'One of British crime's most assured craftsmen . . . perfect entertainment' Guardian

Once again, the plumbing at Tawcester Towers is causing consternation for the Dowager Duchess, so - unusually for her - she gives her blessing for Blotto to take part in the 'Great Road Race' in his beloved Lagonda ... so long as he wins. The first prize of 10,000 pre-War sovereigns will help towards repairing the leaky ancestral home.

Blotto elects to take chauffeur Corky Froggett as his spare mechanic, while Twinks is despatched by her mother to the Highlands, to paint water colours and bag herself a wealthy husband. But, on the morning of the race's start, enfeebled by food poisoning, Blotto and Corky are forced to employ an extra mechanic on their team - a slender, blonde and rather attractive young American... named Ronald.

So Blotto and his team are pitted against Europe's finest, in a race which takes them through France, across the Alps, to a finish line at the Colosseum in Rome. Among the competitors are Florian Carre-Dagneau, indulged son of the race sponsors, Count Daspoontz from Germany, and the Italian Enrico Parmigiano-Reggiano. All want to win the race, and all want the prize money and all - with the exception of Blotto and his team - will resort to dastardly deception and fiendish sabotage to ensure Blotto's Lagonda is not the first car over the finishing line...

The ninth hair-raising adventure featuring the aristocratic brother and sister sleuthing duo!

Praise for Simon Brett:

'A new Simon Brett is an event for mystery fans' P. D. James

'Murder most enjoyable' Colin Dexter

'Few crime writers are so enchantingly gifted' Sunday Times

'Simon Brett writes stunning detective stories. I would recommend them to anyone' Jilly Cooper

About the Author
SIMON BRETT is the author of over one hundred books, many of them crime novels, including the Charles Paris, Mrs Pargeter and Fethering series. Educated at Dulwich College and Wadham College, Oxford, Simon was chairman of the Crime Writers Association from 1986 to 1987 and of the Society of Authors from 1995 to 1997. He was also President of the Detection Club and was awarded the 2014 CWA Diamond Dagger. In 2016 he was awarded an OBE for services to literature. He lives near Arundel in West Sussex and is married with three grown-up children and six grandchildren.

Reviews
Praise for Simon Brett:
Few crime writers are so enchantingly gifted * Sunday Times *
Murder most enjoyable... An author who never takes himself that seriously, and for whom any fictional murder can frequently form part of the entertainment industry -- Colin Dexter
A new Simon Brett is an event for mystery fans -- P. D. James
Simon Brett is one of British crime's most assured craftsmen, with idiosyncratic characters proving winning creations... A feast of red herrings, broadly drawn characters, and gentle thrills and spills litter the witty plot. Crime writing just like in the good old days, and perfect entertainment * Guardian *
A hilarious and old-fashioned whodunit romp in the mold of P. G. Wodehouse and Agatha Christie, with just a tiny dollop of John Buchan thrown in for good measure. Highly entertaining * New York Times *
Simon Brett writes stunning detective stories. I would recommend them to anyone -- Jilly Cooper
Simon Brett has a deft hand with parody, playfulness and punch lines * Read Me Deadly *



Book Information
ISBN 9781472128317
Author Simon Brett
Format Paperback
Page Count 208
Imprint Constable
Publisher Little, Brown Book Group
Weight(grams) 148g
Dimensions(mm) 198mm * 126mm * 18mm