Slaughter in the Cotswolds

Thea Osborne has just lost her beloved father and retreats to her next housesitting assignment in Lower Slaughter to deal with her grief. The tranquillity is a welcome backdrop, and there's a whole host of animals to help stave off her loneliness. As Thea settles down to two weeks of solitude, her biggest challenges are jigsaw puzzles and fighting off bats in the bedroom - until reality catches up with her.

When her elder sister turns up on her doorstep after witnessing a horrific killing, the rural serenity descends into a web of suspicions and confrontations. As usual, investigating a murder while being a responsible housesitter proves to be no easy task; especially when you've got a temperamental parrot on your hands.

©2009 Rebecca Tope (P)2009 Soundings