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Published Mar 2022
256 pages
Genre: Mysteries
Publication Information
Jack and Betty Haldean's weekend in the country is disrupted by sudden, violent death in this intricately-plotted 1920s mystery.
"There's something in those woods that shouldn't be there..."
Enjoying a weekend in the country with his cousin Isabelle, Jack Haldean is intrigued to learn that the neighbouring estate of Birchen Bower has been bought by wealthy Canadian businessman Tom Jago. Determined to restore the place to its former glory, Jago has invited the local villagers to a fete to celebrate the grand re-opening of the 17th century family chapel.
But the afternoon's entertainment is cut short by the discovery of a body, mauled to death as if by a wild animal. Previously owned by the eccentric Cayden family, Birchen Bower has a long and colourful history, and is rumoured to be haunted. Is there any truth to the ancient family legend of the Jaguar Princess....and could she have claimed another victim? And what's happened to Jago's employee, Derek Martin and his wife, who have disappeared without trace...along with Mrs Jago's diamonds?
Refusing to believe the wild tales of man-eating beasts prowling the grounds, Jack sets out to uncover the truth. But then a second badly-ravaged body is discovered...Could the rumours be true after all?
"[T]hrilling...The surprising revelations just keep coming. This is a real treat for those who enjoy Agatha Christie village murders." - Publishers Weekly (starred review)
"Sinister events and a complex mystery make this contemporary take on the classic British mystery a real page-turner." - Kirkus Reviews
This information about The Chapel in the Woods was first featured
in "The BookBrowse Review" - BookBrowse's membership magazine, and in our weekly "Publishing This Week" newsletter. Publication information is for the USA, and (unless stated otherwise) represents the first print edition. The reviews are necessarily limited to those that were available to us ahead of publication. If you are the publisher or author and feel that they do not properly reflect the range of media opinion now available, send us a message with the mainstream reviews that you would like to see added.
Any "Author Information" displayed below reflects the author's biography at the time this particular book was published.
Dolores Gordon-Smith lives in Greater Manchester and is married, with five daughters and assorted dogs and cats. She is the author of 11 Jack Haldean mysteries.
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