Cathy Ace

ALLi Author Member

Location: Canada

Genres: Thriller, Crime, Mystery

Skills: Speaking Engagement/Lecture, Reading/Literary Event, Press/Media Interview

Cathy Ace was born and raised in Swansea, Wales, then migrated to Canada aged 40. Having traveled the world (for business and pleasure) for decades, Cathy put her knowledge of the cultures, history, art, and food she encountered to good use in the Cait Morgan Mysteries - a series of traditional whodunits featuring a globetrotting Welsh Canadian professor of criminal psychology. These books have been optioned by Free@LastTV (Agatha Raisin). Eve Myles will play Cait Morgan.

Ace also writes the #1 amazon bestselling WISE Enquiries Agency Mysteries, featuring four female PIs (one is Welsh, one Irish, one Scottish, one English). They tackle quirky, quintessentially British cases from a Welsh stately home in the rolling countryside of the Wye Valley. Her standalone tale of psychological suspense, The Wrong Boy, also became an amazon #1 bestseller, and is due to become a bilingual TV mini series.

Cathy lives on five rural acres in British Columbia, where her ever-supportive husband ensures she’s able to work full-time as an author, and enjoy her other great passion – gardening. She’s been shortlisted for Canada's Bony Blithe Award three times, winning once, and has been twice shortlisted for Crime Writers of Canada Awards of Excellence, and the crimefictionlover.com Best Indie Award.

Cathy Ace's books

The Corpse with the SilverTongue

In the south of France where hatred simmers in the heat, a man seemingly admired, and certainly feared, drops dead at a dinner party. All of the guests fall under suspicion, including Welsh-Canadian professor Cait Morgan. A criminologist who specializes in profiling victims, Cait sets out to solve the murder—and clear her name. Add to this the disappearance of an ancient Celtic gold collar said to be cursed and there you have the ingredients for a Nicoise salad of death, secrets, and lies. Will Cait find the killer before she too falls victim to a murderer driven by a surprising and disturbing motive?

The Corpse with the Silver Tongue is the first in the Cait Morgan mystery series, a classic whodunit series featuring the eccentric Professor Cait Morgan.

“In the finest tradition of Agatha Christie, debut author Ace brings us the closed-room drama, with a dollop of romantic suspense and historical intrigue.” —Library Journal

“Cait’s enjoyable first outing should earn her a well-deserved encore.” —Publishers Weekly

The Corpse with the Golden Nose

A heartfelt plea to look into the death of a world-famous vintner goes hand in hand with the opportunity to attend an exclusive gourmet event in British Columbia's stunning wine country. How can overindulgent foodie and criminologist Cait Morgan resist?

Sure that the award-winning owner of a family-run vineyard was murdered, Cait shares her findings with Bud Anderson, a retired homicide cop. But he is convinced that the woman took her own life, whatever her grief-stricken sister might say. That is, until death strikes once again, in the neat rows of grapevines that clamber up the banks of magnificent Lake Okanagan. Uncovering obsessions that might have fuelled murderous thoughts among the victim's wacky neighbours is a start, but as Cait unravels the clues, she realizes that more lives are at stake. Can she think, and act, quickly enough to thwart the killer?

The Corpse with the Golden Nose is the second book in the Cait Morgan Mysteries, a classic whodunit series featuring the eccentric Professor Cait Morgan.

“If you’re a lover of classic mystery, this second Cait Morgan novel is for you. Ace takes her foodie/criminologist into B.C. wine country for a murder with touches of Christie or Marsh but with a bouquet of Kinsey Millhone." —The Globe and Mail

“…neatly paced with zippy dialogue and plot twists reminiscent of a country lane, served up with orange juice and champagne, of course. Add a murder, Cait Morgan doing a fine turn as Sherlock Holmes and her friend Bud Anderson as Dr. Watson, and you have a sparkling, well-plotted and quite devious mystery in the cozy tradition, all pointing to Ace’s growing finesse at telling an entertaining story.”—Hamilton Spectator

The Corpse with the Emerald Thumb

Criminologist and foodie Cait Morgan was looking forward to her dream vacation in Mexico with her boyfriend Bud Anderson. She wasn’t anticipating a fresh corpse on the floor of a local florist’s shop, and she definitely wasn’t expecting Bud to become the prime suspect.

