Tête-à-tête (book)

Tête-à-tête is a 1999 novel by British author Hazel Holt. It is the first in the Mrs. Malory mystery series. The story introduces Sheila Malory, a widowed writer who becomes an amateur detective after discovering a body during a visit to a friend. The novel establishes the recurring characters and the setting of Taviscombe, a village in the Cotswolds. The plot revolves around solving the murder and features classic elements of the cozy mystery genre, including a small community, eccentric characters, and a focus on deduction and observation rather than graphic violence. The title, "tête-à-tête," alludes to a private conversation or meeting, a relevant theme as Mrs. Malory pieces together clues and secrets revealed during various conversations. Subsequent books in the series continue to feature Mrs. Malory investigating crimes in similar settings.