by Lee Strauss
As for the Brighton Seaside Hotel, the owners had been notified of the fate of their manager and housekeeper and had closed the hotel until further notice. Ginger was pleased to learn that Mr. Weaver had no knowledge of his boss’ nefarious activities, and that Mr. Cooper had only been used as a pawn to retrieve Miss Kerslake’s trunk and nothing more.
Mr. Findley, of course, had been the first to depart once the police had given the go-ahead. Ginger hoped the man would do a better job of picking business partners in the future.
“Can I tempt you with another croissant, Charles?” Felicia said.
Felicia and the earl were using Christian names, a sign that their relationship had moved from the realm of acquaintance. Ambrosia was sure to be ecstatic when she learned of this titbit. No doubt, Felicia was mentally reciting the name Lady Felicia Davenport-Witt with delight.
“Thank you, Felicia,” Lord Davenport-Witt said.
From the corner of Ginger’s eye, she witnessed the unnecessary lingering of their fingers as the croissant was delivered.
Basil nudged her gently. “You’re frowning, love, and on such a beautiful day.”
Ginger smoothed out her expression and smiled at her husband. “You’re quite right.”
Lord Davenport-Witt’s voice reached them, but he was quite clearly addressing Felicia.
“How would you like to drive back to London with me?”
Ginger’s head snapped towards the earl, who caught her eyes with a look of apology.
“I’d invite everyone if I could,” he began, “but my motorcar is only a two-seater.” Returning his attention to Felicia, he continued, “I know it’s rather forward of me, and last minute, but I would be sincerely delighted by your company.”
“I’d love to,” Felicia said.
Ginger had to admire her sister-in-law’s restraint as the Felicia she knew would’ve burst out in a girlish squeal.
“But—” Ginger started. However, Basil’s light touch convinced her to stop. Felicia wouldn’t be talked out of it, and anything Ginger said to stymie the earl’s offer was sure to backfire.
“You don’t mind, surely,” Felicia said, jumping in. “I’m sure you and Basil would love some time alone, and I most certainly am tired of being a gooseberry.”
“Of course,” Ginger said. “We’ll meet you back at Hartigan House later today.” She hoped Lord Davenport-Witt got the strong hint he was to take Felicia immediately home and no detours elsewhere—such as his estate.
Lord Davenport-Witt flicked his wrist to glance at the time. “Your train is due to leave in a couple of hours,” he said. “You don’t mind if Miss Gold and I depart a little sooner?”
Ginger couldn’t come up with a reason to hold them back. “Enjoy your drive.”
Felicia took Ginger’s hand and squeezed it. She brushed Ginger’s cheek with a kiss and whispered, “We’ll catch up tonight.”
Ginger watched as the couple skipped up the steps to the promenade and disappeared out of sight, then packed up the picnic basket whilst Basil collected the deckchairs.
“I think they’d make a nice couple,” Basil said. “He seems like the perfect gentleman.”
“Around Felicia, yes,” Ginger admitted, “but I can’t say the same about how he treated Poppy Kerslake.”
“When, exactly, did he treat Miss Kerslake unkindly? From my observation, she was the one giving unwanted advances and making presumptions on Lord Davenport-Witt’s time and attentions.”
Ginger exhaled. “Perhaps you’re right. I don’t know why I’ve got a bee in my bonnet about the man. He’s handsome, charming, wealthy, and would give Felicia a marvellous hyphenated name that will be overly long and annoying to say.”
“You’re not missing your title, are you, Lady Gold?”
Ginger stared at her husband, aghast. “Of course not!”
Basil burst out laughing. “I’m only teasing you, love. It’s only that you sounded a little jealous of Felicia just then.”
Ginger marched across the beach towards the steps. “I’m no such thing.”
The fact was, Ginger worried about her memory, her intuition. She had met Lord Davenport-Witt before, she just knew it, but blast if she could put the pieces together.
Matilda Hill, with her medical knowledge, had prepared Ginger for the changes and challenges that she’d face physically, emotionally, and mentally over the next months. Ginger placed the blame for her brain strain on those.
Later, when she and Basil were travelling first class on the train to London, Ginger appreciated the fact that they had a compartment to themselves. Felicia had been right about her prediction in that regard.
The scent of Basil’s cologne comforted her. Boss rested in the space beside her, his little head propped on her lap.