With Bud’s freedom, and maybe even his life, at stake, Cait has to fight the clock to work out which member of the small community living in the seemingly idyllic municipality of Punta de las Rocas might have killed the locally respected florist, and why. Needing to investigate under the watchful gaze of the local police, Cait has to keep her relationship with Bud a secret, and she soon discovers she’s not the only one with something to hide. Peeling back layers of deceit to reveal even more puzzles, Cait struggles with a creeping sense of unreality, desperate to save Bud . . . and, ultimately, herself.

In the third book in the beloved Cait Morgan Mysteries, The Corpse with the Emerald Thumb, travel to the idyllic Mexican countryside as Cait Morgan works against the clock to clear her wrongly accused partner of murder.

The Corpse with the Platinum Hair

Welsh Canadian foodie and criminologist Cait Morgan takes off on a short break to the fabulous Tsar! Casino and Hotel in Las Vegas with her significant other, retired cop Bud Anderson. But before they can start celebrating Bud’s birthday in style at the casino owners’ exclusive private dining room, the death of Miss Shirley — a woman with a colorful background and the acknowledged Queen of the Strip — results in a security lockdown. Cait, Bud, a corpse, and ten possible murderers are trapped in the luxurious restaurant for twelve deadly hours. The bodies pile up, the tension mounts, the list of suspects dwindles — and Cait knows she has to work out who within the group is an audacious killer because there’s no telling who might be next to die.

"An intriguing premise … Traditionalists will enjoy this mystery that plays with classic mystery conventions while also celebrating everything that makes Las Vegas so unique." —Kings River Life

"Strong story-telling and a fast paced ending." —Don Graves, Canadian Mystery Reviews blog

"Cathy Ace can be commended for sticking to a tried and tested formula of cosy crime in an exotic location, reminiscent of the Golden Age of crime fiction. The Corpse with the Platinum Hair offers a sympathetic amateur detective, a locked-room mystery, a small cast of colourful suspects, loving descriptions of food and drink, and a few red herrings thrown our way." —Marina Sofia, CrimeFictionLover blog

The Corpse with the Sapphire Eyes

“Don’t panic, Cait. This death will not spoil our wedding. I promise.”

It’s Cait and Bud’s wedding weekend and nothing is going as planned. The weather in Wales is terrible, the “romantic” castle they chose for their destination wedding feels creepy, and now there’s a dead man at the foot of the stairs.

Bud assures her that the death of the choirmaster is nothing more than an unfortunate accident, but the bride cannot help but suspect the worst. With the only bridge to the castle washed out by the storm, Cait surmises that the murderer is still in their midst, and sets out to catch the culprit. She knows she has to solve the case before something, or someone, prevents her from finally saying “I do.”

With an eclectic cast of characters and a baffling mystery, the fifth Cait Morgan Mystery will have you stumbling to catch up to Cait’s brilliant mind, and keep you guessing until its shocking conclusion.

“Touches of Christie or Marsh but with a bouquet of Kinsey Millhone.” —Globe and Mail

The Corpse with the Diamond Hand

Professor Cait Morgan and Bud Anderson have finally said 'I do'. To celebrate, they set sail on a romantic Hawaiian honeymoon cruise and, for nearly two weeks, the mystery solving newlyweds are worry-free. But then a man drops dead in the games room right in front of them and Cait and Bud can't help but lend their expertise.

To the others in the games room, the sudden death of Tommy Trussler—the ship's onboard card-game tutor—appears to have been from natural causes. But the professor suspects something much more sinister. With only two days left at sea—and thousands of possible suspects—the head of security is eager to solve the case and invites Cait and Bud to aid in the investigation. But the unique circumstances of an at-sea investigation mean their involvement cannot be official, and Cait must lean on her charm to conduct her own covert interviews.

