A Murder for Miss Hortense

Pennant's splendid debut mystery introduces readers to an unforgettable new sleuth, the indomitable Miss Hortense

Washington Post

A warm, witty mystery that introduces a brilliant new voice in crime fiction

i Paper

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

As an amateur sleuth, Miss Hortense cannot help but investigate - and what she finds is truly jaw-dropping. I read this in two sittings. The mix of characters, some of whom are genuinely laugh-out-loud funny, is fantastic. The plot and the cliff-hanger ending, meanwhile, made this one of my favourite reads of the year

i Paper

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

Pennant's cast of characters is broad and well-drawn as she weaves a complex spiderweb of relationships and events, both past and present. While it has many of the markers of a cozy mystery - an unlikely sleuth, a broad cast of colourful characters, plenty of gossipy intrigue and humour, and even a number of Jamaican recipes - this book is more than that, with some hard truths and dark crimes at its core

BookPage

Stellar debut

Olympian