The Framed Women of Ardemore House - by Brandy Schillace (Hardcover)

About the Book

A neurodivergent, hyperlexic book editor, Jo Jones, taking possession of a possibly haunted family estate in North Yorkshire, finds herself at the center of a murder investigation when the groundskeeper is found dead and a family portrait goes missing, and to clear her name, she must unearth the town's secrets-and her own.

Book Synopsis

"A delight." -THE WALL STREET JOURNAL

"A must read for any mystery lover." - DEANNA RAYBOURN, New York Times bestselling author of KILLERS OF A CERTAIN AGE

An abandoned English manor. A peculiar missing portrait. A cozy, deviously clever murder mystery, perfect for fans of Richard Osman and Anthony Horowitz.

Jo Jones has always had a little trouble fitting in. As a neurodivergent, hyperlexic book editor and divorced New Yorker transplanted into the English countryside, Jo doesn't know what stands out more: her Americanisms or her autism.

After losing her job, her mother, and her marriage all in one year, she couldn't be happier to take possession of a possibly haunted (and clearly unwanted) family estate in North Yorkshire. But when the body of the moody town groundskeeper turns up on her rug with three bullets in his back, Jo finds herself in potential danger--and she's also a potential suspect. At the same time, a peculiar family portrait vanishes from a secret room in the manor, bearing a strange connection to both the dead body and Jo's mysterious family history.

With the aid of a Welsh antiques dealer, the morose local detective, and the Irish innkeeper's wife, Jo embarks on a mission to clear herself of blame and find the missing painting, unearthing a slew of secrets about the town--and herself--along the way. And she'll have to do it all before the killer strikes again...

Review Quotes

A Library Journal Recommended Read for Autism Acceptance Month

"The book is more than just a mystery: It's an autistic woman's journey of self-discovery." -THE WASHINGTON POST

"It's a delight to spend quality time with the more-than-capable Josephine Jones." -THE WALL STREET JOURNAL

"The Framed Women of Ardemore House offers both gorgeous bits of Yorkshire lexicography and a thoughtful mystery that does justice to generations of women who see life differently." -THE CHRISTIAN SCIENCE MONITOR

"A marvelous contemporary murder mystery seasoned with a dash of romance... The Framed Women of Ardemore House has both a protagonist whose imperfections are part of her charm and locals with a host of secrets among them, so it is sure to delight fans of British crime fiction." -SHELF AWARENESS

"Brandy Schillace's cozy murder mystery is supplemented with equally fun characters." -HUFFPOST

"The intricate plot and memorable local characters here are a delight." -BOOKLIST

"Schillace, who's autistic herself, draws a marvelously believable heroine in Jo, and sets her up with an expertly constructed mystery. Readers will be hungry for a sequel." -PUBLISHERS WEEKLY

"Quite the romp.... There's as much action as feeling in The Framed Women of Ardemore House. It's enough to satisfy every reader, especially mystery lovers." -BOOKREPORTER

"Twisty, engaging, and thoroughly unexpected, The Framed Women of Ardemore House is a must-read for any mystery lover. Featuring a unique cast of characters and a village full of dirty little secrets, this book delivers a fresh take on the English cozy."
- DEANNA RAYBOURN, New York Times bestselling author of KILLERS OF A CERTAIN AGE


"The Framed Women of Ardemore House kept me awake, reading and guessing and anxiously turning pages all night. This book is intricately plotted and thematically rich; it's frightening, funny, and fast-paced, with characters I grew to really care about. I'll be recommending it to every mystery reader I know."
-ALEX GRECIAN, New York Times bestselling author of THE YARD



"A New York editor on the spectrum clashing with a dogged British detective. Makes for a mystery like an English garden: wild, masterly crafted and full of secrets, beauty and marvels."
- MARIO GIORDANO, author of THE AUNTIE POLDI ADVENTURE SERIES


"A classic murder mystery, an amateur sleuth like no other; Josephine Jones will change the way you look at the world."
- STEPHEN GALLAGHER, author of THE BEDLAM DETECTIVE and writer for BBC'S DOCTOR WHO