A Murder for Miss Hortense

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What to expect

'Fresh, original and intriguing from start to finish!' Janice Hallett, bestselling author of The Examiner and The Appeal

'Splendid . . . introduces readers to an unforgettable new sleuth, the indomitable Miss Hortense' Washington Post

'More than a cosy crime mystery . . . it's the story of a community' Jennie Godfrey, author of The List of Suspicious Things

Death has come to her doorstep . . .

Retired nurse, avid gardener, renowned cake maker and fearless sleuth Miss Hortense has lived in Bigglesweigh, a quiet Birmingham suburb, since she emigrated from Jamaica in 1960. She takes great pride in her home, starching her lace curtains bright white, and she can tell if she's been short-changed on turmeric before she's even taken her first bite of a beef patty. Thirty-five years of nursing have also left her afraid of nobody - be they a local drug dealer or a priest - and an expert in deciphering other people's secrets with just a glance.

Miss Hortense uses her skills to investigate the investments of the Pardner network - a special community of Black investors, determined to help their people succeed. But when an unidentified man is found dead in one of the Pardner's homes, a Bible quote noted down beside his body, Miss Hortense's long-buried past comes rushing back to greet her, bringing memories of the worst moment of her life, one which her community has never let her forget.

It is time for Miss Hortense to solve a mystery that will see her, and the community she loves, tested to their limits.

'A beautiful novel, suffused with fondness and wit . . . highly entertaining' Alexander McCall Smith, author of The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency Series

'Unique, compulsive, and laugh-out-loud brilliant!' Nadine Matheson, author of The Jigsaw Man

'A vibrant tribute to the Windrush generation' Jessica Bull, author of Miss Austen Investigates

©2025 Melanie Asare-Pennant (P)2025 Hodder & Stoughton Limited

Critics Review

Miss Hortense is sharper than Poirot, tougher than Vera and a better cook than Columbo! It's Murder She Wrote as you've never seen it before
Sir Lenny Henry
What a read! This is more than a cosy crime mystery, from the brilliant Miss Hortense and Blossom, and the rich history of their lives, it's the story of a community, one I hope I get to visit again soon
Jennie Godfrey, author of THE LIST OF SUSPICIOUS THINGS
This is a beautiful novel, suffused with fondness and wit. It provides a highly entertaining and intriguing insight into a very special world. A real triumph!
Alexander McCall Smith, author of The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency Series
Packed with cleverness and warmth, with an expertly plotted mystery spanning decades, you do not want to miss the unique wit and resourcefulness of Miss Hortense. This book delivers that magical combination of unforgettable characters, community, and heart, and I could not put it down
Kristen Perrin, author of HOW TO SOLVE YOUR OWN MURDER
If this delightful murder mystery is anything to go by, then the formidable Miss Hortense will be your new favourite literary sleuth! Fresh, original and intriguing from start to finish!
Janice Hallett, bestselling author of THE EXAMINER and THE APPEAL
Mel Pennant's debut, A Murder for Miss Hortense, is not only an expertly plotted, page-turning mystery, it's also a vibrant tribute to the Windrush generation and a particular kind of woman who will not let injustice rest
Jessica Bull, author of MISS AUSTEN INVESTIGATES
A clever, funny, and suspenseful debut with unforgettable characters that anyone from a Caribbean family will recognise - unique, compulsive, and laugh-out-loud brilliant! Miss Hortense is a brilliant addition to crime fiction
Nadine Matheson, author of THE JIGSAW MAN
I wouldn't mess with Miss Hortense, but I would trust her with my life. Who else is as good at making a black cake as solving a murder? What a wonderful, original crime novel
Louise Hare, author of MISS ALDRIDGE REGRETS
I really enjoyed this! Funny, clever and so entertaining. I'm looking forward to the sequel
Jessica George, author of MY NAME IS MAAME
A novel with as many twists and turns as a rollercoaster, but the reader will always be safe with Miss Hortense at the centre, holding the moral compass
Rosalind Stopps, author of A BEGINNER'S GUIDE TO MURDER
A murder mystery that explores community and relationships all while keeping you turning the pages. Miss Hortense is a striking, singular character who will stay with me as someone to both fear and revere; I'm delighted that this is just the beginning!
Kate Kemp, author of THE GRAPEVINE
Pennant's plot and characters are top-notch, but the lagniappe of the novel is her portrayal of Bigglesweigh, awash in minor drama that covers up major secrets. She leaves the door wide open for Miss Hortense to probe more crimes, a welcome development indeed
New York Times
Pennant's splendid debut mystery introduces readers to an unforgettable new sleuth, the indomitable Miss Hortense
Washington Post
Pennant populates Bigglesweigh with colourful, well-drawn characters and strikes an appealing tone halfway between sweet and melancholy. A promising start
Publishers Weekly
Infused with humor and heartbreak, playwright and screenwriter Pennant's delightful first novel is for readers who enjoy community-based mysteries led by amateur detectives of an older generation, like Jesse Q. Sutanto's Vera Wong's Unsolicited Advice for Murderers or Robert Thorogood's The Marlow Murder Club
Library Journal

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