A Cosy Crime Mystery Series with Nathalie Ames

There are only two possibilities: either lovely old Miss Beresford from Earlsraven is suffering from dementia or there’s something fishy going on at her house! But what has Nathalie got to do with it? The young woman has just moved from Liverpool to tranquil Earlsraven to take up her aunt’s legacy: the Black Feather pub. But when Miss Beresford discovers a dead body in her garden, Nathalie and her cook Louise begin to investigate.

About the series: There was nothing in the will about this...Cottages, English roses and rolling hills: that’s Earlsraven. In the middle of it all: the »Black Feather«. Not only does young Nathalie Ames unexpectedly inherit this cosy inn from her aunt, she also falls heir to her aunt’s secret double life! She solved criminal cases together with her cook Louise, a former agent of the British Crown. And while Nathalie is still trying to warm up to the quirky villagers, she discovers that sleuthing runs in the family.

Ellen Barksdale was born in the English seaside resort of Brighton, where her parents ran a small boarding house. From childhood she was a bookworm, and from a young age was interested in crime novels. Her first experience of crime fiction was with the Maigret novels by Georges Simenon. After years of reading crime fiction, she recently decided to take up writing herself. »Tea? Coffee? Murder!« is her first mystery series. The author lives near Swansea with her partner Ian and their three mongrels Billy, Bobby and Libby.

»Goodbye, cruel world.« The famous writer Ian O’Shelley is found dead in his cottage in Earlsraven with a suicide note beside him. Nathalie Ames is a big fan of the author and starts to look into the case more closely. She discovers that O’Shelley was a man with many secrets. Was it really suicide? Or was the likeable bestselling author murdered? But while Nathalie is investigating O’Shelley’s past, her private life is breaking down - all because of her move to Earlsraven.

About the series: There was nothing in the will about this ...

Cottages, English roses and rolling hills: that’s Earlsraven. In the middle of it all: the »Black Feather«. Not only does young Nathalie Ames unexpectedly inherit this cosy inn from her aunt, she also falls heir to her aunt’s secret double life! She solved criminal cases together with her cook Louise, a former agent of the British Crown. And while Nathalie is still trying to warm up to the quirky villagers, she discovers that sleuthing runs in the family.

About the author: Ellen Barksdale was born in the English seaside resort of Brighton, where her parents ran a small boarding house. From childhood she was a bookworm, and from a young age was interested in crime novels. Her first experience of crime fiction was with the Maigret novels by Georges Simenon. After years of reading crime fiction, she recently decided to take up writing herself. »Tea? Coffee? Murder!« is her first mystery series. Ellen Barksdale lives near Swansea with her partner Ian and their three mongrels Billy, Bobby and Libby.

Scandal at the dog show! Sir Theodore’s three king poodles - until now the undisputed champions - have been dyed blue! Sir Theodore accuses the organiser Mason Mayfield of being the culprit. When Mayfield is found murdered a short time later, Sir Theodore is the prime suspect. But Nathalie is firmly convinced of his innocence and, together with Louise and the poodles, she sets out to uncover the real murderer.

About the series: There was nothing in the will about this ...

Cottages, English roses and rolling hills: that’s Earlsraven. In the middle of it all: the »Black Feather«. Not only does young Nathalie Ames unexpectedly inherit this cosy inn from her aunt, she also falls heir to her aunt’s secret double life! She solved criminal cases together with her cook Louise, a former agent of the British Crown. And while Nathalie is still trying to warm up to the quirky villagers, she discovers that sleuthing runs in the family.

About the author: Ellen Barksdale was born in the English seaside resort of Brighton, where her parents ran a small boarding house. From childhood she was a bookworm, and from a young age was interested in crime novels. Her first experience of crime fiction was with the Maigret novels by Georges Simenon. After years of reading crime fiction, she recently decided to take up writing herself. »Tea? Coffee? Murder!« is her first mystery series. Ellen Barksdale lives near Swansea with her partner Ian and their three dogs Billy, Bobby and Libby.

Who killed Stuart Burlington? Earlsraven is shaken by the news that its renowned antiques dealer has been slain with a samurai sword from his own collection. A web of secrets surrounds the case, and Nathalie and Louise - the owner of the Black Feather inn and her formidable cook - are determined to unravel it. They have an unexpected ally in the form of Hector Peroux, a celebrated private detective from Belgium. Together they are soon able to track down a suspect. But is the solution to the case really that straightforward? And what role does the enigmatic old lady, whose suspicious behaviour has been raising eyebrows, play in this puzzle?

About the series: There was nothing in the will about this...Cottages, English roses and rolling hills: that’s Earlsraven. In the middle of it all: the »Black Feather«. Not only does young Nathalie Ames unexpectedly inherit this cosy inn from her aunt, she also falls heir to her aunt’s secret double life! She solved criminal cases together with her cook Louise, a former agent of the British Crown. And while Nathalie is still trying to warm up to the quirky villagers, she discovers that sleuthing runs in the family.

