Publisher's Synopsis
All five books in 'Skeletons In The Cupboard', a series of cozy mystery novels by A.J. Griffiths-Jones, now in one volume!
The Villagers: Olive and Geoffrey are happier than ever. After moving to the countryside to bring up their three young children, they are welcomed with open arms by the friendly residents of the chocolate box village. But beyond the veil of rhododendrons and net curtains of this English country village, there is something more. As Olive's discoveries become more and more sinister, she begins to fear for her own sanity, and has to make choices that will decide the fate of her family.
The Seasiders: Grace & Dick Thomas are the proud owners of the Sandybank Guest House, a popular establishment set in a prime location overlooking the beach. Tourists come and go all year round, taking advantage of the beautiful setting and their host's wonderful culinary skills. However, it is the permanent residents of this pretty coastal town who cause net curtains to flutter and tongues to wag, with their myriad of secrets and tales to be told. Caught up in their midst, the Thomases live their lives regardless, checking guests in and checking guests out. But who holds the biggest secret of all?
The Congregation: The people of a bustling mining town in 1970s England are not sure to expect when their new, aloof Reverend Matthews descends upon his unfamiliar parish. Nevertheless, he is welcomed with open arms and gathered into the flock. However, on discovering a journal left by his predecessor, the clergyman soon begins to wonder what secrets lie behind the seemingly innocent lives of his congregation. The unexpected arrival of the Bishop causes the vicar to question his own past and a cloud descends upon his beliefs, causing chaos to both himself and the townsfolk residing just a stone's throw away.
The Circus: The year is 1985, and O'Hare's Travelling Circus is touring the country, taking the spectacular acts of clowns, high-flying acrobats and a muscular strongman to enthralled audiences across the land. They also have Psychic Sheila - resident fortune-teller and agony aunt - who stumbles through life one disastrous, romantic interlude at a time. Of course, no close-knit group would be complete without its fair share of secrets, and who better to uncover them than Sheila, with her sixth-sense and natural nose for a good mystery. But for some members of the clan, time is running out, and the race to uncover the biggest secret of all is on.
The Expats: In a leafy suburb of Shanghai lives Li Yang: a local employed by various foreign families to take care of their needs. It's the turn of the millennium and China is evolving. At the centre of the dynamic change is the vibrant hub of Shanghai: a place of luck, fortune and chance. In awe of the homes in which these strange people live, the housekeeper Li Yang gets to know the families who she's working with. What the westerners don't know is that in addition to her unusual working life, Li Yang has a turbulent home life, with her own son beginning to hide things from her. Something is going on, but Li Yang just can't seem to work out what it is. As the clock ticks, will she be able to stop the impending events before she loses the one thing she loves most?
