Daisy Waugh

A LAUGHING EPIDEMIC IS SWEEPING THE NATION! Four months ago, terminally gloomy tech billionaire, Ozias Plume, caught a laughing virus that made him see the funny side of life. The virus made him so happy, he felt duty-bound to spread it around the world. He started with little ol’ England… And now the miserable Brits won’t stop laughing. It’s a nightmare for the UK authorities. Fines are imposed. A public inquiry is launched. A state of emergency is declared. … and STILL the people laugh... It’s revolting! The people are revolting! CIVILISATION IS ON THE BRINK

'A hilariously funny and bonkers book which I thoroughly enjoyed' ANNE GLENCONNER'A witty, waspy, parody that hits its targets - hilarious' HELEN LEDERERThe next in Daisy Waugh's hilarious Tode Hall series: a gloriously witty tale of toffs, terror and old school ties . . .The Todes are heading to Italy - and taking murder and mayhem with them. Close to Rome, set among ancient ruins and freshwater springs, languishes the magnificent Villa Rospo, a jewel in the Tode family portfolio, and one they had virtually forgotten - until Sir Ecgbert and Alice decide it's the perfect place for their honeymoon. Now suddenly everyone wants a piece.Sir Ecgbert's brother Esmé sees it as an opportunity to restore his lost fortunes by turning it into a luxury eco wellness hub. His business partner Charlie Tysedale only wants it to escape from his dreaded bestselling-author wife. India Tode sees in it the ideal holiday home, while Sir Ecgbert envisages a yoga retreat. Professional freeloader and everyone's old school chum, Piers Slayer-Wilson-Tite, has his eye on making it his personal love-nest. Meanwhile, some of the locals have excellent reasons for keeping it just the way it is. When the body of Piers's wife, Elizabetta, is discovered floating among grapefruits in the spring at the bottom of Villa Rospo's famous gardens, there's only one thing everyone agrees on . . . that there's absolutely no need to call the police. Praise for the Tode Hall series:'Sharp, funny . . . the best sort of murder mystery' Tatler'A perfect antidote to all the real-life craziness going on' Daily Mail'I couldn't put it down' Santa Montefiore'Deliciously entertaining' Andrew Wilson'An irresistible champagne bubble of pleasure and laughter' Rachel Johnson'A perfect antidote to wintry gloom' The Literary Review'What a triumph!' Antonia Fraser'A masterclass in how to write a rollicking good read' Sarah Vine'A jolly farce that never takes itself too seriously' Red Magazine'Fizzles, crackles and sparkles' Elizabeth Buchan'A work of sublime silliness' Simon Brett'An effervescent madcap whodunnit' Metro'A marvellous rollicking read' Mary Killen'She's skewered her targets brilliantly' Imogen Edwards-Jones

A deliciously entertaining comedic novel full of sharp insight, sly wit - and a smidgeon of murder. Perfect for fans of PG Wodehouse, Julian Fellowes and Agatha Christie.

'Daisy Waugh's featherlight satires are as refreshing and uplifting as a glass of chilled vintage champagne. . . Imagine Agatha Christie on laughing gas' TimesThe Todes are back, and they're taking on Hollywood . . .When Hollywood wants to do a remake of the film that made Tode Hall famous, India and Egbert are delighted. They envisage a summer of free money and star-studded dinner parties ahead . . . But the Hall is soon overrun by wardrobe trucks and catering tents, and lusty, insecure actors squabbling about nudity clauses. When the movie's producers threaten to sue over the exact colour of Tode Hall's rolling lawns, India and Egbert realise that having a film crew on their doorstep isn't such a breeze after all. With so many egos in one place things were bound to end badly, but no one would have predicted quite so literal a backstabbing . . .'A glorious satire on aristocratic manners and mores, with a smidgeon of murder thrown in, Waugh's hilarious and entirely original twist on the country house murder mystery is 'a perfect antidote to all the real-life craziness going on' Daily MailPraise for the Todes 'Ms. Waugh's novel offers plenty of satire, several good laughs and many dark chuckles.' Wall Street JournalWitty, well-written and determinedly entertaining . . . the perfect book for the staycation' Catholic Herald'I couldn't put it down' Santa Montefiore'A delightful treat' The Lady'Deliciously entertaining' Andrew Wilson'An irresistible champagne bubble of pleasure and laughter' Rachel Johnson'A perfect antidote to wintry gloom' The Literary Review'What a triumph!' Antonia Fraser'A masterclass in how to write a rollicking good read' Sarah Vine'A jolly farce that never takes itself too seriously' Red Magazine'Fizzles, crackles and sparkles' Elizabeth Buchan'A work of sublime silliness' Simon Brett'An effervescent madcap whodunnit' Metro'A marvellous rollicking read' Mary Killen'She's skewered her targets brilliantly' Imogen Edwards-Jones'This contemporary take on a golden age mystery is simply wonderful.' Belfast Telegraph