It was meant to be a cosy evening at the Black Feather, but the atmosphere takes a chilling turn when one of the guests clutches his throat, gasping for breath, and topples off his chair. Nathalie, the inn’s owner, is in a state of shock... until she finds out that the »victim« is part of the »Poisoners' Club«, an assembly of approximately two dozen pharmacists who gather annually in the quaint town of Earlsraven. Their convention promises an evening of amusement, in the form of activities such as »Guess that Side Effect«, »Pill Popping Bingo«, and, a crowd favourite, »What’s Your Poison?« But the fun takes a dark turn. Nathalie and her cook Louise must race against time to uncover the truth... before more lives are endangered.

About the series: There was nothing in the will about this ...

Cottages, English roses and rolling hills: that’s Earlsraven. In the middle of it all: the »Black Feather«. Not only does young Nathalie Ames unexpectedly inherit this cosy inn from her aunt, she also falls heir to her aunt’s secret double life! She solved criminal cases together with her cook Louise, a former agent of the British Crown. And while Nathalie is still trying to warm up to the quirky villagers, she discovers that sleuthing runs in the family.

As Christmas approaches, Nathalie embraces the wintry charm of the picturesque village of Earlsraven. However, her plans for her first Christmas as the Black Feather’s owner didn’t include the huge snowman that appears in the car park. The frosty figure adds to the festive ambiance of the pub’s decorations so she decides he can stay. But despite the warmth and welcome at Earlsraven’s favourite inn, there’s a chilling mystery for Nathalie and her cook Louise to solve, as the snowman’s appearance heralds nothing but trouble.

About the series: There was nothing in the will about this ...

Cottages, English roses and rolling hills: that’s Earlsraven. In the middle of it all: the »Black Feather«. Not only does young Nathalie Ames unexpectedly inherit this cosy inn from her aunt, she also falls heir to her aunt’s secret double life! She solved criminal cases together with her cook Louise, a former agent of the British Crown. And while Nathalie is still trying to warm up to the quirky villagers, she discovers that sleuthing runs in the family.

The Black Feather is hosting Earlsraven's annual cheesecake competition. This trial should be a sweet treat for the community, but instead it looks like the first prize is murder! Why has there been such a deadly ending to what should have been a fun contest? Nathalie, Louise and Constable Strutner are on hand to investigate what has all the ingredients of a most perplexing case.

About the series: There was nothing in the will about this ...

Cottages, English roses and rolling hills: that’s Earlsraven. In the middle of it all: the »Black Feather«. Not only does young Nathalie Ames unexpectedly inherit this cosy inn from her aunt, she also falls heir to her aunt’s secret double life! She solved criminal cases together with her cook Louise, a former agent of the British Crown. And while Nathalie is still trying to warm up to the quirky villagers, she discovers that sleuthing runs in the family.

What is going on in old Mr Stevenson’s house? After his death, the remote cottage was bought at auction by a Bolivian man, Carlos Ramon Álvarez, for a dream price. And strange things have been happening there ever since. Nathalie and Louise are suspicious. They find out something astonishing: Álvarez and old Mr Stevenson knew each other. And Stevenson had more money than anyone ever imagined. Nathalie and Louise pull off a daring stunt to gain access to the cottage. But what they discover behind the façade of the picturesque country house are crimes, of which money laundering and arms smuggling are just the tip of the iceberg.

About the series: There was nothing in the will about this ...

Cottages, English roses and rolling hills: that’s Earlsraven. In the middle of it all: the »Black Feather«. Not only does young Nathalie Ames unexpectedly inherit this cosy inn from her aunt, she also falls heir to her aunt’s secret double life! She solved criminal cases together with her cook Louise, a former agent of the British Crown. And while Nathalie is still trying to warm up to the quirky villagers, she discovers that sleuthing runs in the family.

A female camper has been found dead in Pelham Woods near Earlsraven. The cause of death: a stew of deadly poisonous mushrooms cooked on her gas stove. But the victim turns out to be Dutch celebrity chef Keetje Koopmans, who would never have made such a mistake. What's more, these mushrooms don’t grow in the region! Nathalie, Louise and Constable Strutner investigate, but all the suspects serve up impeccable alibis. So, who is to blame for this recipe for murder?

About the series: There was nothing in the will about this ...

Cottages, English roses and rolling hills: that’s Earlsraven. In the middle of it all: the »Black Feather«. Not only does young Nathalie Ames unexpectedly inherit this cosy inn from her aunt, she also falls heir to her aunt’s secret double life! She solved criminal cases together with her cook Louise, a former agent of the British Crown. And while Nathalie is still trying to warm up to the quirky villagers, she discovers that sleuthing runs in the family.

