Carole Lawrence

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Edinburgh, Scotland, as the nineteenth century draws to a close, is a city sharply divided between the wealthy New Town and the impoverished, crime-ridden streets of Old Town.

Detective Inspector Ian Hamilton is an experienced Edinburgh police detective whose life has been marked by the mysterious fire that killed his parents. When a young man is found strangled in Holyrood Park, Hamilton is drawn into a dangerous investigation that will become one of the most disturbing cases of his career.

The only unusual clue is a playing card found on the victim's body. Hamilton seeks help from his gifted photographer aunt and George Pearson, a librarian who shares his fascination with the criminal mind.

As additional victims are discovered, newspapers begin calling the murderer the Holyrood Strangler. Fear spreads across Edinburgh, and Hamilton realizes that the killer is not only watching the police investigation but may be watching Hamilton himself.

Edinburgh Twilight is a historical crime mystery featuring a serial killer, a Victorian-era Edinburgh setting, police investigation, forensic clues, class divisions, and psychological suspense.

The Ian Hamilton Mysteries combine historical mystery, Victorian crime fiction, serial-killer suspense, and the dark atmosphere of nineteenth-century Edinburgh.   

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​"The author paints a deliciously sensuous portrait of late 19th-century Edinburgh in this darkly atmospheric story peopled with vivid, quirky characters, from Ian’s spirited Aunt Lillian (a loving light in his life) to the story’s unfortunate victims and the ruthless killer always lurking just out of sight. One of the book’s many pleasures is accompanying the perpetrator as his murders unfold, all leading to the final dramatic scene between the 'Holyrood Strangler' and Ian, who is the ultimate prey. I’m looking forward to reading the next book in this entertaining, beautifully written series. Highly recommended." — The Historical Novel Society 

Edinburgh's winter darkness provides the backdrop for another disturbing case for Detective Inspector Ian Hamilton.

When a railroad lineman dies under suspicious circumstances, female physician Sophia Jex-Blake asks Hamilton to investigate. What initially appears to be a natural death may actually be murder.

Hamilton turns to the medical expertise of a brilliant young student at Edinburgh's Royal Infirmary: Arthur Conan Doyle. Together, Hamilton and Doyle begin investigating a case that takes them into the worlds of medicine, crime, deception, and nineteenth-century Edinburgh.

As Hamilton searches for the truth, he must determine how the victim died, who might have wanted him dead, and whether the evidence points to a carefully concealed murder.

Edinburgh Dusk is a historical mystery and police procedural featuring Detective Inspector Ian Hamilton, Victorian Edinburgh, medical investigation, suspicious death, Arthur Conan Doyle, and atmospheric nineteenth-century Scotland.

Spiritualism and séances have captured the imagination of nineteenth-century Edinburgh, but Detective Inspector Ian Hamilton is skeptical of the supernatural.

Hamilton's Aunt Lillian, however, has become fascinated by a circle of séance enthusiasts. When members of her spiritualist circle begin dying, Hamilton realizes that the deaths are not accidents.

With the help of his friend Arthur Conan Doyle, Hamilton investigates a mysterious series of murders involving spiritualists, believers, tricksters, and unexplained events.

As the investigation develops, the murders begin to connect with the unresolved mystery surrounding the deaths of Hamilton's parents. Hamilton must determine whether there is a rational explanation behind the seemingly supernatural crimes—and confront secrets from his own past.

Edinburgh Midnight combines historical mystery, Victorian crime fiction, police investigation, spiritualism, séances, psychological suspense, and the uncanny.

In the picturesque North Yorkshire village of Kirkbymoorside, Erin Coleridge runs an antiquarian bookstore that has become a gathering place for local residents and members of the village's Jane Austen Society.

At a meeting of the Society, its president, Sylvia Pemberthy, suddenly collapses and dies after the group breaks for tea. What initially appears to be an unexpected death soon raises suspicions of poisoning.

Detective Inspector Peter Hadley and Sergeant Rashid Jarral arrive to investigate. But the Jane Austen Society is filled with potential suspects, including Sylvia's husband, her lover, and other members of the Society who had their own reasons to resent her.

When another member of the Society narrowly escapes becoming a victim, Erin becomes convinced that the killer is still at large.

With the encouragement of her eccentric friend Farnsworth, Erin begins investigating the murder herself. Her knowledge of the village, its residents, and Jane Austen gives her an unusual advantage—but also puts her dangerously close to the murderer.

