Murder by the Minster

by Helen Cox

  If you enjoyed Murder by the Minster, buy A Body in the Bookshop now

  Acknowledgements

  This book benefits greatly from the expert input of Sarah Urwin, Hazel Nicholson, Dan Freedman, Matthew Tyson, and Amanda Lawson. These people have offered guidance on numerous elements of the story including the methods of journalists, police procedure, medical matters, librarian life and exactly what might happen to a car if it was driven into a river. I’m very grateful to all of you for helping my librarian sleuth on her journey to the page.

  In addition, I’d like to thank people who have read my work and offered encouragement and feedback when I needed it most. People like Claudine Mussuto, Ann Leander and Graham Lawson. A special thank you also to my long-term writing partner Dean Cummings who has so far done an impressive job of preventing me from scurrying completely down the rabbit hole – no easy task.

  Thank you to Irene Georgiou, Aneta Mitchell and Androulla Georgiou from Highgate Library. You have fed me cake. You have kept a smile on my face. You are proof that librarians and library-loving folk deserve a lot more credit for what they offer communities than they ever get. This book is dedicated to people like you.

  Gratitude to all the friends, family and colleagues who cheerlead for me on a weekly basis: Mam, Dad, Sheena, Elaine, Barbara, Ray, Steven, Phil, Christine, John, Tom, Gigi, Katie, Katell, Jackson, Maria, Louisa, Mags, Karl, Eloise, Ian, Nigel, James, Matt and Paul. Your positivity helps me stay on the path when the ground gets uneven.

  Heartfelt thanks to my Guardian Agent Joanna Swainson who about three years ago asked that fateful question: ‘why don’t you write a mystery set in York?’ She then nurtured me through many rejections whilst working tirelessly to find a suitable publisher. You are a gem.

  Deep appreciation is also due to my editor Therese Keating. Thank you for taking a chance on my rabble cast of characters, and me. Thank you for making the editorial process a joy. I have been humbled by your professionalism and sensitivity from the very beginning and consider myself a very fortunate person to be working with you and the Quercus Fiction team on this series.

  And finally, thank you as always to my husband Jo Pugh who is very understanding about the amount of time I spend in my pyjamas come deadline time.

  If you enjoyed Murder by the Minster, why not read Kitt and Evie's next adventure?

  Stolen books, a friend framed for assault, and a murder close to home - it's shaping up to be far from a quiet Christmas for Kitt Hartley!

  Buy A Body in the Bookshop now

  Contents

  Murder by the Minster

  Title

  Copyright

  Dedication

  Contents

  One

  Two

  Three

  Four

  Five

  Six

  Seven

  Eight

  Nine

  Ten

  Eleven

  Twelve

  Thirteen

  Fourteen

  Fifteen

  Sixteen

  Seventeen

  Eighteen

  Nineteen

  Twenty

  Twenty-one

  Twenty-two

  Twenty-three

  Twenty-four

  Twenty-five

  Twenty-six

  Twenty-seven

  Twenty-eight

  Twenty-nine

  Thirty

  Thirty-one

  Thirty-two

  Thirty-three

  Thirty-four

  Thirty-Five

  Thirty-six

  Thirty-seven

  Thirty-eight

  Thirty-nine

  Forty

  Forty-one

  Forty-two

  Forty-three

  Acknowledgements

  Landmarks

  Cover