{"product_id":"the-plain-old-man-9781504067720","title":"The Plain Old Man","description":"\u003cb\u003eMurder upstages a Kelling family theatrical production--and Boston's art sleuths are on the case. \"The screwball mystery is Charlotte MacLeod's cup of tea\" (\u003ci\u003eChicago Tribune\u003c\/i\u003e).\u003c\/b\u003e \u003cbr\u003e Producing a Gilbert \u0026amp; Sullivan opera requires a special kind of madness, and the Kelling family is large enough and peculiar enough to undertake an entire company by themselves. For years now, Sarah Kelling's Aunt Emma has supervised these annual productions--from \u003ci\u003eThe Pirates of Penzance\u003c\/i\u003e to \u003ci\u003eThe Mikado\u003c\/i\u003e--and this year she has invited her cast of relatives to rehearse \u003ci\u003eThe Sorcerer\u003c\/i\u003e in her stately mansion. The show is nearly ready when a team of burglars drugs the cast and crew to make off with a priceless portrait. Theft or no theft, Aunt Emma insists the show must go on. Even when one of the cast dies suddenly, she finds a replacement and continues rehearsal. But when Sarah begins to suspect the actor was murdered, it becomes clear that dear Aunt Emma may be in danger of taking her final bow.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAbout the Author\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003eCharlotte MacLeod (1922-2005) was an international bestselling author of cozy mysteries. Born in Canada, she moved to Boston as a child and lived in New England most of her life. After graduating from college, she made a career in advertising, writing copy for the Stop \u0026amp; Shop Supermarket Company before moving on to Boston firm N. H. Miller \u0026amp; Co., where she rose to the rank of vice president. In her spare time, MacLeod wrote short stories, and in 1964 published her first novel, a children's book called \u003ci\u003eMystery of the White Knight. \u003c\/i\u003e \u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003e \u003c\/i\u003e \u003cbr\u003e In \u003ci\u003eRest You Merry\u003c\/i\u003e (1978), MacLeod introduced Professor Peter Shandy, a horticulturist and amateur sleuth whose adventures she would chronicle for two decades. \u003ci\u003eThe Family Vault \u003c\/i\u003e(1979) marked the first appearance of her other best-known characters: the husband and wife sleuthing team Sarah Kelling and Max Bittersohn, whom she followed until her last novel, \u003ci\u003eThe Balloon Man\u003c\/i\u003e, in 1998.\u003cbr\u003e","brand":"Open Road Integrated Media, Inc.","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50520749605138,"sku":"9781504067720","price":13.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0831\/4771\/8930\/files\/img_2340ea7c-0155-469d-9425-4ab064d3c918.jpg?v=1731090520","url":"https:\/\/surprise-castle.myshopify.com\/products\/the-plain-old-man-9781504067720","provider":"Surprise Castle","version":"1.0","type":"link"}