Pretty Maids All in a RowActress Jessica Randal has been incapacitated by a broken leg, and both she and her husband of eight weeks, author Matthew Selby, think they will have a month of tranquility and convalescence when they rent Hinckley cottage near the rustic English village of Westridge. But a demented rapist is stalking the town, striking quickly, savagely and often, and always adding his own macabre touch to the act by forcing his terrified victims to recite nursery rhymes. When the body of Freda Cowley, missing owner of Hinckley cottage, is discovered with a nursery rhyme tucked into her pocket, it becomes apparent that the rapist is also a murderer, and the community, populated with well-meaning, sharp-eyed and astute citizens, draws together for support and protection and tries to make sure that Jessica, housebound and helpless, has someone with her when Matthew is out of town. Jessica is indeed at risk, for several bizarre incidents have drawn suspicion to her husband, and clues suggest she is next on the murderer's list. |
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Angie anyway asked breath Carrie Speight Carrie's chair Charles Palmer Chief Inspector coffee Cook cottage course darling Dave door drink eyes face Freda Cowley garden girl glance gone hair hand Hannah he'd head heard Hinckley's Jackson Jessica long Jessica Randal Kathy kitchen knew laugh Lois Long Preston looked lunch Markham Marlton Matron Matthew Selby mind Miss Speight morning moved murder never night nodded non-secretor North Yorkshire nursery rhymes Packhorse Palmer Parbold paused police PRETTY MAIDS rape remember road round Sandon Sandon Hall she'd Shillingham shook smiled someone sorry Southern stared stood suddenly suppose sure Susan talk tell Ten Little Niggers Thank There's things thought told took Turbigo turned ULVERSCROFT village voice waiting watched Webb Westridge wife Willows window woman wondered