Chance Inquiry

Two deaths. One village. Countless secrets buried beneath the Downs.When tragedy strikes the peaceful village of Mertonhaugh, grief turns swiftly to suspicion. The magistrate's spirited daughter dies suddenly under mysterious circumstances. Days later, the vicar's wife is found at the base of the cliffs-an apparent suicide.Eager for closure, the magistrate declares the case solved: the vicar's wife administered a fatal potion to his daughter, then took her own life in remorse. But Sir James and Lady Cecilia Branstoke aren't so sure. Behind the polite facades and Sunday smiles, they sense something darker stirring.As the Branstokes quietly pursue the truth, their inquiries expose old resentments, forbidden liaisons, and the invisible rifts dividing Mertonhaugh's tidy society. Yet the deeper they dig, the more peril creeps toward their doorstep-endangering not only their reputations, but the life of their young son, Hugh.In a world where appearances deceive and justice wears many faces, the Branstokes must tread carefully… or risk losing everything they hold dear.Newman's Murder on the Downs delivers the quintessential English village mystery-elegant, atmospheric, and steeped in period charm. Fans of traditional historical mysteries will find themselves utterly engrossed in Mertonhaugh's secrets, where every character has something to hide.

At Pomum Court, the land keeps its secrets. But some refuse to stay buried.When Cecilia and Sir James Branstoke arrive in Devon at the request of the Earl of Monteith, James's cousin, they expect to investigate a string of estate troubles-not murder.Nearly two years earlier, Monteith's older brother died in what was ruled a tragic accident. But accidents do not form patterns.As Cecilia and James begin to observe the people-and silences-surrounding Pomum Court, they uncover an unsettling truth: every man who advised Monteith's father in a dangerous decision that affected the estate's future has died. One by one.Now, with the past beginning to shift beneath their feet, Cecilia and James must uncover what truly happened before the killer strikes again.Some secrets are buried for a reason. And someone will kill to keep them there.