When Australian visitor Harriet Hedgerow arrives in the impossibly quaint English village of Soggybottom Hollow, she expects a peaceful holiday at Thorne Castle, a belated family celebration, and perhaps the purchase of one beautifully made umbrella.
Instead, she follows a determined grey tabby cat into The Final Chapter bookshop, and finds the head of the Worshipful Guild of Umbrella Makers dead between the shelves, stabbed with one of the village's finest creations.
With the local detective far too eager to blame the outsider, Harriet has no choice but to investigate. Soon she uncovers bitter Guild disputes, ruined businesses, secret payments, counterfeit umbrellas, and a growing list of villagers who had every reason to want the victim silenced.
Assisted by an accident-prone retired archaeologist, a cat with an uncanny reaction to lies, and the stern but unexpectedly helpful Lord Alistair, Harriet must unravel the truth before the killer closes the case on her for good.
Book 1 of The Umbrella Mysteries. A charming traditional cozy mystery filled with village secrets, eccentric suspects, afternoon tea, and one highly opinionated cat.
