Book Excerpt and Giveaway - Death by the Book by Julianna Deering

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Death by the Book (Drew Farthering Mystery #2)

Death by the Book

by Julianna Deering

Christian Mystery

Paperback, 320 pages

March 4th 2014 by Bethany House Publishers

Drew Farthering wanted nothing more than to end the summer of 1932 with the announcement of his engagement. Instead, he finds himself caught up in another mysterious case when the family solicitor is found murdered, an antique hatpin with a cryptic message, Advice to Jack, piercing his chest.

Evidence of secret meetings and a young girl's tearful confession point to the victim's double life, but what does the solicitor's murder have to do with the murder of a physician on the local golf course? Nothing, it would seem--except for another puzzling note, affixed with a similar-looking bloodied hatpin.

Soon the police make an arrest in connection with the murders, but Drew isn't at all certain they have the right suspect in custody. And why does his investigation seem to be drawing him closer and closer to home?

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Other Books in the Series:

    

EXCERPT

Madeline turned from the shelf where Mrs. Harkness kept books on lace making and other traditional crafts.

“And just why couldn’t she have done it?” She put her hands on her hips and looked up into Drew’s face, a challenge in her periwinkle-blue eyes and a defiant set to her mouth that made it not a whit less captivating than usual. “You never think women are capable of real crime.”

“That is not so. Just because I don’t think Mrs. Montford committed murder doesn’t mean I don’t think she possibly could have, farfetched as it seems. All women are quite notorious, and you’re the worst of the lot. I’m surprised old Birdsong hasn’t had you in custody for theft well before now.”

Madeline laughed. “Theft? What are you babbling about?”

He dropped his voice and leaned close enough to smell the light fragrance of her hair, glad to be with her now and not wrestling with questions about solicitors and shopgirls and golf-playing doctors. “I know you’ve stolen the heart of every man you’ve met here in Hampshire. In all of England, I’ll be bound.”

That brought a pretty color to her cheeks, but it took none of the contrariness out of her expression. “I mean it. You think every woman you meet is sweet and gentle and would never hurt anyone.”

He shook his head. “Oh, no. I’ve been taught to know better. I have the scars to prove it.”

He smiled when he said it, but in spite of his intended lightness, he knew there was a touch of rue in his face, in his voice, that she was quick to pick up on.

“I’ll want to know someday.”

It wasn’t a demand. Her tender words held only a desire to know and console, and he felt certain he could trust her with those little raw places he carried inside.

“Someday,” he said, and then he pulled away from her, coloring a little himself. “Ah, Mrs. Harkness, there you are.”

“Do forgive me interrupting you and the young lady, Mr. Farthering, but I couldn’t help overhearing just a bit of what you were discussing, and I thought this might interest you.”

Mrs. Harkness handed him a rather thick, scholarly looking tome entitled Leave Her to Heaven: Women and the Crimes They Commit.

Drew looked at the book for a moment and then caught the older woman’s eye. “I wouldn’t have thought you’d stock such a thing here.”

“Not usually, no. I ordered it for a gentleman who was writing a book of his own. Some lurid murder mystery with a kindly old grandmother slaughtering her neighbors right and left and for no reason I could figure out. Frightful stuff.”

“Really? Someone from the village?”

She smiled faintly. “I told him I’d never say. You know how people talk, and he didn’t want everyone thinking, well, that he wasn’t quite right.”

Drew couldn’t help but laugh. “Did he ever have it published?”

“I think he’s abandoned the idea. He took up a new hobby and never came to collect the book. But I hate to even let you look at the thing. His bloodthirsty stuff was nothing worse than what’s in that book right there, and all of it from police files. I glanced at only a few pages, but it’s a wonder I slept all the next month. Women bludgeoning their flat mates, stabbing the boss, smothering the kiddies, poisoning old mum or dad.” She shuddered. “If you want to know what all they did to their husbands, you’ll have to read it for yourself.”

“Sold.” Drew grinned. “And never let anyone tell you that you don’t tell a good tale.”

“Now, Mr. Farthering, you know what they say. Truth is stranger.”

Julianna Deering
Julianna Derring has always been an avid reader and a lover of storytelling, whether on the page, the screen or the stage. This, along with her keen interest in history and her Christian faith, shows in her tales of love, forgiveness and triumph over adversity. A fifth-generation Texan, she makes her home north of Dallas with three spoiled cats and, when not writing, spends her free time quilting, cross stitching and watching NHL hockey. Her new series of Drew Farthering mysteries set in 1930s England debuts with Rules of Murder (Bethany House, Summer 2013) and will be followed by Death by the Book (Bethany House, Spring 2014) and Murder at the Mikado (Bethany House, Summer 2014).

Website * Blog * Goodreads * Twitter * Facebook * Amazon * Novel Crossing * Bethany House

ALL readers, who are interested, can receive an autographed bookmark. 

You can see a picture of the bookmark here.

Just send a self-address STAMPED (7" long) envelope to:

Julianna Deering

P. O. Box 375

Aubrey, Texas 76227

From the author regarding the fabulous GIVEAWAY:

How could one possibly have a cozy mystery 

set in an old manor house in the English countryside near a quaint little village 

and not have tea? 

Drew doesn't usually take lemon or milk in his. He prefers honey, 

especially if it's fresh from the hive. 

Mrs. Devon, his housekeeper, spoils him terribly and makes sure he has it.

Print copies of The Rules of Murder and Death by the Book and a Tea Gift Basket (US ONLY)

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