The Weapon and the Fruit

Any Body Can Murder

By: L. E. Bendon

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Paperback | 7 July 2025

At a Glance

Paperback
346 Pages

Dimensions(cm)
19.84 x 12.85 x 1.96

Paperback

$26.39

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A serial killer with a taste for classic crime. Murder scenes staged all over West London. An invitation to play.

Private Detective Lance Pomegranate has received an amusing email. At first it appears to be a typical scam. But unlike every other fraudster sullying his inbox, this one isn't asking for his bank details. The sender knows exactly who Lance is and is demanding that he play a dangerous game.

Taking inspiration from Agatha Christie's The ABC Murders, unhinged emailer Malcolm Dombattu has meticulously constructed a pattern of deaths designed to confuse and mislead. The victims don't realise they're playing, but Lance, barefoot as always and unwilling to abide by anyone's rules but his own, wades towards the deep end.

As the bodies mount, the case turns personal, and when the killer strikes at Lance's deepest vulnerabilities, the detective is forced to question not just the nature of the game, but whether solving the case will cost him more than he can afford to lose.

Beloved characters make a welcome return to assist Lance - some more willingly than others - in this sharp, suspenseful sequel to Four and Twenty Blackboards. Any Body Can Murder is a gripping crime novel where fiction meets reality, secrets refuse to stay buried, and every step closer to the truth comes at a price.

Industry Reviews

"A fantastic murder mystery which kept me guessing until the end. L.E. Bendon uses diversity in this book so well and the diversity helps subtly play on the world's current issues which was very clever. " ~ Charlie Nicholson, UK

"A rich tapestry of cheeky dialogue, decadent wine, and, of course, murder. The ending is incredibly satisfying and the social commentary is just as fun as in the debut!" ~ Heather Prewitt, Indiana, USA.

"A quirky, cleverly plotted murder mystery that delivers a dose of British humour and charm, all wrapped up in a game of cat and mouse with a serial killer. Private Detective Lance Pomegranate is an offbeat and entertaining lead, and the cast of returning characters adds colour and complexity to the mystery." ~ Natasha Sebuwufu, UAE.

"It was a riot through and through, highly recommend!" ~ Zoë Partyka, Florida, USA.

"A cleverly written murder mystery with a sharp dose of wit, humour and sarcasm. Lance himself is very quirky, presented in such a way that I liked him from the start. "~ Lorraine, UK

"I absolutely love this. If you are an Agatha Christie and or Richard Osman fan or general murder mystery fan you do not want to miss this." ~ BooksCovered HB, UK.

"I love a good murder mystery, and this one delivered, with an extra twist of humour throughout that made it a really unique read." ~ Kayleigh, UK.

"Such a funny book with witty one liners and sarcasm. The whole barefoot thing was great, loved the theme of that and maybe I'll try it myself one day." ~ Cara (bunnypop_bookstagram), UK

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