Merryn Allingham

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About Merryn Allingham
Bestselling author Merryn Allingham was born into an army family and spent her childhood on the move. Unsurprisingly, it gave her itchy feet and in her twenties she escaped an unloved secretarial career to work as cabin crew and see the world. The arrival of marriage, children and cats meant a more settled life in the south of England, where she’s lived ever since. Having gained a PhD, she taught university literature for many years and loved every minute of it. What could be better than spending one’s life reading and talking about books? Well, writing them perhaps.
Six Regency period romances followed, then those itchy feet kicked in. The Regency was abandoned and Daisy's War, a wartime trilogy, found its way to the top of the Amazon charts, followed by the Summerhayes books—a saga of romance and intrigue set in the Sussex countryside during the summers of 1914 and 1944.
But itchy feet never rest and in 2020 she finally went over to the dark side! The crime series, the Tremayne Mysteries, is set in locations around the world and features Nancy, a feisty 1950s heroine, turned amateur sleuth.
Keep in touch with Merryn via the web:
Website: https://www.merrynallingham.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/MerrynWrites
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/merrynwrites
PS Love a FREE book? Sign up to receive Merryn’s newsletter at https://merrynallingham.com/free-book/
Along with your free ebook, you’ll get her latest news and updates, insider exclusives, plus book recommendations. Happy reading!
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Author Updates
Books By Merryn Allingham
Sussex, 1956: When Flora and her partner-in-crime-solving, Jack, arrive at the charming church of St Saviour’s the last thing they’re expecting to find is the curate, Lyle Beaumont, lifeless on the flagstone floor beneath the belltower, with a mysterious note in his hand.
Flora is dismayed to find the poor curate dead. But she can’t help being intrigued by the eclectic mix of bell ringers present at the old church – Mr Preece, the local butcher, Dilys Fuller, the busybody postmistress, and Stephen Henshall, a newcomer to the close-knit community. Any one of them could be the culprit – and Flora needs to act fast before someone gets away with murder…
When Flora and Jack begin their sleuthing, they quickly realise all is not what it seems with the victim, and the certainty of the dead man’s identity becomes the first twist in the investigation.
Just as they’re getting closer to the answer, the death of one of the suspects changes everything. As a series of unexplained accidents unfolds across the village, it seems no-one who was present at the church on the night of the curate’s demise is safe.
Has the bell tolled on Flora and Jack’s detective days? And will they work out the truth in time to save themselves?
A completely addictive cozy crime novel set in the fictional Sussex village of Abbeymead. Perfect for fans of Agatha Christie, Faith Martin and Joy Ellis!
Readers love the Flora Steele Mysteries:
‘Amazing… a top-notch cosy mystery… an engaging, intelligent and intriguing murder mystery that I found totally absorbing.’ Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘I absolutely love this book! I was so captivated… I could not put this book down… I read this book in one sitting!… Amazing.’ @thenerdandherbooks, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘Absolutely fantastic… An addictive perfect mix of mystery, crime, suspense and quirkiness which kept me turning the pages late at night!! An explosive start to a new series!’ Bookworm86, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘A joy to read… Full of mystery and secrets!… Truly an unstoppable read! And I loved every minute of it!’ NetGalley reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘I loved… A cozy, heart-warming, fast read. It felt like Scooby-Doo meets Agatha Raisin. I am here for it!… Delightful.’ Frosta Wings It, ⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘Fantastic cozy mystery!… Fun to read… This author knows how to keep the reader’s attention from the first chapter!’ Books and Benches, ⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘Wonderful book! I absolutely adored this… Had me reading and finishing the book in no time! I highly recommend!!!’ Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Surrounded by beautiful gardens in the glorious Sussex countryside, Summerhayes House seems like a true hidden paradise, but behind its polished floors and perfect green lawns is a family divided. The Summer family’s beloved home is under threat, and nineteen-year-old Elizabeth Summer finds herself caught in the heart of the crisis.
Elizabeth’s father believes his daughter marrying well will save Summerhayes. But Elizabeth is distraught at the stifling future ahead of her. A chance meeting with green-eyed Aiden Kellaway, the handsome architect’s apprentice working on the estate’s prized gardens, changes everything. For the first time, Elizabeth pictures an entirely different life, and – despite her father’s wishes – she is determined to take hold of it.
