Publisher's Synopsis
Markham Sisters Novellas five, six, seven, and eight together in one bargain priced collection.
The Ellsworth Case: The bed and breakfast is now up and running and Janet and Joan are looking forward to welcoming their last guests before they take a break for Christmas. The news that someone is passing counterfeit currency around Doveby Dale is worrying. Both couples that arrive at Doveby House seem odd to the sisters, and so does William Chalmer's new friend, Karen Holmes. The library keeps turning up surprises, including a beautiful oak tantalus, while the police keep turning up more counterfeit twenty pounds notes. Is it possible that some of their guests are counterfeiters? Why is Karen Holmes interested in the much older William Chalmers? And what other secrets will the library reveal? The Fenton Case: With Christmas out of the way, the sisters are ready to reopen the bed and breakfast, but it seems as if guests are few and far between in cold and wet January. Joan and Janet are happy to welcome a young couple for a weekend stay, although Janet has mixed emotions about their other visitor, Margaret Burns, an older woman sent to Doveby House by the mysterious Edward Bennett. A series of break-ins around the village of Doveby Dale worries all of the small business owners in the area, including the sisters and their friend William Chalmers. When the burglar strikes at one of the homes right across the street from Doveby House, Janet and Joan are even more concerned. Can the sisters help their local constable, Robert Parsons, find out who has been breaking and entering? Is it possible the young couple staying at Doveby House is involved? And can Janet resist asking Margaret Burns far too many nosy questions? The Green Case: Joan and Janet are starting to feel at home in Doveby Dale. Janet has even joined the Doveby Dale Ladies' Club, a group of women who meet for dinner on a monthly basis. But when one of the other members suggests adding men to the club, the ladies find they can't agree. An arranged gathering with the ladies and a few potential male members worries Janet. Gerald Butler-Smythe is a retired investment banker who seems far too interested in everyone else's finances. Janet doesn't really care one way or other about letting men into the club, but she doesn't want to stand by and see her new friends being cheated out of their hard-earned money. With a long-term guest staying at the bed and breakfast and other guests coming and going, can Janet find time to investigate the sophisticated Gerald? What else will the sisters find in their carriage house? And should Janet invite William Chalmers to join the club as well, if men are welcome? The Hampton Case: Janet Markham is excited that Edward Bennett is coming to stay at Doveby House, the bed and breakfast that she owns with her sister, Joan. Edward may or may not be a secret government agent, but he is definitely attractive and interesting, at least as far as Janet is concerned. When a fire in Doveby Dale turns out to have been arson, both Janet and Edward want to learn more. Joan doesn't approve of their getting involved, but Janet can't resist a bit of snooping, especially when Edward is as eager as she is to investigate. Can Janet and Edward work out who started the fire? Is Edward really interested in Janet or does he have some other motive for visiting? And what will Aggie, Janet's kitten, think of the visitor?
