An Abbot Agency mystery Bea Abbot's friend Leon Holland has asked for her help in establishing an alibi. But why would he need one? First, he tells her, he had a narrow escape from being run down in the road, and then he was lured with a mysterious message to a car park to meet someone who didn't turn up. Matters escalate when two bodies are found in the car park, slumped over their steering wheels, stabbed to death. Then everything is thrown into chaos as a devastating virus infects the agency's systems. A hidden camera. Hate mail. A nasty practical joke. It's clear that the Abbott Agency has been targeted. But why? And where is it leading? Bea is about to find herself drawn into a vicious power struggle involving greed, envy, ambition and tangled family relationships.

Ellie has always disliked the local big estate agent - aka Great White Shark - and is distressed when her daughter Diana announces that she is carrying his child and about to become his fourth wife. But Ellie is soon drawn into the family circle when one of the Hooper children dies in their private gym and another succumbs to a peanut allergy. The police want to write off the deaths as accident and misadventure, but Ellie believes someone is targeting members of the Hooper family. Surely Diana wouldn't . . . or would she?

An Abbot Agency mystery Bea Abbot runs a domestic agency that does not 'do' murder. But the disappearance of Tomi, the star of an award-winning short film, is a different matter, especially when charming but feckless Chris bribes Bea to investigate with a bouquet of flowers. When Bea - working through personal problems - discovers that Tomi is not the only one amongst his friends to vanish, however, she wonders if her own life might be in danger too . . .

This is the third 'Abbot Agency' mystery. Bea Abbot's domestic agency does not, repeat not, investigate murder...that is, until she finds herself in the company of a dead man dressed as a pantomime dame. It looks like suicide, but why don't his red-spangled shoes fit? Matthew Kent was an entertainer known to be a kindly and modest man in private, so why had he staged this grotesque charade in death? And why is his daughter so keen to hustle his mortal remains away without publicity? Then again, who exactly inherits his delightful Kensington house, and which of the women around him - two surviving wives and a daughter - really cared about him, rather than his money? Bea's own house is in chaos as builders remodel the agency offices, and to make matters worse, Max, her Member of Parliament son, moves in with her when his marriage looks like breaking down. Struggling to run the agency from her bedroom, concerned about both her young assistants' emotional problems, Bea tries to discover what the body on the bed was really like in life, why there is so much confusion about his death, and who is destined to die next...

"Bea Abbot is back - "Bea Abbot runs a domestic agency that doesn't 'do' murder. There's nothing sinister about charity-worker Zander's request for her to join him on a visit to his former boss Denzil's widow. But Zander had exposed the financial scam Denzil was running - after which Denzil had, unexpectedly, died. Now the dead man's widow is out for Zander's blood, and the paperwork that proves Denzil's guilt is missing. Denzil's computer could provide the answers, but then another death occurs . . .

Ellie Quicke believes in helping people in trouble. But it would appear that her latest good deed has returned to bite her when she takes in a weeping girl who needs somewhere to stay. Selfish, thoughtless and irresponsible, Angelica is by no means the easiest of house guests, confident that someone else will always pick up the bill. But when a dead body is found in the garden the morning after a riotous party she's organized, Angelica plunges Ellie's household into a situation too hot for any of them to handle. Selfish and thoughtless her guest may be, but Ellie does not believe Angelica is capable of murder. However, when she attempts to uncover the truth about what happened that night, Ellie unearths a series of disturbing revelations.

An Abbot Agency Mystery Bea Abbot's domestic agency does not, repeat not, investigate murder...that is, until she finds herself in the company of a dead man dressed as a pantomime dame. It looks like suicide, but why don't his red-spangled shoes fit? Matthew Kent was an entertainer known to be a kindly and modest man in private, so why had he staged this grotesque charade in death? And why is his daughter so keen to hustle his mortal remains away without publicity? Then again, who exactly inherits his delightful Kensington house, and which of the women around him - two surviving wives and a daughter - really cared about him, rather than his money? Bea's own house is in chaos as builders remodel the agency offices, and to make matters worse, Max, her Member of Parliament son, moves in with her when his marriage looks like breaking down. Struggling to run the agency from her bedroom, concerned about both her young assistants' emotional problems, Bea tries to discover what the body on the bed was really like in life, why there is so much confusion about his death, and who is destined to die next...

While Ellie's away, murder will play . . . Is the death of Ellie's son-in-law really the result of a burglary gone wrong? Ellie's absence abroad is disastrous for her daughter, Diana - when her husband is attacked by intruders and left for dead one night, it falls to Ellie's next-door neighbour, Susan, to reluctantly pick up the pieces and take in Diana's children. Is Evan's death really the result of a burglary gone wrong? Joining forces with her aunt, police officer Lesley Millard, Susan discovers that Diana lied to the police about her movements on the night of the murder, and soon finds herself grappling with betrayal, shady business dealings and her own distrust of Diana as she attempts to solve a chilling conundrum: could Ellie's daughter be a cold-blooded killer?

