The Absolutely Appalling Opera Murders

Walter Tinner, who considers himself the world's greatest tenor (even if no one else does) comes to visit his cousin, Amber, and discovers to his horror that she wants him to throw in his two cents regarding the amateur opera society's production of Mascagni's "L'amico Fritz." Not only does Walter have to argue with the rather strange members of the society -- all of whom have "operatic" names and some of whom impugn his singing ability -- but it's the last straw when one of them turns up murdered. And then another .. and another. Will Walter be able to solve these ghastly killings before somebody else bites the dust -- even Walter himself? With the help of detective Wilma Banky, Tinner gets his man -- or woman! Author Enrico Arrivederci once sang on the stage of the Metropolitan Opera House - when he was not supposed to - and was nearly banned for life. Little Enrico was one of the crowd of urchins in Giordano's "Andrea Chenier", and was never supposed to sing, but the cute little fellow decided to join in during the climax anyway. Renata Tebaldi gave him a good spanking, and Mario Del Monaco chased him around backstage hoping to give him a thrashing for ruining that beautiful climactic duet. On the other hand, Placido Domingo once gave Enrico a pat on the head, while Luciano Pavarotti pinched his cheeks - which was strange as this was years later and Enrico was in his forties at the time.

When a nobleman's mistress is gunned down on the steps of the Covent Garden opera house, brilliant adventurer Atlas Catesby discovers a sinister family connection that compels him to investigate. London, 1815. Amateur sleuth Atlas Catesby is about to discover the dark side of the bright lights. His long-awaited night at the opera with Lady Lilliana ends abruptly when a notorious courtesan is shot to death in Covent Garden. The infamous victim was the mistress of the powerful Marquess of Vessey. Atlas believes that the marquess--his former brother in law--is responsible for the long-ago death of Atlas's sister, Phoebe. Atlas seizes the opportunity to potentially avenge his sister's death. But his inquiry is complicated when Phoebe's grown son implores Atlas to help prove Vessey's innocence. Plunging into the cutthroat backstage life of the theatre community, the adventurer and the noblewoman soon discover that ruthless professional rivalries can escalate into violence, setting the stage for death in Murder at the Opera, D. M. Quincy's third riveting Atlas Catesby mystery set in Regency England.

A policeman in the audience sees an all-too-real death scene on a London stage: “Good enough to satisfy the most critical reader of detective stories.” —The New York Times Inspector Roderick Alleyn has been invited to an opening night, a new play in which two characters quarrel and then struggle for a gun, with predictably sad results. Even sadder, the gun was not, in fact, loaded with blanks. And when it comes to interviewing witnesses, actors can be a deceptive lot . . . “It’s time to start comparing Christie to Marsh instead of the other way around.” —New York Magazine

This special two-book bundle collects the adventures in crime of opera star Marta Hendriks. In The Fallen One, Marta is onstage at the Metropolitan Opera in New York when she learns of her beloved husband’s death in a house fire. Fast-forward two years and countless therapy sessions, Marta is ready to resume her career. In a stroke of luck, she’s hired at the last moment to sing Violetta for the Paris Opera. She manages to keep her emotions under tight control and triumphs in the opening-night performance. During one of her rare days off, Marta spots someone: her husband. Marta fears she’s losing her mind – or did she actually see him? In Roses for a Diva, when Marta finds a bouquet of red roses in her dressing room after a performance, she’s surprised as well as charmed. The card only says "Roses for a Diva." And as miles and performances rack up in her globe-hopping career, the bouquets continue to mysteriously appear. But then strange things start happening in her private life. She’s certain someone has been in her apartment, breaking her most treasured possession. After calling in private investigator Shannon O’Brien, Marta is shocked to discover her entire life has been invaded. Includes The Fallen One Roses for a Diva

Paris, 1899. Abigail Wilson has received an invitation from Professor Alphonse Flamand, a prominent French Professor of Archaeology, to join him on a dig in Egypt. Overjoyed to be presented with such an opportunity, Abigail and her husband, Daniel, travel to Paris to meet the Professor at his office in the Louvre to discuss plans. However, when Abigail goes to the appointment, she finds Flamand dead with a knife in his chest. In a whirl of confusion and despite her pleas of innocence, Abigail is arrested. Determined to prove that she has been framed for Flamand's brutal murder, Daniel and Abigail, the Museum Detectives, will delve far into the shadowy corners of the City of Light for the truth.

An ex-cop turned PI hunts for a serial killer terrorizing Missouri in this suspense thriller by the author of Gone Black. ONE WRONG MOVE Private detective Claire Morgan has come home from her honeymoon just in time for Christmas at Lake of the Ozarks. And for the sheriff's department, laid low with flu, to hand her a case guaranteed to chill her to the bone. ONE CHANCE TO DIE One of the homes in the local “Christmas On the Lake House” tour—the mansion of an aging rock star trying to turn his life around—has been “decorated” with the body of a young woman, arranged as a bloody angel on the balcony above his Christmas tree. There’s a piece from a board game, gift wrapped and left under the tree, a hint that connects this murder to other deaths. With evidence of a gruesome pattern appearing, Claire suspects she’s on the hunt for a serial killer. IN A GAME WITH NO RULES But the closer she comes, the more certain she is that the killer is playing his game with her, just waiting his turn. The next move might be on Claire herself—or worse, the people she loves . . . Praise for Linda Ladd’s Claire Morgan Thrillers “One of the most creepy, crawly, and compelling psychological thrillers ever.” —Fresh Fiction “Chilling, compelling suspense . . . Be prepared to lose sleep!” —Eileen Dryer “Exciting, thrill-a-minute!” —Midwest Book Review “Plenty of suspense and surprises.” —Publishers Weekly