Death Plays a Part

With high tide comes murder …

When her beloved London theatre closes for renovations, costume maker Guinevere is excited to start a job at Cornisea castle – a centuries-old keep on a small tidal island off the coast of Cornwall. Imagine a whole summer full of stories of hidden treasures, fab food, and long walks with her perky dachshund Dolly.

But when a re-enactment of a medieval trial in the castle dungeons ends in real-life murder, and accusations threaten the castle’s future, Guinevere and Dolly dig deep into the island community’s best-kept secrets to unmask the killer and save their Cornish summer.

Praise for VIVIAN CONROY

‘This book is a cross between Downton Abbey and Miss Marple … Perfect for the long winter nights ahead where comfort becomes a key word in everyone’s vocabulary.’

Katherine (Goodreads), A Proposal to Die For

‘A Proposal to Die For is wonderfully smooth and glamorous, in the style of Agatha Christie combined with the beauty of Gatsby.’

The Storycollector Blog

‘When it’s as charming as A Proposal to Die For mystery and history make the most wonderful combination.’

Little Bookness Lane

‘Dead to Begin With is a charming, entertaining and absorbing cozy mystery and a great start to a new series.’

Mystereity Reviews

‘Dead to Begin With by Vivian Conroy is a wonderful story, perfect for fans of Murder, She Wrote, and I cannot wait for the next in the series!!’

Books of All Kinds

‘What a cosy story featuring a cozy murder, and some cute dogs!’

Rachel’s Random Reads, Dead to Begin With

Available from Vivian Conroy

ACountry Gift Shop Mystery series

Dead to Begin with

Grand Prize: Murder!

Written into the Grave

A Lady Alkmene Callender Mystery series

A Proposal to Die For

Diamonds of Death

Deadly Treasures

Coming Soon:

Fatal Masquerade

Cornish Castle Mystery series

Death Plays a Part

Coming Soon:

Rubies in the Roses

Death Plays a Part

Vivian Conroy

ONE PLACE. MANY STORIES

Contents

Cover

Blurb

Praise

Book List

Title Page

Author Bio

Acknowledgements

Author’s Note

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Sixteen

Chapter Seventeen

Excerpt

Endpages

Copyright

VIVIAN CONROY

discovered Agatha Christie at thirteen and quickly devoured all the Poirot and Miss Marple stories. Over time Lord Peter Wimsey and Brother Cadfael joined her favourite sleuths. Even more fun than reading was thinking up her own missing heirs and priceless artefacts. Discover the glamour and secrets of the roaring Twenties in Vivian’s Lady Alkmene Callender Mysteries and open up shop, with murder in the mix, in the contemporary Country Gift Shop Mysteries. Also contemporary, but set at a location full of history and folklore, are the Cornish Castle Mysteries, in which a London costume designer and her perky dachshund take a summer job at a castle on a tidal island off the coast of Cornwall. For news on the latest releases, with a dash of dogs and chocolate, follow Vivian on Twitter via @VivWrites

Thanks to all editors, agents, and authors who share insights into the writing and publishing process.

Thanks to my fantastic editor Victoria Oundjian and her team for embracing Cornisea Castle, Guinevere, and Dolly from the very first brief pitch I presented, and to the design team for creating a fabulous new cover look for this series.

A special thanks to all my readers who share their enthusiasm for my books online and in real life:

you keep the series coming!

May Cornisea Island bring you summery escapism

and the satisfaction derived from solving a good puzzle!

Note

Although inspired by real-life tidal islands like St Michael’s Mount and its French counterpart, and by many fascinating sources of Cornish history, archaeology, folklore, flora and fauna, cuisine etc., Cornisea Island and its castle with ruling family is a fictional world. Its layout, businesses and societies, special constable and deadly legends of patron saints and secret treasure are all the fruits of my imagination.

Chapter One

‘But if the gardener didn’t dig those holes, then who did?’ Lady Margaret’s voice – speaking over the headphones – carried an exaggerated note of terror. ‘It must have been …’

She paused for dramatic emphasis. ‘The spectre of the old tower.’

‘Ancient tower,’ a voice called, apparently from further away.

Lady Margaret sounded impatient as she said, in her normal speaking voice, ‘I can’t remember ancient. “Old tower” rolls off the tongue.’ Suddenly she broke into a sneezing fit.

‘Ruddy boa. Even the thought of a chicken gives me a rash.’

Guinevere laughed out loud, then remembered she was on a train and toned it down. Her hand rested on the player clipped to her belt. Through the headphones she had been listening to a rehearsal session for Well-mannered Murder, the play her company in London were to perform after the summer.

Set in the 1920s at a manor where a lady with a lack of funds is organizing classes to groom girls for their entry into society and possibly to forge a connection with a wealthy man, it had glamour, wit, and even a hint of comedy as the lady in question had to fight manipulative staff, mysterious occurrences, and a cunning killer to keep her new enterprise afloat.