Arriva in Italia grazie a Mondadori una nuova serie di genere giallo intrigante e sorprendente. Scopriamo insieme la serie di indagini dedicata Phyllida Bright, la governante di Agatha Christie.
Omicidio a Mallowan Hall
Nella vita della governante Phyllida Bright ogni cosa sembra sotto controllo: non solo perché le stanze di Mallowan Hall, la bellissima dimora tra le verdi colline del Devonshire dove presta servizio, sono sempre perfettamente pulite e in ordine, ma soprattutto perché la padrona di casa, moglie dell’archeologo Max Mallowan e sua più cara amica e confidente, è Agatha Christie, giallista celebre in tutto il mondo. Phyllida è dunque colta totalmente alla sprovvista quando il cadavere di un uomo, un sedicente giornalista giunto a sorpresa la sera prima durante una festa organizzata dai padroni di casa, viene trovato nella biblioteca della tenuta con una penna stilografica conficcata nel collo. Appassionata lettrice di gialli, Phyllida sa che in una situazione del genere è meglio agire in fretta: la polizia sembra seguire il caso in modo superficiale e c’è il rischio che la notizia diventi presto di dominio pubblico, mettendo in pericolo la reputazione di Agatha. Phyllida non ha altra scelta: dovrà seguire le orme del suo eroe Poirot, e cercare di capire chi, tra gli ospiti di Mallowan Hall, è il vero colpevole. Una detective improvvisata dall’intuito brillante, una cornice elegante che appassionerà i fan di Downton Abbey, un mistero da risolvere a casa della scrittrice di gialli più amata di sempre sono gli ingredienti per un romanzo fresco, ironico e ricco di colpi di scena.
A Trace of Poison (inedito in Italia)
Phyllida Bright, housekeeper for Agatha Christie, must uncover a killer among a throng of crime writers. In England’s stately manor houses, murder is not generally a topic for polite conversation. Mallowan Hall, home to Agatha Christie and her husband, Max, is the exception. And housekeeper Phyllida Bright delights in discussing gory plot details with her friend and employer. The neighboring village of Listleigh has also become a hub of grisly goings-on, thanks to a Murder Fête organized to benefit a local orphanage. Members of The Detection Club—a group of celebrated authors such as G.K. Chesterton, Dorothy L. Sayers, and Agatha herself—will congregate for charitable events, including a writing contest for aspiring authors. The winner gets an international publishing contract, and entrants have gathered for a cocktail party—managed by the inimitable Phyllida—when murder strikes too close even for her comfort. It’s a mystery too intriguing for Phyllida to resist, but one fraught with duplicity and danger, for every guest is an expert in murder—and how to get away with it.
Murder by Invitation Only (inedito in Italia)
“A murder will occur tonight at Beecham House…” Who could resist such a compelling invitation? Of course, the murder in question purports to be a party game, and Phyllida looks forward to using some of the deductive skills she has acquired thanks to her employer, Mrs. Agatha, who is unable to attend in person. The hosts, Mr. and Mrs. Wokesley, are new to the area, and Phyllida gladly offers their own overwhelmed housekeeper some guidance while events get underway. Family friends have been enlisted to play the suspects, and Mr. Wokesley excels in his role of dead body. Unfortunately, when the game’s solution is about to be unveiled, the participants discover that life has imitated art. Mr. Wokesley really is dead! In the absence of Inspector Cork, Phyllida takes temporary charge of the investigation, guiding the local constable through interviews with the Murder Game actors. At first, there seems no motive to want Mr. Wokesley dead . . . but then Phyllida begins to connect each of the suspects with the roles they played and the motives assigned to them. It soon becomes clear that everyone had a reason to murder their host—both in the game and in real life. Before long, Phyllida is embroiled in a fiendishly puzzling case, with a killer who refuses to play by the rules.
