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"But Lavinia, I don't want people staying here," said the Earl. "After the last two house parties, we agreed no more." "This wouldn't be a house party, George, it's nine guests for one night." "But the last two times we've had people here it's been disastrous." "This is quite different. These people are family, not spies and jewel thieves and blackmailers and film stars. And when one occupies an historic house such as Alderley, one cannot shut its doors because of a few unfortunate incidents." Lord Burford's misgivings were understandable. After all, the "unfortunate incidents" had been murders. Things start to go wrong when one of guests claims she has knowledge that would ruin the others' reputations. Then she is found murdered.... "With a cast that includes an MP, a King's Counsel and his ditzy blonde daughter, a ne'er-do-well nephew and, of course, the butler Merryweather, Anderson has created the perfect group for a delightful romp. And romp they do through a lighthearted tale of family feuds, practical jokes, lies and a myriad of tantalizing clues." -Publishers Weekly Praise for The Affair of the Bloodstained Egg Cosy and The Affair of the Mutilated Mink "The classic British mystery lives and flourishes. Delightful." -The New York Times "[With these two books] Anderson almost single-handedly rekindled an interest in the classic detective story." -The Denver Post James Anderson lives and writes in a small resort town near Cardiff, Wales. The Affair of the 39 Cufflinks is his third Alderley Mystery. www.jamesanderson-writer.co.uk

"Poisoned Pen Press of Scottsdale, Arizona, is another small press that is providing quality mysteries overlooked or ignored by the major houses. Yet, James Anderson's "The Affair of the 39 Cuff Links" (Poisoned Pen Press, 320 pages, $24.95) is a vastly different kind of book from anything Akashic Press is doing. It's a shamelessly affectionate send-up of those classic house-party mysteries of the 1930s which at the same time manages to pay homage to the Golden Age of detective fiction." -The Denver Post

It's a real joy to pick up a book like this in an age where clueless reviewers unwittingly demean the mystery field by proclaiming that such and such author has managed to "transcend the genre" (whatever that means) by exposing the darker side of the human condition. That's great, if you can pull it off, and we're all for it, in limited amounts, but sometimes we yearn for the days when murder mysteries were just plain fun to read.

Anderson understands that need better than any other modern mystery writer. Twenty-odd years ago, he almost single-handedly rekindled an interest in the classic detective story when Avon published his first two Golden Age send-ups as paperback originals. When Poisoned Pen Press reissued those two wonderful titles, The Affair of the Bloodstained Egg Cosy ($11.95) and The Affair of the Mutilated Mink ($14.95), a whole new generation of readers fell in love with the English house-party mystery, prompting Anderson to reprise his short-lived series.

And what a delight it is. Given the disastrous events that took place at two earlier parties, you would think that the Earl of Burford would know better than to invite the nine people who are namedin the will of the late Honourable Mrs. Florence Saunders to spend the night. One of the guests promptly announces that she knows something that another of the other guests would like kept secret and before you can say Agatha Christie, she's dead and the services of Chief Inspector Wilkins are once again needed. Oh joy, oh what lovely, lovely fun.

James Anderson was born in Wiltshire, but his parents, who were Welsh, moved back to Cardiff when he was eight and he has lived in or near that city most of his life, lately in the small seaside resort of Penarth.

He took a degree in History at the University of Reading and worked as a salesman, copywriter and freelance journalist before writing his first novel. His interests include cricket and vintage films, and he is a committed Christian.

He is so far, though not from any lack of inclination, unmarried.