The Lois Meade Mysteries
Murder on Monday
Murder on Monday is a chilling account of the life and death of Gloria Hathaway, spinster of the parish, with a secret career of her own. Would-be sleuth, feisty Lois Meade, becomes involved as she cleans in the village houses of Long Farnden. The doctor, the professor, the gallery proprietor and the district nurse, are all part of a web of deceit which challenges Lois in her first attempt at unraveling a mystery. Then there is Detective Inspector Cowgill, a stern policeman who builds an odd relationship with Lois. He is quick to see how valuable she can be, and she is well aware of this. Sparks fly as the plot thickens. “Smashing ending” said an American reviewer.
Buy Murder on Monday from your local booksellers and all on line retailers, including Amazon and Barnes & Noble (US).
Terror on Tuesday
Terror on Tuesday finds Lois has moved out of Tresham and into Long Farnden, one of a trio of villages involved in her next assignment. She sets up New Brooms, a house-cleaning business with a small team of loyal characters. Her cleaners are her main concern, but all become involved in bizarre deaths, theatrical goings-on, and Lois is drawn in by the wicked tentacles of the local drug scene until violence strikes at the very heart of her family. Many contemporary problems surface here, but always with the background of village life, which, as many discover, is not immune from troubled times.
Buy Terror on Tuesday from your local booksellers and all on-line retailers, including Amazon and Barnes & Noble (US).
Weeping on Wednesday
Lois Meade`s cleaning business, New Brooms, has a new recruit, Enid Jacob, who lives with a reclusive mother and miserable old father in a remote, crumbling mill-house. Lois pities Enid, and when the shy spinster offers to teach piano to Lois`s musical son Jamie, a happy relationship develops. But things always go wrong in Enid`s life, and now deteriorate from bad to worse. Lois and company help to sort it all out, but is the ending happy or sad? The reader will decide.
Buy Weeping on Wednesday from your local booksellers and all on-line retailers, including Amazon and Barnes & Noble (US).
Theft on Thursday
Lois Meade, cleaner and part-time sleuth, is restless. It is some time since she helped out her old admirer and adversary, Inspector Hunter Cowgill, and she misses the excitement. She is delighted when the call comes from Cowgill asking her for help once more. She is plunged into mystery, bigotry and intrigue surrounding the randy new choirmaster Sandy Mackerras and the vicar, and there is danger for Lois and her new cleaner Sharon Miller, an innocent romantic. But is she as innocent as she seems?
Buy Theft on Thursday from your local booksellers and all on-line retailers, including Amazon and Barnes & Noble (US).
Fear on Friday
Lois Meade is boss of a cleaning business, and finds time on the side to indulge her love of sleuthing. She opens an office in nearby Tresham, and is intrigued to see a number of surprising visitors to the small shop on the other side of the street. Their window display tells all! New business comes her way when she is asked to clean the house of Tresham`s pompous and secretive mayor, Howard Jenkinson. A locked room arouses Lois`s curiosity, especially when the mayor`s chauffeur is seen collecting a parcel from the shop opposite. Lois, her daughter, and some of her regular cleaners, gradually uncover lies, adultery and sex for sale. When seemingly harmless goings-on result in death and murder, it is time for her old admirer, Inspector Hunter Cowgill, to become involved. True to form, Lois ignores his warnings and finds her own life in danger.
Buy Fear on Friday from your local booksellers and all on-line retailers, including Amazon and Barnes & Noble (US).
Secrets on Saturday
From the moment his car stops outside her door, Lois Meade, cleaner and part-time sleuth, doesn`t like the look of Reg Abthorpe. He asks her to clean the house of spry old Herbert Everitt, who has been moved to an old folks` home, though no one in the close-knit village of Long Farnden can understand why. Farmer William Cox is another matter. His health has been in decline since the death of his wife, and he is notoriously reclusive and dependent on his dog, Rosie. Threats against villagers, Lois`s loyal staff, and Lois herself cause the atmosphere to darken, and Lois is called upon by her old adversary and admirer, Inspector Hunter Cowgill ….
Buy Secrets on Saturday from your local booksellers and all on-line retailers, including Amazon and Barnes & Noble (US).
