A sunny summer's day at the Hurlingham Club resounds to the thwack of ball on racket, as Britain's young hopeful, the splendidly named Trish Thumper, seems likely to knock out her American opponent. Yet not all the eyes following Trish's strokes belong to tennis fans - it soon emerges that her father, the notoriously stern Judge William Thumper, has made an enemy who will stop at little to harm him and his daughter. But the wrongdoers have reckoned without artistic sleuth Miss Emily Seeton, who in a series of apparently mistimed shots with torch and umbrella, defeats them game, set and match. Serene amidst every kind of skullduggery, this eccentric English spinster steps in where Scotland Yard stumbles, armed with nothing more than her sketchpad and umbrella! What people are saying about Miss Seeton: "Miss Seeton is a hoot! I was torn between laughter and eye rolling with each page turn. The characters are loveable and thoroughly British. This is a perfect specimen of classic British mystery." "What a joy Miss Seeton is. Why did I wait so long to read them? Splashy characters, lovely setting, and just plain funny." "I've become a Miss Ess addict. Great characters that get better with each book. A must for anyone who loves a good British cozy with a twist, and surprising revelations of what a good brollie can do in a pinch." "What a great series. This is one of the best in English light reading mysteries." "Miss Seeton is a delightful sendup of the amateur sleuth. If your doctor has prescribed laughter as the best medicine, run and buy the entire series as fast as you can." Editorial reviews: "A most beguiling protagonist!" New York Times "Miss Seeton gets into wild drama with fine touches of farce . . . This is a lovely mixture of the funny and the exciting." San Francisco Chronicle "This is not so much black comedy as black-currant comedy . . . You can't stop reading. Or laughing." The Sun "Depth of description and lively characters bring this English village to life." Publishers Weekly "Fun to be had with a full cast of endearingly zany villagers . . . and the ever gently intuitive Miss Seeton." Kirkus Reviews "Miss Seeton is the most delightfully satisfactory character since Miss Marple." Ogden Nash "I think, on the whole, Miss Seeton is the most loveable and entertaining of any of today's fiction detectives. May she live forever." London Mystery Selection

Who should be hobnobbing with the great and the good at a Buckingham Palace garden party but little Miss Emily Seeton, retired teacher and artistic sleuth. It seems there may be a traitor amongst HM's faithful retainers. But while Miss Seeton is viewing shrunken heads and other royal treasures with Sir Wormelow Tump, a plan is being hatched by a titled crook to steal valuables of a different kind - a fabulous set of Lalique jewellery. So the battling brolly must make the most of her royal appointment and literally 'use her head' to save the day. Serene amidst every kind of skullduggery, this eccentric English spinster steps in where Scotland Yard stumbles, armed with nothing more than her sketchpad and umbrella! What people are saying about Miss Seeton: "Miss Seeton is a hoot! I was torn between laughter and eye rolling with each page turn. The characters are loveable and thoroughly British. This is a perfect specimen of classic British mystery." "What a joy Miss Seeton is. Why did I wait so long to read them? Splashy characters, lovely setting, and just plain funny." "I've become a Miss Ess addict. Great characters that get better with each book. A must for anyone who loves a good British cozy with a twist, and surprising revelations of what a good brollie can do in a pinch." "What a great series. This is one of the best in English light reading mysteries." "Miss Seeton is a delightful sendup of the amateur sleuth. If your doctor has prescribed laughter as the best medicine, run and buy the entire series as fast as you can." Editorial reviews: "A most beguiling protagonist!" New York Times "Miss Seeton gets into wild drama with fine touches of farce . . . This is a lovely mixture of the funny and the exciting." San Francisco Chronicle "This is not so much black comedy as black-currant comedy . . . You can't stop reading. Or laughing." The Sun "Depth of description and lively characters bring this English village to life." Publishers Weekly "Fun to be had with a full cast of endearingly zany villagers . . . and the ever gently intuitive Miss Seeton." Kirkus Reviews "Miss Seeton is the most delightfully satisfactory character since Miss Marple." Ogden Nash "I think, on the whole, Miss Seeton is the most loveable and entertaining of any of today's fiction detectives. May she live forever." London Mystery Selection