A Thyme to Die by Jamie Lee Scott

Food blogger Willa Friday has taken on a new assistant to help her with her food photography work.  His first day goes well and he appears to be ideal for the job.  

After work Willa visits Alice, a local vineyard owner, to discuss an annual charity event and finds her dead. She then discovers that her new assistant had been sacked by Alice for theft.  

The more information Willa finds about the possible cause of Alice's murder the more she puts herself at risk.  She unearths lots of hidden secrets about many people's lives but which one is the killer. 

There are a number of recipes at the end of the book.  

Conditional Love by Cathy Bramley

The arrival of a letter from a solicitor asking her to make an appointment about an inheritance is a shock for Sophie.  She has been left a bungalow and savings by her unknown Great Aunt Jane.  There is a condition to the inheritance, Sophie must agree to a meeting with her father who she has never seen.  She knows that if she tells her mother she will be very upset and not want them to meet.  

This is the turning point that Sophie needs to make changes to her life.  She has been in the same job for years, has had an unreliable boyfriend and her life has become very predictable.  

After being dumped on Valentines Day she decides to take on the services of an Architect to help her plan changes to the bungalow, but no work can take place until she has met her father. 

Someone We Know by Sari Lapena

A young women is reported missing by her husband.  The police ask a few questions but don't really seem to be looking for her.  Her murdered and beaten body is then found in the boot of a car.  

A young boy who lives on the same street has been breaking into houses and hacking into  computers.  When his mother finds out she posts anonymous messages through doors to apologise for his actions.  

Everyone comes under suspicion as there are so many crimes being committed within the neighbourhood.  

The Artisan by M K Farrar

A young woman is found murdered in her bed, she has been strangled and then her naked body had been arranged after her death.  DI Erica Swift is called in to investigate.  The police find that the body has been washed and there is no DNA or fingerprints at the scene.  They have no idea who the killer is.  A few days later another young woman is found dead in very similar circumstances, her body has also been posed but in a different position.  Again there is nothing at the scene to help the police.  

Lara Maher lives with someone who is very controlling.  He wants to know her every move and sometimes follows her to make sure she is working where she should be according to her cleaning schedule which he wants to see every day.  All the money she earns has to be handed over to him and if there is a shortfall then she must suffer the consequences.   

The Clockmaker's Daughter by Kate Morton

The artist Edward Radcliffe bought Birchwood Manor in the early 1860s.  He was convinced the house had saved him many years ago when he needed a refuge.  In the summer of 1862 he invites a group of his artist friends to stay whilst they get ready for an art exhibition.  His muse Lily Middleton also attends.  One afternoon the Radcliffe Blue, a large gemstone, goes missing, Lily disappears and someone is shot. 

Archivist Elodie Winslow finds a picture of a house in a satchel which reminds her of a story she was told as a child by her mother.  She decides to visit the house which having been a school and an artist retreat is now open a few days a week as a museum.  Her uncle had lived in the house during the war.  There seems to be a family connection with the information she is archiving.  

Highland Fling by Katie Fforde

Virtual Assistant Jenny Porter is asked to visit a failing textile mill in Scotland and report back her findings.  The mill has been run by the same family for generations and their current costs are higher than their income.  Jenny moves into Dalmain House with the family.  The house is old, cold and hot water is very scarce.  

If the mill is closed all the employees will be out of work and some families have relied on the mill for generations.  Jenny decides to look into all possible diversification options so that the current position can be turned around and the mill can remain open.  This is not something she has been asked to do by her employer but she doesn't want to be responsible for the many redundancies which the closure would cause. 

Back to School by Jack Sheffield

As a newly qualified teacher Jack Sheffield has to look for a new job as the school he is working in is going to be closed.  He is appointed to a post at Heather View Primary School.  

The school is very low on funding, the headteacher doesn't like any change and the caretaker does as little work as possible.  

Jack is determined that he will provide as good an education as possible to the young children in his care, even if the headteacher doesn't always approve of his methods.  

Last Seen Alive by Claire Douglas

Libby and Jamie Hall have a note put through their door from a couple who are looking for a short term house swap as their daughter is in the local hospital.  In exchange for being able to stay in a small flat in Bath they are offering their holiday home in Cornwall.  This comes just at a time when Libby and Jamie need a break.  

When they arrive in Cornwall Libby feels that they are being watched and after her initial delight at the luxurious home, she starts to feel paranoid and very uncomfortable. Events from her past, which she has kept secret, start to resurface and then it also seems as if Jamie is keeping secrets from her too.  

W is for Wasted by Sue Grafton

A homeless man is found dead on the beach and Kinsey Millhone is asked if she can identify him.  She has never seen him before, but he has her name and address written on a piece of paper in his pocket.  As she is short of work and has some spare time, she visits the other homeless people who hang around at the beach to see what they know about the man.  She eventually finds that they are related.  

Pete Wolinsky, a PI who Kinsey had not seen for a while, and whose methods of work have been questionable, is shot dead.  When an old boyfriend turns up at Kinsey's door as he is owed money by Pete, Kinsey helps him to make contact with Ruth, Pete's wife.  When looking through some of Pete's old files Kinsey finds a link between the two dead men.