Sorrow on Sunday
In Sorrow on Sunday, Lois Meade, feisty cleaner-cum-private detective is on the trail of a horse-racing scam that ends in murder and tragedy. Colonel Battersby is a respectable pillar of society – or is he? He and his wife Blanche live in rural comfort in Waltonby, not far from Lois`s home in Long Farnden. The Battersbys request the services of New Brooms, and Lois and Dot Nimmo become involved in a secret underworld of corruption and violence. Horses figure largely in the Colonel`s life of hunting, racing and unsuccessful gambling. Enter Inspector Hunter Cowgill, Lois`s long-time contact in the police, and together they bring the villains to justice.
Buy Sorrow on Sunday from your local booksellers and all on-line retailers, including Amazon and Barnes & Noble (US).
Warning at One
Lois continues her `ferretin` with a new series, starting with Warning at One. This was published in hardback in November 2008, and concerns a mysterious newcomer in Gordon Street, where Lois owns a terraced house, next door to Clem Fitch and his cockerel, Satan. Across the road, Mrs Blairgowrie has recently moved in, and seems a pleasant enough woman.. She is visually impaired, apparently, though manages to live alone quite succesfully with the regular visits of a large, bulky man who, she says, is her son. Mysterious comings and goings in the middle of the night rouse Clem`s curiosity, with unfortunate consequences. Inspector Cowgill is, as usual, on the scene, as keen as ever on his Lois and not in the least put off by her fierce rejection of any warming up of the relationship!
Buy Warning at One from your local booksellers and all on-line retailers, including Amazon and Barnes & Noble (US).
Tragedy at Two
She’s worked through all of the days of the week, turning up clues and scrubbing up both messes and murderers in the village of Long Farnden. But crime is a persistent stain, and Lois Meade is finding that sleuthing is rarely a spotless endeavor… Lois Meade’s daughter Josie was admittedly considering ditching her partner Rob, but she certainly never expected him to be found badly beaten and left for dead in a ditch by the side of the road. When Rob tragically dies from his injuries without regaining consciousness, Inspector Cowgill has a murder investigation on his hands, and once again he engages the assistance of the woman he respects above all others—Lois. Suspicion for the attack quickly falls on the traveling gypsies who are camped out on Alf Smith’s property in Long Farnden. There is strong prejudice among many in the village who consider the gypsies no better than tramps and thieves. Lois must follow a twisted path that leads to arson, local delinquents, secret assignations, and blackmail— before she can discover who’s been tinkering with the truth…
Expected release on 1st December 2009. Pre-order your copy of Tragedy at Two from your local booksellers and all on-line retailers, including Amazon and Barnes & Noble (US).
Buy Ann Purser`s books in your local booksellers and at all on-line retailers, including Amazon.com and Amazon.co.uk, and Barnes & Noble.com.
Contact Ann Purser through David Higham Associates or directly by clicking here.
Member of the Crime Writers’ Association.
62 Responses to “The Lois Meade Mysteries”
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I’ve read all the Lois Meade books and am looking forward to the next one. I feel I know her and her family well. Josie is the unanswered question – will Rob make it?
I really like your writing. I picture you walking around with Lois and her family in your head all the time.
I’m looking forward to the next book.
Betty
Nice to hear from you, Betty. In Tragedy at Two, to be published in December this year, you will find the answer to the Rob question! Yes, they are all real people to me … Ann
Hello
I’ve recently discovered Lois Meade and I just finished the most recent book. I’m looking forward to Tragedy at Two. Thanks for the many hours of entertainment you’ve provided.
Have you thought of including a map of the village? I wonder if I’ve imagined it the way you see things?
Will we see more in the Round Ringford series? I’m wondering how Robert and Mandy are doing?
Thanks
So glad you enjoy the books! Tragedy at Two comes out in December this year, but I have no plans to write more Round Ringford stories. However … Ivy Beasley, who used to live in Round Ringford, has turned up in a Suffolk old folks home, where she, with her cousin Deirdre and an oddball called Augustus, have set up as private eyes. You can`t keep a good girl down! The first in this series – Ivy at Springfields – will be out next year.
