The Hangman's Row Enquiry

by Ann Purser · 2010

When cantankerous spinster Ivy Beasley trades her bustling town life for the quiet of an old‑folks residence in the Suffolk village of Barrington, she expects nothing more than a peaceful retirement. But the arrival of Augustus “Gus” Halfhide, a mysterious newcomer with a shadowy past, and the sudden death of his elderly neighbor thrust her back into the world of sleuthing she thought she’d left behind. Teaming up with her resourceful cousin—a widowed socialite with time and money to spare— Ivy sets out to untangle a web of secrets, lies, and old‑village grudges. In this first installment of Ann Purser’s new series, the unlikely trio must navigate gossip, hidden motives, and a murder that threatens to upend the tranquil façade of Barrington, proving that even in retirement, a sharp mind and a stubborn heart can solve the most baffling crimes.