Marble Hall Murders

Susan Ryeland is back in London. She's hired to work on a continuation novel of the Atticus Pünd series, written by Eliot Crace who is the grandson of beloved author Miriam Crace. She's convinced to work with Eliot by an old friend - Elaine Clover. Atticus Pünd is visiting Corfu when he bumps into Lady Chalfont, who shortly dies while having tea with her fractious family.

Eliot tells Susan that his famous grandmother was a terrible bully, hated by the rest of the family - and that one of them killed her. He mentions that, like Alan Conway, he is hiding his secrets about the real world in the novel.  In 1955, Atticus Pünd interrogates the inhabitants of the Villa Belmar before Lady Chalfont's will is read - and the family descends into chaos.

Susan is admonished by the Crace estate for snooping around. Eliot is becoming increasingly distressed and erratic, accusing one of his family of Miriam's murder. As he leaves a Crace Estate party, Eliot is hit by a car. In 1955, Atticus Pünd and Vassilikos investigate the poison used to murder Lady Chalfont, and it seems a suspect may have come to light--but Pünd isn't so sure.

Susan finds out that Eliot has been attacked and is in critical condition. The police seem to think that she is a prime suspect; Susan tries to solve the mystery so that her name will be cleared. In 1955, Pünd discovers that Elmer is involved in the illegal art trade. Before he can get further in his investigations another body is found. Eliot dies, and the novel left unfinished.

Susan goes to prison to meet Charles Clover, who gives her information but the interview quickly turns ugly. When Susan arrives home, her flat has been broken into and she is being further framed for Eliot's murder. Desperate, Susan turns to Blakeney for help - and he listens. She insists that the solutions to the real-life mystery will be hidden in the Atticus Pünd novel.

Blakeney decides, on Susan's advice, to try and solve Eliot's murder by writing the end of the book. Susan finds herself in a final showdown, before she and Pünd both discover the solution to their mysteries. Surprises are the order of the day when none of the obvious suspects are to blame. There are happy endings for both characters in the final instalment of the series.