My name is Natalie Payne, but my friends call me Nat. My official title is Head of Ceremonies at the University of Oxford. I rotate from one college to another, planning events and organising ceremonies which make life at Oxford so special. In my first year here, I’ve gained a reputation for putting on events which defy the imagination. If only the students and staff knew my secret!

Unbeknownst to them, I’m one of Oxford’s three magical prefects. Together, we’re responsible for upholding Oxford’s connection to the magical world. Let me tell you, the college halls look very different to my eyes. There are ghostly inhabitants and talking creatures, collectively known as the Eternals.

My housemate is a cheeky, cheese-loving wyvern who was always up to no good. As for the ghosts who whisper words of advice to Oxford’s students and professors – one of them is dating my best friend. Even my grandfather managed to find a way to spend his afterlife ensconced in Oxford’s hallowed halls of learning.

While having access to a magical world is just as incredible as it sounds, it has also brought along a host of problems, and more than my fair share of dead bodies. From finding St Margaret’s famed chef dead in the college kitchen, to discovering a body in the Barnard library, my first few months at Oxford passed in a whirlwind. Just when I thought life was finally settling down, someone tried to set fire to the Ashmolean museum!

Despite all the ups and downs of my first year, nothing in the world could make me relinquish my place at Oxford. I’ve made friends for life, reconnected with long-lost family members, and even fallen in love. I know better than anyone how much a place and its people can benefit from a connection to the magical world around us.

And that brings me to our newest challenge. Together with Kate and Mathilde, my fellow prefects, we’re determined to bring magic to other parts of the world. Our first stop is Padua, Italy – Oxford’s newest twin city.

There’s just one problem. Our arrival in Padua rouses the interest of a vengeful spirit bent on destruction. A case of mistaken identity puts my close friend’s life at risk. Giving up isn’t an option. Our only choice is to solve a fifty-year-old mystery so we can finally put the spirits to rest.

Think you can solve the case? Follow along with our adventure in Post Mortem at Padua – book 6 in the Oxford Key Mysteries.

Post Mortem at Padua, An Oxford Key Mystery #6
Genre: Paranormal Cozy
Release: April 2022
Purchase Link

In Oxford’s newest twin city, a case of mistaken identity puts a woman’s life in jeopardy

The invitation to visit Oxford’s twin city of Padua couldn’t have come at a better time. Natalie, Kate, and Mathilde have spent weeks trying valiantly to expand Oxford’s magic, only to have every attempt end in failure. A trip to the land of pasta, high fashion, gelato, and fine wine sounds almost too good to be true.

They pack their suitcases and jet off for Italy, bringing Harry and H, Nat’s cheeky wyvern, along with them. But within minutes of landing, Harry falls prey to a series of mishaps.

As the danger grows, Nat wonders if perhaps Oxford isn’t the only thing with an Italian twin. Could a case of mistaken identity explain the malevolent force which has Harry in its sights?

Nat and her friends follow the evidence, uncovering a decades’ old cold case with a modern day connection. Friends new and old offer a hand with interpreting the clues as the investigation spans generations.

With the clock ticking, can they identify who killed Harry’s lookalike before Harry joins the ranks of the dead?

If you like cozy mysteries where ghosts walk the halls, paintings come to life, wyverns play around, and magic seems within reach, the Oxford Key Mysteries are sure to delight.

About the author
Lynn Morrison lives in Oxford, England along with her husband, two daughters and two cats. Born and raised in Mississippi, her wanderlust attitude has led her to also live in California, Italy, France and the Netherlands. It’s no surprise then that she loves to travel, with a never-ending wish list of destinations to visit. She is as passionate about reading as she is writing, and can almost always be found with a book in hand. You can find out more about her on her website LynnMorrisonWriter.com. 

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