The Vanilla Killer

By Peter Boland

Deal Ends: 2025-05-05

One sleepy seaside town. Three old friends, who love a natter and a cuppa. A killer who’s anything but vanilla.It’s the end of a long day at the Dogs Need Nice Homes charity shop. Fiona, Daisy and Partial Sue, the three retired ladies who volunteer there, are ready to lock up for the night.The chippie is beckoning. But supper will have to wait.The ladies watch aghast as a clapped-out ice-cream van lurches up to their door. With Daisy’s daughter Bella behind the wheel!Newly divorced Bella has only just gotten rid of her rotten husband. Now she’s bought herself a van — and a whole world of trouble. Because this is a van with a history.Its freezer may be stocked with sweet treats today, but it once held something much more sinister. The dead body of its former owner!The culprit, known only as the Vanilla Killer, melted away without a trace.When Bella starts receiving poison pen letters, the ladies can’t help but worry. What if their beloved Bella’s next?There’s only one thing for it, the ladies agree over a steaming pot of tea.They need to track down the Vanilla Killer — before anyone else dies . . .Fans of Richard Osman, Robert Thorogood, Janice Hallett, Simon Brett, Ian Moore and Sarah Yarwood-Lovett will adore this exciting new talent in cozy crime.Readers ADORE the Charity Shop Detective Mysteries:‘Witty and knowing.’ Simon Brett, bestselling author⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘A lovely British mystery, perfect for fans of the Thursday Murder Club.’ Lisa S.⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘A fun storyline filled with red herrings and creativity . . . Five stars.’ Sara⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Keeps the reader guessing right until the very end.’ A reader in the UK⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Another fantastic visit to the Charity Shop Detectives . . . looking forward to the next adventure with the ladies.’ Gill‘Another highly enjoyable read! The characters are strong and well developed. Great plot. And a dog show! Love it!’ Renee⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Definitely a good read for anyone who loves these cozy mysteries with a little fun mixed in.’ DeniceTHE CHARITY SHOP DETECTIVESLevel-headed Fiona has found a quiet sanctuary volunteering at the local charity shop, Dogs Need Nice Homes. A charity shop that raises money for dogs in need of nice homes. And she’s found firm friendship with the strong-willed Partial Sue (she’s ever so partial to a cup of tea) and the kindly and surprisingly tech-savvy Daisy. Together, these ladies, with Simon Le Bon, Fiona’s scruffy-haired terrier cross, investigate murders as the Charity Shop Detective Agency.THE SETTINGThe lovely coastal town of Southbourne is, on paper, little more than a small suburb hemmed in by Bournemouth to the west and Christchurch to the north. But it’s home to the prettiest avenues lined with gorgeous Georgian homes which lead to a grass-topped cliff standing guard over a sweeping bay of blond sand, soft as Demerara sugar. Some say it’s also home to the best charity shops in the country. The ladies of the Charity Shop Detective Agency maintain that Dogs Need Nice Homes — though musty and more than a little cramped — is certainly number one. Well, they definitely solve the most crimes at least!