Dear Mrs Purser. my sister and I at Christmas purchased your Monday thru Sunday books since my sister lives in New Jersey and I live in South Carolina we talk about our books over the phone we both like the english mysteries . after read about Lois Mead I wanted to read the previase six books you wrote about Round Ringford I could not find them any where but my sister who had lived in England for 12 years sent away and got used books from there.. I am enjoying them very much and cant wait to read your new series coming out thanks for some great reading Pamela Rabon
Thanks for your nice message. I am so glad you and your sister are enjoying the books! Keep in touch, and let me know if you have problems finding any of the titles. You are obviously doing well so far!
You are one of my favourite authors. I love settling down with Lois and her family. I would love to see more from you!
LOOKING FORWARD TO TRAGEDY AT TWO. FIND YOUR BOOKS FUN AND INTERESTING. PLEASE KEEP WRITING. JACQUELINE
Many thanks, Jacqueline, Monique and Karen for you great comments!
Tragedy at Two is out in December 2009, with the best yet cover, I think.
And for all Round Ringford loyal readers, watch out for a new series starring Ivy Beasley as ace detective (with help from cousin Deirdre, friend Gus, and a ninety-year-old suitor … ) She has moved to Suffolk (drummed out of Ringford?) and enlivens her old folks` – sorry, residential – home with her new life. Ivy at Springfields will be out in May 2010.
If any reader has a problem finding titles, let me know.
Dear Ann,
I have everyone of your books and they have brought me a great deal of joy I loved the Round Ringford Series and am looking forward to reading about Ivy and her antics. I am eagerly waiting for ‘Tragedy at Two’ hopefully by 2010 I will be back home in the UK.
I keep up with you at Amazon but wonder if you do a reminder when a new books is about to be published.
I buy all your books in HB as they hold up better but also I love to read the books a second time finding something I missed the first time I read it.
Thankyou for all your hardwork. Nothing like delving into a good book to forget your worries.
Hi Avril – thanks so much for your comment, which made my day! Writing can be a lonely occupation, so messages from readers are a great bonus. Nice to know you`re out there …
This new web site will give me an opportunity to warn readers when a new book is coming out. Thanks for your suggestion.
Good wishes for your return to England. Nothing like the dear old country – in the rain, and cold winds, sleet and frosts! But this morning the sun is shining and my bantams are laying, and all`s well with the world.
Have read Sat & Sun and will next read Thursday. So entertaining
and fast moving and I love this bold, intelligent Lois. But what I like best
is the fact that you have provided clever, witty writing with true imagination
and without relying on sex and violence. And every character is warm and believable. Real testimony it can be done! Thank you for sharing your wonderful gift, Ms. Purser!
Dear Ruth Ellen – how kind of you! I am so glad you gleaned from the Lois Meade stories all the things I was aiming at. It is so encouraging, and sends me into my workroom with renewed enthusiasm.
Best wishes – Ann P
Dear Ms. Purser:
I have enjoyed your Lois Meade mystieries so very much. I am eagerly awaiting your next book and when can we possibly expect that? I began my love for Cozy Mysteries by reading all of Agatha Christie’s works when I was just a teenager and have continued with my love of this genre. You have been added to my favorite author list along with other greats. Your descriptions of village life contributes to the books.
I enjoy that no pretention appears in Lois’s family in the “Lois” books. What we see is what we get (and Lois does not mind telling us so!): No multi-letter college degrees from posh universities, no 6-digit income, and no children who are working toward winning the Nobel. Lois is a regular person, like the people who read about her!
Is there any hope for the “Lois books” to become a mini-series, or would you be concerned about what screenwriters and the “show biz people” would do to your work?
thank you so much for your stories. i can only find the lois meade mysteries here in florida. your story about lois and adventures have given me much joy and even hope. it is encouraging to read about a strong character succeeding amidst the chaos in her everyday life. please don’t stop just yet. karen
Lovely to hear from you, Karen. I am so glad you like my Lois. She`s a survivor! You may be able to find the Round Ringford stores – not mysteries, but village life – on Amazon? There has been a paperback edition recently, published by Knight, an imprint of the Caxton Publishing Group, and there may be some around.
Dear Margo,
Thanks for your nice message. I too began to read detective stories in my teens, mostly authors liked by my mother and borrowed from the library. I still read them with great pleasure!
So glad you like the books. Lois appears again with another adventure in December this year, titled Tragedy at Two, and the usual mix of characters, in some of whom old prejudices die hard!
