Murder at Mount Ephraim is the ninth book in Julie Wassmer''s popular crime series - now a major Acorn TV drama, Whitstable Pearl, starring Kerry Godliman as private detective and restaurateur, Pearl Nolan

''While Oxford had Morse, Whitstable, famous for its oysters, has Pearl'' Daily Mail

Pearl Nolan receives a wedding invitation from an old school friend. Journalist Amy has chosen somewhere very special for the wedding ceremony - the historic Kent manor house of Mount Ephraim - and the invite includes a pre-nuptial stay for Pearl and other guests at this venue. Nestled in an 800-acre estate, and surrounded by beautiful gardens and a lake, Pearl sees this break as a chance to leave crime behind, along with her own detective agency and her restaurant, The Whitstable Pearl.

Accepting the invitation, Pearl looks forward to meeting the happy couple''s friends and family, as well as Amy''s fiancé, Guy, a handsome and successful adventurer who appears to be Mr Perfect. She also has time to reflect on her own engagement to Canterbury CID detective, DCI Mike McGuire...

But before any wedding bells sound, murder strikes - and Pearl and McGuire are thrust together again - as partners in crime.

Praise for Julie Wassmer''s Whitstable Pearl Mysteries...

''One of the best episodes in Wassmer''s longrunning Whitstable saga'' Daily Mail

''As light as a Mary Berry Victoria sponge, this Middle-England romp is packed with vivid characters'' Myles McWeeney, Irish Independent

''All of the thrills without any of the gore'' The Sun

''This is a quality title...a very entertaining read'' The Puzzle Doctor

''A wonderful way to explore Whitstable . . . if you love cosy mysteries, then get acquainted with Pearl (and her mum and her cats!) and enjoy a trip to Whitstable through the eyes of this very convincing author'' Trip Fiction

''Proves she''s mistress of her craft'' John McGhie, author of White Highlands

''Good, solid whodunits, without gruesome details or gratuitous violence, Murder on Sea may be just your cup of tea'' Bec Stafford

Praise for the TV series...

''Scandi noir meets the English seaside in Whitstable Pearl, a murder mystery series based on Julie Wassmer''s novels...'' Drama Quarterly

''...explores all the murder and debauchery in the seemingly perfect English seaside town of Whitstable...'' Washington Post

''...you never know what might turn up, either on the menu or alongside an oyster boat.'' Wall Street Journal