Complete with laugh-out-loud moments and mouth-watering descriptions of the ship's cuisine, the case of the The Corpse with the Diamond Hand will once again have you marvelling at Cait's cleverness as she brings another murderer to justice.

The Corpse with the Garnet Face

The seventh book in the Cait Morgan series finds the eccentric Welsh criminologist–sleuth accompanying her husband Bud to Amsterdam to try to unravel a puzzling situation. Bud is as surprised to discover he has a long-lost uncle as he is to discover Uncle Jonas has met an untimely death. Bud's mother assures him Jonas was a bad child—but, from beyond the grave—Uncle Jonas begs his nephew to visit the city he adopted as his home to delve into the life he built for himself there, founded on his passion for art. With an old iron key as their only clue, Cait and Bud travel to Amsterdam to solve the cryptic message left by Jonas, and honour the dying wishes of a long-lost relative.

“Perfect comfort reading. You could call it Agatha Christie set in the modern world, with great dollops of lovingly described food and drink.” —Crime Fiction Lover

The Corpse with the Ruby Lips

Quirky criminology professor Cait Morgan is invited to be a guest lecturer at a Budapest university, and although she's hesitant to go without her husband and trusted sidekick, Bud, who must stay home to care for his aging parents, she decides to make the month-long trip on her own.

Soon after arriving, one of her new students, Zsofia, pleads with Cait to help her uncover any clues about her grandmother's unsolved murder, which happened decades ago on the campus of Cait's own home university in Canada. Cait agrees, but when she is repeatedly hassled by an creepy colleague, and as bizarre details about Zsofia's family members come to light, Cait is beset by uncertainty.

As she gets closer to the truth, Cait's investigation puts the powers-that-be on high alert, and her instincts tell her she's in grave danger. Bud races to Budapest to come to Cait's side, but will it be too late?

The Corpse with the Crystal Skull

Welsh Canadian globetrotting sleuth, and professor of criminal psychology, Cait Morgan, is supposed to be “celebrating” her fiftieth birthday in Jamaica with her ex-cop husband Bud Anderson. But when the body of the luxury estate’s owner is discovered locked inside an inaccessible tower, Cait and her fellow guests must work out who might have killed him – even if his murder seems impossible.

Could the death of the man who hosted parties in the 1960s attended by Ian Fleming and Noël Coward be somehow linked to treasure the legendary Captain Henry Morgan might have buried at the estate? Or to the mission Bud and his secret service colleagues have been sent to the island to undertake?

The Corpse with the Iron Will

Welsh criminal psychologist and globetrotting sleuth, Cait Morgan, and her retired-cop husband Bud Anderson, are enjoying some well-deserved peace and quiet at home, in moody, mountainous British Columbia. The sudden death of a neighbor is a significant loss for them both, so Cait’s honored when Gordy Krantz’s “unusual” will requests that she eulogize him at his memorial.

However, delving into the dead man’s background becomes a pressing priority when a puzzling theft, and some surprising discoveries, put our favorite sleuths on high alert. Might someone living in their seemingly tight-knit – and certainly off-beat – rural community have wanted their neighbor dead? And if so, are more people they know at risk?

The tenth Cait Morgan Mystery from Bony Blithe Award-winning author Cathy Ace, The Corpse with the Iron Will, forces Cait and Bud to use the skills they’ve honed tackling cases around the world to unmask a killer who’s too close to home for comfort! "

"...(Cathy Ace) is, as it fortunately happens, more than adept at the Christie thing.” Toronto Star "

"...(Cait possesses)...powers of deduction, which are worthy of Hercule Poirot.” The Jury Box, Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine

The Corpse with the Granite Heart

Welsh Canadian criminal psychologist Cait Morgan, and her retired-cop husband Bud Anderson, are in London, England, to meet their friend John Silver’s freshly minted fiancée, the daughter of a recently deceased Shakespeare aficionado, and captain of industry. The trip is supposed to be filled with art galleries, good food, and Christmas spirit. However, an untimely death at a posh dinner party threatens to send shock waves through the upper strata of London society.