But war is brewing in Europe, and when its long shadow touches Summerhayes, Elizabeth realises her rebellion will come at a price. Desperately torn between family loyalty, society’s expectations and the bright chance at happiness she glimpsed in Aiden’s arms, she is forced to make an impossible choice.
As Elizabeth’s future – and her family’s – hangs in the balance, she must ask herself, is the price worth paying? And can she live with the consequences?
An unforgettable, totally gripping and heart-wrenching historical family saga. Fans of Tracy Rees, Kate Morton and Elizabeth Jane Howard will be utterly swept away by The Girl from Summerhayes.
Previously published as The Buttonmaker’s Daughter.
What readers are saying about the Summerhayes House series:
‘Right from page one I was hooked… I LOVED IT!!!!’ Goodreads reviewer, ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
‘I absolutely loved this… Definitely a five-star read for me.’ Goodreads reviewer, ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
‘A real page-turner… A book I totally disappeared into for an evening and long into the night, totally losing any sense of time.’ Goodreads reviewer, ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
‘I loved this!... Absolutely heartbreaking, gripping and beautiful.’ Goodreads reviewer, ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
‘Beautiful, I was unable to put it down as I wanted to know what happens next… Heartbreaking.’ Goodreads reviewer, ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
‘Everything I hoped it would be and so much more… Excellent.’ Goodreads reviewer, ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
‘Beautiful book. I was completely immersed in the story… Made me feel I was there in the midst of it all.’ Goodreads reviewer, ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Cornwall, 1956: When Flora Steele sets off for a peaceful vacation with crime writer Jack Carrington in his little red Austin, the last thing she expects to find is a body at their pretty rental cottage!
Shocked by the discovery, inquisitive Flora joins forces with handsome Jack to find out how the poor man came to such an untimely end in the overgrown orchard of Primrose Cottage. They discover Roger Gifford was a man with plenty of friends and the villagers seem devastated by his sudden death…
So why was he murdered? And who has blood on their hands – his estranged wife Beatrice, his wayward younger brother Lionel, or the suspicious newcomer Mercy Dearlove?
The baffling case gets even more complicated when a second man is found dead and a set of puzzling clues lead them to an intriguing wartime mystery connected to Jack’s estranged father.
As old secrets emerge and Jack receives an unsettling letter, it seems the crime writer is in danger of a fate befitting his fictional characters. Will Flora be able to crack the case and save Jack? Or will this be one murder too many for Flora Steele?
Readers love the Flora Steele Mysteries:
‘Amazing… a top-notch cosy mystery… an engaging, intelligent and intriguing murder mystery that I found totally absorbing.’ Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘I absolutely love this book! I was so captivated… I could not put this book down… I read this book in one sitting!… Amazing.’ @thenerdandherbooks, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘Absolutely fantastic… An addictive perfect mix of mystery, crime, suspense and quirkiness which kept me turning the pages late at night!! An explosive start to a new series!’ Bookworm86, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘A joy to read… Full of mystery and secrets!… Truly an unstoppable read! And I loved every minute of it!’ NetGalley reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘I loved… A cozy, heart-warming, fast read. It felt like Scooby-Doo meets Agatha Raisin. I am here for it!… Delightful.’ Frosta Wings It, ⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘Fantastic cozy mystery!… Fun to read… This author knows how to keep the reader’s attention from the first chapter!’ Books and Benches, ⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘Wonderful book! I absolutely adored this… Had me reading and finishing the book in no time! I highly recommend!!!’ Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘Love… The story twisted along, with everyone becoming a suspect… A fab read, that I devoured in a day.
Sussex, 1956: When Flora Steele and handsome crime writer Jack Carrington attend the grand re-opening of the Priory Hotel in the beautiful little village of Abbeymead, their day out is cut short when the flame-haired female singer in the band suddenly drops dead before their eyes.
Flora is stunned by the unexpected turn of events and immediately deduces foul play. Beverly Russo was a spirited young woman with a big voice and Flora is determined to get to the bottom of her untimely demise – especially as the detective sergeant leading the investigation is so hopeless. The first clue in the extraordinary case is Beverly’s missing ruby ring…
As Flora makes her enquiries, she discovers that Beverly wasn’t everyone’s cup of tea and there’s more than one person in Abbeymead who had reason to dislike her. But who had the biggest motive: Beverly’s former beau Tommy May, jealous love rival Sally Jenner, or the local doctor who seems to be up to no good…
Then one of the suspects is found dead in the woods near the Priory Hotel. The murder weapon – a musical instrument. As the investigation reaches a high note, Flora knows she must find the culprit and make them face the music before anyone else is hurt. But will Flora’s tenacity put a dangerous spotlight on both her and Jack?