Pride, Prejudice and Poison is a cozy English village mystery featuring an amateur female sleuth, an antiquarian bookstore, a Jane Austen Society, a poisoning, multiple suspects, village secrets, and a classic whodunit investigation.

Erin Coleridge leaves her home in Kirkbymoorside, North Yorkshire, to attend a Jane Austen Society conference in York, England.

The conference brings together Jane Austen enthusiasts, scholars, and members of the Society—but the literary gathering takes a deadly turn when keynote speaker Barry Wolf suddenly dies.

His death initially appears to be a heart attack. Erin, however, is suspicious. Barry had no known history of heart disease, and Erin begins wondering whether his death was actually murder.

The conference provides no shortage of suspects. Barry's assistant, his much younger wife, his ex-wife, and members of the conference organizing committee all have potential motives.

Detective Inspector Peter Hemming investigates the death, while Erin—despite being warned to stay out of the case—begins pursuing her own theories.

With the help of her eccentric friend Farnsworth, Erin searches for clues and tries to determine who wanted Barry Wolf dead.

As the investigation unfolds, Erin's knowledge of Jane Austen becomes part of the story, with the characters' relationships echoing Austen's novels, including Sense and Sensibility.

Death and Sensibility is a cozy mystery featuring an amateur female sleuth, a Jane Austen conference, a suspicious death, literary clues, multiple suspects, romance, and an English setting.

 Praise for Death and Sensibility:
“Christie-style plot . . . A good time.”
—Kirkus Reviews

“An ingenious plot and an appealing setting . . . Jane Austen fans will look forward to seeing more of Erin and friends.”
—Publishers Weekly

“Enjoyable . . . solid mystery.”
—Gumshoe Review

Praise for Pride, Prejudice, and Poison:
"[A] winning series launch from Blake...The village is rife with scandals and secrets, as well as both shocking and delightful romances."
—Publishers Weekly

“Wickedly devious...highly recommended for mystery connoisseurs.”
—Midwest Book Review

 “With a perfect English setting and characters who leap off the page, Elizabeth Blake’s Pride, Prejudice, and Poison is one of the most delightful and bookish books I’ve ever read. Don’t miss this debut.”
—Paige Shelton, New York Times bestselling author of the Scottish Bookshop mysteries
 

“Utterly charming, and as cozy as a cup of tea by a crackling fire. A must read for Jane Austen fans—and anybody else who enjoys a witty, well-crafted mystery. I loved it!”
—Laura Levine, author of the Jaine Austen mysteries

"Elizabeth Blake hits the ground running with this new series...A fast read with believable characters and good pacing. If you are a Jane Austen fan, you will love this book."
—MyShelf

"For Austen fans, the liberal scattering of Austen quotes and references will delight."
—Booklist  

Pride, Prejudice and Poison is a fantastic, fun read that introduces the reader to Erin and a host of other characters….most of whom are suspects in Sylvia’s murder. I loved it!

- Mike Pihlman, TracyReaderDad: Book Reviews

Claire Rawlings spends her days working as a mystery editor, scrutinizing the motives and methods of fictional criminals.

Her young ward Meredith shares Claire's fascination with mysteries—and has an impressive ability to spot details that others miss.

When Claire's bestselling mystery author, Blanche Dubois, is found dead after eating a poisoned apple, fiction suddenly becomes reality.

Blanche was successful, beautiful, and difficult, giving investigators no shortage of possible suspects. Jealous colleagues, friends, relatives, and others all have reasons to resent the demanding author.

Claire and Meredith begin examining the evidence and questioning the people who knew Blanche. With help from a detective, the amateur sleuths attempt to determine who had both the motive and opportunity to commit the murder.

As more secrets emerge, Claire discovers that the world of mystery publishing can be every bit as dangerous as the fictional crimes she edits.

Who Killed Blanche DuBois? is a cozy mystery and amateur-sleuth novel featuring a New York mystery editor, a young female sleuth, a murdered mystery writer, a poisoned apple, publishing-world suspects, and a classic whodunit.

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"Who Killed Blanche Dubois" is an absolutely delightful and wonderfully clued story ... captures the reader's imagination." 

-- Romantic Times

"Amateur sleuths may come and go.  But few will remain as memorable as New York mystery editor Claire Rawlings and her precocious protégé, thirteen-year-old Meredith Lawrence . . . WHO KILLED BLANCHE DUBOIS is the work of a seasoned professional, and it shows." 

