Select Synopses

Published by House of Stratus

Albany
Leonora Albany’s great-grandmother harboured an astonishing secret. It seems that Leonora is the sole legitimate descendant of Bonnie Prince Charlie – and by rights, the Queen of Scotland. The seventeen-year old’s pursuit of truth leads her to a path strewn with danger, violence and an unspeakable murder. Laura Black brings to life the struggles of an extraordinary adolescent in her fight to remain unconsumed by title and privilege. Mystery and suspense surround every character in this spellbinding tale of intrigue.

Bad Bet
Mathew Carver is a successful Kentucky bloodstock breeder and racehorse owner with a considerable reputation. He is also a member of a syndicate consisting of men significantly richer than himself. Through him the reader is immersed in the world of racing from bloodstock sales at Newmarket, to the classic countryside of Normandy, the Bluegrass of Kentucky and the mansions of Virginia. Racing’s aristocracy and its hard men, the touts, the fraudsters, the stable lads, tipsters and jockeys all provide the action and the sometime dubious underlying morality associated with the many sub-plots that develop. And Mathew himself is pulled in many different directions, not least by the three women in his life, two of whom love him and his wife who hates him. There is an extraordinary array of characters involved, and Longrigg’s deep knowledge of racing is apparent as he weaves together the passion, disasters, hopes, triumphs, tragedies and humorous interludes that befall them.

The Frog in the Moonflower
The ‘ALA’ is blamed for a series of savage attacks; on a pheasant shoot, a hunt and a party of young beaglers. Meanwhile, in Geneva, the Societé Internationale pour le Préservation de l’Héritage de la Nature seeks to protect and preserve every species. Sandro, the Italian Count who is one of Lady Jennifer Norrington’s companions, has an aunt who is deeply interested in its work. But it is on safari in East Africa that this story of multiple murder, terror and suspense concludes. The climax is as surprising as it is satisfying.

The Jevington System
A comedy centred upon Hugo Cornish, who does his best to make ends meet as a somewhat strange man-about-town by doing odd jobs, and wherever possible sponging off others. His goal is simply to inherit millions of dollars from an equally bizarre individual, his Uncle Ned, who spends his time on a succession of hobbies. Together with Colonel Freddie Willis-Jevington, another hilarious character who has a fool-proof system for winning at roulette, Hugo finds himself beside the Californian ‘death-bed’ of his uncle. The two of them fantasize and plot to the point where their mind set becomes one of self-deception. Hugo also experiences serious romantic difficulties. All in all, a brilliant comic novel which will delight from cover to cover.

The Necklace of Skulls
Lady Jennifer Norrington, Colly and Sandro travel to India to uncover a drug-stealing operation which develops into something altogether more horrible and frightening. Jenny is caught and used as bait for the others by the perpetrators of a long series of religious murders that was thought to have been stamped out in the nineteenth century, but as an organisation still survives. This wholly credible tale is set against exotic backgrounds and contains the kind of detail readers have come to expect of Drummond. It is a true suspense novel in all of the best traditions, with plot and sub-plots and many surprises.

The Priests of the Abomination
‘The Piece Peace – Peace is Possible’ runs the advert of a band of self-proclaimed prophets from California who call themselves the ‘Five’. They have money, a huge following, and make many converts who, in turn, provide more money. Even the established Churches are impressed. But is all as it seems, or is there a vast criminal conspiracy behind it all? Lady Jennifer Norrington, Count Sandro di Ganzarello, and Coleridge Tucker III embark on yet another adventure which culminates in an English Cathedral, having ranged as far afield from California as Italy, London, and Scotland, with brutal murders along the way. This terrifying tale is horribly possible and undoubtedly one to grab the reader from the outset.

Strathgallant
Lady Strathgallant is obsessed with her responsibilities to the Strathgallant estate, and to her adopted granddaughter, the beautiful Perdita Sinclair. And she desperately wants an heir for Strathgallant. Determined to see her granddaughter married to a wealthy, connected man, she contrives a plan to bring Perdita to the attention of her nephews. All seems to be going well until a fifth suitor appears on the scene. The romantic Jules Dilebes is determined to have Perdita – but treachery and death plague the Strathgallant household.

1. High Pitched Buzz	1956
2. Wrong Number	1959
3. Daughters Of Mulberry	1961
4. The Paper Boats	1963
5. Switchboard	1965
6. Love Among The Bottles	1967
7. The Sun On The Water	1969
8. The Desperate Criminals	1971
9. The Jevington System	1973
10. Their Pleasing Sport	1975
11. The Babe In The Wood	1976
12. Bad Bet	1982

1. Glendraco	1977
2. Castle Raven	1978
3. Strathgallant	1981
4. Albany	1984
5. Falls Of Gard	1986

1. The Man With The Tiny Head	1969
2. The Priests Of The Abomination	1970
3. The Frog In The Moonflower	1972
4. The Jaws Of The Watchdog	1973
5. The Power Of The Bug	1974
6. The Tank Of Sacred Eels	1976
7. The Necklace Of Skulls	1977
8. The Stench Of Poppies	1978
9. The Diamonds Of Loreta	1980

1. Fire In The Barley	1977
2. Sting Of The Honeybee	1978
3. Snare In The Dark	1981
4. Bait On The Hook	1983
5. Face At The Window (US: Death in the Rain)	1984
6. Fly In The Cobweb	1986
7. Caught In The Birdlime (US: Bird in the Net)	1987

1. Gemini	1983
2. Mother Love	1984
3. Suffer Little Children (US: Teacher’s Pet)	1987
4. Praying Mantis	1988
5. Siege	1989
6. Not Fair	1992
7. The Eye Behind The Curtain	1993
8. The Tiffany Lamp	1994

‘Roger Longrigg’ Novels

‘Laura Black’ Novels

‘Ivor Drummond’ Novels

‘Frank Parish’ Novels

‘Domini Taylor’ Novels

Select Synopses