MURDER MOST COLD

DISCOVER THE FIENDISHLY TWISTY, UTTERLY ADDICTIVE CRIME FICTION OF VICTORIA DOWD.

**FROM THE WINNER OF THE PEOPLE’S BOOK PRIZE FOR FICTION 2021 AND SHORTLISTEE OF THE CWA DAGGER AWARD 2023**

A winter wedding.
A mysterious disappearance.
A body under the ice.

Handsome Spear proposes marriage and Ursula Smart suddenly has a glimpse of the sort of happy life she had never imagined for herself. Beginning with a small winter wedding, on the edge of a secluded, frozen lake, away from it all.

But trouble is never far from the Smart women, especially when the atmosphere is already so frosty.

Tensions start rising as soon as they arrive and it’s not just Ursula’s mother Pandora getting cabin fever.

Poisoning. Stabbing. A mysterious disappearance. Who’s targeting the wedding party?

Then on a midnight jaunt, Ursula sees a face trapped under the ice, eyes staring in frozen horror. And her happy future begins to fall apart.

Weddings should be joyous occasions. But there’s a murderer at this one.

A GOLDEN AGE MURDER MYSTERY BROUGHT BANG UP TO DATE.

Funny and shocking in equal turn, Victoria Dowd's brilliant whodunnit is perfect for fans of Agatha Christie, Anthony Horowitz, Liane Moriarty, Faith Martin, Frances Lloyd and Stuart Turton.

READERS LOVE VICTORIA DOWD AND THE SMART WOMEN

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘A modern take on the classic whodunnit!’ Anja Jager, bestselling author of A Cold Death in Amsterdam

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Original, intriguing, great fun. Can you tell I loved it? Hugely recommended.’ CWA Silver Dagger winner, Barbara Nadel

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘A rip-roaring murder mystery that grabs the reader from the start.’ Louise Mumford, bestselling author of Sleepless

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Witty, dark and gripping. I could read the Smart Women every second of every day and still want more.’ Tim Ewins, author of We Are Animals

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘A pacey, atmospheric and deliciously creepy murder mystery, laced with laugh-out-loud humour and a cast of larger-than-life characters. Loved it!’ Philippa East, author of Little White Lies and Safe and Sound

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘A little literary delight.’ Liz W., NetGalley

ALSO BY VICTORIA DOWD
SMART WOMAN’S MYSTERY
Book 1: THE SMART WOMAN’S GUIDE TO MURDER
Book 2: BODY ON THE ISLAND
Book 3: THE SUPPER CLUB MURDERS
Book 4: A BOOK OF MURDER
Book 5: MURDER MOST COLD