In the village of Pittlewood, near Earlsraven, they believe in faerie folk. Ask anyone - they'll say there have always been goblins living in the woods nearby. When one of the villagers is found murdered, the footprints made by tiny little shoes are found everywhere around the body. Is it possible? Can one of the little people really be the murderer? The villagers think so. Nathalie and Louise can't believe it and set out to find the truth. Then another murder occurs, and, once again, a tiny trail of footprints seems to implicate the goblins. Our two detectives are faced with a terrified village, an ancient legend, and a mysterious adversary to contend with.

About the series: There was nothing in the will about this ...

Cottages, English roses and rolling hills: that’s Earlsraven. In the middle of it all: the »Black Feather«. Not only does young Nathalie Ames unexpectedly inherit this cosy inn from her aunt, she also falls heir to her aunt’s secret double life! She solved criminal cases together with her cook Louise, a former agent of the British Crown. And while Nathalie is still trying to warm up to the quirky villagers, she discovers that sleuthing runs in the family.

Late revenge on Louise! The cook at the Black Feather inherits five painted portraits and is faced with a mystery: all the portraits show Dr Desmond van Gelder - a criminal she put behind bars as a young agent. Louise is horrified when she realises that van Gelder is now free - and that he has taken a hostage! She has just ten days to decipher the riddles hidden in the portraits and save the young woman he is holding captive...

About the series: There was nothing in the will about this ...

Cottages, English roses and rolling hills: that’s Earlsraven. In the middle of it all: the »Black Feather«. Not only does young Nathalie Ames unexpectedly inherit this cosy inn from her aunt, she also falls heir to her aunt’s secret double life! She solved criminal cases together with her cook Louise, a former agent of the British Crown. And while Nathalie is still trying to warm up to the quirky villagers, she discovers that sleuthing runs in the family.

A storm, a manor house and many secrets... Nathalie and her friends get caught in a downpour during a weekend away and seek shelter in an old manor house. Wealthy Lady Gabrielle has also found refuge at Hannigan Hall - with the Green Giant, a staggeringly valuable diamond, in her luggage. But then it disappears ... and only one of the guests can be the thief! Nathalie sets out to find the culprit only to encounter invisible guests, secret hiding places - and a perfidious plan!

About the series: There was nothing in the will about this ...

Cottages, English roses and rolling hills: that’s Earlsraven. In the middle of it all: the »Black Feather«. Not only does young Nathalie Ames unexpectedly inherit this cosy inn from her aunt, she also falls heir to her aunt’s secret double life! She solved criminal cases together with her cook Louise, a former agent of the British Crown. And while Nathalie is still trying to warm up to the quirky villagers, she discovers that sleuthing runs in the family.

A rare visitor arrives at the Black Feather: Joseph, longtime butler to the recently deceased Earl of Helliwell. Convinced that his master's death was no accident, Joseph is convinced that someone had a hand in it. Then there are the Earl's cryptic last words: »Take care of the talking books.« Puzzled by the strange message, Nathalie, Louise and Constable Strutner turn to bookseller Paige Rittinghouse for answers. Paige soon uncovers the truth behind the Earl's mysterious library - but that's only the beginning of the mystery ...

About the series: There was nothing in the will about this ...

Cottages, English roses and rolling hills: that’s Earlsraven. In the middle of it all: the »Black Feather«. Not only does young Nathalie Ames unexpectedly inherit this cosy inn from her aunt, she also falls heir to her aunt’s secret double life! She solved criminal cases together with her cook Louise, a former agent of the British Crown. And while Nathalie is still trying to warm up to the quirky villagers, she discovers that sleuthing runs in the family.

A perfectly normal, peaceful evening in the Black Feather is shattered when a woman storms into the pub. She spots Louise, presses a parcel into her hand and then collapses - dead! Louise is horrified to realise she knows the woman. It's her former colleague, agent Glenda Brannigan. Nathalie and Louise barely have time to recover from the shock before the next woman bursts in and accuses Nathalie of setting fire to her car! What's going on in Earlsraven? Nathalie and Louise are determined to find out...

About the series: There was nothing in the will about this ... Cottages, English roses and rolling hills: that’s Earlsraven. In the middle of it all: the »Black Feather«. Not only does young Nathalie Ames unexpectedly inherit this cosy inn from her aunt, she also falls heir to her aunt’s secret double life! She solved criminal cases together with her cook Louise, a former agent of the British Crown. And while Nathalie is still trying to warm up to the quirky villagers, she discovers that sleuthing runs in the family.

Ellen Barksdale was born in the English seaside resort of Brighton. Her first experience of crime fiction was with the Maigret novels by Georges Simenon (her mother is Belgian by birth). After years of reading crime fiction, she recently decided to take up writing herself. »Tea? Coffee? Murder!« is her first mystery series. Ellen Barksdale lives near Swansea with her partner Ian and their three dogs Billy, Bobby and Libby.