Hi all,



I'm thrilled to announce the release of OREON's latest reissue, Dead Man Manor by (George) Valentine Williams. Originally published in 1936, this great murder mystery is the first book in the Horace B. Treadgold series and in it he's facing a nasty murder almost immediately; then, of course, further mysteries are unveiled as events unfold... 



"What verve, what gusto, what conviction there is in Mr. Valentine

Williams' thrillers! Nobody can tell a crook story as he can!"

-- Dorothy L. Sayers, The Sunday Times





The story is set in an upscale resort in Quebec where the peace of a warm July is shattered by the discovery of a blood-drenched corpse in the abandoned Manor's drawing room. With the local police wrongfully suspecting a disturbed one-eyed wild man who lives in the woods, it's up to the shrewd amateur detective Mr. Treadgold to lead his fellow guests to the truth. (Being a keen philatelist he's bound to put his own stamp on the investigation... sorry.) As they navigate a growing list of questions, including the motive behind the murder, how empty the manor actually is, and the murky undercurrents roiling beneath the surface of this tranquil paradise, they must also wonder who else may be in danger.



It's a pacey, fun read and I know you'll enjoy the convolutions within. This entertaining mystery is a perfect addition to your reading list - especially as we should soon be getting more sunny hours to sit in the garden with a book!



The cover this time is simple and, hopefully, effective. Originally it was a doorway of King's College here in Cambridge. The text was a struggle tho - a lot of corrections and Richard's original copy has been very well thumbed now. We picked it up at a recent book fair in Cambridge - here's a snap of himself trying to look Learned...





But that's not all! We have more exciting books coming your way. Next in line are JS Fletcher's Murder of the Ninth Baronet and Lynn Brock's Q.E.D. So, stay tuned for more updates on these forthcoming releases.



Thank you so much for being a part of this community, and we hope you enjoy reading Dead Man Manor as much as we did. As another reviewer said - "Valentine Williams at his best!"



Until next time,



Jon