In the lush and deceptively tranquil Elham Valley, where immaculate horses, grand country houses and impeccable manners conceal a world of rivalries and hidden passions, one young woman’s murder shatters the illusion of rural perfection.
When Emma Duncan—headstrong, privileged and dangerously manipulative—is found dead under suspicious circumstances, the close-knit world of aristocrats, riders and grooms begins to unravel. Behind every polished stable door lies a secret. Everyone has something to hide. Everyone has something to lose. And almost everyone had a reason to wish her dead.
At the centre of the mystery stand Lady Ottilie Ravenscar-Montclair, a formidable grande dame with an unerring instinct for deception, and Thomas Peters, an old-school horseman whose quiet integrity commands universal respect. Together with the fiercely intelligent Jezebel Peters and the principled farrier Andrew Pritchard, they are drawn into an intricate web of lies, loyalties, ambition and betrayal.
As Inspector Llewelyn closes in on the truth and the circle of suspects tightens, long-buried secrets emerge, trusted friendships are tested, and the final revelation proves as unexpected as it is devastating.
Elegant, atmospheric and laced with wit, Murder in the Elham Valley is a classic English country-house mystery reimagined for the twenty-first century—where every stable hides a secret, every smile conceals an agenda, and appearances can be fatally deceptive.
Perfect for readers who enjoy Agatha Christie, Jilly Cooper and intelligent mysteries set against the captivating world of horses and the English countryside.
All royalties from the sale of this book are donated to the Mark Davies Injured Riders Fund, supporting equestrians who have suffered life-changing injuries.