“MURDER IN MERRY OLD” by David Lawrence is the first murder mystery novel in a series revolving around the central character, Simon Grand, who rules an empire of travel related businesses including books, magazine and newspaper columns, a videotaped series called “The Inside Guides” and regular guest appearances on television talk shows.

For pleasure more than profit, Simon Grand guides periodic tours for the affluent to the world’s most romantic places. Each Grand Tour lasts up to a dozen days and includes12 disparate guests who pay handsomely for a luxurious, pampered holiday planned and executed by the world’s most successful travel authority.

 The 13th guest is always Death.

 The scene is invariably a dream destination with a nightmare on arrival.

“Murder in Merry Old” is set in the lush, charming area of The New Forest in the southwest of contemporary England dotted with quaint and vibrant villages that seem caught in the peace and quiet of yesterday. Until Simon Grand and his ominous band of American tourists invade the Forest. Murder travels with them.

 A dozen colorful characters locked together, isolated — strangers in a strange land — who bring along more baggage than their Louis Vuitton and who follow their leader, urbane and elegant, charismatic and enigmatic Simon Grand through Heaven and Hell.

 You are cordially invited along.

 Just pack something bulletproof!

WHAT THE REVIEWERS SAY:

Like being part of a guided tour to a really special part of England – the new Forest. This is an inspired idea for a series — combining travel with an edge-of-the-seat mystery story

–Jackie Joseph, Travel Columnist The Tolucan Times, Los Angeles

“Murder in Merry Old” is very merry and very murder-y. A Grand read. I highly recommend it.

–Jo Anne Worley, TV and Broadway Star.

Really sophisticated, exciting story; lots of twists and turns. Great characters with fab leading man. I especially liked the emphasis on high fashion combined with romance and mystery.

— Bob Mackie, world-famous Costume Designer.

David Lawrence’s love affair with Europe began when he wrote and produced the TV Movie, “TOURIST” over a whirlwind 5-week schedule filming in London, Paris, Rome and Amsterdam.

Lawrence’s credits as Writer/Producer include “CONSENTING ADULT” – ABC TV Movie starring Marlo Thomas and Martin Sheen.

“THE FASHION AWARDS” – ABC Musical Variety Special starring Diahann Carroll, Ken Berry, Juliet Prowse, and John Davidson costumed by major fashion designers.

“THAT’S HOLLYWOOD” – Tom Bosley hosted 3 seasons for ABC, 72 half-hours on the best of the movies,

“M*A*S*H” – One-hour CBS Special retrospective for final year of the series.

“KEN FOLLETT’S KEY TO REBECCA” – 4-hour Miniseries with Cliff Robertson, David Soul, Season Hubley, and David Hemmings, filmed in Tunisia.

“HELEN KELLER, THE MIRACLE CONTINUES” – TV Movie with Blythe Danner, Mare Winningham and Perry King, filmed in England.

“VOYAGE OF TERROR: HIJACKING OF ACHILLE LAURO” – starring Burt Lancaster, Eva Marie Saint, Robert Culp and a multi-national cast, 6-hour Miniseries filmed on the actual ship and in her ports from Naples to Egypt to Israel.

“TV: THE FABULOUS 50’s” – retrospective NBC Special hosted by Lucille Ball, Red Skelton, Dinah Shore, David Janssen, Mary Martin and Michael Landon.

“SEARCH FOR TOMORROW” – final year of the NBC series..

“VENDETTA” – starring Eric Roberts, Carol Alt and Eli Wallach, and sequel “THE YOUNG MAFIA” each a 4-hour Miniseries filmed in Rome, New York and Montreal.

David Lawrence is a Past President of the TV Academy.