Cait and Bud’s desire to seek out the truth is blocked by a shadowy figure who’s been tasked with keeping the incident hush-hush, but – as the body-count rises – the investigation develops a dreadful momentum.

This is the eleventh Cait Morgan Mystery, and it finds our usually unstoppable duo running up against the immoveable machinery of power…with tragic consequences.

The Wrong Boy

Perched on a Welsh clifftop, the ancient, picturesque hamlet of Rhosddraig has its peaceful façade ripped apart when human remains are discovered under a pile of stones. The village pub, The Dragon's Head, run by three generations of women, becomes the focal point for those interested in the grisly find, and it’s where layers of deceit are peeled away to expose old secrets, and deep wounds.

The police need to establish who died, how, and why, but DI Evan Glover knows he can’t be involved in the investigation, because he's just two days away from retirement. However, as the case develops in unexpected ways, it becomes irrevocably woven into his life, and the lives of local families, leading to disturbing revelations – and deadly consequences . . .

“…a truly gripping and strong narrative, coupled with a story line that is both intriguing and thoroughly entertaining.” Yrsa Sigurdardóttir, award-winning, No. 1 bestselling Icelandic crime fiction author

"Family secrets stalk three generations of women in Cathy Ace’s suspense-packed page turner, THE WRONG BOY. The ending is a stunner." Hallie Ephron, NY Times bestselling author of ‘You’ll Never Know Dear’

"A disturbing storyline of family secrets, deftly told, and with a remarkable sense of place. Almost mythic in nature, it’s narrated by a chorus of voices which stay with you all the way to the stunning ending and beyond." Craig Robertson, international bestselling author

Murder Knows No Season

FOUR DELICIOUSLY DIFFERENT SHORT NOVELS, ONE FOR EACH SEASON OF THE YEAR

WINTER: The Corpse with Eight Faces - A Cait Morgan Mystery
Trapped in a snowbound lodge in the Canadian countryside, Cait is faced with a corpse, and a group of eight suspects. A classic closed-circle mystery featuring Cait Morgan.

SPRING: The Case of the Desperate Duchess - A WISE Enquiries Agency Mystery
Lady Jacintha Wraysbury calls in the WISE Enquiries Agency to hunt for a missing girl. Join the private investigators as they scour West London for a florist who’s in more danger than any of them imagine.

SUMMER: Out and About in a Boat - A standalone thriller
Meet an average Canadian family. Dad Dave takes his son and daughter for a weekend at a local lake. What could go wrong in just thirty hours? When there’s a dead body involved, quite a lot.

AUTUMN: The Fall - A DI Evan Glover Case
When a Welsh rugby legend’s body is found at the bottom of a cliff, the question 'Did he jump, or was he pushed?' is one of national significance. Sadly, DI Evan Glover’s inquiries reveal his hero might not have been the man he thought he was.

Murder Keeps No Calendar

Twelve 'killer' tales, each connected with one month of the year!

For those who already know Cathy Ace's characters Cait Morgan and Bud Anderson - or the women of the WISE Enquiries Agency - this collection of novellas and short stories will bring the delight of finding out how they met their 'significant others' and began their murderous adventures.

For those discovering this award-winning author for the first time, you're in for a treat...with twelve tales of intrigue and murder to enjoy, two of which have already been produced for BBC Radio 4.

These stories take you on journeys to Wales, China, Canada, Scotland, Italy and England...where you'll meet unforgettable characters who all have something in common - MURDER!

Soak up the local atmosphere as you consider some puzzling crimes, enjoy thrills and suspense, and take a sideways glance at devious, dastardly deeds.

The Case of the Unsuitable Suitor

A SUITOR WITH THREE DEAD WIVES. JUST BAD LUCK OR SOMETHING MORE SINISTER?

