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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Books By Merryn Allingham
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.
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 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.
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
Sussex, 1957: 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!!!’
A broken locket, a hidden past - and a love affair tested to its limits
Facing penury, Elinor Milford is urged by her dying mother to seek help from Amersham Hall. But the owner of this vast estate is a rich and powerful duke, far too young to have known her mother. What possible connection can there be? Disguised as a dairymaid, Elinor sets out to unearth the secrets of her birth and discovers an extraordinary story.
Gabriel Claremont, Duke of Amersham, wants only to forget a painful past. He spends his life pursuing shallow pleasures in the company of dissipated men. Yet the new dairymaid, with her mousy clothes and modest demeanour, intrigues him. Despite his vow to live without love, he finds himself fighting a tangle of fierce emotions, unleashing a love affair that is tested to its limits.
How far will Elinor and Gabriel go to unravel the threads of their past – and discover their future?
Amazon categories:
Regency Romance
Regency Mystery and Adventure
Romantic Suspense
Victorian Romance
Historical Romance
Revenge, it's said, is best served cold - but there are times when it comes red hot.
Luke Trelawny, the new Earl, has returned to England, toughened by years abroad and very much his own man.Six years ago he was jilted by his beautiful childhood friend, Cassie Latimer, three weeks before the wedding, and when he meets her again, a dangerous temptation hangs in the air.
It's revenge, though, not love, that Luke seeks. He will teach Cassie a lesson and show her that he can command her, body and soul - then he'll walk away.
But can he truly suppress a love that has never died?
Amazon Categories:
Regency Romance
Regency Mystery and Adventure
Romantic Suspense
Victorian Romance
Historical Romance
How dangerous can breaking your promise be?
London, June, 1953.
It’s Coronation Day and, among the crowd gathered at Westminster Abbey, Nancy Nicholson meets the man of her dreams – or so she believes. After years of loneliness, romance has finally arrived.
But it’s not long before the questions begin. Why is she never invited to her boyfriend's apartment? Why does she never meet his friends? Has he tried to set her parents against her? Is he a lover or an enemy?
Amid growing doubts, Nancy walks away - into a nightmare of suspense. Stalked day and night, nowhere is safe. Fear looms at her from every corner. Terror follows her home. There is no-one she can trust. No-one to help.
How dangerous can breaking your promise be? Nancy is about to find out.
See what reviewers have to say about the prequel to 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.
As Philip’s menacing behaviour worsens, you hope Nancy will find the strength to face up to the reality of her situation. But in doing so, is she leaping from one disastrous situation into another?
A superb prequel to Venetian Vendetta.
Amazon categories:
Mystery, thriller and suspense
Women’s fiction
Women sleuths
International mystery and crime
Detective
Crime
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.
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.
It’s Carnival and everyone is having fun. Though perhaps not everyone…
Nancy Tremayne is on holiday in Rio with her husband, Leo, and the city is dancing from dawn to dusk. An explosion of energy and colour that Nancy loves. But when she overhears an ugly quarrel, finds a woman dead, and hears of a missing child, she is drawn into a terrible crime that lies hidden beneath the sun-warmed beaches and the samba rhythms.
Together with Archie, Leo’s assistant, Nancy embarks on a perilous mission to track down a killer and find the child who faces the greatest of danger. Can they uncover the villain behind this dreadful trade and reach the little girl in time?
It’s going to take some Brazilian magic.
Murder and suspense are peppered with romance in this fast-paced mystery set in the glamour of 1950s Rio.
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
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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