The steward knocked on the glass door. “I’ve got the city newspapers if you’d like one.”
“Yes, thank you,” Basil said.
Ginger contented herself with reading over her husband’s shoulder. An advert jumped out at her.
“Oh, can I see that?”
“What?”
“That advertisement for the fashion show being held this summer in Hyde Park. Coco Chanel is attending! She’s a fashion icon, and I follow her work religiously. I simply can’t wait to meet her.”
Basil grinned. “A fashion show outdoors? What if it rains?”
“Heaven forbid!” Ginger said. “It’s held every year, but this summer is the first time I’ve been available to attend. I’m so looking forward to it. Feathers & Flair is one of the sponsors.”
“Which means you’re one of the sponsors.”
“Yes. It’ll be such fun.”
“If you say so. I only hope you can stay out of trouble.”
Ginger pulled back to stare at Basil, feigning offence. “As if I could.”
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Don’t miss the next Ginger Gold mystery~
MURDER IN HYDE PARK
Murder's a fashion faux pas. . .
The summer of 1926 brings high fashion to Hyde Park. Ginger's Regent Street dress shop, Feathers & Flair, is a major sponsor, and when top designer Coco Chanel makes an appearance, the London fashion scene lights up.
Until a model's body is found and Miss Chanel is suspected of murder. The fashion icon hires Lady Gold Investigates to clear her name, but can Ginger discover the murderer before becoming a dead mannequin herself?
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Have you discovered Rosa Reed?
Check out this new, fun 1950s cozy mystery series!
MURDER AT HIGH TIDE
a Rosa Reed Mystery #1
Murder's all wet!
It's 1956 and WPC (Woman Police Constable) Rosa Reed has left her groom at the altar in London. Time spent with her American cousins in Santa Bonita, California is exactly what she needs to get back on her feet, though the last thing she expected was to get entangled in another murder case!
If you love early rock & roll, poodle skirts, clever who-dun-its, a charming cat and an even more charming detective, you're going to love this new series!
Buy on AMAZON or read Free with Kindle Unlimited!
Ginger Gold’s Journal
Sign up for Lee’s readers list and gain access to Ginger Gold’s private Journal. Find out about Ginger’s Life before the SS Rosa and how she became the woman she has. This is a fluid document that will cover her romance with her late husband Daniel, her time serving in the British secret service during World War One, and beyond. Includes a recipe for Dark Dutch Chocolate Cake!
It begins: July 31, 1912
How fabulous that I found this Journal today, hidden in
the bottom of my wardrobe. Good old Pippins, our English butler in London, gave it to me as a parting gift when Father whisked me away on our American adventure so he could marry Sally. Pips said it was for me to record my new adventures. I’m ashamed I never even penned one word before today. I think I was just too sad.
This old leather-bound journal takes me back to that emotional time. I had shed enough tears to fill the ocean and I remember telling Father dramatically that I was certain to cause flooding to match God’s. At eight years old I was well-trained in my biblical studies, though, in retro-spect, I would say that I had probably bordered on heresy with my little tantrum.
The first week of my “adventure” was spent with a tummy ache and a number of embarrassing sessions that involved a bucket and Father holding back my long hair so I wouldn’t soil it with vomit.
I certainly felt that I was being punished for some reason. Hartigan House—though large and sometimes lonely—was my home and Pips was my good friend. He often helped me to pass the time with games of I Spy and Xs and Os.
“Very good, Little Miss,” he’d say with a twinkle in his blue eyes when I won, which I did often. I suspect now that our good butler wasn’t beyond letting me win even when unmerited.
Father had got it into his silly head that I needed a mother, but I think the truth was he wanted a wife. Sally, a woman half my father’s age, turned out to be a sufficient wife in the end, but I could never claim her as a mother.
Well, Pips, I’m sure you’d be happy to know that things turned out all right here in America.
SUBSCRIBE to read more!
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About the Author
Lee Strauss is a USA TODAY bestselling author of The Ginger Gold Mysteries series, The Higgins & Hawke Mystery series, The Rosa Reed Mystery series (cozy historical mysteries), A Nursery Rhyme Mystery series (mystery suspense), The Perception series (young adult dystopian), The Light & Love series (sweet romance), The Clockwise Collection (YA time travel romance), and young adult historical fiction with over a million books read. She has titles published in German, Spanish and Korean, and a growing audio library.
