Case of Crime

No Second Chance by Bill Kitson
DS Kate Jackson is distraught when a sure-fire prosecution case against a celebrity accused of rape breaks down. The failed prosecution is an excuse for her superiors to move Kate to another police force, where, putting the past behind her, she successfully rebuilds her career. Then the celebrity who was acquitted all those years ago is found dead on Kate''s beat - and, suddenly, she finds herself under suspicion of murder . . .

Libby Sarjeant and the Mystery of the Errant Emeralds by Lesley Cookman
Libby Sarjeant and her colleagues who run the Oast Theatre are surprised and somewhat apprehensive when the great Miranda Love decides to make her unexpected comeback at their little venue. Miranda is unquestionably a brilliant actress, but she has a fearsome reputation as a diva - and, as rehearsals get underway, Libby and her friends realise that Miranda Love will do anything to get what she wants . . .

Goodbye, My Darling by Cara Cooper
Sometimes life can seem too perfect. Perfect home, perfect garden, perfect husband . . . but what if it''s all just an illusion? What if that perfect husband is plotting the perfect murder? And once things have changed for good, do you stick around or say goodbye?

Old Bones by J.J. Campbell
Amateur detective Charles de Lacy is drawn into a case of gangland intrigue when he agrees to meet his old sparring partner, DS Susan McIntyre. McIntyre reveals the recent deathbed confession of a prominent former criminal, an associate of notorious North London family the Whadcoats. It seems there is a body buried in a field just outside London - the victim of a gang execution in the 1970s - but on examination the story seems impossible. De Lacy investigates - with dramatic unforeseen results . . .

Meteors and Myths by Marsali Taylor
Cass Lynch is sailing her yacht Khalida when she hears a desperate Mayday call over the ship''s radio: a woman''s husband has just disappeared overboard. Cass heads towards the distressed woman, Anita, and comforts her until help arrives. But something doesn''t seem quite right. Cass, together with DI Gavin Macrae, investigates whether Anita''s loss is really all that much of a blow to her . . .

The Adventure of the Dead Wild Bore by Andrea Frazer
The recently-formed private detective agency of (Sherman) Holmes and (John) Garden is going from strength to strength. Holmes invites Garden to a meeting of the Quaker Street Irregulars, a society for die-hard fans of his near-namesake, Conan Doyle''s own Sherlock Holmes. Garden is somewhat taken aback by the fervour with which members of the Irregulars defend their opinions on the great fictional consulting detective - but nobody expects a run-of-the-mill disagreement to turn into brutal murder . . .