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Brian Kavanagh
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A Wicked Design: A Belinda Lawrence Mystery Kindle Edition

by Brian Kavanagh (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.1 out of 5 stars 39 ratings
Belinda Lawrence returns to her home town of Melbourne, to discover a murder that’s close to her heart.

A murder which leads to the seat of political power, Parliament House.

The various threads of deceit and intrigue are gradually unravelled and, with Hazel Whitby at her side, Belinda is confronted by warring political factions.

The mystery deepens with the discovery of a priceless historical item, of value to both political powers, and which places Belinda’s life in jeopardy.

The gregarious Major;

An enigmatic university Professor;

Two colourful antique sellers;

Eccentric retired music-hall entertainers;

And Belinda’s partner, Mark Sallinger…

…all immersed in the scheming and covert encounters besieging Belinda as she solves her most challenging mystery.
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  1. Book 5 of 6
    Belinda Lawrence Mystery
  2. Print length
    192 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Accessibility
    Learn more
  5. Publication date
    September 25, 2013
  6. File size
    644 KB
  7. Page Flip
    Enabled
  8. Word Wise
    Enabled
  9. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
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There are 6 books in this series.

Editorial Reviews

Review

A Wicked Design (Belinda Lawrence Murder Mystery #5) by Brian Kavanagh
Belinda Lawrence returns to her home town of Melbourne, to discover a murder that's close to her heart.
A murder which leads to the seat of political power, Parliament House.
The various threads of deceit and intrigue are gradually unravelled and, with Hazel Whitby at her side, Belinda is confronted by warring political factions.
The mystery deepens with the discovery of a priceless historical item, of value to both political powers, and which places Belinda's life in jeopardy.
The gregarious Major;
An enigmatic university Professor;
Two colourful antique sellers;
Eccentric retired music-hall entertainers;
And Belinda's partner, Mark Sallinger...
...all immersed in the scheming and covert encounters besieging Belinda as she solves her most challenging mystery.
Book Five in the Belinda Lawrence mystery series. (Summary via Goodreads)
A Wicked Design by Brian Kavanagh is the fifth book in his Belinda Lawrence Murder Mystery series and it is the most INTENSE one so far !!! I have been a devoted fan since I read the first book in this series Capable of Murder. I have grown to love Belinda and her sidekick Hazel and have loved watching their relationship take shape. And I have grown to love Belinda's relationship with Lord Mark Sallinger and was very happy when they decided to get engaged !!!
However everything changes with A Wicked Design !!! That relationship between Belinda and Mark is challenged when Belinda's old boyfriend is murdered right before Belinda returns to her hometown to tell him face to face that it was definitely over and she was in love with Mark and planning to marry him. And when Kavanagh "teases" the reader into thinking Mark may have killed Brad, the reader is going to want to speed read to the end to find out the outcome.....
Sadly Brad is not the only one to come to such a brutal end....when more people are found murdered and Mark is unreachable by phone and not answering Belinda's calls or text, what is one to think ? Well Belinda and Hazel try to keep open minds as they try to find out who killed Brad and the others and why.
Kavanagh will capture the readers attention immediately and you will not want to put the book down until you reach the end and know the truth behind the murders and especially Brad's. One cannot help but feel for Belinda as she tries to bring Brad's killer to justice and prove Mark's innocence and as always Hazel is there to help lighten the mood !!!

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B00FG93LHY
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Vivid Publishing
  • Accessibility ‏ : ‎ Learn more
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ September 25, 2013
  • Edition ‏ : ‎ 1st
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 644 KB
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 192 pages
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1925086010
  • Page Flip ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Book 5 of 6 ‏ : ‎ Belinda Lawrence Mystery
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.1 out of 5 stars 39 ratings

About the author

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Brian Kavanagh

Brian Kavanagh

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After a lifetime making films, I have a new life writing cozy mysteries.

Author of Belinda Lawrence mystery series,

CAPABLE OF MURDER,

THE EMBROIDERED CORPSE,

BLOODY HAM,

A CANTERBURY CRIME,

A WICKED DESIGN

MURDER ON THE ISLAND

ILLUSION OF DEATH

CALAMITY AT KRYME COTTAGE

I'm proud to have a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Australian Film Editors Guild and an Australian Film Institute award for Best Editing for the children's film, Frog Dreaming. Proud also of my first feature film, which I produced and directed, A City's Child, which won an AFI award for actress Monica Maughan and was invited to screen at the London Film Festival as well as Edinburgh, Montreal, Chicago and Adelaide, where it won the Gold Southern Cross Advertiser Award for Best Australian Film, all in the days when most of you were a mixture of multiplying cells, when the world hadn't heard of Australian films (apart from the dear departed, Chips Rafferty) and therefore was a neater and cleaner place. I am also a member of the Australian Society of Authors.

Customer reviews

4.1 out of 5 stars
39 global ratings

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Top reviews from the United States

  • Liz Kingsbury McKeown
    5.0 out of 5 stars The author wowed me again!
    Reviewed in the United States on June 8, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    I enjoyed reading Capable of Murder, Bloody Ham and the Embroidered Corpse. This time, a shocker comes in the first chapter that feels like a kick in the stomach. Belinda Lawrence, engaged to Brit Mark Sallinger returns to Australia after the death of her Aussie boyfriend and first love, Brad Delaney. Once back at her parents' house, she notices a man is watching her. Hazel is up to her old tricks to add little bit of fun and relieve the tension. I don't want to spoil the rest, but I encourage you to read it!
    Helpful
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  • Just in Peace
    3.0 out of 5 stars Please Proofread before taking my money!!!!
    Reviewed in the United States on April 16, 2016
    Verified Purchase
    The writing is fine. The production is awful. Literals, apostrophes in the wrong places, simple but extremely annoying errors.