A delightful cozy crime novel, perfect for fans of Agatha Christie, Faith Martin and Joy Ellis!
Readers love the Flora Steele Mysteries:
‘Amazing… a top-notch cosy mystery… an engaging, intelligent and intriguing murder mystery that I found totally absorbing.’ Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘I absolutely love this book! I was so captivated… I could not put this book down… I read this book in one sitting!… Amazing.’ @thenerdandherbooks, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘Absolutely fantastic… An addictive perfect mix of mystery, crime, suspense and quirkiness which kept me turning the pages late at night!! An explosive start to a new series!’ Bookworm86, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘A joy to read… Full of mystery and secrets!… Truly an unstoppable read! And I loved every minute of it!’ NetGalley reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘I loved… A cozy, heart-warming, fast read. It felt like Scooby-Doo meets Agatha Raisin. I am here for it!… Delightful.’ Frosta Wings It, ⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘Fantastic cozy mystery!… Fun to read… This author knows how to keep the reader’s attention from the first chapter!’ Books and Benches, ⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘Wonderful book! I absolutely adored this… Had me reading and finishing the book in no time! I highly recommend!!!’
Join Flora Steele – bookshop owner, bicycle-rider, daydreamer and amateur detective as she tackles her first case!
Sussex, 1955: When Flora Steele opens up her bookshop one morning she’s in for the surprise of her life! Because there, amongst her bookcases, is the body of a young man, with a shock of white-blond hair. But who was he? And how did he come to be there?
Determined to save her beloved bookshop’s reputation and solve the baffling mystery, Flora enlists the help of handsome and brooding Jack Carrington: crime writer, recluse and her most reliable customer.
The unlikely duo set about investigating the extraordinary case, following a lead across the sleepy village of Abbeymead to The Priory Hotel. When the hotel’s gardener dies suddenly, and they find out their victim was staying there, Flora’s suspicions are raised.
Are the two deaths connected? Is someone at the hotel responsible – the nervous cook, the money-obsessed receptionist, or the formidable manageress?
As the trail of clues takes Flora and Jack all over the village it becomes clear there’s more than one person hiding secrets in Abbeymead…
But does Flora have what it takes to uncover the truth – or will her amateur sleuthing put her in harm’s way?
Love Agatha Christie, Midsomer Murders and T E Kinsey? Then this brand-new cozy crime series featuring bookshop owner Flora Steele is just what you need!
Readers love The Bookshop Murder:
‘Gosh I really loved this cosy murder mystery… Really charming… I raced through it in a day. Good for fans of Miss Marple or Osman’s Thursday Murder Club. Delightful.’ NetGalley, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘I absolutely love this book! I was so captivated by Flora and Jack that I could not out this book down… I absolutely loved the way that this book twists and turns… I cannot wait to read more of the Flora Steele Books!’ NetGalley, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘What a joy… fabulous village setting… a totally fantastic tale… I highly recommend this outstandingly fabulous book.’ Goodreads Reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘Wonderful book! I absolutely adored this book!... had me reading and finishing the book in no time! I highly recommend this book!!!... I was drawn into the murder mystery plot instantly.’ Goodreads Reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘I loved this book. Flora is the ultimate amateur sleuth; she is fearless, funny, determined, and defiant. I had a lot of fun trying to solve the mystery with her… a cozy, heart-warming, fast read. It felt like Scooby-doo meets Agatha Raisin. I am here for it!... delightful.
Sussex, 1956: When bookshop owner Flora Steele goes for a walk along the pier she isn’t expecting to spot a young woman’s body in the stormy waters below. And she’s shocked to discover the victim is someone she knows…
Convinced the death was not an accident, Flora persuades attractive local crime writer Jack Carrington to help her find out what really happened to poor Polly Dakers, a popular young woman with a complicated love life, who’d been at the heart of village life in Abbeymead.
Jack is reluctant to get involved in another murder case at first but even he can’t deny that Polly’s fall seems fishy. An argument at a party, a missed hairdresser’s appointment and a red woollen bobble found on the wooden boards where Polly last stood provide a trail of clues…
As they grow closer to solving the puzzling mystery, the unlikely pair stumble upon several surprising secrets about those closest to Polly. A number of potential suspects begin to emerge. But who really disliked Polly enough to kill her? Was it Raymond, her jilted first love? Harry, her latest beau? Or Evelyn, Harry’s jealous estranged wife?
