Something sinister is afoot in the streets of Dundee, when a puppeteer is found murdered behind his striped Punch and Judy stand, as children sit cross-legged drinking ginger beer. At once, Dandy Gilver's seemingly-innocuous investigation into plagiarism takes a darker turn. The gruesome death seems to be inextricably bound to the gloomy offices of Doig's Publishers, its secrets hidden in the real stories behind their girls' magazines The Rosie Cheek and The Freckle. On meeting a mysterious professor from St Andrews, Dandy and her faithful colleague Alex Osbourne are flung into the worlds of academia, the theatre and publishing. Nothing is quite as it seems, and behind the cheerful facades of puppets and comic books, is a troubled history has begun to repeat itself.
Catriona McPherson
Catriona McPherson is a Scottish-born author known for her mystery novels. She has written over 30 books, including the Dandy Gilver series, which follows a detective in 1920s Scotland. McPherson's writing style is characterized by clever plot twists, intricate character development, and a keen sense of humor. She has made significant contributions to the mystery genre, winning numerous awards for her work. Her most famous novel, "Dandy Gilver and the Proper Treatment of Bloodstains," showcases her skill in crafting suspenseful and engaging stories. McPherson continues to captivate readers with her witty and suspenseful tales of mystery and intrigue.