
Miss Hortense and the Last Rites
Mel Pennant(Author)
Debra Michaels(Speaker)
Baskerville (Publisher)
Will be published approx. on 2. July 2026
Book
Hardback
320 pages
978-1-3998-1442-3 (ISBN)
Description
'Utterly thrilling, this quest for survival gripped me from start to finish. With a flourishing cast of richly drawn characters, it would be a crime to miss it' Olly Smith, author of Death by Noir
Nine nights to solve a murder ... or she'll be next.
When Bigglesweigh's notorious gangster, Cuttah, uses up the last of his nine lives, and is found dead, there is only one person who can solve the mystery of who killed him: indomitable retired nurse Miss Hortense. A resident of the quiet Birmingham suburb since she emigrated from Jamaica in the 1960s, the renowned cook never shies away from a challenge.
Cuttah left behind a list of suspects. Miss Hortense is ready to investigate, but there's just one problem: her name is on the list and, worse, she only has nine nights before his cronies seek retribution...
With the help of friends - including bubbly Blossom and tough, handsome Fitz - Miss Hortense must use her unique skills to crack the case in a town with as many secrets as there are ingredients for beef patties. But this will prove no easy task. The clock is ticking, and Cuttah's numerous enemies possess ties to drug running and corrupt police, not to mention a case from Miss Hortense's past which is about to come back to haunt her.
Miss Hortense and the Last Rites is the second brilliantly entertaining and page-turning British-Caribbean mystery from critically acclaimed writer Mel Pennant.
PRAISE FOR A MURDER FOR MISS HORTENSE:
'Fresh, original and intriguing from start to finish!' Janice Hallett, bestselling author of The Examiner
'What a joy - a brilliant new amateur sleuth to rival Miss Marple!' Good Housekeeping
'More than a cosy crime mystery . . . it's the story of a community' Jennie Godfrey, author of The List of Suspicious Things
Nine nights to solve a murder ... or she'll be next.
When Bigglesweigh's notorious gangster, Cuttah, uses up the last of his nine lives, and is found dead, there is only one person who can solve the mystery of who killed him: indomitable retired nurse Miss Hortense. A resident of the quiet Birmingham suburb since she emigrated from Jamaica in the 1960s, the renowned cook never shies away from a challenge.
Cuttah left behind a list of suspects. Miss Hortense is ready to investigate, but there's just one problem: her name is on the list and, worse, she only has nine nights before his cronies seek retribution...
With the help of friends - including bubbly Blossom and tough, handsome Fitz - Miss Hortense must use her unique skills to crack the case in a town with as many secrets as there are ingredients for beef patties. But this will prove no easy task. The clock is ticking, and Cuttah's numerous enemies possess ties to drug running and corrupt police, not to mention a case from Miss Hortense's past which is about to come back to haunt her.
Miss Hortense and the Last Rites is the second brilliantly entertaining and page-turning British-Caribbean mystery from critically acclaimed writer Mel Pennant.
PRAISE FOR A MURDER FOR MISS HORTENSE:
'Fresh, original and intriguing from start to finish!' Janice Hallett, bestselling author of The Examiner
'What a joy - a brilliant new amateur sleuth to rival Miss Marple!' Good Housekeeping
'More than a cosy crime mystery . . . it's the story of a community' Jennie Godfrey, author of The List of Suspicious Things
Reviews / Votes
Utterly thrilling, this quest for survival gripped me from start to finish. With a flourishing cast of richly drawn characters, it would be a crime to miss it -- Olly Smith, author of * Death by Noir *More details
Language
English
Place of publication
United Kingdom
Publishing group
John Murray Press
Product notice
Trade binding
Illustrations
n/a
Dimensions
Height: 240 mm
Width: 156 mm
Thickness: 30 mm
Weight
500 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-3998-1442-3 (9781399814423)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions

Mel Pennant
Miss Hortense and the Last Rites
E-Book
approx. 07/2026
Baskerville
€13.99
Not yet available
Persons
Mel Pennant is an award-winning playwright whose work has appeared in the National Archives, as well as on stage. Born in London, she was raised by an extraordinary village, which included her Jamaican grandparents who moved to England in the 1950s as part of the Windrush generation. Mel is drawn to stories that explore what's hidden below the surface and celebrate the richness and strength of tight-knit communities. She lives in London with her family and their dog, Bleu, and she is currently writing another mystery starring Miss Hortense.