Terry Jacobsen of Library Journal has just published her verdict, giving A FATAL WINTER a starred review: "Malliet doesn't miss a step in her stellar second case for her handsome vicar....This series shines for its wit, well-drawn characters, pitch-perfect dialog, and intricately structured puzzle."

What can I say but thank you?

Today only (August 24) the e-Book version of DEATH AND THE LIT CHICK is on sale at Amazon.com for $1.99.

This is the second St. Just mystery, and it was nominated for an Anthony Award. It is one of my favorite books--one of those books that sort of wrote itself in the small wee hours of dawn.

Sue Emmons, Mystery Scene Magazine, wrote of it: "Delicious. That's the best word to describe the second outing of Detective Chief Inspector Arthur St. Just....Malliet is laugh-out-loud funny in describing the cadre of crime writers encountered by the sometimes-flustered [detective]."

"Agatha Christie fans will relish Malliet’s delicious second Max Tudor novel." Thank you, Publishers Weekly! Read the full review...

A FATAL WINTER is now available for pre-order wherever you buy books. (See the links to various sellers on Max Tudor's new Facebook page--you can read an excerpt of WICKED AUTUMN while you're there.) The book will ship starting in October.

And, WICKED AUTUMN, the first Max Tudor book, is now available in paperback. You don't have to read the books in order but it does help you to get to know the characters. (Sorry, but with this series, it's really unavoidable--otherwise I would have to repeat myself too much each time.)

[P.S.: The August 10 issue of Publishers Weekly carries an interview by Lenny Picker: "Cozy Fan Tudor: PW Talks with G.M. Malliet--G.M. Malliet channels Agatha Christie in her second mystery featuring Anglican priest Max Tudor, A Fatal Winter." Subscriber access via this link.]

The book jacket for A FATAL WINTER has a shiny new look. Basically: the addition of a pull quote from Marilyn Stasio's review of WICKED AUTUMN in the New York Times, and a white burst at bottom left, instead of the red. Both nice improvements.

At the same time, my publisher has rolled out a new Facebook page for the Max Tudor mysteries. Please take a look; the artist did a fantastic job: https://apps.facebook.com/maxtudorseries/

Max Tudor will soon be in the UK (which, after all, is where he's from): Constable & Robinson has just bought UK rights to all five of the Max Tudor books, past and future.

Charlaine Harris on this morning's Today show on NBC recommends WICKED AUTUMN as a favorite beach read along with “Let's Pretend This Never Happened”  by Jenny Lawson and “Discount Armageddon” by Seanan McGuire.

Watch the video clip, or read the written summary of Charlaine and Janet's recommendations: http://tinyurl.com/bpld3c9

I learned last week, in a lovely surprise, that the second Max Tudor mystery, A FATAL WINTER, will be a featured alternate selection in the Mystery Guild's holiday catalog.

There is a Part II to this news, but I'm supposed to keep quiet about that until it has been officially announced(!)

And here's the description, below (I've taken this from the Amazon.com site).

You will notice my publisher is anxious to emphasize that Max Tudor is a non-celibate priest. Apparently there is some confusion over this with some readers and it is best to explain all that up front. Anglican (or in the U.S., Episcopal) priests do not take vows of chastity. Max is free to follow his heart, and in A FATAL WINTER, he does:

Publication Date: October 16, 2012

"There are certain things you want in a village mystery: a pretty setting, a tasteful murder, an appealing sleuth . . . Malliet delivers all that." —Marilyn Stasio, The New York Times 

Last year, Agatha Award-winning author G. M. Malliet charmed mystery lovers, cozy fans, and Agatha Christie devotees with Wicked Autumn, the first mystery featuring her captivating protagonist, Max Tudor, and the small English village of Nether Monkslip. 

In A Fatal Winter, Max—Anglican priest, former MI5 agent, and village heartthrob—investigates two deaths at Chedrow Castle. But his growing attraction to Awena Owen complicates his case, as does the recent arrival at Chedrow Castle of a raucous group of long-lost, greedy relatives, any one of whom has a motive for murder. With a cozy setting, intricate puzzles, and a handsome (non-celibate) priest doing the sleuthing, the books in this series are destined to become instant classics in the mystery world.

Max Tudor's second adventure is now available for preorder, wherever you prefer to shop: Online, in bookstores--and don't forget the beloved independent bookstores. Here are the ISBNs that officially identify the book for booksellers:

Hardcover ISBN: 978-0-312-64797-1

E-book ISBN: 978-1-250-01825-0

The book cover is coming soon and I'll post it here. It is a knockout.

It's on its way in October. I'll post the cover here and on Twitter and Facebook when it becomes available. I can tell you now that it's even prettier than the cover for the first book, and that's really saying something.

From my publisher's official description of the upcoming A FATAL WINTER:

"Last year, Agatha Award-winning author G. M. Malliet charmed mystery lovers, cozy fans, and Agatha Christie devotees with Wicked Autumn, the first mystery featuring her captivating protagonist, Max Tudor, and the small English village of Nether Monkslip. 

"In A Fatal Winter, Max—Anglican priest, former MI5 agent, and village heartthrob—investigates two deaths at Chedrow Castle. But his growing attraction to Awena Owen complicates his case, as does the recent arrival at Chedrow Castle of a raucous group of long-lost, greedy relatives, any one of whom has a motive for murder. With a cozy setting, intricate puzzles, and a handsome (non-celibate) priest doing the sleuthing, the books in this series are destined to become instant classics in the mystery world."