I Only Read Murder: A Novel

by Ian Ferguson, Will Ferguson

Overview

A once-beloved television sleuth finds herself far from Hollywood and witness to a murder during a small-town theatre production—and is convinced it’s up to her to solve the case. Introducing a new comedic crime series from the bestselling Ferguson brothers, for fans of Richard Osman’s The Thursday Murder Club, Alexander McCall Smith’s 44 Scotland Street series and Schitt’s Creek 

Miranda Abbott, once known for the crime-solving, karate-chopping church pastor she played on network television, has hit hard times. Turned down for a role on a cable reality show, Miranda is facing ruin when a mysterious postcard arrives, summoning her to Happy Rock, a small town in the Pacific Northwest. But when she gets there, nothing is what she expected.

In dire straits, she signs up for an amateur production at the Happy Rock Little Theatre, competing against the local real estate agent for the lead role. On opening night, one of the actors is murdered, live, in front of the audience. But out of 100 witnesses, no one actually saw what happened. Now everyone is under a cloud of suspicion, including the sardonic town doctor, the local high-school drama teacher, an oil-stained car mechanic, an elderly gentleman who may or may not have been in the CIA—and Miranda herself. Clearly, the only way to solve this mystery is for Miranda to summon her skills as television’s Pastor Fran and draw on the help of her new sidekick, Susan, a shy bookstore clerk who seems to know everyone’s secrets. Because the show must go on!

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781443470773
Publisher:	HarperCollins Canada
Publication date:	06/27/2023
Series:	A Miranda Abbott Mystery , #1
Sold by:	HARPERCOLLINS
Format:	eBook
Pages:	272
Sales rank:	121,840
File size:	1 MB

About the Author

IAN FERGUSON won the Stephen Leacock Medal for Humour for Village of the Small Houses and is the co-author, with his brother, Will, of How to Be a Canadian, which was shortlisted for the Leacock Medal and won the CBA Libris Award for non-fiction. A writer and creative director in the film and television industry, he lives in Victoria.

 

WILL FERGUSON is a three-time winner of the Leacock Medal for Humour. His novels include his debut, HappinessTM, sold in twenty-three languages; 419, which won the Scotiabank Giller Prize; and The Finder, which won the 2021 Arthur Ellis Award for Crime Fiction. With his brother, Ian, he is the author of the mega-bestseller How to Be a Canadian. He lives in Calgary.

Editorial Reviews

Molly Secour's portrayal of a self-absorbed actress infuses a bit of noir into this cozy mystery. When there's a homicide on the set of an amateur theater production, a has-been actress resurrects the skills she gained from her television role as a sleuthing pastor. Secour's languid voice as Miranda Abbott brings out the former celebrity's entertaining narcissism. Despite a few minor falterings, Secour's voices create dynamic interactions among the residents of the small town, bringing out their distrust, suspicions, and motivations on and off the stage. Fans of '70s television shows will relish Secour's narration of this cozy murder mystery. M.F. © AudioFile 2023, Portland, Maine

NOVEMBER 2023 - AudioFile

I Only Read Murder is short, but gosh darn, it’s a lot of fun.”  — Winnipeg Free Press

"The Fergusons […] take the reader on a madcap caper that moves faster than Magnum’s Ferrari.”  — Zoomer

“I Only Read Murder is a zippy whodunit […] with plentiful red herrings, comedic zingers, and miscommunication. If you’re looking for fun escapism with a satirical wit, this novel more than amply fits the bill.” 
— The BC Review

“The only thing better than one Ferguson is two. I thoroughly enjoyed this fun page-turner. It’s full of characters that will stay with you and a mystery that keeps you on the edge of your seat. In Miranda Abbott, the Fergusons have created a detective for the ages. Bravo!” — Mark Critch, bestselling author of An Embarrassment of Critch’s

"I Only Read Murder is pure joy. The Ferguson dream team had me laughing from the opening curtain and I just never stopped. You're in the hands of two masterful storytellers in this sidesplitting whodunnit, chock-full of vivid and quirky characters. Strap in for a hilarious and satisfying ride.” — Terry Fallis, two-time winner of the Leacock Medal for Humour

“A delightful romp of a read that will have you laughing out loud on every page. Miranda Abbott is the irreverent cozy mystery heroine we didn’t know we needed.” — Bianca Marais, bestselling author of The Witches of Moonshyne Manor

“Two of our funniest writers team-up to write a perfect and perfectly fun mystery. Clever, charming and constantly surprising. A great read.” — Mark Leiren-Young, Leacock Medal for Humour-winning author of Never Shoot a Stampede Queen

“A delightful romp of a novel that’s sure to make you laugh out loud while trying to solve who- and whydunit. Encore, please!” — Hannah Mary McKinnon, internationally bestselling author of The Revenge List

“A fast-paced, lighthearted murder mystery. . . . Readers will enjoy following the hilariously inept Miranda as she tries to solve the crime in this promising series starter.”  — Booklist

From the Publisher