'A star in our galaxy of crime writers' FINANCIAL TIMES

Superb crime fiction from the CWA Diamond Dagger Award Winner

'Yorke practised deception artfully and with style' GUARDIAN

'Mistress of the skilfully spun suspense novel' SUNDAY TELEGRAPH

Nesta Falconer, an attractive widow, lives with her fifteen-year-old daughter Philippa, managing brother-in-law Charles Falconer's household after the breakdown of his marriage. Nesta's comfortable position is threatened when her sister Claire, returning from America, comes to stay at her cottage.

Charles realises that Nesta is a menace to Philippa's happiness, and that she has been responsible for much distress. His mother, a formidable old lady, plays a part in revealing Nesta not only to her family but to herself as a negative person who contributes little to the happiness of others.

'Mistress of the skilfully spun suspense novel' Sunday Telegraph

About the Author
Margaret Beda Larminie, or Margaret Yorke as she became, is one of the most renowned and prolific female British mystery authors. During the Second World War she initially worked as a librarian before serving as a driver for the Women's Royal Naval Service. After the end of the war, she returned to literary pursuits, becoming the first woman to work at Christ Church library in Oxford. Yorke's spell here influenced her only serial character, the Shakespeare-loving, Oxford don sleuth Patrick Grant. She was actively involved in the crime writing community, chairing the Crime Writers' Association between 1979 and 1980. Yorke's novels met with great critical success; in 1993 she was awarded the CWA Golden Handcuffs and in 1999 received the CWA Cartier Diamond Dagger for an outstanding lifetime contribution to the genre. Her last book was Cause for Concern (2001). She died in 2012.

Reviews
A star in our galaxy of crime writers * FINANCIAL TIMES *
Few authors are better than Margaret Yorke in generating a real sense of fear * SUNDAY TELEGRAPH *
Mistress of the skilfully spun suspense novel * SUNDAY TELEGRAPH *
Like the author, the novels are robust and uncompromising, and displayed sympathy for the underdog ... Yorke practised deception artfully and with style * GUARDIAN *
The mistress of unease * DAILY TELEGRAPH *
A superior example of the mounting claustrophobia school of crime writing * THE TIMES *
Yorke has an extraordinary feel for the passions that lurk beneath unremarkable facades * SUNDAY TIMES *
A gripping thriller * PUNCH *
Yorke leads us gently and persuasively to a powerful climax -- Marcel Berlins * THE TIMES *
She practised deception artfully and with style * GUARDIAN *



Book Information
ISBN 9781471914898
Author Margaret Yorke
Format Paperback
Page Count 240
Imprint The Murder Room
Publisher The Murder Room
Weight(grams) 41g