The Monday Criminologist — Jennifer A. Girardin

The Monday Criminologist By Jennifer A. Girardin Crime is always a welcome guest at Moriston House, where mystery is always on the menu! As the sleepy English village of Halfereton celebrates the momentous marriage of local journalist and queen of crime, Marjorie Branell-Markson to quiet country grocer Barry Newell, the entire village cautiously toasts their happiness...and the latest village crime. The perfect host for the perfect English murder, Lord Hugo Anstead of Moriston House is reluctant to believe in the latest village mystery, but when local art dealer and social philistine Arthur Drake is pushed down the grand staircase at Moriston House, events become complicated when the body of his assistant, Richard Hartington is discovered instead. A collection of inquisitive guests, including the bride's nippy young niece, Elizabeth and Lord Hugo's intellectually challenged nephew Ronald immediately suspect foul play---and are eager to report the latest crime while uncovering the connection between a new crime column called the Monday Criminologist and the forgeries of a local nineteenth-century artist. The Young Investigative Journalists join forces with Lord Hugo, and find an abundance of creative suspects, including snobby art dealer, Martin Hargreaves, cloudy Julia Manners, business partner of the deceased, dubious art assistant, Alan Weston, and elusive hermit and art collector Sir Charles Morefield. A string of recent art thefts and forgeries leave Inspector Meriden and the entire village baffled, and when local teacher Harriet Lawson is attacked for apparently no reason at all, Lord Hugo and the Investigative Journalists must use every possible resource to uncover the mystery...before this particular artist paints another portrait of crime! Join us for The Monday Criminologist...celebrating the convivial art of crime!