Murder Most Foul! - I is for Intent - 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

In the morning, Aisha meets Barnwell and Williams at the car park as agreed. They swap notes: this is now a murder inquiry poisoning has been happening over time, so whoever is doing it had to have regular access to Bill and his e-cigarette, so: must find the source of the arsenic, it's difficult to get now, but it used to be used on rat poison, fly papers, weedkiller, so check to see if anyone has anything like that hanging around. must check where Bill got his refills Must consider who had access to those refills and where who kills a dying man? someone who needs him dead more quickly? someone who didn't know he was dying? find out who knew Bill had cancer and who didn't there were rumours about Debbie Fincher and Bill Whethers having an affair did Dave Fincher know? was it just a rumour? DCI: who hasn't been spoken to who could be linked to Bill Whethers? Aisha: Bethany Mortby, witch by village assumption and confirmed by Jon as Bill's ex-partner Williams: Dr Elves had been getting cosy with Whethers over the affordable housing. Fred Walker resented Bill for blocking the affordable housing. What about Vic Walker? He was definitely in Scotland, Williams checked last night. Aisha adds Andrew Parthing, the farmer who owns Court Farm - it is common knowledge that he is not happy about all the delays to his sale of the land. They see Rev Sally Tawks heading into the church as they are talking, and DCI points out she was visiting Bill regularly, so she heads off after the vicar, telling Williams and Aisha to head to the shop first and check to see if Bill got his refills there. However, as they are about to head in, Aisha gets a call: it's Jon Lee. He tells her he has Bethany Mortby at his cottage. Williams tells Aisha to go and see her while he deals with the shop.

Aisha Kakkar Age: 23 Gender: female Ethnicity Code: M3 Job: Police Constable - Weald & Marsh Liaison Officer - an officer working with local communities, especially villages, in the Weald of Kent and Romney Marsh areas. Her mum and step mum knew Lady Emma when she was an art student. 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: 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. Death: broken neck from falling down stairs, but was being poisoned by his e-cigarette with arsenic, and it was convulsions that caused him to fall down the stairs. He was dying of lung cancer. Debbie Fincher Age: 41 Gender: female Ethnicity Code: W1 Job: publican of the Ewe and Lamb Other info: married to Dave Fincher; did she have an affair with Bill Whethers? Dave Fincher Age: 43 Gender: male Ethnicity Code: W1 Job: publican of the Ewe and Lamb Other info: married to Debbie Fincher; did he know about his wife and Bill Whethers? Bethany Mortby Age: 30 Gender: female Ethnicity Code: W2 Job: witch Other info: she was Bill Whether's partner for nearly 3 years. Dr Elves Age: 29 Gender: male Ethnicity Code: W1 Job: Environment Scientist Other info: he is performing the analysis of the Court Farm yard to see if it is appropriate for development; the village thinks he is 'in' with those who oppose the affordable housing development. Andrew Parthing Age: 43 Gender: male Ethnicity Code: W1 Job: farmer Other info: owns Court Farm and is unhappy about the delay of the sale of his land for building the affordable housing. Rev Sally Tawks Age: 36 Gender: female Ethnicity Code: W1 Job: vicar of Wittrenham Other info: has been visiting Bill a lot recently. Court Farm Proposed location for the development of the affordable housing. The yard backs onto Court House, Bill Whether's property.

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

Rev Sally Tawks

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!

Do Quizzes

For information about Sophie's books, sign up for The Wittegen Press Newsletter:

We'll send you details of book releases, competitions and other news from our authors, BUT we WON'T spam you, or pass your details on to anyone else.

We will also give you 2 FREE ebooks just for signing up.

Assassin's Blood
Natasha Duncan-Drake

Curse of a Banshee
Sophie Duncan

* indicates required

Email Address *

First Name

Last Name