Bea Abbot's newly married bliss is short-lived when she is dragged into a deadly game involving a famous actress, theft and murder. Bea Abbot's husband and talented artist, Piers, is in a state. His morning visit to actress and 'national treasure' Karina's Belgravia home has ended in chaos. An antique necklace and diamond ring have been discovered missing, along with a memory stick storing Karina's highly anticipated memoirs. Karina's housekeeper, Mrs Hennessey, her ghostwriter, Molly, and Piers himself are all accused of a conspiracy to rob the actress. When it transpires that the three were employed through the Abbot Agency, and some of the missing items are found in Piers' pockets, Bea is dragged into the melee. But as she investigates, events take a chilling turn . . . Can Bea get to the bottom of the sinister goings-on in time to save Piers' reputation and to catch a killer?

Looking forward to a peaceful weekend, Bea Abbot's plans are disrupted by the unexpected arrival of one of her clients, bearing a brown leather briefcase full of expensive jewellery. Magda Summerleys has been working as a housekeeper for wealthy art expert Lucas Rycroft who, she says, entrusted her with the briefcase for safekeeping - and who seems to have disappeared without trace. Drawn into the tangled affairs of the dysfunctional Rycrofts, Bea soon discovers that other members of the family are determined to get their hands on the jewels - by whatever means necessary. Also caught up in the chaos is her ex-husband Piers, who had been commissioned to paint Lucas Rycroft's portrait. Then a body is discovered at Lucas's home .and events begin to spiral out of control.

An Abbot Agency mystery Bea Abbot's friend Leon Holland has asked for her help in establishing an alibi. But why would he need one? First, he tells her, he had a narrow escape from being run down in the road, and then he was lured with a mysterious message to a car park to meet someone who didn't turn up. Matters escalate when two bodies are found in the car park, slumped over their steering wheels, stabbed to death. Then everything is thrown into chaos as a devastating virus infects the agency's systems. A hidden camera. Hate mail. A nasty practical joke. It's clear that the Abbott Agency has been targeted. But why? And where is it leading? Bea is about to find herself drawn into a vicious power struggle involving greed, envy, ambition and tangled family relationships.

The forty men and women whose stories are told in this book may not have started out as perfect people, but they were used by God to do his work. Saints are people who listen to God and try to do what he wants. The saints included in the book fall into four categories: Bible saints from the New Testament, such as St Paul Historical and legendary saints, such as St George Worldwide saints, such as St Francis of Assisi More recent and contemporary saints, such as Mother Teresa Each story is accompanied by: Key date and brief description of the saint Bible link Prayer Related activities Symbol Suggested songs that might be used Some of the people have been formally named as saints by their church. In such cases, their name will appear with 'St' before it, as in St Patrick. Others have not been recognized publicly in this way, but are included in this book because God used them to carry out a particular task. These people are referred to simply by their ordinary names such as Florence Nightingale.

When Ellie takes in a young rape victim, she knows the commitment might become a burden, but she doesn't expect it to become an invitation to further violence.

"Bea Abbot is back - "Bea Abbot runs a domestic agency that doesn't 'do' murder. There's nothing sinister about charity-worker Zander's request for her to join him on a visit to his former boss Denzil's widow. But Zander had exposed the financial scam Denzil was running - after which Denzil had, unexpectedly, died. Now the dead man's widow is out for Zander's blood, and the paperwork that proves Denzil's guilt is missing. Denzil's computer could provide the answers, but then another death occurs . . .

Ellie is desperate to find someone to look after their elderly housekeeper, whose health is failing. But employing a carer found by Ellie's difficult daughter, Diana, proves to be a mixed blessing when Ellie returns from a trip to America to find that carer Claire has implemented a number of bizarre changes to the Quicke household routine. Claire, is heavily involved in 'the Vision', a local church with a charismatic, powerful pastor, who - seemingly coincidentally - is looking to Ellie for financial help in his current project, housing reformed addicts. But Ellie is suspicious - and more so, when details of Claire's chequered past comes to light. Can Ellie trust Claire and Pastor Ambrose? Ellie investigates and doesn't like what she finds . . .

Ellie Quicke believes in helping people in trouble. But it would appear that her latest good deed has returned to bite her when she takes in a weeping girl who needs somewhere to stay. Selfish, thoughtless and irresponsible, Angelica is by no means the easiest of house guests, confident that someone else will always pick up the bill. But when a dead body is found in the garden the morning after a riotous party she's organized, Angelica plunges Ellie's household into a situation too hot for any of them to handle. Selfish and thoughtless her guest may be, but Ellie does not believe Angelica is capable of murder. However, when she attempts to uncover the truth about what happened that night, Ellie unearths a series of disturbing revelations.

An Abbot Agency mystery When the party wall dividing the gardens of Bea Abbot and her fiance Leon collapses, amongst the ensuing chaos a human skeleton is unearthed in Leon's garden. Having only just purchased the property, Leon and Bea set out to discover more about the house's previous owners. Before they can proceed in their investigation however, the pair fall victim to an elaborately-laid trap. With her home, livelihood and the agency under threat, Bea appears to be the subject of a meticulously-planned vendetta. But why? And why is Leon becoming strangely distant?

