The Circle: A Hen Mallin Investigation [Paperback]

“A treat . . . Lovesey’s restraint, wit, and charming cast ensure him a place in the winner’s circle.”
 —Entertainment Weekly

At the urging of his daughter, Bob Naylor joins the Chichester Writer’s Circle. But instead of exploring his budding talents as an amateur poet, Bob soon finds himself in the middle of something sinister. The vanity-press publisher who recently visited and critiqued the group was killed in an arson fire, and Maurice, the group’s leader, is the prime suspect. Because Bob is new to the group and not under suspicion, he is recruited to prove Maurice’s innocence, putting his own life at risk. The murderer is not done, and more people will die as Inspector Henrietta Mallin scrambles to pinpoint the killer.Crime Writers' Association Diamond Dagger for Lifetime Achievement Recipient
Mystery Writers of America 2018 Grandmaster

Praise for The Circle

“A treat . . . Lovesey’s restraint, wit, and charming cast ensure him a place in the winner’s circle.”
 —Entertainment Weekly
 
“Wonderfully funny . . . [A] jaunty jape of a mystery.”
—Washington Post Book World
 
“Splendid entertainment . . . How [Lovesey] blends suspense and humor to the detriment of neither remains one of crime fiction’s greatest puzzles. This one need not be solved to be enjoyed.”
—The Wall Street Journal
 
“What a joy . . . Its snappy dialogue made me laugh out loud; it delighted me with quotations heading each chapter and with its literary references; it provided a puzzle I was unable to solve. In short, the novel is great fun.”
—The Roanoke Times
 
“A crafty fair-play puzzle.&rdqulS