The Winter Ground
On sale
16th February 2012
Price: £10.99
‘I adore the Dandy Gilver books!’ Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘My favourite mystery series’ Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
1925, Perthshire: The Cookes’ family circus sets up in the grounds of Benachally Castle, attracting interest from far and wide, including that of society lady – and sometimes detective – Dandy Gilver.
But when a member of the troupe is found dead, Dandy must abandon the fun of the fair and get to work.
Because there are dark secrets lying beneath the charms of circus life; secrets that reach beyond the high wire, curl out of the big top, and whisper from the windows of the castle itself . . .
A brilliantly thrilling and witty cosy historical mystery set in the secretive world of the travelling circus, with twists and turns aplenty. Perfect for fans of Sherlock Holmes, Agatha Christie and Richard Osman.
Readers love The Winter Ground:
‘What a great mystery setting . . . I love [Dandy’s] ruthless self-examination, her honesty, her decency, her sense of humour and duty. A brilliant mystery’ Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘Exciting, scary and witty all at once and Dandy is a fabulously likeable heroine‘ Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘Catriona McPherson gets it right again!‘ Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘Kept me guessing right up to its poignant end’ Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘My favourite mystery series’ Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Roll up, roll up . . .
1925, Perthshire: The Cookes’ family circus sets up in the grounds of Benachally Castle, attracting interest from far and wide, including that of society lady – and sometimes detective – Dandy Gilver.
But when a member of the troupe is found dead, Dandy must abandon the fun of the fair and get to work.
Because there are dark secrets lying beneath the charms of circus life; secrets that reach beyond the high wire, curl out of the big top, and whisper from the windows of the castle itself . . .
A brilliantly thrilling and witty cosy historical mystery set in the secretive world of the travelling circus, with twists and turns aplenty. Perfect for fans of Sherlock Holmes, Agatha Christie and Richard Osman.
Readers love The Winter Ground:
‘What a great mystery setting . . . I love [Dandy’s] ruthless self-examination, her honesty, her decency, her sense of humour and duty. A brilliant mystery’ Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘Exciting, scary and witty all at once and Dandy is a fabulously likeable heroine‘ Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘Catriona McPherson gets it right again!‘ Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘Kept me guessing right up to its poignant end’ Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Reviews
A jaunty romp with a gripping ending... delightful
'As ever, McPherson's research is exhaustive and she captures the patois of the circus people beautifully . . . At the circus, things don't quite turn out as Dandy expects but this simply makes McPherson's delightful tale all the more enjoyable.'
Praise for the Dandy Gilver series:
McPherson is on to a winner with her 1920s society sleuth Dandy Gilver, who is the most engaging and ingenious crime-cracker I've met in ages. She is gauche but perceptive, married but unromantic (although there's a lovely frisson to her co-solver), sly but endearingly innocent. The period detail is accomplished and convincing, the crime is neatly convoluted and McPherson's prose bristles with clever asides under a lucid surface. I wouldn't be surprised if she is translated on to the small screen soon, and I can't wait for her next adventure.
McPherson is an exemplary crime writer, effortlessly balancing the driest wit with melodramatic suspense. Her range of reference is seriously literary, her research impeccable, and her exuberance with period detail utterly beguiling. And Dandy herself is wonderful: blundering bravely through this mad and murky tale with perfect aplomb and a drop-dead vocabulary, she is a lesson to us all.
Compelling
