In Murder on Mallowan Court, the fictional street Ginger Gold lives on in South Kensington, is a nod to the mysterious Lady Mallowan.
So, who is Lady Mallowan?
Before introducing you to Lady Mallowan, perhaps I should briefly introduce you to her second husband, Sir Max Edgar Lucien Mallowan.
Sir Max was a prominent archaeologist in Britain in the 1940s, 50s and 60s who specialized in ancient Middle Eastern history.
His wife Lady Mallowan joined him for several months each year to assist him with archaeological digs in the desert. Together they dug up ancient Mesopotamian artifacts in places like Iraq, Syria and Egypt. Lady Mallowan did the work of cleaning, classifying and taking pictures of the artifacts they found, along with documenting the sites. She also devised a way to restore ancient ivory figurines using the chemical properties found in cold facial cream! She became an expert at restoring objects and matching pottery fragments, and was much respected by Sir Max's colleagues for her skilled and thorough work. Many of her findings are now held in the British Museum.
Inspired by these experiences, some very famous novels were written. These include Murder in Mesopotamia, Appointment with Death, Death on the Nile, and Murder on the Orient Express. If you're a fan of Agatha Christie, you might already know that the legendary mystery writer, was also known as Lady Mallowan.
“The lure of the past came up to grab me. To see a dagger slowly appearing, with its gold glint, through the sand was romantic. The carefulness of lifting pots and objects from the soil filled me with a longing to be an archaeologist myself.”
Many of Agatha’s novels feature settings of archaeological sites, and the characters and stories were often were inspired by her own travels to these places and the people she met along the way.
The Murder of Roger Ackroyd is considered to be one of Agatha Christie's greatest works. As it was published in 1927, the year Murder on Mallowan Court takes place, I knew I had to bring it to Ginger's attention. Astute readers might catch the Easter Egg!
Murder’s afoot!
As Mrs. Ginger Reed~also known as Lady Gold~waits impatiently for the coming of her baby, new neighbours move onto Mallowan Court. The Foote family is very much like Ginger’s own, if not the mirror opposite: Mr. and Mrs. Foote an unhappy couple; Mr. Rothwell an aging, irate patriarch; Miss Charlotte, whom Scout finds to be a tantalizing, if confusing specimen of young ladyhood; along with a similar collection of staff.
The sudden passing of a Foote family member is determined to be unsuspicious, but something about this strange family doesn’t sit right with Ginger.
When the doctor banishes Ginger to her bed to await the coming birth, she has to depend on the information brought to her by her good friend and former sister-in-law, Felicia, the new Lady Davenport-Witt.
Can the two ladies solve the crime before the baby comes?
New Release
Coming September 21!
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I had preordered this book & read it immediately after it came to my Kindle. As per usual, I thoroughly enjoyed the book. I love Ginger Gold Stories & I hope that you will continue to write these mysteries.
I never knew that about Agatha Chistie. Thank you again much for the education. I love reading your books and the actual historical accounts 1somtimes added. Can’t wait till tomorrow to start the newest addition to the Lady Gold series. Keep up the good work keeping us all entertained.
I never knew Agatha Christie wasn’t her real name. Thanks for the interesting story!
Agatha Christie was her real name. Christie is the last name of her first husband. Mallowan is the last name of her second husband.
Glad you enjoyed the story!
Love these books, when does this latest one come out in book form???
Print and ebooks are available on the same day, Sept 21. (Actually, if you’re watching, you’ll find the print books come out a few days earlier).