Miss Hortense and the Last Rites

by Mel Pennant

Nine nights to solve a murder...or she'll be next.

When Bigglesweigh's notorious gangster, Cuttah, uses up the last of his nine lives, and is found dead at his flat, there is only one person who can solve the mystery of who killed indomitable retired NHS nurse Miss Hortense.

Cuttah left a letter with a list of suspects. There's just one Miss Hortense's name is on the list and she only has nine days before his cronies seek retribution...

PRAISE FOR A MURDER FOR MISS HORTENSE:

'Fresh, original and intriguing from start to finish!' Janice Hallett, bestselling author of The Examiner

'What a joy - a brilliant new amateur sleuth to rival Miss Marple!' Good Housekeeping

'More than a cosy crime mystery . . . it's the story of a community' Jennie Godfrey, author of The List of Suspicious Things

Kindle Edition

Expected publication July 16, 2026

About the author

Mel Pennant is an award-winning playwright whose work has appeared in the National Archives, as well as on stage. Born in London, she was raised by an extraordinary village, which included her Jamaican grandparents who moved to England in the 1950s as part of the Windrush generation. Mel is drawn to stories that explore what’s hidden below the surface and celebrate the richness and strength of tight-knit communities. She lives in London with her family and their dog, Bleu. A Murder for Miss Hortense is Mel’s first novel and she is currently writing another mystery novel starring Miss Hortense.

source: Amazon