Murder Most Foul! - A is for Alert - Cozy Mystery #AtoZChallenge 2016

Welcome everyone, and thank you for dropping by on the first day of 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...

Story Notes

Additional Details

PC Aisha Kakkar drives into the isolated village of Wittrenham on the Isle of Oxen on the Kent-Sussex border. She parks her car on the small gravel car park in front of the church of St John the Baptist and gets out. She waves to Debbie Fincher, wife of the publican, Dave, who is outside The Ewe and Lamb pub weeding a large plant pot. Debbie waves back. Aisha is then almost knocked over by Jonathan Lee, another village resident, who is striding up past the church, his face set in a grimace, which is unusual for him. She says hello, but Jon ignores her and carries on in the direction of Court House, Aisha assumes, since that is the house of his number one client and best friend, author Bill Whethers. She and Debbie share a look of surprise, but then Aisha heads towards the local shop, just up from the church in the other direction to the pub. In the shop, Aisha is greeted warmly by the owner, Janice Walker. Aisha asks her if her kids are at home. Janice immediately asks if this is about the fireworks. Aisha nods and says they received a complaint at the station. Janice goes to the back of the shop and yells up the stairs with disapproval for her children to get their bums downstairs now. Lorri and Hal Walker appear a few moments later already looking guilty and that goes up a notch when they see Aisha. She tells them that Mr Whethers has complained about fireworks being aimed at his windows from Court Farm farmyard last night. Lorri, a girl of no more than 10, replies that they didn't aim them at any windows, just straight up and it was a celebration. Aisha asks celebration of what and Lorri thinks for a moment, before answering triumphantly the birth of Mary Shelley August 30, 1797. Aisha does not argue, but she tells them no more celebrations. Janice then tells them they're both grounded for the rest of the school holidays and sends them back upstairs. Janice apologises to Aisha and thanks her for not taking it further. Aisha tells her that's all part of the job as a community liaison officer, to stop things like this before they become more serious. Janice tells her that it's been hard on the kids, what with their older brother Fred still at home with Lisa, his wife, due to the delay with the affordable housing project on Court Farm. They discuss the project, more specifically how Bill Whethers is blocking it with council red tape and all because the old farmyard backs onto his garden. Janice is halfway through suggesting Bill deserved a few fireworks when Alice Ridgen, housekeeper at Court House, dashes into the shop. She's as white as a sheet and gasping for breath as she stammers out, "Come quick, Mr Whethers is dead!"

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. Debbie Fincher Age: 41 Gender: female Ethnicity Code: W1 Job: publican of the Ewe and Lamb Other info: married to Dave Fincher Dave Fincher Age: 43 Gender: male Ethnicity Code: W1 Job: publican of the Ewe and Lamb Other info: married to Debbie Fincher Jonathan (Jon) Lee Age: 36 Gender: male Ethnicity Code: O1 Job: literary agent Other info: best friend to Bill Whethers 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. Janice Walker Age: 52 Gender: female Ethnicity Code: B1 Job: shopkeeper, Wittrenham Stores Other info: mother to Lorri, Hal and Fred. Lorri Walker Age: 10 Gender: female Ethnicity Code: M1 Other info: set off fireworks and shows her intelligence talking about Mary Shelley Hal Walker Age: 15 Gender: male Ethnicity Code: M1 Fred Walker Age: 22 Gender: male Ethnicity Code: M1 Alice Rigden Age: 59 Gender: female Ethnicity Code: W1 Job: housekeeper at Court House Wittrenham Village on the Isle of Oxen on the Kent-Sussex border. Population: ~1000 Main landmarks: Ewe and Lamb Pub, Court House, Wittrenham Manor, Wittrenham Court Farm, St John the Baptist Church

And now it's time to vote, who do you think killed Bill Whethers?

Who dunnit?

Aisha Kakkar

Debbie Fincher

Dave Fincher

Jonathan Lee

Janice Walker

Lorri Walker

Hal Walker

Fred Walker

Alice Rigden

None of the above

Do Quizzes

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