Successful businessman and charmer Huw Hughes comes back to the village and sets his sights on Annie. Can the other women of the WISE Enquiries Agency unearth the truth behind Huw having been widowed three times?

Christine is enjoying a break at her family’s Irish estate – where she and the brooding Alexander face a surprisingly dangerous case of theft.

Mavis and Carol have to work with dowager duchess Althea Twyst to ensure their unsuspecting friend Annie’s safety . . . and possibly protect the lives of other villagers. And of course all this mustn’t disrupt the Duke’s annual croquet tournament! Someone seems to want it to turn out very nasty indeed.

MURDER, LIES AND MOLES ON THE CROQUET LAWN!

THE DETECTIVES
The WISE Enquiries Agency consists of Mavis, Annie, Carol and Christine. One is Welsh, one Irish, one Scottish and one English, hence the name. Drawn together by chance – and a killer – the women of the WISE Enquiries Agency turned their backs on their previous careers to work together to help others. Combining their unique skills, and revelling in their differences, they’re doing their best to make the business succeed. But being private investigators isn’t a bed of roses – there are bills to pay, clients to be managed, and dangers to be faced. Can they manage to do it all, and survive?

PRAISE FOR THIS SERIES

“Cozy fans will enjoy their chitchat as much as their sleuthing.” Publishers Weekly

“An utterly charming country house mystery with modern touches.” Crimefictionlover

“A delightful new cozy series with a lovely setting and four loveable heroines.” cayocosta72

"Charming, quirky and completely entertaining!" Hank Phillippi Ryan

"Start with an irresistible premise, confound expectations with four top-notch characters, and we're off." Catriona McPherson

“A gratifying contemporary series in the traditional British manner with hilarious repercussions. Cozy fans will anticipate learning more about these WISE ladies.” Library Journal Starred Review

The Case of the Curious Cook

TOO MANY COOKS SPOIL THE BROTH, BUT DO TOO MANY DETECTIVES?

Henry Twyst, eighteenth Duke of Chellingworth, is terribly worried about some water damage to the priceless books in his library and hires a local book restorer to tackle the repairs.

The antiquarian also runs the Crooks and Cooks bookshop with his daughter — local TV celebrity chef, The Curious Cook.

When the book restorer mentions some strange shenanigans going on at the book shop, Dowager Duchess Althea brings the case to the women of the WISE Enquiries Agency.

Just as they are trying to solve one case, they get embroiled in another. They come across a valuable book of miniatures which seems to be the work of a famous local artist, who was murdered by her own brother.

Are the cases linked and why do both mysteries lead to a nearby old folks’ home?

The WISE women are on the case — and nothing will get in their way . . .

THE DETECTIVES
The WISE Enquiries Agency consists of Mavis, Annie, Carol and Christine. One is Welsh, one Irish, one Scottish and one English, hence the name. Drawn together by chance – and a killer – the women of the WISE Enquiries Agency turned their backs on their previous careers to work together to help others. Combining their unique skills, and revelling in their differences, they’re doing their best to make the business succeed. But being private investigators isn’t a bed of roses – there are bills to pay, clients to be managed, and dangers to be faced. Can they manage to do it all, and survive?

PRAISE FOR THIS SERIES

“Cozy fans will enjoy their chitchat as much as their sleuthing.” Publishers Weekly

“An utterly charming country house mystery with modern touches.” Crimefictionlover

“A delightful new cozy series with a lovely setting and four loveable heroines.” cayocosta72

"Charming, quirky and completely entertaining!" Hank Phillippi Ryan

"Start with an irresistible premise, confound expectations with four top-notch characters, and we're off." Catriona McPherson

“A gratifying contemporary series in the traditional British manner with hilarious repercussions. Cozy fans will anticipate learning more about these WISE ladies.” Library Journal Starred Review

The Case of the Missing Morris Dancer

A MISSING DANCER THREATENS THE DUKE’S WELSH WEDDING

Henry, 18th Duke of Chellingworth, is about to marry Stephanie Timbers in a grand ceremony at his Welsh estate.

