The Body in the Lounge

In the stately halls of Prickly Hall, secrets refuse to stay buried. When Ginny Beans stumbles upon the body of a stranger, strangled and abandoned in the lounge, shockwaves ripple through the quaint village of Thistlebrook. Who was the mysterious woman, and why was she left in such a gruesome state within the grand rooms of Prickly Hall?

The villagers are bewildered, but one person knows just how to uncover the truth: Biddy Apple, Thistlebrook Hollow’s sharp-witted retired headmistress. When Ginny turns to her for help, Biddy finds herself pulled into a tangle of old grudges, hidden vendettas, and long-held secrets. As she unravels the mystery, Biddy must dig beneath the village’s placid exterior to reveal a past filled with love, betrayal, and simmering animosities.

With her keen sense of observation and a knack for seeing what others miss, Biddy takes readers on another enthralling journey through the cobblestone streets of Thistlebrook. Will she be able to peel back the layers of deception to find the truth before it’s too late?

Set in the heart of the English countryside, The Body in the Lounge offers a perfect blend of charm, suspense, and intrigue. Join Biddy Apple as she delves into the secrets of Prickly Hall in this delightful cosy mystery—available now on Kindle Unlimited.

Dirk Volcano does it again with The Body in the Lounge. This cosy mystery pulls you right into the stately atmosphere of Prickly Hall, where secrets run deep, and every villager has a story to tell. Biddy Apple is as sharp and endearing as ever, uncovering the hidden histories and surprising connections that make Thistlebrook such a fascinating place. The plot twists kept me guessing, and the gentle humour made this book an absolute delight. Perfect for fans of Agatha Christie and charming village intrigue!

I was thrilled to return to Thistlebrook Hollow in The Body in the Lounge! Biddy Apple, with her unparalleled intuition and dry wit, makes an exceptional amateur detective. The discovery of the mysterious body at Prickly Hall sets off a chain of secrets that kept me glued to the pages. Dirk Volcano has a way of capturing village life—both its warmth and its hidden darkness—that makes his books unputdownable. A cosy mystery that delivers suspense, charm, and plenty of surprises. Highly recommend!

The Body in the Lounge is a beautifully crafted cosy mystery that captures the essence of small-town suspense. Dirk Volcano's storytelling is rich with atmosphere, making you feel like you're right there in the halls of Prickly Hall alongside Biddy Apple. I loved the unexpected twists and the well-developed characters, each with their own secrets. Biddy's sleuthing abilities, combined with the village's charm, create a thoroughly engaging and satisfying mystery. I can't wait for the next book in the series.

The sun was setting, casting an amber glow over Prickly Hall. This stately mansion, a crown jewel of Thistlebrook, stood tall and proud, having witnessed countless generations come and go. Its vast rooms, ornate archways, and shadowy passages whispered tales of old, each more intriguing than the last.

Ginny Beans, a young historian with a penchant for uncovering forgotten tales, had been granted permission to peruse the ancient manuscripts and records housed in Prickly Hall’s grand library. As she delved deeper into her research, the rich tapestry of Thistlebrook’s history unraveled before her eyes.

Engrossed in a particularly gripping letter from the 18th century, Ginny hardly noticed the time pass. However, a sudden gust of wind from an open window blew some papers off a nearby table, jolting her from her reverie. She rose to close the window, pausing to admire the garden bathed in twilight hues.

But as she turned back to the room, her gaze was drawn to an open door leading to the lounge. There, in the dim light, lay a woman, her face pale and her silk scarf wound tightly around her neck. Ginny’s heart raced. She had never seen this woman before, but the grim reality was clear—she had been strangled.

Panicking, Ginny reached for the telephone and dialed the number she had come to know all too well from her previous encounter with mystery—the residence of Biddy Apple.

Within minutes, Biddy, always swift to act, was at Prickly Hall, her familiar petite form and silver curls a comforting sight in the grim setting.

“What have we here?” Biddy mused aloud, her sharp eyes scanning the scene.

Ginny, trembling, replied, “I don’t know her, Biddy. I was engrossed in my research, and when I looked up, there she was.”

Biddy knelt beside the body, gently examining the scarf. “This isn’t a random act,” she murmured. “This scarf is of fine quality, and the knot… it’s deliberate.”

As the two of them pondered the mystery before them, Prickly Hall seemed to come alive, its corridors echoing with secrets of the past. Somewhere within its walls lay the answer to the identity of the woman and the reason for her untimely demise.

And so, in a mansion steeped in history, a new chapter was about to be written, one that would once again test the detective prowess of Biddy Apple and reveal the darker facets of Thistlebrook’s genteel facade.