A Ghostwriter's Guide to Murder

Charming yet wickedly imaginative mystery ghostwriter Maeve Gardner finds herself at the center of a murder investigation with more twists and turns than any story she's ever written, perfect for fans of Anthony Horowitz and Richard Osman.

Maeve Gardner kills people for a living. A dodgy occupation perhaps, but as ghostwriter for the long-running Simon Hills mysteries, Maeve has planned the perfect murder time and again, and she enjoys it. She dreams of writing something under her own name someday rather than babysitting her adopted character Simon, but at least she’s writing. And as one of the burnt-out souls who’ve run away from dry land to live on London’s waterways, she has the joy of working from the home she loves: a colorful houseboat. Life on the canals is grand, but when her cheating ex-boyfriend turns up floating facedown in the water outside her boat, murdered, and the police arrest her, the plot takes a wayward turn. 

Suddenly, Maeve is thrust into one of her own crime dramas, complete with missing money, violent thugs, extortion, and conspiracy. Only this time, there is no real-life Simon Hill to come to her aid. Instead, with the help of friends from the river—India, owner of a popular floating bookshop; Paul, the exceedingly attractive landlord of the local pub; and Ash, Maeve’s quiet, nerdy neighbor who is keeping some secrets of his own—Maeve may have a shot at saving herself. 

As Maeve and her motley crew of would-be investigators find themselves wondering if they are in over their heads, a killer lurks and won’t hesitate to kill again…Praise for A Ghostwriter’s Guide to Murder:
“Mullet in the good company of Richard Osman, Leonie Swann, Robert Thorogood, and other authors of diverting and droll mysteries centered on amateur English sleuths for whom crime solving is a social event.”
—Shelf Awareness, Best Books of the Week

“Perfect for every mystery lover’s shelf, A Ghostwriter’s Guide to Murder takes you along for a charming ride as you join Maeve and her friends.”
—Manhattan Book Review, 5 star review

“An excellent cozy.”
—Kings River Life

“Highly recommend grabbing your copy of A Ghostwriter's Guide to Murder, a comfy seat and let Mullet entertain you for a spell.”
—Cozy Mystery Book Reviews

“Another original and beautifully crafted cozy mystery novel from a master of the genre.”
—Midwest Book Review

“Fast-paced and intriguing . . . with a likeable, yet quirky cast of characters, a perfectly attuned mystery with plenty of suspects and clues enmeshed within the pages.”
—Dru’s Book Musing

“A protagonist living on a houseboat on the Thames? A floating bookstore? Quirky characters and a twisty plot? Yes, please! This charming mystery has all that and more and is sure to delight mystery fans.”
—Peg Cochran, USA Today bestselling author

“In A Ghostwriter’s Guide to Murder, Mullet proves herself a masterful mystery-writer-within-a-mystery writer. Drawing on her insider knowledge of all things publishing, she creates a seamlessly plotted tale with characters that leap from the page. Here’s hoping that Maeve and her trusty sidekicks get many more chances to show what they can do . . . and how many bad guys they can take down while they do it!”
—Tamara Berry, Edgar Award–winning author of the By the Book mysteries

“When you read this cleverly constructed mystery – and you should – you will find yourself rooting for Maeve, a relatable and engaging protagonist, whose struggles as a ghostwriter will resonate with anyone trying to find their own voice in this world. You’ll also enjoy a sprinkling of nice red herrings and meet some quirky characters along the way. Recommended."
—G.M. Malliet, author of the Agatha Award–winning DCI St. Just, Augusta Hawke, and Fr. Max Tudor mysteries

“A Ghostwriter’s Guide to Murder is one of those mysteries so stuffed with charm you half-wish the characters could get to potter around their lives without a crime to derail them. Here, one of London’s quirkiest “villages” is home to an enchanting band of misfits and you'd read about them no matter what. But, when trouble strikes and the action starts, it's clear that Melinda Mullet has crime-fiction instincts fully equal to her love for this setting and the found family who live there. I devoured it.”
—Catriona McPherson, multi-award-winning author of the Last Ditch Motel mysteries

“A really charming and authentic mystery with great, believable characters.”
—Ian Moore, award-winning author of the Follet Valley mysteries

“Maeve and her friends conduct a brilliant investigation from exciting start to even more exciting finish!”
—Sue Minix, author of the Bookstore mystery series
Melinda Mullet is the author of the Whisky Business mystery series, spent many years in the legal trenches, but is now happy to be known as a former lawyer, a travel junkie, and a lifelong advocate for children's literacy causes, both domestic and international. When she is not in the UK, Melinda lives just outside Washington, DC, with her whisky-collecting husband and two wild COVID canines named Bailey and Captain Jack.