Sarah Woodward

"The "wickedly offbeat" (Parade), contemporary mystery series follows the adventures of newly promoted Detective Sergeant Matilda Stone and her three crime-writing aunts as they solve murders in the picturesque English region of Wildemarsh. Though Matilda's strict boss warns her that homicides are police-only matters, her aunts can't help but offer their expertise, as well as unsolicited dating advice. As Matilda contends with a novelist killed during...

When Oberon, King of the fairies uses his magic upon four runaway lovers in a midsummer wood outside Athens, chaos ensues. Who really loves whom?

The original copy of Edgar Allan Poe's "The Tell-Tale Heart" is being sold by Wildemarsh's Heritage House, but the manuscript is stolen before the sale, and in its place lies a single raven's feather. When Jane finds a body hidden in the museum, the case becomes a murder. Matilda wonders if the feather is connected to her mother's disappearance, but her aunts know more than they're letting on.

Aunt Cat's art exhibit at Wildemarsh's trendiest new gallery is marred when Fintan Boyle, the ex-husband of the gallery owner, is discovered dead on star artist Keith Kane's installation. Kane is the prime suspect, but plenty of people had motives to kill Boyle. When one of the suspects beats a hasty retreat, it's unclear if he fled or was abducted.

As Matilda gets closer to solving both the murders and the Raven's connection to her mother's disappearance, her aunts try to distract Matilda from the secret she most wants to know. Unfortunately for them, a shady figure is determined to lead Matilda to the truth. Meanwhile, Dr. Daniel Lynch is working up the courage to confess his love just as her relationship with George begins to get serious.

The stage adaptation of Jane's book endures numerous snafus before opening night: electrical problems, feuding cast members, and a notorious arts critic writing a potentially bad review. Meanwhile, Mattie searches for new clues in the case of her missing mother, but an onstage murder brings her to the theatre.

With another killing and Beth a suspect, Mattie races to solve the case and clear her aunt's name. Was it Oscar's publisher, who was skimming off the top? His literary agent, who was at risk of losing Oscar's contract to a rival? Or a fellow author, whom Oscar had accused of plagiarizing?