The Mrs. Meade Mysteries Series

Mrs. Meade is not the only one in Sour Springs who is shocked at the news when Clyde Renfrew is accused of a drunken assault on a woman. Clyde, a sober, steady young rancher, seemed the last person likely to do such a thing. Between an emphatic witness and Clyde’s own apparent reluctance to defend himself, the case seems open and shut. But Mrs. Meade—who seems to have a knack for being just across the hall when things happen—has a few ideas of her own... "The Parting Glass" is a novelette, approximately 12,500 words long. The Mrs. Meade Mysteries are a series of historical mystery shorts, each just the perfect length to accompany a cup of tea or coffee for a cozy afternoon. Fans of classic lady sleuths such as Agatha Christie’s Miss Marple are sure to be delighted to make the acquaintance of Mrs. Meade, and history lovers will enjoy each quick trip back to the turn of the 20th century for the puzzles both quaint and dramatic which come her way.

In a small town in turn-of-the-century Colorado, a young woman has disappeared from the boarding-house where she lives. Her distraught fiancé is certain that she must have been kidnapped. But the case takes a new turn when a city detective appears on the scene, looking for a woman who matches the description of the missing girl. Was Charity really kidnapped, or did she have a reason to flee? Mrs. Meade, a gentle but shrewd widow lady who lives across the hall in the boarding-house, feels that there is something wrong with the story of Charity’s disappearance...but can she unravel the mystery before it is too late? "The Silver Shawl" is a novelette, approximately 15,700 words. The Mrs. Meade Mysteries are a series of historical mystery shorts, each just the perfect length to accompany a cup of tea or coffee for a cozy afternoon. Fans of classic lady sleuths such as Agatha Christie's Miss Marple are sure to be delighted to make the acquaintance of Mrs. Meade, and history lovers will enjoy each quick trip back to the turn of the 20th century for the puzzles both quaint and dramatic which come her way.

Mrs. Meade had been looking forward to a pleasant visit with old friends—but their house party turns to disaster when a fire destroys the house during the night. Even worse, the fire appears to have been deliberately set. Which of the people who were in the house that night is responsible? There are several possibilities, and Mrs. Meade is not sure which is the most distressing... "The Oldest Flame" is a novelette, approximately 17,800 words long. The Mrs. Meade Mysteries are a series of historical mystery shorts, each just the perfect length to accompany a cup of tea or coffee for a cozy afternoon. Fans of classic lady sleuths such as Agatha Christie’s Miss Marple are sure to be delighted to make the acquaintance of Mrs. Meade, and history lovers will enjoy each quick trip back to the turn of the 20th century for the puzzles both quaint and dramatic which come her way.

Major Cambert and his grandson Jim were known to have quarreled bitterly over Jim’s choice of a wife, so when the Major is found shot dead by his own fireside a few nights later, Jim is the prime suspect—and a suspect without an alibi. But there were others who may have held a grudge against the Major too: an obnoxious ex-soldier, a sullen ranch hand...and Jim’s fiancée. And none of them can account for their whereabouts during the dark hour when Major Cambert was murdered. With no other evidence to go on, Mrs. Meade will have to apply all her wits to discover who is really guilty... "The Silent Hour" is a novella, approximately 19,100 words long.

Was it a joke gone wrong—or something more sinister? It’s summer in Colorado, and Sir Edmund Marsland’s family are enjoying their visit to the West—though not everyone at the Wellman ranch is quite as happy with the company of the English family. The mood changes for the worse when an accident with a horse nearly claims the life of Sir Edmund’s young son. And with the discovery that someone deliberately caused the accident, suspicions and tensions divide the party. Was it meant for a practical joke—or was it for spite—or was there a motive for murder? Mrs. Meade may be the only guest at the ranch without title or fortune, but she may also be the only one who can get at the truth... "The American Pony" is a novella , approximately 21,000 words long.

“Mrs. Meade, might I speak to you a moment? It’s—it’s quite absurd, but most distressing, and I really don’t know what to do.” Mrs. Meade's landlady has an unnerving problem: her new lodger doesn't seem to exist! No one in Sour Springs besides Mrs. Henney has ever seen him—so where does he go when he leaves the house every morning? The obvious solution is to lay the question before Mrs. Meade. This is a stand-alone short story, which can be enjoyed in any order with the Mrs. Meade Mysteries or by readers new to the series.