The Edwin Drood Murders

The Droodists have arrived in Dickens Junction. Local bookstore owner Simon Alastair has his hands full in his role as co-chair for the latest convention honoring Charles Dickens's uncompleted novel, The Mystery of Edwin Drood. A movie star, a pesky blogger, dueling scholars, a stage hypnotist, and an old family friend (among others) all have claims on Simon's time. In addition, some Droodists are clearly more--or less--than they appear, including a mysterious young man with the improbable name of Edwin Drood.When a priceless ring and a rare Dickensian artifact go missing, Simon and his reporter-partner Zach Benjamin learn that someone will do anything--including murder--to obtain an object of desire.

The Edwin Drood Murders is the new entry in the Dickens Junction mystery series that began with The Christmas Carol Murders, a book that New York Times thriller writer Chelsea Cain called "a love letter to both Dickens and to the small town amateur detectives who've kept the peace in hamlets from River Heights to Cabot Cove."

"Full of fun, over-the-top characters and witty prose, with a touch of gay romance that is equally pleasing to straight readers. The Edwin Drood Murders is the perfect mystery for educated, intelligent readers."   - Rhys Bowen, New York Times bestselling author of The Molly Murphy and Royal Spyness mysteries.

"You don't have to be a Dickens aficionado to adore The Edwin Drood Murders. With Lord's trademark eccentric characters, rich prose and mouth-watering culinary descriptions, the sequel to The Christmas Carol Murders will continue to captivate and titillate fans. A sophisticated romp that is both vividly imagined and lusciously written, this second outing in the Dickens Junction Mystery series is another winner."   -Hannah Dennison, author of the bestselling The Vicky Hill Mysteries

[The Edwin Drood Murders] has everything a great mystery should...great characters, a murder or two, and a very intriguing story of why and how....I also loved opening the book and finding, in the first few pages, a map of the town, a floorplan of the hotel where all the action takes place, and a cast of characters. [Lord's new book] reminded me of the traditional, Golden Age British mysteries that I enjoy so much.   -Kerry Hammond, criminalelement.com