Books with author Ashley Gardner

Step into the past through three historical mysteries that reach from Imperial Rome to Victorian London.A Soupçon of Poison(Kat Holloway Victorian Mysteries)Kat Holloway, a young cook who is highly sought after by the wealthy of Victorian London, becomes embroiled in murder and must clear her name. Only the mysterious Daniel McAdam, who is much more than he seems, can come to her aid.Blood Debts(Leonidas the Gladiator Mysteries)Leonidas, freedman, once the most popular gladiator in Rome and champion of the games, now must fight for his life outside the arena. A man who owed him money was murdered, and Leonidas is a prime suspect. With the assistance of Cassia, daughter of a Greek scribe who has been bestowed upon him as his slave, Leonidas fights for justice in the back lanes of Imperial Rome.The Necklace Affair(Captain Lacey Regency Mysteries)Captain Lacey agrees to help a society matron discover what has become of her cherished diamond necklace and to clear her maid, who has been arrested for its theft. Lacey quickly becomes enmeshed in scandal and past secrets, and finds himself competing with the underworld criminal, James Denis, for the necklace's retrieval.This collection includes three novellas of 25,000-30,000 words each.

When Captain Gabriel Lacey finds himself standing over a dead body in Brighton Pavilion, bloody sword in hand and no memory of how he got there, he immediately fears he is a murderer. The dead man is Colonel Hamilton Isherwood, a man Lacey clashed with after the battle of Salamanca in Spain seven years before. As Lacey tries to piece together the events of the previous night, he discovers he’d promised to help a Quaker gentleman find his missing son, and that the Society of Friends might know far more about his strange night out than anyone else.With the help of Brewster, Grenville, and his wife, Lacey races to save himself from arrest, even it means bringing to light painful scandals from his own past.Captain Lacey Regency Mysteries, Book 14. This is a full-length novel.

When Captain Gabriel Lacey finds himself standing over a dead body in Brighton Pavilion, bloody sword in hand and no memory of how he got there, he immediately fears he is a murderer. The dead man is Colonel Hamilton Isherwood, a man Lacey clashed with after the battle of Salamanca in Spain seven years before. As Lacey tries to piece together the events of the previous night, he discovers he’d promised to help a Quaker gentleman find his missing son, and that the Society of Friends might know far more about his strange night out than anyone else.With the help of Brewster, Grenville, and his wife, Lacey races to save himself from arrest, even it means bringing to light painful scandals from his own past.Captain Lacey Regency Mysteries, Book 14. This is a full-length novel.

London, 1880Kat Holloway, highly sought-after young cook to the wealthy of London, finds herself embroiled in murder when she’s accused of poisoning her employer, the loathsome Sir Lionel Leigh-Bradbury. Her only help as she works to clear her name comes from the mysterious Daniel McAdam, a handsome man-of-all-work who seems to know everyone and always happens to be in the right place at the right time. Kat and Daniel investigate the crime, but the mystery of Daniel’s background might be just as elusive and dangerous as the poisoner bent on framing Kat for murder.Prequel novella the Kat Holloway Mysteries of 27,000 words (11 chapters). Includes excerpt of Death Below Stairs (Book 1 of the Kat Holloway Below Stairs Mysteries.)

From USA Today bestselling author A. Gardner comes the latest deadly delicious Poppy Peters installment...Poppy Peters, sometimes-sleuth and recent pastry school graduate, is soaking up the southern sun as the new official pastry chef of Magnolia Harbor Inn and Spa. But the sunny tourist town of Gator Bay is anything but pleasant when a country music star turns up dead in one of the hotel rooms...after eating one of Poppy's pastries! Ready to do anything to prove her tasty strawberry tartlets aren't to blame, Poppy's search for the killer takes her everywhere from a local fish n' fry to an abandoned gator farm. With the help of her kitchen mate Bree, an old flame, and a not-so-sweet cat named Muffin, Poppy finds herself wrapped up in a hurricane of clues. But which ones lead to the killer? Poppy must solve the riddle quickly or else she too might be fed a bite of a deadly dessert. **Recipes included!**Poppy Peters Mysteries:Southern Peach Pie & A Dead Guy (book #1)Chocolate Macaroons and a Dead Groom (book #2)Ice Cream Bombes and Stolen Thongs (short story in the "Killer Beach Reads" collection)Bananas Foster and a Dead Mobster (book #3)Strawberry Tartlets and a Dead Starlet (book #4)Wedding Soufflé and a Dead Valet (book #5)What critics are saying:"A charming cozy mystery featuring likable characters. A. Gardner does a marvelous job at keeping the storyline fresh and entertaining. I look forward to seeing what surprises A. Gardner has in store for us next!"—Fresh Fiction"If you are a fan of tasty mysteries that showcase delectable desserts and a strong heroine, this is one to pick up."—Night Owl Reviews"One of the best perks of summer is eating a warm slice of Georgia peach pie. Throw in a murder and you’ve got the makings of a juicy cozy mystery. Southern Peach Pie and a Dead Guy: A Poppy Peters Mystery by debut author A. Gardner is a delicious e-book."—MomTrends, Ebook Pick for Summer

A USA Today Bestseller!Captain Gabriel Lacey accompanies famous dandy Lucius Grenville to Egypt, a land that Lacey has long anticipated visiting. Lacey travels there for more than a simple holiday, however--James Denis has tasked him with finding an "object" from ancient Alexandria and procuring it, whatever the cost.The task does not turn out to be so simple. Locating what Denis wants proves difficult, sending Lacey and Grenville exploring tombs down the Nile. Lacey must deal with treasure hunters, a shadow following him and his friends, murder, and missing his new family as he explores the exotic country he has so longed to see.Book 11 in the Captain Lacey Regency Mysteries series.

