Friday 8 April 2016

Murder Most Foul! - G is for Grudge - Cozy Mystery #AtoZChallenge 2016


Welcome to my contribution to the A to Z Challenge. My theme this year is Murder Most Foul, which, for you, my blog visitors, means that you will be sharing in The Case of the Cursed House, or rather the bare bones of it. 

Everyday, I will be revealing more about my developing Cozy Mystery: descriptions of scenes; character details; locations; clues to the mystery. And, at the end of each post, you will have the chance to vote on whodunnit. So, without further ado, on with the case...

Previous parts:


Story Notes Additional Details
On leaving the manor, Barnwell and Williams go to see the Walkers.

Onsite interview with Janice Walker:
What do you think of Bill Whethers?
  JW - He was an arrogant arse.

You had a problem with him?
  JW - My son, Fred, got married last year, he and Lisa are living in one room upstairs because they want to stay in the area and can't afford it: Lisa is a nurse, Fred is an apprentice builder. My family have been in this area since 1803, when Lord John freed by ancestor, William, from slavery and gave him this house. Will sold seeds and tools from this very room. We want to keep our family together in this area, it's our history, and this affordable housing for local people is just the thing we need. Bill Whethers and Mr Lord of the Manor have been blocking it for nearly three years now.

The rich in this village are all their own little clique and that scientist fella, Elves, is in on it as well. He's even living at the manor. And he's always over at Whether's place.
Had any of the family ever been to the court house?
Not likely - the place is called The Cursed House by us locals and it's said to be haunted by the ghost of The Grey Mother. Reason Bill Whethers bought it, I reckon. He had an unsavory reputation what with the horror he wrote and his philandering. Lights on at all hours of the night. Loud parties and devil worship was the word round here. The vicar's taking her soul in her hands going round there as often as she does.
Your children have been causing disturbances for Bill Whethers.
They're just kids and they're frustrated. Lorri had to give up her room for Lisa and Fred, she's sharing with my husband, Vic, and me. Neither of them would hurt a fly.
And your eldest son, Fred?
He's been working all hours over at the manor. Lady Emma is refurbishing the servant's quarters. When he gets home, all he wants to do is take a shower, eat and sleep.
And where is Vic?
He's away visiting his brother in Scotland.


DCI Mags Barnwell
Age: 44
Gender: female
Ethnicity Code: W1
Job: Detective Chief Inspector Kent Constabulary Serious Crime Office

DS Kevin Williams
Age: 27
Gender: male
Ethnicity Code: W1
Job: Detective Sergeant Kent Constabulary Serious Crime Office
Other info: DCI Barnwell's bag man.

William (Bill) Whethers
Age: 36
Gender: male
Ethnicity Code: W1
Job: horror author
Other info: death in unknown circumstances; he opposes a new housing development providing affordable housing to local people. he's a drunk. Suspected of taking part in black masses by Alice Rigden and half the village.

Janice Walker
Age: 52
Gender: female
Ethnicity Code: B1
Job: shopkeeper, Wittrenham Stores
Other info: mother to Lorri, Hal and Fred. Janice's family have been shopkeepers in the area since 1803.

Vic Walker
Age: 54
Gender: male
Ethnicity Code: W1
Job: shopkeeper; married to Janice Walker. Currently not in the village.

Fred Walker
Age: 22
Gender: male
Ethnicity Code: M1
Job: apprentice builder working at the manor, long hours, not at home a lot.

Lady Elizabeth Ryeman (nee Oxen)
Age: N/A
Gender: female
Ethnicity Code: W1
Job: ghost
Other info: killed by her husband, she haunts unfaithful lovers.

Walker Stores
Established 1803 as a seed and tool merchants.
Next to the car park just in front of the church.



And now it's time to vote again - just take a punt - who do you think killed Bill Whethers (and yes, every character is listed - you never know ;P)?


Who dunnit?

Aisha Kakkar
Debbie Fincher
Dave Fincher
Jonathan Lee
Janice Walker
Lorri Walker
Hal Walker
Fred Walker
Alice Rigden
DS Kevin Williams
DCI Mags Barnwell
Lord Michael, Earl of Oxen
Lady Emma, Countess of Oxen
Dr Elves
Bethany Mortby
Lady Elizabeth Ryeman
Vic Walker
None of the above, we haven't met them yet
Don't be silly, I don't know enough yet!
Quiz Maker
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10 comments:

  1. Okay, now I'm drifting between two possible doers! Congratulations on a great mystery!

    ReplyDelete
  2. But is Vic really away? Dun dun DUN!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. LOL! I can hear the dramatic music in my head right now!

      Delete
  3. What Patricia said! So many possible choices, I love how you are weaving this all together, we will definitely find out by Z?

    Mars xx
    @TrollbeadBlog from
    Curling Stones for Lego People

    ReplyDelete
  4. I love the way you have those mini-A to Z icons at the bottom for folks to go pick up the previous entries!

    LuAnn (approx #369 on the list) @ Back Porchervations.
    (and one of co-host AJ Lauer's #wHooligans)

    ReplyDelete
  5. Mhm, now this is interesting. This has a very gossipy favour to it, I mean, this sounds not really what Mr Janice Walker thinks, but rather what all the community think. That idea of the devil worship sounds very much like something a group - not a single person - would think.

    So, if I understand correctly, Mr Whethers wosn't liked by the village. Some even feared him (what with the ideas of devil and witches going around). But he appeares to have been liked by people who knew him well - and this in spite of his admittedly difficult personality.
    He was involved in businees in the village, too.

    Mhm... I'm still not sure whether his murder is something personal or something business. But at the moment, I'm inclining for something business.

    @JazzFeathers
    The Old Shelter - Jazz Age Jazz

    ReplyDelete
  6. J here, stopping by from the #atozchallenge - where I am part of Arlee Bird's A to Z Ambassador Team.
    How has the first week of the challenge been for you so far? Are you meeting your goals of posting and hopping to other blogs?
    My blog still has a giveaway with bonus a to z challenges to encourage people to visit more stops. Thanks for your visit.
    http://jlennidornerblog.what-are-they.com
    Well done! I'm enjoying this.

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  7. I'm glad to know that we'll know who dunnit by Z. There are so many letters yet to come that I imagine many more twists and turns.

    Cheers - Ellen | http://thecynicalsailor.blogspot.com/2016/04/g-is-for-grounding-nancy-drew.html

    ReplyDelete

Thanks for stopping by - I'd love to hear from you. :)