'Daisy Waugh's featherlight satires are as refreshing and uplifting as a glass of chilled vintage champagne. . . Imagine Agatha Christie on laughing gas' TimesThe Todes are back, and they're taking on Hollywood . . .When Hollywood wants to do a remake of the film that made Tode Hall famous, India and Egbert are delighted. They envisage a summer of free money and star-studded dinner parties ahead . . . But the Hall is soon overrun by wardrobe trucks and catering tents, and lusty, insecure actors squabbling about nudity clauses. When the movie's producers threaten to sue over the exact colour of Tode Hall's rolling lawns, India and Egbert realise that having a film crew on their doorstep isn't such a breeze after all. With so many egos in one place things were bound to end badly, but no one would have predicted quite so literal a backstabbing . . .'A glorious satire on aristocratic manners and mores, with a smidgeon of murder thrown in, Waugh's hilarious and entirely original twist on the country house murder mystery is 'a perfect antidote to all the real-life craziness going on' Daily MailPraise for the Todes 'Witty, well-written and determinedly entertaining . . . the perfect book for the staycation' Catholic Herald'I couldn't put it down' Santa Montefiore'A delightful treat' The Lady'Deliciously entertaining' Andrew Wilson'An irresistible champagne bubble of pleasure and laughter' Rachel Johnson'A perfect antidote to wintry gloom' The Literary Review'What a triumph!' Antonia Fraser'A masterclass in how to write a rollicking good read' Sarah Vine'A jolly farce that never takes itself too seriously' Red Magazine'Fizzles, crackles and sparkles' Elizabeth Buchan'A work of sublime silliness' Simon Brett'An effervescent madcap whodunnit' Metro'A marvellous rollicking read' Mary Killen'She's skewered her targets brilliantly' Imogen Edwards-Jones'This contemporary take on a golden age mystery is simply wonderful.' Belfast Telegraph

LONGLISTED FOR THE COMEDY WOMEN IN PRINT AWARD'Sharp, funny . . . the best sort of murder mystery' Tatler'A perfect antidote to all the real-life craziness going on' Daily MailSir Ecgbert Tode of Tode Hall has survived to a grand old age - much to the despair of his younger wife, Emma. But at ninety-three he has, at last, shuffled off the mortal coil.Emma, Lady Tode, thoroughly fed up with being a dutiful Lady of the Manor, wants to leave the country to spend her remaining years in Capri. Unfortunately her three tiresome children are either unwilling or unable (too mad, too lefty or too happy in Australia) to take on management of their large and important home, so the mantle passes to a distant relative and his glamorous wife.Not long after the new owners take over, Lady Tode is found dead in the mausoleum. Accident? Or is there more going on behind the scenes of Tode Hall than an outsider would ever guess....?In the traditions of two great but very different British writers, Agatha Christie and P.G. Wodehouse, Waugh's hilarious and entirely original twist on the country house murder mystery comes complete with stiff upper lips, even stiffer drinks, and any stiffs that might embarrass the family getting smartly brushed under the carpet...What everyone's saying about In the Crypt with a Candlestick...'I couldn't put it down' Santa Montefiore'A delightful treat' The Lady'Deliciously entertaining' Andrew Wilson'An irresistible champagne bubble of pleasure and laughter' Rachel Johnson'A perfect antidote to wintry gloom' The Literary Review'What a triumph!' Antonia Fraser'A masterclass in how to write a rollicking good read' Sarah Vine'A jolly farce that never takes itself too seriously' Red Magazine'Fizzles, crackles and sparkles' Elizabeth Buchan'A work of sublime silliness' Simon Brett'An effervescent madcap whodunnit' Metro'A marvellous rollicking read' Mary Killen'She's skewered her targets brilliantly' Imogen Edwards-Jones