As the investigation brings them closer to the truth, Flora is intent on unmasking the killer – but will her stealthy sleuthing lead her down a dangerous path?
An utterly delightful cozy crime novel set in the fictional Sussex village of Abbeymead. Perfect for fans of Agatha Christie, Faith Martin and Joy Ellis!
Readers love the Flora Steele Mysteries:
‘Wonderful book! I absolutely adored this... had me reading and finishing the book in no time! I highly recommend!!!… I was drawn into the murder mystery plot instantly.’ Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘I absolutely love this book! I was so captivated… I could not put this book down… I read this book in one sitting!... amazing.’ @thenerdandherbooks, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘Absolutely fantastic… an addictive perfect mix of mystery, crime, suspense and quirkiness which kept me turning the pages late at night!! An explosive start to a new series!’ Bookworm86, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘A joy to read… full of mystery and secrets!... captured my attention in the first chapter… This is truly an unstoppable read! And I loved every minute of it!’ NetGalley reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘I loved… a cozy, heart-warming, fast read. It felt like Scooby-doo meets Agatha Raisin. I am here for it!… delightful.’ Frosta Wings It, ⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘Fantastic cozy mystery!… fun to read… This author knows how to keep the reader’s attention from the first chapter!’ Books and Benches, ⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘Love… The story twisted along, with everyone becoming a suspect… A fab read, that I devoured in a day.
When Paradise isn’t quite what it seems…
Nancy Tremayne has landed the job of her dreams in London. But this is 1955 and her husband, Leo, an art expert, has a project in the Caribbean and expects her to travel with him. Reluctantly, she packs her suitcase for Malfuego, but almost as soon as she arrives on the island, witnesses a brutal attack on a defenceless young man.
And there is worse to come. Much worse.
When the same man is murdered, Nancy is asked for help and, with her husband’s assistant, Archie, gradually discovers the dark side of the island. And a dangerous enemy.
Nancy finds her killer, but along the way the sexual tension simmering between herself and Archie finally bursts into the open. After Malfuego, life will never again be the same.
See what reviewers have to say about this bestselling mystery suspense series:
The story is a roller-coaster of a read, with plenty of tension and suspense.
Merryn's characters are real and she always sets the scene beautifully: in this case Britain in the early 1950s.
The social constraints of the 1950s are keenly observed and add much to this well-written story.
This is an intriguing historical mystery, and the protagonist is so complex and interesting, and the mystery so well done that you'll find yourself trapped between the pages.
A well-paced book with so many twists and turns that kept me guessing most of the way through.
A brilliant gripping story which captures the reader from the very first page.
Another beautifully written book by this author – the characters were great and the story so well thought out.
Amazon categories:
Mystery, thriller and suspense
Women’s fiction
Women sleuths
International mystery and crime
Detective
Crime
A terrible accident—or the murder of someone keeping dangerous secrets?
The music soars. The opera reaches its finale. And a woman falls to her death.
Newlywed Nancy Tremayne is a shocked witness to the tragedy at La Fenice. How could it have happened and what could lie behind such a terrible death?
Her husband, art professor, Leo, is adamant it was an accident. The police suspect suicide. But Nancy is certain the woman's deadly fall was deliberate. Someone in Venice is a killer.
Plunging more and more deeply into the city's secrets, she finds herself caught in a terrifying roller coaster of suspense, discovering a Venice as sinister as it is beautiful. Walking ever closer to danger, Nancy is forced to make a choice – the truth or her life?
See what reviewers have to say about Venetian Vendetta, book two in the Tremayne Mystery Suspense series by bestselling author, Merryn Allingham:
This is an intriguing historical mystery, and the protagonist is so complex and interesting, and the mystery so well done that you'll find yourself trapped between the pages.
A breath of fresh air. And it isn't only because the author describes Venice really well. Yes, there is that, but we also have here a wonderfully strong heroine who continues to be true to herself even through setbacks... I'd strongly recommend this book.
A well-paced book with so many twists and turns that kept me guessing most of the way through.
A brilliant gripping story which captures the reader from the very first page.
