Etiquette for Lovers and Killers

Set in 1960s Maine, a witty, twisty murder mystery following a young woman who just wishes something interesting would happen for once . . . who stumbles across a crime of passion.

"What are the chances of receiving a love letter, engagement ring, and phone call for a stranger, only to see her murdered the next day?"

It's 1964 in the tiny town of Eastport, Maine, and Billie McCadie is bored to death. She's surrounded by dull people with more manners than sense, and no sign of the intrigue or romance that fills her beloved novels. That is, until an engagement ring and cryptic love letter turn up, addressed to 'Gertrude'. Until she meets yacht-club handsome Avery Webster. Until the unsettling phone calls and visits from a man in a fedora begin. Until she's one of the last people to see Gertrude alive . . . and the first to see her dead.

What follows is an intoxicating cocktail of stalking, blackmail, Jell-O salads, and champagne secrets, all served along the rocky Maine coastline. Everyone is a suspect. Everyone has a secret. And (strangely) everyone has a boat. But who is willing to kiss and tell? As the body count rises and the danger nears, why does Billie feel like she's more than just a side character? And after yearning to be in the action for so long, would it be terribly unladylike to have some fun of her own?

A love letter to uncivilized behavior, Etiquette for Lovers and Killers blends mystery and romance into a witty, twisty, murderous delight that aches for better manners.

[A] fiercely witty debut . . . The sparkling dialogue, copious twists, and evocative details of midcentury New England make this an impressive first effort Publishers Weekly
Replete with Emily Post-style epigraphs about etiquette, this hybrid mystery/romance hearkens back to Austen's novels of refined drawing room intrigue while revealing, beneath smiles and witty banter, the underside of human nature. A romantic suspense novel bubbling with wit and the ever-present thrill of danger Kirkus Reviews
Sparkles with snazzy dialogue, vibrant characters, and clever period details Booklist
Utterly delightful and crackling with wit, I could not put this down! Think 1960s Gilmore Girls with a good dose of murder and a dash of romance. Billie McCadie is the kind of character you'll love spending time with, and the ups and downs her investigating murder in the upper echelons of Eastport Maine have all the hallmarks of the perfect murder mystery: fantastic setting, characters with layers of secrets, and some fabulous twists and turns -- Kristen Perrin, New York Times bestselling author of How to Solve Your Own Murder
Etiquette for Lovers and Killers is delightful throughout. This debut novel excels with its imagery of the bygone 1960s era. The author accomplishes this brilliantly with a bit of humor and spot-on descriptions of places and characters . . . charming . . . [Healy] perfectly portrays the time period while also creating a wonderful sense of place . . . Etiquette for Lovers and Killers is a nostalgic treat wrapped in the briny ocean breezes of Maine -- Diane Lechleitner New York Review of Books
Etiquette for Lovers and Killers is an alluring and impressive debut. Anna Fitzgerald Healy brings a powerful new voice to the genre, seamlessly marrying polished prose and razor-sharp wit with snappy banter and a crackling romance. I was completely swept away -- Elle Cosimano, New York Times bestselling author of Finlay Donovan is Killing It
Graciously decline your plans for the evening, because you'll be far too occupied with this delightfully twisty novel. Billie McCadie is Nancy Drew, if Nancy had been raised by Emily Post and Dorothy Parker. This novel is a romantic, murderous vacation resplendent with Jell-O salads and deliciously devious correspondence. Etiquette for Lovers and Killers is a politely mischievous love letter to language, manners, and murder -- Julia Seales, bestselling author of A Most Agreeable Murder
Wonderfully witty, bracingly irreverent and strangely seductive, Etiquette for Lovers and Killers is a dry martini twist on the murder mystery. Billie is a scandalous heroine who sets a new bar for female investigators-her journey from side character to lead is deliciously naughty -- Beth Morrey, author of Isabella's Not Dead
Etiquette For Lovers and Killers is twisted in the best possible way. Booklover Billie enters the world of the 'summer people' in 1964 coastal Maine only to discover that beneath the white linen and silver trays lie some very impolite secrets. Full of cocktails, murder, and cheeky fun -- Christina Lynch, author of Pony Confidential
Biting, bubbly, and addictive-Etiquette for Lovers and Killers is a crisp glass of champagne overflowing in a vintage coupe -- Joan O’Leary, author of forthcoming A Killer Wedding

Anna Fitzgerald Healy's writing has been featured in Dark Matter Magazine, Mystery Tribune, the Hoxie Gorge Review, and several anthologies by Brigid's Gate Press. She grew up on the Maine coast and now works in LA, living in a (possibly haunted) miniature castle in the Hollywood Hills. She's already well underway with the second book in this series.

This item is eligible for free returns within 30 days of delivery. See our returns policy for further details.