    OK, so maybe I'm willing to put up with it when it's free. But when I'm paying for a book, I expect someone will have proofread it.

    The $4 that the next one in the series costs will be spent on a different series, sorry to say.
    Helpful
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  • Margaret Sutherland
    4.0 out of 5 stars History, Mystery and a Tour of Melbourne
    Reviewed in the United States on October 23, 2013
    Verified Purchase
    Brian Kavanagh always adds a serving of history to his crime themes. In The Embroidered Corpse, an ancient tapestry suggested strange goings on in the past, as well as murder in the present. Capability Brown's fame as a designer of gardens coloured the modern drama in Capable of Murder. This time, the author moves us from English village life to the metropolis of Melbourne, Australia. Having only spent one weekend in the city myself, I enjoyed the diversionary tours through the central city with its Cathedral, boutiques, and Parliament House, a building I did not know was originally based in Melbourne. It is this edifice that is at the centre of the mystery, along with a few odd factions who hark back to the days of Cavaliers and Roundheads, supporting either the monarchy or a republic (an issue that raises its head from time to time in Australia). A precious trophy from the 19th century, used by the Parliament, is found, then lost, then found again. Meanwhile bodies fall to left and right, and the dauntless female detectives are hot on the trail of the criminals. Hazel Whitby and Belinda Lawrence are nicely juxtaposed as characters (Hazel with her fondness for gin and younger escorts; Belinda a thoroughly nice young thing.) I'm not a great detective myself, but I have enjoyed Brian Kavanagh's books as a relaxing and at times very amusing read. A dry sense of humour is frequently evident, keeping the book out of the gruesome category. I will be reading the next book by this author.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Faye M. Tollison
    5.0 out of 5 stars Brian Kavanagh never fails. His characters are clearly defined ...
    Reviewed in the United States on March 9, 2016
    Verified Purchase
    Brian Kavanagh never fails. His characters are clearly defined and interesting. The plot is finely designed and structured to keep you reading. I always want more of Belinda Lawrence and can't wait for the next book to come.
    One person found this helpful
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  • lolo
    5.0 out of 5 stars Romping good yarn!
    Reviewed in the United States on November 25, 2015
    Verified Purchase
    An interesting twisting take of intrigue. Brian Kavanagh knows how to weave an intricate plot. I can't wait for the next one!
    Helpful
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  • Cozy Mystery Book Reviews
    5.0 out of 5 stars I love this series !!!
    Reviewed in the United States on July 24, 2019
    A Wicked Design by Brian Kavanagh is the fifth book in his Belinda Lawrence Murder Mystery series and it is the most INTENSE one so far !!! I have been a devoted fan since I read the first book in this series Capable of Murder. I have grown to love Belinda and her sidekick Hazel and have loved watching their relationship take shape. And I have grown to love Belinda's relationship with Lord Mark Sallinger and was very happy when they decided to get engaged !!!

    However everything changes with A Wicked Design !!! That relationship between Belinda and Mark is challenged when Belinda's old boyfriend is murdered right before Belinda returns to her hometown to tell him face to face that it was definitely over and she was in love with Mark and planning to marry him. And when Kavanagh "teases" the reader into thinking Mark may have killed Brad, the reader is going to want to speed read to the end to find out the outcome.....

    Sadly Brad is not the only one to come to such a brutal end....when more people are found murdered and Mark is unreachable by phone and not answering Belinda's calls or text, what is one to think ? Well Belinda and Hazel try to keep open minds as they try to find out who killed Brad and the others and why.

    Kavanagh will capture the readers attention immediately and you will not want to put the book down until you reach the end and know the truth behind the murders and especially Brad's. One cannot help but feel for Belinda as she tries to bring Brad's killer to justice and prove Mark's innocence and as always Hazel is there to help lighten the mood !!!
    Helpful
     Report
  • Mary R. Fairchild
    4.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful story in delightful setting
    Reviewed in the United States on October 21, 2013
    The fifth adventure with Belinda Lawrence was well worth the wait. This story takes place in Australia and brings with it a sense of adventure and suspense. From the insidious hook at the beginning to the solution of the mystery one is treated to a rare visit to Melbourne and some of it's most interesting sites. A delightful tale with a vacation into the mix. I sincerely recommend this book for anyone who would like to spend some time following a bit of history in a fresh arena.
    One person found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

  • heather cameron
    5.0 out of 5 stars Another great read
    Reviewed in Australia on February 1, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    Without giving anything away, I was totally wrong in who I thought the killer was. Such a great story. Every body should read this series.
    Report
  • Amazon Customer
    4.0 out of 5 stars Enjoyable
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 7, 2014
    Verified Purchase
    I like Belinda and her female sidekick! But do not like her fiancee!

    Love the historical threads which make up the modern day crimes.

    A jolly good read
    Report

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