Mrs Pargeter's Patio - (Mrs Pargeter Mystery) by Simon Brett

About the Book

"When widow Mrs Pargeter has her morning coffee, her intention is to admire her beautiful garden in peace and quiet. Little does she expect one of the patio's paving slabs to crack in two, revealing a human skull with a neat hole in the middle of its forehead! Mrs Pargeter decides to investigate. And who better to assist than her late husband's 'business associates', private investigator Truffler Mason and chauffeur Gary? The trio are soon certain that a murder has been committed and the body disposed of under some convenient building works. But who is the victim? And more importantly, who put the body under Mrs Pargeter's patio? Mrs Pargeter and her friends must find out the truth before suspicion turns towards the late Mr Pargeter, whose business dealings Mrs P remains - naturally! - in blissful ignorance of..."--

Book Synopsis

A bizarre discovery right under Mrs Pargeter's patio turns a quiet and sunny June morning into a thrilling hunt for answers in this new instalment of the light-hearted and entertaining Mrs Pargeter mystery series.

When widow Mrs Pargeter decides to have her morning coffee on the patio of her mansion in Chigwell, her intention is to admire her beautiful garden in peace and quiet. Little does she expect one of the patio's paving slabs to crack in two, depositing her on the ground - and revealing a human skull with a neat hole in the middle of its forehead!

Not wanting to bother the police just yet, Mrs Pargeter decides to save them some trouble and starts investigating the curious find herself. And who better to assist than her late husband's 'business associates', private investigator Truffler Mason and chauffeur Gary?

The trio are soon certain that a murder has been committed and the body disposed of under some convenient building works. But who is the mysterious victim? And more importantly, who put the body under Mrs Pargeter's patio?

Mrs Pargeter and her friends must find out the truth and soon, before the finger of suspicion points in an unthinkable direction: towards the late, great Mr Pargeter, whose business dealings Mrs P remains - naturally! - in blissful ignorance of . . .

Mrs Pargeter's Patio is the ninth book in the series by CWA's Diamond Dagger winner Simon Brett. Fans of cozy mysteries will enjoy this funny and exciting ride with unexpected twist and turns.

Review Quotes

A glorious romp . . . Mrs Pargeter [is] one of the most endearing characters of cosy crime-- "Daily Mail"

Pure Fun-- "Booklist Starred Review"

Fans will appreciate Brett's customary inventiveness in unveiling crimes and misdemeanors old and new-- "Kirkus Reviews"

An enjoyable cozy-- "Booklist on Mrs Pargeter's Public Relations"

Brett's customary wit and good humor abound-- "Publishers Weekly Starred Review of Mrs Pargeter's Principle"

Delightful characters and a captivating plot-- "Library Journal on Mrs Pargeter's Point of Honour"

Great fun-- "Booklist on Mrs Pargeter's Point of Honour"

Great fun, a delightfully madcap romp-- "Booklist Starred Review of Mrs Pargeter's Principle"

In this fast-paced tale, Brett offers yet another repast of merry mayhem with the redoubtable Mrs. Pargeter as the most excellent main course-- "Publishers Weekly on Mrs Pargeter's Point of Honour"

Mrs. Pargeter is at her best in this cozy mystery, capably read by author Brett. Recommended for libraries with large fiction collections-- "Library Journal on Mrs Pargeter's Plot"

Mrs. Pargeter's fans will be eagerly waiting for more-- "Booklist on Mrs Pargeter's Plot"

Mystery fans seeking pure escapist fun will be rewarded-- "Publishers Weekly on Mrs Pargeter's Public Relations"

The coziest of cozy reads-- "Library Journal on Mrs Pargeter's Principle"

About the Author

Simon Brett worked as a producer in radio and television before taking up writing full-time. He is the author of more than one hundred books, including the much-loved Fethering mysteries, Charles Paris series and the Decluttering mysteries as well as the Mrs Pargeter novels. In 2014, he was awarded the Crime Writers' Association's prestigious Diamond Dagger for sustained excellence and contribution to crime writing, and in the 2016 New Year's Honours he was awarded an OBE 'for services to literature'. Married with three grown-up children, six grandchildren and a ginger cat called Douglas, he lives in an Agatha Christie-style village on the South Downs.