Scared to Death — Anne Morice

A Deadly Charade

Tessa Crichton, actress wife of Scotland Yard Inspector Robin Price, comes to Storhampton to star in the local drama festival ... and finds her most challenging role in a masquerade that ends in murder. It begins when the insufferable Edna Mortimer sees her exact double at the races-and is literally scared stiff. Somebody is playing a nasty practical joke on the wealthy old dowager. But one look at Mrs. Mortimer's terrified eyes and some indecipherable pencil squiggles tell Tessa this may be no laughing matter. Could the grim prankster be one of Edna's greedy heirs? When the will is finally read, it only raises more questions than it answers. Someone is not getting their just desserts. But can Tessa find out who before the deadly double strikes again?