{"title":"Series: Vita Carew Mysteries","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eVita Carew Mysteries\u003c\/strong\u003e invites readers into a world where subtle observation and sharp intellect unravel intricate puzzles. These tales weave elements of \u003cem\u003earts, culture, and travel\u003c\/em\u003e into their narratives, offering more than mere suspense—they provide a textured backdrop that enriches each mystery.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eExpect stories that balance thoughtful character exploration with captivating adventures, appealing to those who appreciate a blend of \u003cem\u003ehistory, culture, and intricate plotting\u003c\/em\u003e. The series offers a distinctive journey through both place and mind, making each mystery a rewarding experience.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"a-thin-sharp-blade-by-fran-smith-9781036705985","title":"A Thin Sharp Blade","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA professor's dismissal, a boxer's death, and a widow's secrets. Can Vita Carew solve the mystery?\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eIn 1903 England, Vita Carew's dreams of studying at Cambridge are shattered by a dismissive professor. But Vita's intellect proves invaluable after her brother and a visiting American boxer take part in an ultimately lethal boxing match. Vita's brother is gravely injured and the boxer dies, leaving behind his glamorous wife.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThough the boxer's unexpected death is attributed to the boxing match, Vita has her own suspicions, especially after noticing the similarities between his and her brother's injuries. But, to prove her theory and uncover the truth, she must first convince the very professor who doubted her abilities.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eCan Vita discover what really killed the boxer? And will her sharp mind and determination be enough to solve the case and prevent more tragedy?\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eIn this gripping historical mystery, author Fran Smith weaves a tale of intrigue and suspense that will keep readers guessing until the very end.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003chr\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003ePraise for the Vita Carew Mysteries series:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e★ ★ ★ ★ ★ An engaging read with fascinating characters.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e★ ★ ★ ★ ★ An outstanding novel.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e★ ★ ★ ★ ★ What an excellent story.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e★ ★ ★ ★ ★ I thoroughly enjoyed this book.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e★ ★ ★ ★ ★ Well written, original and enjoyable.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e★ ★ ★ ★ ★ Thoroughly recommend this book and the series.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Allen \u0026 Unwin Aotearoa New Zealand","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48126543495404,"sku":"9781036705985","price":27.99,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/9781036705985-a-thin-sharp-blade.jpg?v=1785968842"},{"product_id":"dr-potters-private-practice-by-fran-smith-9781036705992","title":"Dr Potter's Private Practice","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA mysterious victim, a heartless doctor, and an assistant whose loyalty extends to murder. After falling behind during her first year studying science, Vita Carew plans a studious Christmas vacation in Cambridge. However, when an injured man with no memory is discovered and brought to her local hospital, she can't help but be lured away from her books by an enticing mystery.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eCurious to learn more, she begins to unravel the events leading up to the man's attack, retracing his steps to a disused well. As the truth begins to emerge, Vita uncovers a twisted arrangement between a ruthless doctor, his assistant, and his wealthy clients.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eWith the help of the vulnerable man, Vita must expose the doctor and his lethal assistant before more lives are lost. But will Vita be able to protect the injured man? And can she convince the police to investigate these suspicious deaths and escape unscathed herself?\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eImmerse yourself in Fran Smith's captivating blend of historical intrigue and murder mystery in the engaging third book in the \u003cem\u003eVita Carew Mysteries\u003c\/em\u003e series.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003chr\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePraise for the Vita Carew Mysteries series:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e★ ★ ★ ★ ★ Another lively episode in the Vita Carew series.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e★ ★ ★ ★ ★ A wonderful Victorian tale of murder and lies.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e★ ★ ★ ★ ★ Vita's latest adventure is a joy.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e★ ★ ★ ★ ★ Wonderfully addictive.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e★ ★ ★ ★ ★ Charming yet fraught with so many dangers!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e★ ★ ★ ★ ★ A wonderful bit of escapism.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Allen \u0026 Unwin Aotearoa New Zealand","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48126549852396,"sku":"9781036705992","price":27.99,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/9781036705992-dr-potter-s-private-practice.jpg?v=1785969345"},{"product_id":"poison-at-pemberton-hall-by-fran-smith-9781036705978","title":"Poison at Pemberton Hall","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA dazzling diva, a glittering society dinner, and a killer with a terrible grudge...\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eIn Edwardian England, bookish and bespectacled Vita Carew longs to be left to her scientific studies. But she can't avoid the event of the season, a gala at Pemberton Hall. This glamorous concert and sumptuous dinner will mark the Pemberton household's triumphant return to society after a run of misfortune.