal"

Entertaining . . . Fans of witty female amateur sleuths should pick this up-- "Publishers Weekly"

[A] charming series . . . Malliet is a gentle satirist-- "New York Times Book Review on Pagan Spring"

Agatha Christie fans will enjoy the locked-room mystery-- "Library Journal on Devil's Breath"

Augusta is an engaging narrator, letting the reader in on the realities of being a bestselling author and the vagaries of the publishing world-- "Booklist on Augusta Hawke "

Highly professional work right up to the unmasking of the surprisingly well-hidden killer-- "Kirkus Reviews on Death in Cornwall"

Malliet draws the reader in with elegant prose and distinctive characters-- " Publishers Weekly on Death in Cornwall "

Think Agatha Christie meets Ian Fleming-- "Library Journal on Demon Summer"

Top notch . . . readers will find a tasty tale that doesn't disappoint. Perfect for fans of the wickedly funny cozy writers M.C. Beaton and Catriona McPherson-- "Booklist on In Prior's Wood"

You'll marvel at the author's low-key humor and crystal-clear depictions of small-town life . . . this is a true homage to Agatha Christie-- "Library Journal Starred Review of Wicked Autumn"