3-Book Box Set: Locked-room Mysteries & Murder

THE PATRICIDE
After a fire, the wealthy landowner Patrice Lafarge is found alone and dead in his bedroom locked from the inside. Inspector Rimbaud reviews the case and counts on the help of his sharp-witted Aunt Emilie. What at first appears to be an accidental death is after the autopsy declared to be a homicide. One of the children at home on Clos Saint-Jacques to celebrate Patrice Lafarge’s 75th birthday over a May weekend has to be the killer, but – who did it, how was it done and for what reason?

“This clever ‘whodunit’ set in 1935 France introduces a winning pair of sleuths who probe the death – behind a locked door – of Patrice Lafarge, whose heirs had gathered at his country estate to learn of a change to his will. As in many Golden Age puzzle mysteries, the plot is the key … Readers who enjoy pitting their wits against that of the author will find themselves satisfied by the surprising solution.” – The BookLife Prize in Fiction

“It’s a very well written and edited book, which I recommend for readers who enjoy classic mysteries and want to immerse themselves in the pleasures of a locked-room murder challenge. This is a competent example in the locked-room mystery genre, and a very entertaining one to boot.” – Onlinebookclub Reviews

THE MURDERS ON THREE BRIDGES
In need of a change of scenery, Detective Inspector Arriaga boards Stella Australis for a trip around Tierra del Fuego. Before the ship reaches Cape Horn, the lone officer on the bridge is shot dead. When others come rushing, they find all doors leading to it locked from the inside. With most passengers and crew ashore on an excursion to a glacier and the runaway ship headed for shipwreck on the rocky coast, the captain is overwhelmed by the challenges. The inspector narrows down the suspects to nine – but how did the murderer escape with the doors locked from the inside? Then he faces the explanations for murders that have taken place on not one but three different bridges, including one that concerns his two fathers – the one he has never met and the one he is litigating.

“This thriller is well-written and held my interest throughout, and there are a plethora of clues to figure out the perpetrator of the crime – fun for amateur detectives! The author has created a surprise ending … I’ll be looking out for more stories by this author.” – Reedsy Reviews

“The writing itself is excellent; Ekemar’s prose is a pleasure to read. It’s a great locked-room murder mystery, rich in interesting characters, presenting a genuine puzzle for readers to solve. I thoroughly enjoyed it and highly recommend it to all fans of crime and mystery.” – OnlineBookclub Reviews

THE CRIMSON BLUEPRINTS
Paul Crimson fought in the war that USA waged against Viet Nam. He kept diaries of everything he experienced, which he later concentrated into a manuscript that became a bestseller. Convinced by his editor to start writing a follow-up, he moved to a wintery town in Maine. Crimson started writing it with no idea how it would end. By fusing keen observations of people in the tranquil town with notes from his editor and his soldiering past, he launched The Ship – a terrifying scenario of snowstorms, survival and soul searching. Then his unstableness provoked events to spin out of control, with his work in progress mirroring his perceptions of them.

“Richly textured, this novel evokes a smothering, claustrophobic atmosphere of evil and events spinning out of control in all its settings. Crimson’s three lives—his past in Viet Nam, his present in Maine, and his fictional world in the Arctic—create a revealing portrait of a tortured soul. This novel delivers a spooky and readable yarn.” – Kirkus Reviews
“The characters are brilliantly crafted. Many readers will enjoy this book, especially those who are interested in the psychological effects of war, those who’d like to see how a writer finds inspiration and those who enjoy a crime thriller.” - OnlineBookclub Reviews