Karen Charlton Libri

On a cold February night in Regency London, a dark curtain falls on the Sans Pareil Theatre following the death of April Clare, a promising young actress, whose body is found in mysterious circumstances. Detective Stephen Lavender and his dependable deputy, Constable Woods, quickly discover that nothing is quite as it seems. As successive mysteries unfold, they soon realise that it is not only the actors from the Sans Pareil who are playing a part. With the Napoleonic War looming dangerously across the Channel, this is a time of suspicion and treachery. Following the clues from the seedy back streets of Covent Garden up through the echelons of society, Lavender and Woods begin to fear that the case is much bigger than they'd dared imagine--and worse, that they are at risk of becoming mere players in a master criminal's shadowy drama. It will take all of Lavender's skill and wit, and help from the beautiful Magdalena, to bring the mystery of the Sans Pareil Theatre to a dramatic conclusion in the final act.

Northumberland, November 1809. A menacing figure stalks women through Hareshaw Woods and when Helen Carnaby, a beautiful young heiress, disappears from her locked bedchamber everyone fears the worst. The townsfolk cry 'witchcraft' and the local constabulary are baffled. Helen Carnaby's worried uncle sends for help from Bow Street magistrates' court in London. Detective Stephen Lavender and Constable Woods now face their toughest and most dangerous assignment. Convinced at first that this is just a simple case of a young woman eloping with a lover, Lavender and Woods are alarmed to discover a sinister, murderous world of madness, violence and secrets lurking behind the heavy oak door of the ancient pele tower at Linn Hagh. Why did Helen Carnaby flee on that wintry October night? How did she get out of her locked bed chamber? And where is she now? Hindered by Helen's uncooperative siblings, distracted by gypsies, rebellious farmers, highwaymen and an attractive and feisty Spanish senora, Helen Carnaby's disappearance is to prove one of the most perplexing mysteries of Lavender's career. Set in the beautiful market town of Bellingham, 'The Missing Heiress' is the first in a planned series of Regency whodunits featuring Detective Lavender and Constable Woods.

Set against the backdrop of York, England, in June 1940, the narrative unfolds during a critical time in World War II. The story delves into the lives of characters grappling with the uncertainties and fears brought on by the war. Themes of resilience, community, and the impact of conflict on everyday life are explored as individuals navigate their personal struggles amidst the larger historical turmoil. The setting provides a rich context for examining the human spirit in times of adversity.

The story unfolds with a corpse mysteriously reanimating in a hospital morgue, setting off a bizarre chain of events involving cursed pantaloons that wreak havoc across the city. As chaos ensues, the narrative intertwines the supernatural with a gang of female jewel thieves and an unexpected pot of raspberry jam, creating a quirky and intriguing mystery that promises unexpected connections and humor.

Set in York, England during 1940, the narrative unfolds against the backdrop of World War II, exploring the lives of its characters as they navigate the challenges of war and personal struggles. The story delves into themes of resilience, community, and the impact of conflict on daily life, painting a vivid picture of the era. As tensions rise, the characters must confront their fears and make difficult choices, highlighting the human spirit's capacity to endure in times of crisis.

Set in Cambridgeshire during September 1813, the story unfolds against the backdrop of a society grappling with the complexities of love, duty, and societal expectations. Characters navigate personal dilemmas and romantic entanglements, revealing the tension between individual desires and societal norms. The historical context enriches the narrative, highlighting the era's challenges and the characters' growth amidst the constraints of their time. Themes of resilience and the pursuit of happiness resonate throughout the unfolding drama.

Northamptonshire, 1810: As a new canal network snakes across the landscape, a vicious mob stakes its claim to the county. Every local constable is out on the hunt for the ruthless Panther Gang. When an elderly man is robbed and murdered in sleepy Middleton, the beleaguered magistrates send for help from London's Bow Street Police Office. Detective Stephen Lavender and Constable Ned Woods soon discover there's more to William Sculthorpe's demise than meets the eye. Mystery surrounds the old man and his family, and the stench of revenge hangs heavy in the air. Are the Panther Gang really responsible or is something more sinister afoot? As Lavender delves further into long-hidden secrets, Woods has demons of his own to contend with: ghosts from his past that stalk him through the investigation. Uncovering decades of simmering hatred and deceit, Lavender and Woods must use all their wit and cunning to solve this evil crime.

London, 1812: Treacherous gangs roam the capital, and not even the Palace of Westminster is safe. When Detective Stephen Lavender is called in to investigate a highway robbery and a cold-blooded murder, both the cases take a dangerous and disturbing personal twist. And when Lavender's trusted deputy, Constable Ned Woods, finds a mysterious severed foot washed up on Greenwich Beach, they soon realise that these ancient bones are more sinister than they first appeared. With Bow Street Police Office undermanned and in disarray, it will take all of Lavender and Woods's wit and skill, and some help from Lavender's spirited wife, Magdalena, to unmask the fiend behind the mayhem, restore peace and justice to the beleaguered city and solve the tragic mystery of the severed foot. But will they do so in time to foil a plot that threatens to plunge the country into chaos?

London, 1812. At a fashionable address in leafy Mayfair, a far cry from Detective Stephen Lavender's usual haunts, a man is found dead in his room. He has been brutally stabbed, but the door is locked from the inside and the weapon is missing. The deceased is David MacAdam, an Essex businessman with expensive tastes. As Lavender and Constable Ned Woods travel between London and Chelmsford seeking to understand MacAdam's final hours and unearth the grisly truth, they uncover a tangled web of deceit behind his stylish facade. The unusual circumstances of MacAdam's death are nothing compared to the shady nature of his life and it seems the house on Park Lane is at the heart of a dark conspiracy. But when a second body turns up, everything they think they've learned is thrown into doubt. Can Lavender and Woods find out who's behind these shocking murders before more lives are ruined?