He’s deeply in love with her but is overwhelmed by the wedding details: including Welsh cakes, elaborate decorations, and a bard to announce their nuptials.

Not to mention the Morris dancers who must lead the wedding party through the village.

And now one of them is missing. Along with the troupe’s kit of exquisite sixteenth-century silver bells and engraved sticks.

Can the ladies track him down and save the day? In between plenty of tea and biscuits, they’ll find plenty of secrets behind the net curtains of an idyllic Welsh village.

Perfect for fans of Stella Cameron, Faith Martin, Agatha Christie, Frances Evesham, Betty Rowlands, or M.C. Beaton.

THE DETECTIVES
The WISE Enquiries Agency consists of Mavis, Annie, Carol and Christine. One is Welsh, one Irish, one Scottish and one English, hence the name. Drawn together by chance – and a killer – the women of the WISE Enquiries Agency turned their backs on their previous careers to work together to help others. Combining their unique skills, and revelling in their differences, they’re doing their best to make the business succeed. But being private investigators isn’t a bed of roses – there are bills to pay, clients to be managed, and dangers to be faced. Can they manage to do it all, and survive?

PRAISE FOR THIS SERIES

“Cozy fans will enjoy their chitchat as much as their sleuthing.” Publishers Weekly

“An utterly charming country house mystery with modern touches.” Crimefictionlover

“A delightful new cozy series with a lovely setting and four loveable heroines.” cayocosta72

"Charming, quirky and completely entertaining!" Hank Phillippi Ryan

"Start with an irresistible premise, confound expectations with four top-notch characters, and we're off." Catriona McPherson

“A gratifying contemporary series in the traditional British manner with hilarious repercussions. Cozy fans will anticipate learning more about these WISE ladies.” Library Journal Starred Review

The Case of the Dotty Dowager

DISCOVER YOUR NEXT FAVOURITE MURDER MYSTERY SERIES.

Meet the Women of the WISE Enquiries Agency: Mavis, Annie, Carol and Christine. One is Welsh, one Irish, one Scottish and one English. Hence the name.

Henry Twyst, eighteenth Duke of Chellingworth, is convinced his mother is losing her marbles. The dowager claims to have seen a corpse on the dining-room floor, but all she has to prove it is a bloodied bobble hat.

A BODY IN THE DINING ROOM. A BEAUTIFUL OLD MANSION. FOUR LADIES WHO WILL SOLVE THE MYSTERY.

Henry hires the women of the WISE Enquiries Agency. The duke wants the strange matter explained.

But the truth of what happened at the Chellingworth Estate, set in the rolling Welsh countryside near the quaint village of Anwen by Wye, is more complex, dangerous, and deadly, than anyone could have foreseen . . .

Perfect for fans of Stella Cameron, Faith Martin, Agatha Christie, Frances Evesham, Betty Rowlands, or M.C. Beaton.

THE DETECTIVES
The WISE Enquiries Agency consists of Mavis, Annie, Carol and Christine. One is Welsh, one Irish, one Scottish and one English, hence the name. Drawn together by chance – and a killer – the women of the WISE Enquiries Agency turned their backs on their previous careers to work together to help others. Combining their unique skills, and reveling in their differences, they’re doing their best to make the business succeed. But being private investigators isn’t a bed of roses – there are bills to pay, clients to be managed, and dangers to be faced. Can they manage to do it all, and survive?

A CLASSIC COUNTRY HOUSE MYSTERY BROUGHT BANG UP TO DATE. MORE BOOKS COMING SOON!

PRAISE FOR THIS BOOK

"Start with an irresistible premise, confound expectations with four top-notch characters, and we're off." Catriona McPherson

“A gratifying contemporary series in the traditional British manner with hilarious repercussions. Cozy fans will anticipate learning more about these WISE ladies.” Library Journal Starred Review

"The Case Of The Dotty Dowager has everything you could want in a murder story: a body in the dining room, a duke's ancestral home, and four brilliant ladies working together to solve the case." James W Ziskin

Loading...