Ellie Quicke finds you can choose your friends but not your family. Poppy's wealthy father hadn't liked the look of the men whom his twin daughters intended to marry, and had set them up in the Magpie fashion boutique to ensure they would be able to support themselves, at the same time ensuring that the girls made a will in one another's favour. The business prospered and expanded until, many years later, skeletons start to come out of the closet. Bodies too. And Ellie's enquiries uncover a hornet's nest of greed and malice combined with tragic secrets.

The mysterious deaths of two adored cats plunges Bea into the disturbing goings-on of the Tredgold family in the latest Abbot Agency mystery. Wealthy Marcia Tredgold and her daughter, Charlotte, want Bea Abbot to find them replacements for staff who have left under a cloud. Bea discovers that all those dismissed were close to Marcia Tredgold, and senses that something is not right. Were they framed, and if so by whom - and why? Even more curiously, when Marcia Tredgold gets Bea alone, she asks her to find out who killed her two cats. Bea resists becoming involved in the strange goings-on at the Tredgold mansion, until a shocking event leads her to worry about Marcia's safety. Could the cats' deaths be linked to other disturbing events? And whose account can be trusted in the web of secrets and lies which has been spun around the family? In her quest to uncover the truth, Bea's own safety is put at risk.

An Abbot Agency mystery Attending a birthday celebration for two young girls, Bea Abbot tries not to let superstition get the better of her when she realizes they are thirteen at dinner. What she doesn't anticipate is that the evening will end in sudden, violent death. Suddenly a dining room curtain goes up in flames. While two members of the host family are rushed to hospital, Bea and a fellow guest search for the birthday girls in a house which has been plunged into darkness. And then the chaos begins . Could the fire have been started deliberately - and were young Bernice and Alicia the intended targets? As Bea investigates, she finds herself drawn into the girls' troubling world: a world rich in money but lacking in love.

Murder is no joke, as Ellie Quicke is only too aware in this absorbing and entertaining mystery. Ellie Quicke is shocked when her daughter, Diana, turns up at her door with a suitcase in tow. Bunny Brewster has died of an overdose, and Diana's husband, Evan, is convinced that she is responsible for his friend's death. It seems that Diana and four other neglected, bored wives of Evan's friends recently joked about ways to kill their husbands. Diana's suggested method of murder involved muddling up pills - could this be how Bunny died, or was it just a tragic accident? All five women are soon causing havoc at Ellie's house, but a further distressing development confirms Ellie's instinct that there's more to this than meets the eye. With the safety of her nearest and dearest at risk, can Ellie work out who is responsible, and why?

A worried mother calls on widowed Bea Abbot - owner of a domestic agency and intrepid senior sleuth - for help in the eighth book in the Abbot Agency cozy mystery series. The fake diamond in Dilys Holland's engagement ring implies that all is not well in her marriage, and the Holland family matriarch, Sybil, calls on Bea Abbot for help. Bea soon discovers that Dilys and her little girl live in fear of her abusive husband, a man called Benton with whom Bea has already clashed. Benton wants Bea to rescue the ailing fortunes of his company, part of the Holland empire, and has no scruples about trying violence on her too when she turns him down. To make matters worse, Bea's Member of Parliament son has tied both his fortune and his marriage to Benton's future and is desperate for Bea to rescue him. Then Dilys tries to commit suicide . . . or does she?

Ellie Quicke believes in helping people in trouble. But it would appear that her latest good deed has returned to bite her when she takes in a weeping girl who needs somewhere to stay. Selfish, thoughtless and irresponsible, Angelica is by no means the easiest of house guests, confident that someone else will always pick up the bill. But when a dead body is found in the garden the morning after a riotous party she's organized, Angelica plunges Ellie's household into a situation too hot for any of them to handle. Selfish and thoughtless her guest may be, but Ellie does not believe Angelica is capable of murder. However, when she attempts to uncover the truth about what happened that night, Ellie unearths a series of disturbing revelations.

An Abbot Agency mystery Attending a birthday celebration for two young girls, Bea Abbot tries not to let superstition get the better of her when she realizes they are thirteen at dinner. What she doesn't anticipate is that the evening will end in sudden, violent death. Suddenly a dining room curtain goes up in flames. While two members of the host family are rushed to hospital, Bea and a fellow guest search for the birthday girls in a house which has been plunged into darkness. And then the chaos begins . Could the fire have been started deliberately - and were young Bernice and Alicia the intended targets? As Bea investigates, she finds herself drawn into the girls' troubling world: a world rich in money but lacking in love.

An Abbot Agency mystery When the party wall dividing the gardens of Bea Abbot and her fiance Leon collapses, amongst the ensuing chaos a human skeleton is unearthed in Leon's garden. Having only just purchased the property, Leon and Bea set out to discover more about the house's previous owners. Before they can proceed in their investigation however, the pair fall victim to an elaborately-laid trap. With her home, livelihood and the agency under threat, Bea appears to be the subject of a meticulously-planned vendetta. But why? And why is Leon becoming strangely distant?