This Private Plot: An Oliver Swithin Mystery
Oliver Swithin, a children’s book author, and his girlfriend, Scotland Yard Sergeant Effie Strongitharm, are visiting his parents in the Cotswolds village of Synne. Effie decides that, following an ancient local custom, a nude nighttime streak across the common will get Oliver over his funk at being in the country. Running into her boss and his wife, Oliver’s aunt, who are also observing the custom, ruins the mood. If that weren’t enough, Oliver discovers a body hanging from the local gallows tree. The deceased is Dennis Breedlove, a former radio broadcaster, and the police think that it is suicide. Oliver does not agree and finds evidence of blackmail. The investigation reveals a small town full of secrets. This snarky cozy is full of humor and British quirkiness. Agatha Christie meets Monty Python. (Booklist)This Private Plot is a wildly successful book —witty and light-footed, but with some serious crime-novel momentum.  I hope Alan Beechey is at his desk right now, because I want to read another Oliver Swithin book in the next ten minutes. (Charles Finch, author of the Charles Lenox mysteries)Oliver Swithin really didn't want to go to the small English village for a visit of fun and games. Oliver doesn't trust the quiet countryside to be really quiet - and safe. He hates it even more that he was right. While running through this countryside in the nude – his girlfriend considers this a romp and he wants to keep her happy - he finds a body, which was certainly not in the original plans. The corpse is that of radio broadcaster Dennis Breedlove. His death is ruled a suicide but that ruling soon changes to murder as blackmail is implicated. Oliver believes that if he can discover why Breedlove was being blackmailed and who was blackmailing him, he will find a murderer. Trying to keep his investigations under wrap and key, he is disappointed to find that keeping a secret in a small village anywhere is an impossibility. As the investigation continues, Oliver finds there is more to the case than a death due to blackmail. It seems as though this small village is aswarm with citizens with bad intentions. Blackmail appears to be a way of life, but Oliver draws the line when death enters the picture. [8Rbi:This Private Plot is the third in the Oliver Swithin series. As with the previous two books, a subtle humor floats through the story, bringing a touch of whimsy to a serious plot. Delightful. (Bookloons)