Death and Breakfast: A Mystery

R. Gordon Moyles is professor emeritus of English at the University of
Alberta, the co-author of Imperial Dreams and Colonial Realities:
British Views of Canada, 1880–1914, and the author of The Salvation
Army and the Public.

Alan and Jennifer, tired of their unchallenging lives in St. John’s,
purchase a rather stately though somewhat dilapidated mansion in
Cranmer’s Cove, some three hours from the city, and turn it into a
modest hotel for those seeking the quaint allurements of a Newfoundland
outport. For their opening splash, they plan a murder-mystery weekend
along these lines: “Paying Guests would ... have a long weekend in a
charming old country house, three memorable dinners, and a chance to
play amateur sleuth. On Monday morning, they could hash out the
mystery—in the library, of course—have a nice farewell lunch, and be
away by mid-afternoon.” It seems a brilliant idea, with some actor
friends to carry it off, enough guests to make it successful and
profitable, and a perfect setting to make it memorable. But the “best
laid plans gang aft agley”: jealousies, mistaken identities, even
murder contrive to bring about unexpected surprises and conclusions.
Inglis has written a clever and witty mystery, replete with colorful
characters and creative crimes.