Captain Gabriel Lacey accompanies famous dandy Lucius Grenville to Egypt, a land Lacey has long anticipated visiting. Lacey travels there for more than a simple holiday, however--James Denis has tasked him with finding an "object" in Alexandria and procuring it, whatever the cost. The task does not turn out to be so simple. Locating what Denis wants in the teeming city proves difficult, sending Lacey and Grenville exploring tombs and temples down the Nile. Lacey must deal with treasure hunters, a shadow following him and his friends, murder, and missing his new family as he explores the exotic country he has so longed to see... Book 11 in the Captain Lacey Regency Mysteries series.

Cavalry captain Gabriel Lacey returns to Regency London from the Napoleonic wars, burned out, fighting melancholia, his career ended. His interest is piqued when he learns of a missing girl, possibly kidnapped by a prominent member of Parliament. Lacey's search for the young woman to murder, corruption, and dealings with a leader of the underworld. At the same time, he struggles with his disorientation transitioning from a soldier's life to the civilian world, redefining his role with his former commanding officer, and making new friends--from the top of society to the street girls of Covent Garden.Book 1 of the Captain Lacey Regency Mysteries. This is a full-length novel.

Step into the past through three historical mysteries that reach from Imperial Rome to Victorian London. A Soupçon of Poison (Kat Holloway Victorian Mysteries) Kat Holloway, a young cook, highly sought after by the wealthy of Victorian London, becomes embroiled in murder and must clear her name. Only the mysterious Daniel McAdam, who is much more than he seems, can come to her aid. Blood Debts (Leonidas the Gladiator Mysteries) Leonidas, freedman, once the most popular gladiator in Rome and champion of the games, now must fight for his life outside the arena. A man who owed him money was murdered, and Leonidas is a prime suspect. With the assistance of Cassia, daughter of a Greek scribe who has been bestowed upon him as his slave, Leonidas fights for justice in the back lanes of Imperial Rome. The Necklace Affair (Captain Lacey Regency Mysteries) Captain Lacey agrees to help a society matron discover what has become of her cherished diamond necklace and to clear her maid, who has been arrested for its theft. Lacey quickly becomes enmeshed in scandal and past secrets, and finds himself competing with the underworld criminal, James Denis, for the necklace's retrieval.

From #1 bestselling culinary cozy mystery author A. Gardner comes the latest deadly delicious Poppy Peters installment... Poppy Peters, sometimes-sleuth and recent pastry school graduate, is soaking up the southern sun as the new official pastry chef of Magnolia Harbor Inn and Spa. But the sunny tourist town of Gator Bay is anything but pleasant when a country music star turns up dead in one of the hotel rooms...after eating one of Poppy's pastries! Ready to do anything to prove her tasty strawberry tartlets aren't to blame, Poppy's search for the killer takes her everywhere from a local fish n' fry to an abandoned gator farm. With the help of her kitchen mate Bree, an old flame, and a not-so-sweet cat named Muffin, Poppy finds herself wrapped up in a hurricane of clues. But which ones lead to the killer? Poppy must solve the riddle quickly or else she too might be fed a bite of a deadly dessert. **Recipes included!** Poppy Peters Mysteries: Southern Peach Pie & A Dead Guy (book #1) Chocolate Macaroons and a Dead Groom (book #2) Ice Cream Bombes and Stolen Thongs (short story in the "Killer Beach Reads" collection) Bananas Foster and a Dead Mobster (book #3) Strawberry Tartlets and a Dead Starlet (book #4) What critics are saying: "A charming cozy mystery featuring likable characters. A. Gardner does a marvelous job at keeping the storyline fresh and entertaining. I look forward to seeing what surprises A. Gardner has in store for us next!" —Fresh Fiction "If you are a fan of tasty mysteries that showcase delectable desserts and a strong heroine, this is one to pick up." —Night Owl Reviews "One of the best perks of summer is eating a warm slice of Georgia peach pie. Throw in a murder and you’ve got the makings of a juicy cozy mystery. Southern Peach Pie and a Dead Guy: A Poppy Peters Mystery by debut author A. Gardner is a delicious e-book." —MomTrends, Ebook Pick for Summer

A killer is at large, and Essie is about to offer herself up as bait.Springtime in Bison Creek means mountain blossoms, berry pies, and another dead body. The Hummingbird Inn Bed & Breakfast is the last place Essie Stratter expects to find a crime scene. And with the grand opening just around the corner, Essie joins in the hunt for the killer. But to find the murderer, she must solve one of the town's oldest mysteries – the curse of the Weston house. After a book club feud, a string of gift shop robberies, and an impromptu wedding, Essie realizes her time is up. Now, her only hope at stopping a killer is to offer herself up as bait.

1818--Captain Gabriel Lacey accompanies famous dandy Lucius Grenville to Egypt, a land that Lacey has long anticipated visiting. Lacey travels there for more than a simple holiday, however--James Denis has tasked him with finding an "object" in Alexandria and procuring it, whatever the cost.The task does not turn out to be so simple. Locating what Denis wants in the teeming city proves difficult, sending Lacey and Grenville exploring tombs and temples down the Nile. Lacey must deal with treasure hunters, a shadow following him and his friends, murder, and missing his new family as he explores the exotic country he has so longed to see...Book 11 of the Captain Lacey Regency Mysteries.