A Death in the Family: A Euphemia Martins Mystery

By Caroline Dunford

“A sparkling and witty crime debut with a female protagonist to challenge Miss Marple." Lin Anderson, Award winning Scottish crime author

 

A Death in the Family – Book One of the Euphemia Martin Mysteries

In December 1909 the Very Rev Joshia Martins expires in a dish of mutton and onions leaving his family on the brink of destitution.

Abandoned by her noble grandfather, Joshia’s daughter, the eighteen year old Euphemia, takes it on herself to provide for her mother and little brother by entering service. She’s young, fit, intelligent, a little naive and assumes the life of a maid won’t be too demanding. However, on her first day at the unhappy home of Lord Stapleford she discovers a dead body. 

Euphemia’s innate sense of justice has her prying where no servant should look and uncovering some Stapleford secrets…

• Language: English
• Publisher: Accent Press
• Release date: May 23, 2013
• ISBN: 9781909520943

Caroline Dunford

Caroline Dunford has previously worked as a psychotherapist, a journalist and a non-fiction author. She has a deep love of story, which she believes is at the heart of human nature. She first declared, at five years old, that she wanted to be a writer but was told there was little options of it being a full time job. Undeterred, she started writing short stories, plays and mini novels. She became known for writing plays at primary school including casting and directing the performances.

Reviews for A Death in the Family

[kathy89_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A light cozy read. Euphema Martins is forced to go to work in the early 1900s after her father, a church Victor, passes away and leaves the family in dire straights. Her mother was the daughter of an Earl but was disinherited when she fell in love and married Euphemia's father. Having no real workplace skills she answers an advert for a maid in a neuvo rich family. She arrives and doesn't know what to do with a feather duster, or dustpan, etc. She does discover a dead body in the servants corridor and comes under suspicion because of educated speech and knowledge.

[vesper1931 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

1910 The death of her father, Rev Martins, results in the daughter Euphemia looking for a position in service to help her now poor mother and brother. She finds herself at Stapleford Hall to be employed as a maid. Unfortunately on her first day she discovers a body and becomes one of the suspects. Can she find the guilty party and clear her name, and before anorther body is discovered.
This is a re-read for me, as I start to read the rest of the series. I enjoyed this cozy mystery and liked the characters.