Old School Ties

By: Daisy Waugh

Narrated by: Penelope Rawlins

The next in Daisy Waugh's hilarious Tode Hall series: a gloriously witty tale of toffs, terror and old school ties . . .

The Todes are heading to Italy - and taking murder and mayhem with them.

Close to Rome, set among ancient ruins and freshwater springs, languishes the magnificent Villa Rospo, a jewel in the Tode family portfolio, and one they had virtually forgotten - until Sir Ecgbert and Alice decide it's the perfect place for their honeymoon. Now suddenly everyone wants a piece.

Sir Ecgbert's brother Esmé sees it as an opportunity to restore his lost fortunes by turning it into a luxury eco wellness hub. His business partner Charlie Tysedale only wants it to escape from his dreaded bestselling-author wife. India Tode sees in it the ideal holiday home, while Sir Ecgbert envisages a yoga retreat. Professional freeloader and everyone's old school chum, Piers Slayer-Wilson-Tite, has his eye on making it his personal love-nest. Meanwhile, some of the locals have excellent reasons for keeping it just the way it is.

When the body of Piers's wife, Elizabetta, is discovered floating among grapefruits in the spring at the bottom of Villa Rospo's famous gardens, there's only one thing everyone agrees on . . . that there's absolutely no need to call the police.

©2023 Daisy Waugh (P)2023 Hachette Audio UK

Critic reviews

'A hilariously funny and bonkers book which I thoroughly enjoyed' ANNE GLENCONNER

'A witty, waspy, parody that hits its targets - hilarious' HELEN LEDERER

Outrageous, funny and clever

First off, the plot is unusual. The characters are all eccentric, the victims will not be missed at all, and the narrator blithely switches from character to character with voices that match the outrageous characters. Leonardo’s Davincis ghost is a nice touch and helps with crime solving.

Third verse same as the first

More shenanigans with an Ecgbert from the uppercrust Tode family. If I was quizzed on what set this apart from book 1, I'm afraid I’d fail.