Elizabeth Ferrars, who also writes under the name E.X. Ferrars, was born under a different name entirely.
Mona Doris MacTaggart wrote her first novel after graduating with a journalism degree from London University in the early 1930s. It was another ten years before she published her first crime novel and began a prolific career.
She moved to America in the 50s with her second husband, where she became an advocate for writers and was one of the founding members of the Crime Writers’ Association.
Over the course of her career, she wrote over 70 novels. Her two most popular and enduring series featured amateur sleuths Andrew Basnett and Virginia Freer.
If you’ve been curious about where to start, here are eight of her most popular novels to get you started.
The Crime and the Crystal
Life as an amateur sleuth is hard. So, Andrew Basnett is hoping to take a break from his small English village and spend Christmas in Adelaide, Australia.
But life in the small town isn’t so quiet. While visiting Tony, an old colleague, Andrew learns that Tony’s new marriage has a murder hanging over them
Jan’s first husband was killed—and Jan was the suspect. So when a guest is murdered at a family dinner with the same murder weapon and Jan disappeared, Andrew realizes that it’s up to him to find the truth.
Frog in the Throat
Virginia Freer is not having a nice weekend.
Her visit to friends should not have included running into Felix, the husband she’s been separated from for several years. Or a murder.
Hours after celebrating the engagement of a local poet and bestselling novelist, the bride-to-be was found dead next door.
But when Virginia rushes to the scene, the body disappears. Despite their separation, Felix proves he can be helpful as he uncovers the motive.
Can the pair find the murderer without their pasts getting in the way?
Last Will and Testament
Virgina Freer and her husband Felix haven’t gotten around to getting divorced. But when an elderly woman dies, the couple finds themselves together again.
After all, the woman constantly changed her will, making a surprise request in the most recent version. Or was that actually her last change?
The question only leads to more questions. Was she murdered?
If Virginia and Felix want to figure out who might be guilty of murder, they have to find the real last will and testament.
The Other Devil's Name
When a blackmail letter gets put in the wrong envelope, retired professor Andrew Basnett has to reluctantly admit that someone may have been murdered.
After all, there are several missing people in the small town. As he quietly investigates, he discovers that everyone—including the friend who was sent the letter—has something to hide.
With empty houses and threatening letters, Andrew has his hands full trying to figure out who is telling the truth and who isn’t.
And who, exactly, was murdered?
Root of All Evil
Everyone knows an invitation to a wealthy estate always ends in murder. Everyone except retired professor Andrew Basnett.
So, he’s not prepared for an Easter visit to his cousin’s Berkshire estate to include a death threat, a disinheritance, stolen diamonds, mischievous servants, and not one but two corpses.
Good thing Andrew is around to find all the family secrets.
Something Wicked
Professor Andrew Basnett is ready to enjoy retirement. He’s renting a cottage while his flat is being renovated, and not even the town murderess living down the road is going to upset him.
But when a snowstorm knocks out the power, just like the night of the infamous murder, he can’t help but feel a little nervous.
And when another murder happens, the murderess has more motive than anyone.
If Andrew wants to sleep easy, he needs to solve this murder—before another storm blows in.
A Hobby of Murder
Being retired isn’t easy. After Andrew Basnett finished writing his book, he found he was at a loss for how to fill his time. He heads to the country with seven friends. At first, the gathering of old friends in the quiet village is exactly what Andrew needs. Until they start dying. Now, Andrew has to track down a clever killer—before he strikes again.
A Choice of Evils
On a quiet holiday in a sleep town, retired professor Andrew Basnett is pleasantly surprised to run into his nephew, Peter Dilly. It’s less pleasant when he is drawn into the town’s first art festival. His ups and downs continue when he’s invited to dinner at the home of a successful novelist only for a body to appear. Even worse when his nephew was the last person to see the novelist’s dead sister-in-law alive. And when another of the novelist’s friends dies, the author becomes the prime suspect. Only, Andrew suspects someone else entirely. Now, the only question is can he prove it?