A hooker. A mistress. A murder. This town was built on sin.

A timely, intelligent and important book for fans of LEAN IN and Caitlin Moran: why do modern mothers allow themselves to suffer from so much guilt?Mothering skills are now scrutinised, measured, judged, discussed and disapproved of like never before. The bar is set so preposterously high, it's impossible, at least in the early years, not to feel like a long lost loser: and honestly, mothers only have themselves to blame... Motherly love is ferocious, intense, fathomless, unconditional and absolute. Daisy will add a dusting of reality to the sickly sweet bake-your-own rubbish by covering topics such as breast pumps, other children, sleepovers, swearing (yours and theirs) and contagious diseases.It's time to burn the maternity bras and Daisy is the first at the stake to exclaim, 'Enough! Life is short. Mothers adore their children. But they're people too. And that is more than just a mother.'

They saved each other once. Can they save each other again?

If you like The Artist you’ll love Daisy Waugh’s Last Dance with Valentino. One night. One dance. One love to last a lifetime. 1916. Leaving war-ravaged London, Jenny Doyle sets sail for New York where she is to work for the de Saulles family. Their home, Gatsby-like in elegance, is rife with intrigue and madness. Only Jenny’s friendship with dancer Rodolfo offers escape… until, one tragic day, the household is changed forever. 1926. America booms, prohibition rules and Rodolfo has taken his place on the silver screen as Rudolph Valentino. Will the world’s most desired film star and his lost love have their Hollywood happy ending, or will the tragic echoes from their time with the de Saulles thwart them one last time?

If you've ever dreamt of a new life in the country, this highly entertaining and candid account of country living might make you think again...

Introducing the perfect Summer read for 2006. Bordeaux Housewives is a new romantic comedy combining a heady mix of sunshine, sex, Sancerre and secrets. When an ordinary English family swap dreary suburbia and the rat race for the glorious countryside of France they have no idea just how much their lives are going to change. For in addition to the culture shock, they have been selected to appear in a reality TV show about their Good Life lifestyle. But they also have a secret life which they need to hide from the cameras… Meanwhile, at the local bar, another expat is finding that local attractions amount to more than wine, cheese and sunflowers…

This title is a feel-good love story set in a charming rural village where the follies of modern life are gently mocked. Fanny Flynn is short-tempered, flirtatious, impulsive and restless. When she falls into the job as Head Teacher of Fiddleford primary school it feels more like a last resort than another new beginning. Fiddleford is a beautiful village deep in the West Country, but the tiny school is heading for ruin and unless Fanny can transform it, it will be closed for ever. Locked in a feud with one mother, and stalked by Geraldine and Clive, the pushy Londoners from the Old Rectory, and Kitty, the predatory children's author, Fanny needs all her brilliance to survive. She's a great teacher, and the villagers all claim to be behind her. But are they really? Before long the entire village is at war... Fanny finds she has fallen in love with her village and country life and together with Louis, her deliciously handsome best friend, and Solomon Creasey, an attractive but crooked art dealer, she vows to surprise her critics.

In a world where success at work is everything, it's inconvenient when Jo falls for a singer, an upperclass dropout with an unreasonable attachment to old-fashioned, human values. How on earth will she explain him to her friends? Two worlds collide in a messy fashion - but will true love prevail?