Lainie Anderson – författare

A charming, uplifting cosy murder mystery inspired by the true story of Australia''s pioneering policewoman Kate Cocks''An outstanding debut - funny, poignant, historically fascinating, and an absorbingly good crime read - The Death of Dora Black keeps you guessing to the very end'' PIP WILLIAMSSummer, Adelaide, 1917. The impeccably dressed Miss Kate Cocks might look more like a schoolmistress than a policewoman, but don''t let that fool you. She''s a household name, wrangling wayward husbands into repentance, seeing through deceptive clairvoyants, and rescuing young women (whether they like it or not) with the help of a five-foot cane and her sassy junior constable, Ethel Bromley.When shop assistant Dora Black is found dead on a city beach, Miss Cocks and Ethel are ordered to stay out of the investigation and leave it to the men. But when Dora''s workmate goes missing soon after, the women suspect something sinister, and determine to take matters into their own hands. After all, who knows Adelaide better than the indomitable Miss Cocks?*In 1915, Fanny Kate Boadicea Cocks became the first policewoman in the British Empire employed on the same salary as men. This novel is a rich exploration of that little-known chapter of Australian history.*''Lainie Anderson has woven fact and fiction to create a crime fighting duo like no others, and I can''t wait for the next instalment'' PIP WILLIAMS''The perfect cosy read. I loved spending time with the redoubtable Miss Kate Cocks and the marvellous Ethel Bromley. How refreshing to read historical crime fiction set in Adelaide during the Great War and focused on women'' ANGELA SAVAGE''Will have you engrossed and addictively flipping those pages'' DAILY TELEGRAPH''Armchair detectives will love this debut novel'' WOMAN''S DAY''Engrossing and entertaining . . . Anderson is an accomplished storyteller and she has crafted a cosy crime read that is equal parts intriguing mystery and fascinating historical study'' BOOKS+PUBLISHING''There is something profoundly addictive about Anderson''s writing. It''s warm, fast-paced and full of rich details that make it feel as though the story is oozing off the pages . . . Stunningly thought-out and accurately detailed'' BETTER READING''Full of warmth and humour, this is a cracking crime novel that will intrigue and impress'' READINGS

Murder is an art . . . But can Miss Cocks and Ethel draw out the killer? The second novel in the bestselling Petticoat Police Mystery series, perfect for fans of Amanda Hampson and Richard Osman. Adelaide, September 1917. Woman constables Kate Cocks and Ethel Bromley are back walking the beat. The city is unsettled. Winter won''t leave. Soldiers are returning from the Front with broken bodies and troubled souls. And now a powerful board governor has been found dead in the Art Gallery - dumped beneath a scandalous nude painting that has attracted both pious outrage and record crowds. When Ethel receives an anonymous tip, she''s elated at being seconded to the Detective Branch. The murder goes to the heart of Adelaide''s elite, where this society girl is in her element. Miss Cocks is left grappling with six o''clock swills, shadows in alleyways and a brutal assault on a schoolgirl. She needs Ethel to catch her killer, and quickly. Alas, murder in Adelaide is never a simple affair . . . Inspired by the true story of Australia''s pioneering policewoman, Kate Cocks. ''Immersive, well-researched period detective fiction with a pioneering crime-fighting duo'' THE AGE ''A captivating mix of history and invention, with an unforgettable real-life heroine at its heart'' VIKKI WAKEFIELD

''Quite extraordinary'' ABC THE BOOKSHELF''Anderson skilfully blends truth and fiction. It touches the heart as well as the mind - while inspiring a desire to play history detective'' THE CONVERSATION

''Both a charming mystery and a compelling insight into the women who dedicated their lives to justice despite history''s lack of acknowledgment'' INDAILY

''Vivid. Refreshing. Propulsive and engaging. These books are such fun'' READINGS ''The perfect cosy crime. Thank goodness Kate and Ethel are back'' MICHELLE PRAK