Dear Judi – I am just back from holiday in Scotland – a lighthouse on the Mull of Galloway. Not the lighthouse itself, but the lightkeepers cottage. All the lights are automated now and operated from Edinburgh. Ours was high up on a cliff and surrounded by marvellous sea birds. Watch out for a murder in the lighthouse, with Lois holidaying in Scotland!
Glad you like Lois. She is based very loosely on an old friend of mine, who has her feet very firmly on the ground, and doesn`t hesitate to make sure we have, too!
I`d love to see Lois on the telly! Nobody`s asked me yet, but I`d certainly say yes, and hope to be tolerant!
I’ve just discovered your books. As soon as I finished “Warning at One,” I went back to the library for “Murder on Monday.” In that first book, Josie is fourteen years old and Douglas and Jamie of unspecifed age, but younger. I don’t recall whether their ages were mentioned in “Warning at One,” but it seems they must have aged more than seven years since 2002 since all three of them are out on their own. Can you tell us what their current ages are?
I really enjoyed seeing how Lois got her start in “ferreting,” and I look forward to seeing the characters develop over the ensuing books. Unfortunately I won’t be able to read straight through them as I’d like since we’re off to England next week to meet my new granddaughter!
Oops! Maybe they lied about their ages ….
I am sure you`ve caught me out here. As for their ages at present, perhaps I`d better not commit myself. I just hope readers find my characters convincing.
Thanks for your nice message, anyway. AP
Well, I’m currently reading “Terror on Tuesday,” in which the children are 15, 13, and 11, respectively, so I imagine you started out with the idea of aging them a year at a time, even though the action in “Tuesday” does seem to follow very quickly on the heels of the end of “Monday.” These time issues must be very difficult for a series author!
Well spotted! – and thanks for taking so much trouble.
I have read all your books and have enjoyed them all. Once you start reading you get really enthralled and cannot put them down. I am looking forward to the next Lois Meade and cannot wait for the Ivy series.
You have made many people very happy with your writing talents.
Hello, Christine …. How nice of you to get in touch! I have just started the second Ivy story, and every time I look at the drawing I admire the sharp old thing even more. I just hope when I`m in residential care I shall be as active and disruptive as our Ivy!
Ann, I love your Lois Meade mysteries! I have always been a fan of mysteries and yours are the best! I started reading Murder on Monday at the beginning of August and just finished Warning at One yesterday. I am very pleased to see that I do not have to wait long until the next book is published! Please keep writing about Lois. She has quickly become family.
Thanks, Tracy, for your message – I am so glad Lois has become part of the family. Do hope Gran can come too! Keep in touch – Ann
I love the Lois Meade series. It is so refreshing to read mysteries that are so entertaining and not ghoulish and/or graphic. The relationship with Cowgill really makes this series successful. I can hardly wait for my liibrary to get Tragedy at Two when it is published.
Thank you, Marie, for your message – a nice one for Monday morning! re Cowgill and Lois – I do sympathise with long-suffering Derek, but maybe he knows there is no real threat? Or is there? Best wishes – Ann
I have just begun reading the Lois Meade Mysteries and I am enjoyibg them very much. Thanks you for the lovely hours of reading.
Hi Evelyn – autumn chill in the air this morning, and so nice to receive a warm and encouraging message from you! I hope you continue to enjoy Lois Meade and friends (and enemies). Ann
Dear Ann,
I have just today gone to the library to take out ‘Murder on Monday’ as I have heard from a friend how great your books are. I am looking forward to reading them all and cherishing them and look forward to the 2010 publication.
Jaden
Hello Jaden – many thanks for your message. I hope you will enjoy Murder on Monday – do let me know – one way or the other! Best wishes for 2010. Ann P
Just finished up Tragedy at Two – had to run everyone off after the holidays and get the accompanying paraphernalia stuffed back into the attic before I was able to snag some “me time”. LOVED it! I had so been looking forward to your next jaunt with Lois and gang and I was not disappointed. (Although I do come to adore Cowgill more and more and Derek less and less – never got over his adultery. LOL) Thank you so much for providing such quality reading in an age where a truly great cozy is getting harder and harder to come by!
