When mystery author Maggie Kelly heads across the pond for a movie shoot—accompanied by her once-fictional, now all-too-real (not to mention sexy) hero, Alexandre, Viscount Saint Just—she can only hope for a jolly good time. And that's exactly what she gets—if "jolly good" is Britspeak for "totally crazy"…

We are not amused… Don't get me wrong—there was plenty to laugh about when we first arrived in Merry Olde England to watch one of my novels being shot as a major motion picture. Alex was delighted with the location (a seventeeth-century manor house), but horrified with the surfer-dude mimbo playing him. I, personally, found the situation hilarious…then the leading lady started rubbing up against "my" hero, leaving me no choice but to start a little flirtation of my own with the lord of the manor's nephew. It was all very Regency House Party until the scriptwriter showed up…dead.

Lights, camera…action! No, not that kind of action. Well, maybe a little… Okay, so things are suddenly getting hot and heavy between Alex and me—and our timing is atrocious as usual, what with the murder and mayhem. Suspects? Don't get me started. There's Mr. Contemptuous Director, Ms. Man-Crazy Production Assistant, Mr. Fancy Pants English Actor, Ms. Diva Leading Lady, and…yours truly. Yep, I was seen arguing with the victim right before his unfortunate demise, so I am, as the Brits would say, in a bit of a pickle…

It was a dark and stormy night... No, seriously. Some truly nasty English weather has flooded the property, cutting off the power as well as access to the roads. Plus, someone's stolen all the cell phones. Oh, there's also that second body we just found. And did I mention the ghost? Mm-hmm—the place is haunted. You know, it wasn't too long ago that a scenario like this would have had me reaching for a cigarette. Now, it just has me reaching for Alex…