A Fatal Necessity
by Marjorie Eccles

DI Herbert Reardon investigates the murder of an enigmatic woman who was about to leave her comfortable life behind and mysteriously disappear in this page-turning 1930s historical mystery with gasp-worthy revelations.

1935, Templewood, Worcestershire. Judge Waring’s glamorous wife Emilie is mysteriously missing and no one knows where she is – until she’s found the morning after a party at neighbouring Falquonroy Park, in a clearing in Templewood’s grounds, strangled yet neatly laid out next to two pieces of matching luggage.

What could possibly have brought Emilie to the site where the family’s new home, The Spinney, was about to be built, equipped for travelling? Was she planning to leave with someone she knew? Who was determined that she should meet such a terrible end? As Detective Chief Inspector Herbert ‘Bert’ Reardon and Sergeant Jago discover more about the enigmatic Emilie, they unravel terrible lies and devastating secrets stretching back years . . .

This compelling historical mystery sharply conveys British society and politics of the interwar period of the 1930s. A great choice for fans of traditional mysteries with multi-layered and engaging characters from Jacqueline Winspear and Anna Lee Huber.

Genre: Women Sleuths

Reviews

“Eccles skillfully juggles several possible suspects, keeping the suspense high by revealing festering past resentments and memories colored by the passage of time . . . Fans of traditional English mysteries will have fun”

Publishers Weekly on Darkness Beyond

“Draw[s] on the world of Agatha Christie in terms of period ambience; a complex, clue-laden plot; and an amiable lead character in Reardon”

Booklist on Darkness Beyond

“Eccles combines a steady police procedural with a tense family drama that hits all the right notes”

Kirkus Reviews on on Darkness Beyond

“Eccles’ entertaining historical mystery series combines nicely rendered period detail along with a complex murder and a completely unexpected ending”

Booklist on The Property of Lies

“Entertaining . . . The clues are clearly presented, but the ending will still come as a surprise”

Publishers Weekly on The Property of Lies

“Will delight fans of the TV series Downton Abbey and authors Simon Brett and Kate Kingsbury”

Library Journal Starred Review of Heirs and Assigns

“Somewhat reminiscent of an Agatha Christie novel, this delightful British country-house mystery features a clever plot, captivating characters, and authentic period detail”

Booklist on Heirs and Assigns

“Readers will be as keen as the inspector to see how the case develops”

Publishers Weekly on Heirs and Assigns

Marjorie Eccles

Marjorie Eccles was born in Yorkshire and spent much of her childhood there and on the Northumbrian coast. She is the author of many crime novels, including the Gil Mayo police procedurals – which were adapted for television by the BBC – and the DI Herbert Reardon historical mysteries. She has one grown-up son and now lives in Buckinghamshire.

View author page

Editions

A Fatal Necessity by Marjorie Eccles is available in the following formats

Hardback97814483160076th May 2025144 X 222mm288$29.99
Hardback97814483160076th May 2025144 X 222mm288£21.99
Ebook97814483160146th May 2025N/A288$14.99
Ebook97814483160146th May 2025N/A288£12.99
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