A Step So Grave

‘McPherson’s wit has been compared to that of PG Wodehouse or Nancy Mitford, and her finely researched and choreographed narratives to the work of Agatha Christie . . . an absolute delight . . . these are the perfect reads for a night by the fire.’ ScotsmanWedding bells are set to ring as Dandy Gilver, family in tow, arrives in windswept Wester Ross on Valentine’s Day. They’ve come to celebrate Lady Lavinia’s fiftieth birthday and to meet her daughter Mallory, a less-than-suitable bride-to-be for Dandy’s son Donald.But soon love is the last thing on Dandy’s mind when the news breaks that Lady Lavinia has been found dead, brutally murdered in the middle of her famous knot garden. Strange superstitions and folklore abound among the Gaelic-speaking locals. But , Dandy suspects that the tangled boughs and branches around Applecross House hide something much more earthly at work . . .

Reviews of A Step So Grave

The 1930s setting is skilfully evoked and there are shades of Agatha Christie in the plotting. * Choice * A deliriously fun tale, flawlessly written. * Saga * Plenty of twists to keep you guessing. * The Bookbag * Superb! Dandy Gilver deserves a damehood for increasing the gaiety of the nation. * Frances Brody, author of the Kate Shackleton Mysteries * Catriona McPherson is a writer as talented as she is versatile. Dandy Gilver tackles a Golden Age era puzzle with her usual aplomb when the Scottish play offers a Shakespearean twist to a mystery with plenty of classic ingredients. * Martin Edwards * An absolute must for anyone who likes cosy historical mysteries. * Crime Review * McPherson's wit has been compared to that of PG Wodehouse or Nancy Mitford, and her finely researched and choreographed narratives to the work of Agatha Christie . . . an absolute delight . . . these are the perfect reads for a night by the fire. * Scotsman * A delightfully uplifting mystery with a distinctly P.G. Wodehouse-ian feel. Navigating ancient castles, and family feuds, Dandy Gilver must also contend with a ribald staging of Shakespeare's Macbeth. I loved the sense of fun, the wonderful use of language . . . satisfying on many levels. * Vaseem Khan, author of the Unexpected Inheritance of Inspector Chopra * Everything I adore * Red magazine * 'The perfect read for those who enjoy the bygoneworld charm of Nancy Mitford, Evelyn Waugh and Agatha Christie.' * The Lady on Dandy Gilver and a Most Misleading Habit *