Not only does the city of Venice present romance and intrigue, it proves to be the perfect backdrop for the mystery, what with its long canals of water, the danger of flooding, the isolated islands, and the fog that comes with being by the sea... A delightful mystery.
Another beautifully written book by this author – the characters were great and the story so well thought out.
Has Lizzie Finally Met Her Match?
When lady’s companion, Elizabeth Ingram, sees handsome Sir Justin Delacourt for the first time, she decides he is just the man to enliven her dull life. But Justin has a disdain for womanly wiles and is determined not to succumb. Yet he can’t get the lively Lizzie out of his mind.
Lizzie has secrets she has no wish to share and so, it turns out, does Justin. But when they join together in a quest to investigate a friend’s mysterious disappearance, they are forced to face the conflicts that plague them.
Will Lizzie’s courage and determination steal Justin’s heart? Will the passion Lizzie feels convince her that Justin is her future?
Amazon Categories:
Regency Romance
Regency Mystery and Adventure
Romantic Suspense
Victorian Romance
Historical Romance
Amelie and Gareth are hiding secret identities. What will happen when their old lives catch up with them?
Amelie Milverton is fleeing betrothal to a vicious, degenerate man. Disguised as a maidservant, she climbs out of her bedroom window, but there's a problem ...
Gareth Denville, wrongly accused of cheating at cards, was once driven from the city by scandal, but his return to London has been a mistake ...
On a whim, he helps the maidservant to escape, but when the attraction between them grows, Gareth realises he's made a mistake. Both have secrets they cannot tell and the love they feel stays unspoken. Until Amelie is faced with appalling danger, and the time for pretence is over.
But is it too late?
Amazon Categories:
Regency Romance
Regency Mystery and Adventure
Romantic Suspense
Victorian Romance
Historical Romance
A woman alone. A man obsessed with revenge. A history that refuses to die.
Nancy Tremayne has returned to London, a lonely and isolated figure, weighed down by a shroud of sorrow. Slowly, though, the possibility of a different life begins to emerge. A pathway that beckons her to a new future.
But how is she to take the first step, when the past is once more stalking her every move. A past that is violent and unrelenting. And who in this nightmare world can she trust when terror looms and death threatens?
A superb finale to the Tremayne Mysteries Series
See what reviewers have to say about this bestselling mystery suspense series:
The story is a roller-coaster of a read, with plenty of tension and suspense.
Merryn's characters are real and she always sets the scene beautifully: in this case Britain in the early 1950s.
The social constraints of the 1950s are keenly observed and add much to this well-written story.
This is an intriguing historical mystery, and the protagonist is so complex and interesting, and the mystery so well done that you'll find yourself trapped between the pages.
A well-paced book with so many twists and turns that kept me guessing most of the way through.
A brilliant gripping story which captures the reader from the very first page.
Another beautifully written book by this author – the characters were great and the story so well thought out.
An idyllic Cornish fishing village—but death is never far away
Nancy Tremayne has never felt welcome at Penleven, her husband’s family home. But when Leo’s father falls ill, she is forced to make a rare visit to Port Madron, a sleepy Cornish fishing village where nothing much happens. Or so it seems.
It’s not long, though, before Nancy becomes convinced that below the calm surface something truly evil is going on. Her father-in-law’s heart attack isn’t simply bad luck. His friend’s death isn’t an accident. And the threatening letters… are they being sent by a resentful villager to create fear, or are the men pushing to buy the Tremayne tin mine behind the bubbling unrest?
With the help of Archie, Leo’s assistant, Nancy gradually finds the answers she’s looking for. Together, they uncover a plot of horrific revenge. But not before they face the most dangerous situation of their lives - and not before they become ever more deeply entangled in a forbidden love.
See what reviewers have to say about this bestselling mystery suspense series:
The story is a roller-coaster of a read, with plenty of tension and suspense.
Merryn's characters are real and she always sets the scene beautifully: in this case Britain in the early 1950s.
The social constraints of the 1950s are keenly observed and add much to this well-written story.
This is an intriguing historical mystery, and the protagonist is so complex and interesting, and the mystery so well done that you'll find yourself trapped between the pages.
A well-paced book with so many twists and turns that kept me guessing most of the way through.
A brilliant gripping story which captures the reader from the very first page.
Another beautifully written book by this author – the characters were great and the story so well thought out.
Amazon categories:
Mystery, thriller and suspense
Women’s fiction
Women sleuths
International mystery and crime
Detective
Crime
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