A Death in the Family (21 page)

‘I had to come and tell you right away,’ she said, hardly waiting until she’d got inside the door. ‘I’m so thrilled!’

‘Come and sit down,’ I said, ‘and tell me.’

‘It’s about the Ruby Wedding,’ she said.

‘Have you finally decided where to have it?’

‘No, no,’ she said impatiently, ‘it’s better than that.’

She fished in her handbag and brought out a folder and handed it to me. Inside were two airline tickets to Toronto.

‘No!’ I said. ‘What a wonderful surprise! Not Jack?’

‘Yes, bless him. He thought of it all by himself (though Jilly did the actual booking for him) because he saw how sad I was not to be able to see baby John and meet Claire. So he rang Colin and said we’d be there for the christening.’

‘How absolutely brilliant!’

‘
And
,’ Rosemary went on, ‘he said that since we were going all that way we might as well stay over for Christmas.’

‘Jack!’

‘I know, isn’t it unbelievable?’

A thought struck me. ‘What about your mother? Is she furious?’

‘That’s the extraordinary thing. She’s
pleased
.’

‘I don’t believe it!’

‘No, she said it was for the
family
and it was our duty to be there for the christening.’

‘Good heavens.’

‘Mind you, she still expects a splendid meal at The Castle when we get back, with Jilly, Roger and the children.’ She smiled. ‘And you, of course; after all, you were my bridesmaid all those years ago.’ 

‘That would be lovely. Oh I’m
so
pleased. It’s the perfect solution.’

‘Anyway, can you come with me to Taunton next week and help me buy some baby clothes to take with us?’

‘Of course.’

As I came back from seeing her out a familiar sound caught my attention. There, his head turned to make sure I was watching, was Foss energetically sharpening his claws on the new stair carpet.

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Taviscombe’s veterinary practice was facing closure until Malcolm Hardy arrived with enough money to save the surgery. But as far as Sheila Malory is concerned, there is nothing to like about the new vet, and before long he has offended most of the town. But when Hardy collapses and dies at the surgery, Sheila wonders if somebody at the practice could be a killer. Or might Hardy have other enemies with murder in mind?

When widower Sidney Middleton is found dead in his cottage from carbon monoxide poisoning, Sheila Malory is deeply disturbed; the ageing wood-burning stove, cited as causing the fatality, had just been serviced, and at the funeral she encounters outright hostility. Her suspicions that this was no accidental death just won’t be quieted and Sheila won’t rest until she’s proved it.

Something peculiar is going on at the Group Medical Practice in Taviscombe and Sheila Malory can’t help but feel it may be linked with the unexpected arrival of Dr Morrison. When the new doctor is murdered, it is assumed to be a random act of violence, but Sheila is not convinced. Had he been involved in some sort of dangerous business in London? Or did someone local have a motive for wanting him out of the way?

H
AZEL
H
OLT
was born in Birmingham and was educated at King Edward VI High School and Newnham College, Cambridge. She worked as an editor, reviewer and feature writer before turning to fiction in an attempt to keep up with her son, the novelist Tom Holt. Her life is divided between writing, cooking and trying to cope with the demands of her Siamese cat, Flip.

Death in Practice

The Silent Killer

No Cure for Death

A Death in the Family

A Time to Die

Any Man’s Death

A Necessary End