MURDER IN MERRY OLD by David Lawrence is the first murder mystery novel in a series revolving around the central character, Simon Grand, who rules an empire of travel related businesses including books, magazine and newspaper columns, a videotaped series called "The Inside Guides" and regular guest appearances on television talk shows. For pleasure more than profit, Simon Grand guides periodic tours for the affluent to the world's most romantic places. Each Grand Tour lasts up to a dozen days and includes12 disparate guests who pay handsomely for a luxurious, pampered holiday planned and executed by the world's most successful travel authority. The 13th guest is always Death. The scene is invariably a dream destination with a nightmare on arrival. "Murder in Merry Old" is set in the lush, charming area of The New Forest in the southwest of contemporary England dotted with quaint and vibrant villages that seem caught in the peace and quiet of yesterday. Until Simon Grand and his ominous band of American tourists invade the Forest. Murder travels with them. A dozen colorful characters locked together, isolated -- strangers in a strange land -- who bring along more baggage than their Louis Vuitton and who follow their leader, urbane and elegant, charismatic and enigmatic Simon Grand through Heaven and Hell. You are cordially invited along. Just pack something bulletproof!

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