Murder by Committee

Ellie Quicke #6

by Veronica Heley

Meet Ellie Quicke. Devoted cat lady, tea addict, recent widow — and now amateur sleuth!

When snobbish Sir Arthur Kingsley summons her to his mansion, Ellie is less than thrilled.

He’s rich, for sure — Ealing’s own paunchy property magnate. But he’s also rotten company. And a dog person to boot.

Even so, Ellie can’t turn her back on a man whose beloved pet spaniel has just been murdered!

Poor Rex died from a bite of poisoned pizza. What if it was really meant for his master?

Sir Arthur’s convinced he knows who’s behind it — a bitter business rival.

But Ellie can’t shake the feeling there’s more to it than that. Something Sir Arthur’s not telling her.

When someone breaks in to Ellie’s conservatory, she realizes she’s getting too close to the truth for the killer’s liking.

This time, they might have a human victim in their sights . . .

Meet your next favourite sleuth in this wonderfully witty whodunnit.

Fans of the Reverend Richard Coles, Fiona Leitch, The Thursday Murder Club, Sarah Yarwood-Lovett, Agatha Christie, Janice Hallett, Peter Boland and Simon Brett will be hooked from the very first page!

Readers love the one and only Ellie

⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Loved it. My new favourite author.’ Sherry

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘A lovely cozy with a wonderful woman protagonist. Ellie is wonderfully endearing and kind!’ Gail

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘I really like Ellie. She has gumption . . . Bravo to little old ladies with True Grit!’ Lucy

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘A wonderful creation of a mature heroine who has been stereotyped by other characters but clearly is much more . . . very much enjoyed!’

⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘A delightful read . . . just has that cozy vibe that I love!’ Samantha

⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Another engrossing read by Veronica Heley!’ Lisa

MEET YOUR NEW FAVOURITE SLEUTH
For the past three decades, fifty-year-old Ellie Quicke has tried to please her domineering husband Frank. Now he’s dead, she must learn to put herself first. She discovers she’s capable of more than she ever dreamed. Like sending emails, saying ‘no’ to her spoiled offspring . . . and even solving the odd murder or two!

ALSO BY VERONICA HELEY
THE ELLIE QUICKE MYSTERIES
Book 1: MURDER AT THE ALTAR
Book 2: MURDER BY POISON PEN
Book 3: MURDER OF INNOCENCE
Book 4: MURDER BY ACCIDENT
Book 5: MURDER IN THE GARDEN
Book 6: MURDER BY COMMITTEE

THE BEA ABBOT AGENCY MYSTERIES
Book 1: A FALSE CHARITY
Book 2: A FALSE PICTURE
Book 3: A FALSE STEP
Book 4: A FALSE PRETENCE
Book 5: FALSE MONEY
Book 6: A FALSE REPORT
Book 7: A FALSE ALARM
Book 8: A FALSE DIAMOND
Book 9: A FALSE IMPRESSION
Book 10: A FALSE WALL
Book 11: A FALSE FIRE
Book 12: A FALSE PRIDE
Book 13: A FALSE ACCOUNT
Book 14: A FALSE CONCLUSION
Book 15: A FALSE FACE

Genres: Mystery, Mystery Thriller, British Literature, Crime

278 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 1, 2005

About the author

Veronica Heley has published more than fifty books, including crime fiction, historical, and children's titles. She is currently involved in the Ellie Quicke series of crime stories and a variety of other projects. A full-time writer, she has been married to a London probation officer since 1964, and has one musician daughter.

AKA Veronica Thorne

Reviews

[Ivonne Rovira · Rating 5 out of 5]

Murder by Committee, the sixth novel in Veronica Heley’s Ellie Quicke series, kept me up half the night, I was so engrossed in the story. I wasn’t much of an Ellie Quicke fan at first (much preferring Heley’s other series that features Bea Abbott, Ellie’s polar opposite), but Ellie — and Heley — have completely won me over with this book.

When widow Ellie Quicke first tackles the unscrupulous businessman Sir Arthur Kingsley in this sixth book in the series, she had no idea how the encounter would affect her own family — alienating one family member but strengthening her relationship with so many others. Assisted by her difficult Aunt Drusilla, her friends Rose and Kate, her cousin-by-marriage Roy, and her sage parish priest, Ellie helps to, first, stave off Sir Arthur’s attempt to cheat St. Thomas Church and, secondly, put a stop to Sir Arthur’s even more nefarious plans. The motley collection has Ellie’s back and truly saves the day.

And Ellie’s daughter Diana has perfectly selfish and demanding through all six of the series’ novels that I’ve read thus far, but I realize in this book that she’s even more greedy and remorseless than I ever imagined. Poor Ellie to be cursed with such a daughter!

Murder by Committee is the best book yet in this wonderful British cozy series. One-time doormat Ellie proves positively heroic by saving a battered wife and exposing a criminal financier.

[Betty · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book Ellie finds herself between two feuding business tycoons in the 6th book of the series. One of the tycoon's dog was poison; Ellie is asked to find out who poisoned the dog. The owner blames the other tycoon for the poison but he has many enemies. It could have been someone else.The villain is a bully and a wife abuser. Felicity enters the story. Diana is in financial trouble and aligns herself with the abuser. Ellie's grandson has been acting out and she has refused to babysitter Frank. Diana sells the half of Ellie's home to the villain. Ellie will need to change her life to adjust to the new reality. I highly recommend this book and series.

[Mrs S M Armitage · Rating 5 out of 5]

another triumph

I do like the Ellie Quicke series. Veronica Healy has a way with building a story around an enterprising widow and gradually the characters all come to life. Not quite as attractive a read as the Bea Abbot series, but just as fast paced and full of twists and turns. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

[Liisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some of Heley's books are quite scary toward the end as her main character comes into increasing danger from evil persons. I liked this book by Heley more than some of her others because this one did not do that, but it was a good mystery nonetheless.

