by Lee Strauss
Reverend Markham opened with an introduction about the purpose of marriage and God’s will for it. “Love is the gift and love is the giver. Love is the gold that makes the day shine. Love forgets self to care for the other. Love changes life from water to wine.”
The ceremony was beautiful. Oliver and Matilda exchanged vows as their friends and family looked on. Ginger cast a glance at William who had returned to London to stand by his friend. He sat with a pleasant looking woman who’s face radiated with adoration when she stared up at him. Ginger smiled, feeling pleased for the captain.
Missing, of course, was the Edwards family. Ginger had refused payment from Esme Edwards for the work she’d done for the poor lady. She’d become a hermit in recent weeks, refusing to leave her home. Ginger had visited her a couple of times, but Mrs. Edwards had made it clear she didn’t want visitors.
The marriage register was signed and the happy couple knelt together for the final blessing before walking, hand in hand, down the aisle and out the church doors as husband and wife.
Basil whispered in Ginger’s ear. “We’re next, and I can’t wait.”
His voice made shivers run up and down her spine. Their date was set for October. Basil had wanted it earlier, but his parents had convinced him to wait at least six months after Emelia’s death to preserve propriety. Oliver had agreed to officiate. Ginger and Basil wanted to keep their wedding simple and small—definitely not a high-society event, much to Ambrosia’s and Mr. and Mrs. Reed’s chagrin. She and Basil had already made their honeymoon plans for Scotland. Ginger had been a young child the last time she’d been to the northern country. Her imagination had concocted plenty of fanciful stories after having viewed the moorlands, and the many ancient and abandoned castles.
It was Basil’s choice to take the train rather than drive—a new, fast-travelling steam engine that ran from London to Edinburgh had recently been christened the Flying Scotsman—how extravagant!
Ginger certainly didn’t mind, so long as she was with Basil. Every day with him by her side proved to be a glorious adventure, and travelling by rail would surely be an exciting experience.
Besides, what harm could befall them on a train?
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WHAT’S HAPPENING WITH HALEY HIGGINS?
Haley has her own new series!
It’s 1930 in Boston Massachusetts, and Dr. Haley Higgins is the assistant to the city coroner. Her brother’s murder remains unsolved. She’ll never stop trying to find his killer, but new strides in forensic medicine have helped her to solve other murders and she finds immense satisfaction in that.
Investigative reporter Samantha Hawke ~ byline Sam Hawke ~ is blond, beautiful and broke, no thanks to her no good husband who’s been on the lam for a decade. Her position at the Boston Daily Record is more than a job ~ it’s payback.
When a man is found dead at the Bell in Hand Tavern on Union Street, Haley and Samantha are both working the case. Haley’s looking for justice and Samantha’s after recognition and a raise. They may want the same thing ~ to catch a killer ~ but that doesn’t mean they want to be friends.
The release date is still to be determined. Join Lee’s newsletter (and get her starter library for free) or her blog (found at the bottom of Lee’s website) to make sure you don’t miss the news.
www.leestraussbooks.com
WHAT ABOUT GINGER GOLD?
Life goes on for Ginger after Haley’s departure in MURDER ABOARD THE FLYING SCOTSMAN.
Past, Present and . . . Murder
Ginger and Basil are aboard the speedy new London to Edinburgh line as they head to Scotland for their honeymoon. They meet a kindly old lady who entertains them with stories of intrigue ~ robberies and murders. Amusing, until the Flying Scotsman is robbed and a body is found on board.
** For the first time in this series, there will not be a preorder. Please Join Lee’s newsletter (and get her starter library for free) or follow her blog (found at the bottom of Lee’s website) for new release news.
www.leestraussbooks.com
THERE’S MORE
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.
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Note from the author
London County Mental Hospital
In doing research for the fictional mental hospital found in Murder at St. George’s Church, I came across this information about a certain asylum in Hanwell located eight miles west of Kensington.
Aerial view of the hospital c.1920
It had all the makings of the asylum I had envisioned for this story. The size of a small town, yet a prison for the patients who institutionalised, often against their will. They were even called inmates in those days. The brick buildings were neglected during the Great War, and the same war left the country with a lack of finances to properly upkeep the hospital. The decay gives the sense of eeriness we often attribute to such places.
After I’d plotted the first draft and t
he ending scenes, I came across this tidbit. On 11 June 1910, nurse Hilda Elizabeth Wolsey followed a female patient who climbed one of the fire escapes and then along the guttering of the ward roof. She held on to the patient until help arrived - but unlike Ginger and Catherine Edwards - they were both lowered to the safety of the ground. For this act of heroism she was awarded the Albert Medal which was exchanged for a more suitable George Cross in 1971.
London County Mental Hospital was renamed Hanwell Mental Hospital in 1929 and again in 1938 to St. Bernard’s Hospital. It was bombed during WW2 and by 1950, was no longer operational.
Find out more at these websites.
https://londonhistorians.wordpress.com/2013/08/26/the-hanwell-asylum/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hanwell_Asylum
About the Author
Lee Strauss is the bestselling author of the Ginger Gold Mysteries series and the Higgins & Hawke Mystery series (cozy historical mysteries), a Nursery Rhyme Mystery series (mystery, sci-fi, young adult), the Perception Trilogy (YA dystopian mystery), the Light & Love series (sweet romance) and young adult historical fiction. When she’s not writing or reading, she likes to cycle, hike, and kayak. She loves to drink caffè lattes and red wines in exotic places, and eat dark chocolate anywhere.
Lee also writes younger YA fantasy as Elle Lee Strauss.
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!
www.leestraussbooks.com
[email protected]
Books by Lee Strauss
On AMAZON
Ginger Gold Mysteries (cozy 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. Georges Church
Murder aboard the Flying Scotsman
A Nursery Rhyme Suspense (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 Germany boy copes with the war and propaganda. Based on true events.
As Elle Lee Strauss
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
Standalones
Seaweed
Love, Tink
Murder at St. George’s Church
By Lee Strauss
Cover by Steven Novak Illustrations
Published by La Plume Press
Copyright © 2018
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.
ISBN: 978-1-988677-29-3