Murder Most Foul! - T is for Talent - 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

Aisha and Lady Emma walk out of the manor's servants quarters and into a sitting room. ... Onsite interview with Lady Emma Oxen. There's a lot of work involved in refurbishing those rooms.   LE - Yes, but it will be worth it. Once they have been cleaned down, those rooms are going to be opened out into long gallery at the top of the house. It's a dream I've had since seeing those wide old attics. A few more windows and there will be so much light, the place will be perfect for displaying art. You are an artist, aren't you?   LE - Yes, but I haven't done much since I was in college. How did you know? You were at college with my mum, Janet Lewis, and also Jamini Reddy.   LE - really. Oh...yes...they were inseparable and they were so kind when I lost my parents. But I didn't know them for long. How are they? My mum died when I was 7, but Jamini is still making art, and she's my step mum now.   LE - Oh I am sorry to hear that, I know what it is like to lose my mother at a sensitive age. It was Michael who saved me from my own doldrums. He swooped in and told me that Wittrenham Manor was just the change I needed, to get away from the noise and bustle of London. He was right, of course, Michael likes to be right and he nearly always is. You love Michael?   LE - Very much. So there is nothing to the rumour of you and Bill Whethers?   LE ::laughs::. Oh dear - the village gossip is, for once, completely off. Let me be frank, Constable, I am - now what's the term these days - asexual. Michael is a wonderful husband, and I love him dearly. He was just what I needed after Mummy died. Michael knew when we married that I wasn't interested in that side of things, but we came to an understanding. We did our duty, but once our son, Lawrence was born, Michael has looked elsewhere to satisfy his natural urges. So you were not interested in Bill.   LE - Not like that, no. Bill and I had many things in common. Tennis, and we both loved art. We used to spend hours talking about it. He was almost as excited about the gallery as I was. I did make it clear to him that I wasn't interested in his carnal desires, but he told me I was a challenge. I used to laugh at his attempts to seduce me, so did Michael - it wasn't an issue. Do you know who Michael is seeing at the moment.   LE - Oh yes, I always know, it is not a secret between us. It's that bubbly Debbie from the public house, has been for years. Is Michael around today? No, he's out for the rest of the day and the evening at a Hunt meeting and dinner in Trenterden, he won't be back until late.

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. 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. As well as an environmental survey, was also using the private access road to Court Farm, which he part owned, as leverage in the issue of the affordable house. he's a drunk. Suspected of taking part in black masses by Alice Rigden and half the village. He had a smoking pouch that he carried around with his refills and e-cigarette in it. He sometimes left it lying around, but mostly he kept it in his pocket. Bill had a fight with Andrew Parthing about the environmental survey. But according to Andrew, Bill came to see him the day of his death and promised to withdraw all his objections and help the affordable housing project along. This was not confirmed by his solicitor, but Bill did want to talk to the solicitor about his objection to the access road being made into a public highway just before his death. Bill left everything to Jon Lee in his will. However, he did say he was writing a new will. 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. Bill was not having an affair with Lady Emma, according to her, but they shared a love of art which made them friends. Lady Emma, Countess of Oxen Age: 43 Gender: female Ethnicity Code: W1 Job: Lady of the Manor Other info: married to Lord Michael; plays tennis with Bill Whethers. Village rumours says that Bill Whethers had eyes for her. However, Emma is asexual and her friendship with Bill was platonic, sharing a love of art. Emma knows her husband sees other women. Debbie Fincher Age: 41 Gender: female Ethnicity Code: W1 Job: publican of the Ewe and Lamb Other info: married to Dave Fincher. Had a one-night stand with Bill Whethers. She does not think her husband has it in him to kill. According to Lady Emma, Debbie is Lord Michael's long-term mistress. Lord Michael, Earl of Oxen Age: 48 Gender: male Ethnicity Code: W1 Job: Lord of the Manor Other info: He has been friends with Bill Whethers since Bill moved into the village, but they had a fight the night before Bill's death. Plays golf with Bill Whethers. According to Andrew Parthing, Michael wanted to buy back Court Farm for the manor. Knew that his wife, Lady Emma, was asexual when they married. Once their son, Lawrence, was born, he has looked elsewhere for physical love. His long-term mistress is Debbie Fincher.

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

Graham Turner

Bethany Mortby

Lady Elizabeth Ryeman

Vic Walker

Andrew Parthing

None of the above, we haven't met them yet

Don't be silly, I don't know enough yet!

my iq

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