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eBut disaster strikes as soon as the seafood is served. Elegant guests fall ill on all sides and, whilst administering first aid as best she can, amateur sleuth Vita suspects foul play. When the Pembertons' governess is found dead the next day, Vita's suspicions double—could Miss Hartley's death have been covered up to avoid interrupting the carefully planned soirée?\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eVita must probe dark secrets behind Pemberton Hall's elegant veneer to discover who is to blame. But can she do so before the killer strikes again?\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003ePoison at Pemberton Hall\u003c\/em\u003e is the intriguing first novel in Fran Smith's Vita Carew Mysteries, perfect for readers who love stylish mysteries and feisty female sleuths.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003chr\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003ePraise for the Vita Carew Mysteries series:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cul\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003e★★★★★\u003c\/strong\u003e A delightful read.\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003e★★★★★\u003c\/strong\u003e Well worth reading!\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003e★★★★★\u003c\/strong\u003e Rich with details and personalities.\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003e★★★★★\u003c\/strong\u003e Wonderfully witty and cleverly written.\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003e★★★★★\u003c\/strong\u003e I liked Vita immensely.\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003e★★★★★\u003c\/strong\u003e Plot twists aplenty and interesting characters.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Allen \u0026 Unwin Aotearoa New Zealand","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48126623908076,"sku":"9781036705978","price":27.99,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/9781036705978-poison-at-pemberton-hall.jpg?v=1785971562"},{"product_id":"the-killing-at-crowswood-castle-by-fran-smith-9781036706012","title":"The Killing at Crowswood Castle","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA vicious master, a cruel injustice, and a long-held secret... After travelling to the notoriously haunted Crowswood Castle to recover from illness, Cambridge student Vita Carew finds herself at the centre of a ghostly unsolved mystery.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eAs renovations on the ancient castle near completion, old secrets emerge, and Vita must decipher the meaning of a hidden message in an old painting of the deceased previous mistress of the house. When workmen unearth human remains in the castle grounds, Vita finds herself piecing together the clues to a chilling decades-old mystery.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eArmed with her sharp intellect and keen eye for detail, can Vita unravel the truth behind the killing at Crowswood Castle and bring justice to the long-forgotten victim? Fran Smith's gripping fifth instalment of the Vita Carew Mysteries series will have readers enthralled until the very last page.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003chr\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003ePraise for the Vita Carew Mysteries series:\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e★ ★ ★ ★ ★ Superb!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e★ ★ ★ ★ ★ Fabulous series.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e★ ★ ★ ★ ★ I love these Vita Carew books.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e★ ★ ★ ★ ★ An enjoyable read full of twists and turns.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e★ ★ ★ ★ ★ I found the characters a delight.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e★ ★ ★ ★ ★ Marvellous series.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Allen \u0026 Unwin Aotearoa New Zealand","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48126634229996,"sku":"9781036706012","price":27.99,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/9781036706012-the-killing-at-crowswood-castle.jpg?v=1785972869"},{"product_id":"the-painted-penny-stamp-by-fran-smith-9781036706005","title":"The Painted Penny Stamp","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA quiet lodger, a secret vice, and a fortune-seeker who will stop at nothing. When a neighbour's lodger is found dead, Vita Carew, a sharp-witted science student, is the first on the scene. The police pronounce it an accident, a fatal fall, but Vita remains unconvinced. Her access to the post-mortem reveals the truth: Albert Flett was murdered.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eAs Vita investigates, she uncovers a trail of evidence that suggests Albert's quiet, unassuming ways were hiding a complex and dangerous secret life. When a prominent, eccentric old lady is also found dead under suspicious circumstances, Vita finds herself entangled in a deadly game of cat and mouse with a ruthless killer. Can she convince the police to see the connection before the killer strikes again?\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eThe Painted Penny Stamp\u003c\/em\u003e is the fourth book in Fran Smith's captivating series of historical mysteries featuring clever female sleuth, Vita Carew.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003chr\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003ePraise for the Vita Carew Mysteries series:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e★ ★ ★ ★ ★ A delightful addition to the series.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e★ ★ ★ ★ ★ Unmissable!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e★ ★ ★ ★ ★ What a talented author and a captivating female heroine.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e★ ★ ★ ★ ★ Fran Smith has created another great mystery.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e★ ★ ★ ★ ★ Vita Carew is wonderful.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e★ ★ ★ ★ ★ Fascinating!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Allen \u0026 Unwin Aotearoa New Zealand","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48126635049196,"sku":"9781036706005","price":27.99,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/9781036706005-the-painted-penny-stamp.jpg?v=1785973014"}],"url":"https:\/\/bookhero.co.nz\/collections\/series-vita-carew-mysteries.oembed","provider":"Book Hero","version":"1.0","type":"link"}