 - Remember the Alibi

  “A thinking person’s mystery . . . highly readable . . . the creation of one of the most interesting amateur sleuths in recent history.”  

- Ohioana Literary Quarterly 

While teaching writing at an artists' colony, mystery editor Claire Rawlings quickly senses that something is wrong among the writers living there. The uneasy atmosphere becomes much darker when the colony's resident beauty is found dead in a bathtub.

Claire is drawn into a mystery involving the artists and writers around her as she tries to determine who had a motive to kill the colony's celebrated beauty — and which of them is hiding the truth

Who Killed Dorian Gray? combines a murder mystery with an unusual literary setting and continues the Claire Rawlings Mysteries by Carole Buggé.

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“Entertaining . . . the Woodstock setting has been captured very well . . . interesting and complex . . . Claire and Meredith will be an interesting pair to watch as their relationship changes and they both settle into their new lives.”  

- Jennifer Winberry, The Mystery Reader

“Her crisp writing style and ear for dialogue. .  her prose delights . . . highly readable . . . Meredith is a delightful concoction of youth, savvy, ego and inexperience; she liberally quotes Einstein and Hawking while emoting through cartwheels.”  - Ohioana Quarterly 

 “Bugge has got a hot mystery series on her hands.  The plot in WHO KILLED DORIAN GRAY is cunning.  She knows how to spin a web and to ensnare the reader’s attention.  I enjoyed the characters - especially Meredith.  Quick chapters and enjoyable dialogue make the book move at a perfect pace for a leisurely read.”  - Phillip Tomasso III, Charlotte Austin Review

Editor and sleuth Claire Rawlings and her 12-year-old sidekick Meredith visit a cozy New England inn, expecting a peaceful getaway. Instead, murder becomes an unwelcome guest.

When a death turns the charming inn into a crime scene, Claire's instincts as a mystery editor — and her talent for asking the right questions — come into play. Together, Claire and Meredith find themselves caught up in a murder investigation where appearances can be deceiving and someone at the inn may be hiding a deadly secret.

Who Killed Mona Lisa? is the third and final book in Carole Buggé's Claire Rawlings Mysteries, combining a classic murder mystery with a cozy New England setting and an amateur-sleuth partnership between Claire and Meredith.

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"Who Killed Mona Lisa?" is the latest offering from Carole Bugge, and it is no less satisfying than her previous two books, "Who Killed Blanche DuBois?" and "Who Killed Dorian Gray?" This time, Claire and Meredith are visiting an historic New England inn for Thanksgiving when a storm leaves them stranded. And if that's not bad enough, there's a murder. And then another death... Filled with suspense and excellent plotting, this book is definitely a worthy addition to an already enjoyable series. - Mary Poppins Reviews

Who Killed Mona Lisa? is a fast-paced, light-hearted read that is reminiscent of a traditional closed room mystery, where all the suspects are present and accounted for. The inn makes a wonderful setting, and the Secret Drawer Society adds an extra charming touch. Meredith and Claire are developing into a formidable duo the clues are well laid out. The history of the inn and town add to the overall atmosphere of the mystery. One of the stronger additions in this fledgling series will have readers eagerly waiting for the next Claire and Meredith outing.  

- Jennifer Morahan, The Mystery Reader  

“There are enough suspects to keep you guessing in this charming whodunit,

 but it is the wonderfully alive characters which set this mystery apart. Claire, the editor who is starting to question everything in her life, and Meredith the incredibly annoying, yet somehow endearing, child is extremely well-done. New York and its environs make an excellent setting

for the mystery, and even if you figure out who the murderer is it won't make a bit of difference; this would be an inventive and entertaining tale even if there were no mystery at all. 

- Writers Write, Inc.

What can I say about Claire Rawlings? I love her! She's an amateur sleuth after my heart. With Claire's dry wit, faithful teenage sidekick, Meredith, and handsome boyfriend, Wally, Who Killed Mona Lisa? delivers the whole kit and caboodle. Humor, romance, quirky characters, and the ever-popular remote setting for murder.

Who Killed Mona Lisa? will appeal to Agatha Christie and Sue Grafton fans alike. Carole Bugge manages to cover such a broad spectrum of tastes with her writing, blending them effortlessly into a fast paced, addictive mystery. You won't be able to put it down until you've figured out exactly who did kill Mona Lisa!

- Ali Seay, Mystery Reviews