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The Nest of Vipers: A completely gripping and addictive cosy historical mystery

Gyles Brandreth

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Spring, 1890. A glamorous reception is hosted by theDuke and Duchess of Albemarle. All London's haut monde is there, including the Prince of Wales who counts the Albemarles as close friends. Although the heir apparent and the prince of aesthetes are friends, at the party Oscar appears more interested in a young actor, Rex LaSalle, who disarmingly claims to be a vampire.

What begins as a diverting evening ends in tragedy. As the guests are about to leave, the Duchess is found murdered in an anteroom, two tiny puncture marks in her throat. Desperate to avoid a public scandal, the Prince of Wales asks Oscar and his friend Arthur Conan Doyle to investigate the crime. What they discover threatens to destroy the royal family . . . and the reputation of Oscar Wilde.

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Praise for The Nest of Vipers: A completely gripping and addictive cosy historical mystery

  • Praise for Oscar Wilde and the Dead Man's Smile'Brandreth's portrait of Oscar Wilde is entirely plausible; plots are ingenious and the historical backgroud is fascinating' - ScotsmanCleverly plotted, intelligent and thoroughly diverting . . . This novel is an educated page-turner; a feast of intriguing and light-hearted entertainment - Good Book GuidePraise for Oscar Wilde and the Ring of Death'Hugely enjoyable' - Daily MailA cast of historical characters to die for - Sunday TimesA carnival of cliff-hangers and fiendish twists-and-turns . . . The joy of the book . . . is the rounded and compelling presentation of the character of Wilde . . . The imaginary and the factual are woven together with devilish ingenuity. Brandreth also gives his hero speeches of great beauty and wisdom and humanity - Sunday ExpressPraise for Oscar Wilde and the Dead Man's Smile'Brandreth's portrait of Oscar Wilde is entirely plausible; plots are ingenious and the historical backgroud is fascinating' - ScotsmanCleverly plotted, intelligent and thoroughly diverting . . . This novel is an educated page-turner; a feast of intriguing and light-hearted entertainment - Good Book GuidePraise for Oscar Wilde and the Ring of Death'Hugely enjoyable' - Daily Mail

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Gyles Brandreth

Gyles Brandreth

Gyles Brandreth is a writer, performer, former MP and Government Whip, now Chancellor of the University of Chester and probably best known these days as a reporter on BBC1's The One Show and having been a regular on Radio 4's Just a Minute. On TV he has featured on Have I Got News For You, QI, Room 101, Countdown, and This is Your Life. As a journalist he writes for the Telegraph and Daily Mail and is a columnist for The Oldie. The founder of the National Scrabble Championships, his books about words and language include four best-sellers, The Joy of Lex, Word Play, Have You Eaten Grandma? and Dancing by the Light of the Moon. His novels include seven Victorian murder mysteries featuring Oscar Wilde as his detective and he has published two volumes of diaries and two acclaimed royal biographies. In 2020 he published The Oxford Book of Theatrical Anecdotes.

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