When Lee’s not writing or reading she likes to cycle, hike, and stare at the ocean. She loves to drink caffè lattes and red wines in exotic places, and eat dark chocolate anywhere.
For more info on books by Lee Strauss and her social media links, visit leestraussbooks.com. To make sure you don’t miss the next new release, be sure to sign up for her readers’ list!
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www.leestraussbooks.com
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More from Lee Strauss
On AMAZON
GINGER GOLD MYSTERY SERIES (cozy 1920s historical)
Cozy. Charming. Filled with Bright Young Things. This Jazz Age murder mystery will entertain and delight you with its 1920s flair and pizzazz!
Murder on the SS Rosa
Murder at Hartigan House
Murder at Bray Manor
Murder at Feathers & Flair
Murder at the Mortuary
Murder at Kensington Gardens
Murder at St. George’s Church
The Wedding of Ginger & Basil
Murder Aboard the Flying Scotsman
Murder at the Boat Club
Murder on Eaton Square
Murder by Plum Pudding
Murder on Fleet Street
Murder at Brighton Beach
Murder in Hyde Park
Murder at the Royal Albert Hall
LADY GOLD INVESTIGATES (Ginger Gold companion short stories)
Volume 1
Volume 2
Volume 3
Volume 4
HIGGINS & HAWKE MYSTERY SERIES (cozy 1930s historical)
The 1930s meets Rizzoli & Isles in this friendship depression era cozy mystery series.
Death at the Tavern
Death on the Tower
Death on Hanover
THE ROSA REED MYSTERIES
(1950s cozy historical)
Murder at High Tide
Murder on the Boardwalk
Murder at the Bomb Shelter
Murder on Location
Murder and Rock ’n Roll
Murder at the Races
A NURSERY RHYME MYSTERY SERIES(mystery/sci fi)
Marlow finds himself teamed up with intelligent and savvy Sage Farrell, a girl so far out of his league he feels blinded in her presence - literally - damned glasses! Together they work to find the identity of @gingerbreadman. Can they stop the killer before he strikes again?
Gingerbread Man
Life Is but a Dream
Hickory Dickory Dock
Twinkle Little Star
THE PERCEPTION TRILOGY (YA dystopian mystery)
Zoe Vanderveen is a GAP—a genetically altered person. She lives in the security of a walled city on prime water-front property along side other equally beautiful people with extended life spans. Her brother Liam is missing. Noah Brody, a boy on the outside, is the only one who can help ~ but can she trust him?
Perception
Volition
Contrition
LIGHT & LOVE (sweet romance)
Set in the dazzling charm of Europe, follow Katja, Gabriella, Eva, Anna and Belle as they find strength, hope and love.
Sing me a Love Song
Your Love is Sweet
In Light of Us
Lying in Starlight
PLAYING WITH MATCHES (WW2 history/romance)
A sobering but hopeful journey about how one young German boy copes with the war and propaganda. Based on true events.
A Piece of Blue String (companion short story)
THE CLOCKWISE COLLECTION (YA time travel romance)
Casey Donovan has issues: hair, height and uncontrollable trips to the 19th century! And now this ~ she's accidentally taken Nate Mackenzie, the cutest boy in the school, back in time. Awkward.
Clockwise
Clockwiser
Like Clockwork
Counter Clockwise
Clockwork Crazy
Clocked (companion novella)
Standalones
Seaweed
Love, Tink
Copyright © 2020 by Lee Strauss
Cover by Steven Novak
Illustrations by Tasia Strauss
All rights reserved.
No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.
Library and Archives Canada Cataloguing in Publication
Title: Murder at Brighton Beach / Lee Strauss.
Names: Strauss, Lee (Novelist), author.
Series: Strauss, Lee (Novelist). Ginger Gold mystery ; 13.
Description: Series statement: A Ginger Gold mystery ; 13 | "A 1920s cozy historical mystery."
Identifiers: Canadiana (print) 20200228501 | Canadiana (ebook) 2020022851X | ISBN 9781774091067
(hardcover) | ISBN 9781774091081 (softcover) | ISBN 9781774091074 (IngramSpark softcover) | ISBN
9781774091098 (Kindle) | ISBN 9781774091104 (EPUB)
Classification: LCC PS8637.T739 M78 2020 | DDC C813/.6—dc23
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