Thanks, Leslie, for your great message. Why do we DO all that at Christmas time? Still, I wouldn`t have it changed. Surrounded by family and friends (and too much food!), it is a rare moment of good cheer. My two year old grandson got a big cheer when we were telling `Knock knock` jokes. With his limited vocabulary, it went like this: Adam: knock, knock. Us: Who`s there? Adam: Jingle. Us: Jingle who? Adam, triumphantly: Jingle Bells! Obviously a genius …
So glad you like the books. Poor old Derek! But Lois has her feet on the ground, and never knows when she might need a good electrician. Threats at Three is on its way through the publishers. Hope you`ll like that one, too. Happy New Year! Ann P.
Dear Ann,
I am so excited! I have read all the Lois Meade’s, up to Warning at One – it’s next on my list. But, I was not aware of the Round Ringford series, so this is like another Christmas present!! Powell’s bookstore, here in town, is one of the largest in the world, so I’m hoping they will have some, if not all the books in that series! Thank you for your wonderful, thoughtful writing.
Thank you for your message, Loretta! So glad you are enjoying the books. Powell`s sounds a wonderful bookstore – you don`t say where you live, but I imagine it is a big city? The Round Ringford novels are sometimes a little hard to find, but good hunting!
Greetings for a very happy New Year. Ann P
Hi again! Yes, I’m in Portland, Oregon and here is a brief description of our beloved Powell’s. Portland is a ‘reading’ city; bookstores everywhere, great coffee shops and many, many lovely parks in which to sit and while away an hour or two with a favorite book.
STORE DESCRIPTION
Powell’s City of Books is a book lover’s paradise, the largest used and new bookstore in the world. Located in downtown Portland, Oregon and occupying an entire city block, the City stocks more than a million new and used books. Nine color coded rooms house over 3,500 different sections, offering something for every interest, including an incredible selection of out-of-print and hard-to-find titles.
How wonderful! I am sure Powell`s is a place of pilgrimage for keen readers all over the world. I may even get there myself one day ….
At the moment, our village is about eight inches under snow, and it is difficult going anywhere. We Brits are not used to this kind of weather, and are generally unprepared! We are lucky to have a young farmer with a snow plough who was out early clearing the ways.
There is a lovely story on the radio of a Scottish lady who lives with her husband in a lighthouse on one of the islands. She went a few days before Christmas to Inverness on the mainland to buy her turkey, and has still not been able to return home to cook it!
All the best – Ann P
Dear Anne,
Just finished “Murder on Monday” and really enjoyed it. Barnes And Noble has ordered “Terror on Tuesday” and “Weeping on Wednesday” for me. I can’t wait to read the rest.
Thanks you very much.
Thanks so much for your message. It is so nice to hear from readers (especially those who are enjoying the books!) and I hope you like Tuesday and Wednesday too. Best wishes for 2010 – Ann P
Dear Ann,
I really enjoyed Tuesday. I’m in the middle of Wednesday. They are excellent! I can’t wait to find out what happens next. They are really enjoyable. When I read them I can barely put them down!
All Best Wishes!!!!!
Many thanks! AP
I love these! Very nice series so far.
Hooray! Don`t forget to look out for new mystery series out in May, starring Ivy Beasley, of Round Ringford fame …
Ann P
Dear Ann,
Each Lois Meade mystery is a grand read. I am with Jaden regarding the art work on your covers. I was browsing in the mystery section of Barnes & Noble (Houston, TX) looking for a new author when Jeems give a single bark in my direction from the cover of Secrets on Saturday. Having read all but Tragedy at Two I was pondering to read next and came to our website for a visit. I was ever so glad to see the Round Ringford stories and Ms. Ivy Beasley waiting for me.
PS
My thanks to Jeems for getting my attention!
Dear Karen – so pleased to hear from you! I am glad you are enjoying the books, and I, too, love the covers. Jeems is based on our first little cairn terrier, and was my favourite dog so far. We are on our sixth now, a sandy cairn called Wullie (after a Scottish cartoon character) and he is feisty and fun. Do you have a dog?
Happy reading, and regards to Jaden. Ann P.
I absolutely LOVE LOVE LOVE your Lois Meade books!! I am anxiously awaiting the new Ivy Beasley series also. Its always so nice to find a new favorite author and with pleasure I’ve added your entire Lois Meade series to my personal collection.
What a lovely message to receive on a gloomy morning! There`s more Lois to come, and Ivy busily getting into her stride as a private eye ………..
Thanks – Ann.