[Sherry · Rating 2 out of 5]

I like this series but I think I will take a break before reading #7. I have to say I hurried through this one so I could read something more interesting.

[aprilla · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nice easy series, will continue

[Elliemae · Rating 4 out of 5]

audiobook

[Sherry · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved it, My new favorite author.

[Dorothy Sell · Rating 5 out of 5]

This one I really liked. Much better than the first three. I'm on Murder by Bicycle now & this one is a winner also.

[Jill Garrett · Rating 5 out of 5]

great read!!

This book was riveting. I love Veronica Healey’s books, have read 7 or 8 and this one is part of a family of wonderful reads!!

[JoyceCharbonneau · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best one yet!

Ellie awesome! Good ending but rough beginning, don't stop, gets better! Diana still completely lacking any good qualities, dressing well doesn't count!

[Anne Herbison · Rating 3 out of 5]

These books are great in chaotic times, such as house renovations. They keep your mind occupied and satisfied that the moneyed nasties will get their comeuppance.

[Denise Bonham · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another brilliant cosy crime novel in an absolutely brilliant series.

[Connie · Rating 1 out of 5]

That's it for me with the Ellie Quicke series. It's well written. But. The series seems to get darker as it progresses. Not for me.

[Damaskcat · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ellie Quicke, widow, doesn't claim to be the world's best financial brain but she can spot a villain even if they appear in the guise of a wealthy and respected businessman. Ellie's neighbour, Kate is the one for finance and it is Kate who asks her if she will meet Sir Arthur Kingsley and see if she can find out who poisoned his beloved dog. Ellie dislikes Sir Arthur on sight and the feeling is mutual but when she finds out her architect cousin Roy has fallen foul of him she decides that against her better judgement she needs to get involved.

Naturally one thing leads to another and between Ellie's demanding daughter, Diana, her equally ruthless Aunt Drusilla and various friends and acquaintances she soon finds she has her hands full and then she finds her home under attack as well. This is a fast moving and tense cosy mystery. The violence is off the page and not graphic, the characters are well drawn and believable and the action is firmly rooted in the everyday. I love Ellie as a character and have read this book several times now and still find it enjoyable even though I know the outcome.

If you like your crime stories to fall into the cosy sub genre and to have more depth than some then this series will be of interest to you. The books can be read in any order but if you read them in the order in which they were published it is interesting to see how the main characters grow and develop.

[Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a good escape mystery, with English rain and a London setting. Ellie Quicke is a likeable protagonist, scatterbrained in some ways, forgetting where her mobile is, or trying to do too many good deeds at one time. One likes her, as do her neighbors and total strangers meeting her for the first time. This time a dog is killed with a poisoned pizza, rather than a person. However, the dog's owner may have been the intended target and if so, picking out the perpetrator will be difficult because many people hated him, a businessman involved in many shady dealings that caused hurt to numerous victims.

What about his wife, seemingly a beaten down handywoman for him to vent his anger on. But, as good-hearted Ellie invites the woman to take refuge with her, she discovers another side of the woman. Is she set up to spy on Ellie?

What about the wealthy businessman fighting with the shady character tooth and nail? Is he actually on the up and up? And who vandalizes Ellie's conservatory and, even more horribly, attempts to kill the wealthy businessman's son?

Also in the mix of characters is Diana, the daughter you love to hate, constantly making life difficult for her mother. Others include grandson Frank, who can be a terror at times, the sharp Aunt Drusilla, and the clergyman of Ellie's church, a surprisingly resourceful individual.

[Lynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

The series featuring Ellie Quicke is one I always reach for when I want a relaxing cozy mystery read that is well written. I know I will enjoy the book. Ellie is developing into a more independent woman after the death of her husband. She now has a network of friends that are featured in each book. The most unlikeable character (for the reader) in the book is her dreadful daughter Diana. Ellie cares for others and helps out when asked. She is now starting to speak out. Her acquaintances know she has strong people skills.

In this book, her neighbor Kate asks to talk to a powerful businessman whose dog was poisoned. Since the poison was in a delivered pizza, it was the business man who appeared to be the intended target. Ellie and the business man did not care for each other upon meeting. Ellie becomes entangled with the underhanded dealing on this man and she finds herself in danger. Beside the regular characters in this book, some new characters are introduced. I hope several of them appear in upcoming books. This was a very good book in the series. The series is based in a suburb in London but has a small village feel. If you enjoy English cozy mysteries that have substance, you should enjoy this series. I would start with the first book Murder at the Altar to see the character development as it grows though out the series

[Gail · Rating 3 out of 5]

There's something about Ellie's growing assertiveness that counterbalances the preaching and pious attitudes along with her unrelentingly awful daughter. In this mystery, Ellie's growing reputation as someone who is good with people is tapped to find out who killed a tycoon's dog. That small mystery proliferates into a bigger mystery of graft, financial skullduggery, threats, and violence. As usual it's a daily life in the outskirts of London punctuated by questions, nosiness, quirky characters and happy endings.

[Carol · Rating 4 out of 5]

There is one character in all the Ellie Quicke book, Diana -Ellie's daughter that is such an evil, ugly acting person, that she colors the whole story and the bad guy in this story, Sir Arthur Kingsley, is another just totally evil and unlikeable character. But the stories are fun and I do love that Ellie is always praying and is such a good hearted person I keep reading the series. I also like the the bad guys lose and the good guys win as it should be.

[Josephine (Jo) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Finished 6th November.



Not bad but I was dissapointed when I found out who the "murderer" was.