Moving is almost always complicated. There’s never ending paperwork, the logistics, and the process of deciding what to keep, what to donate, and what to discard. And that’s not to mention the cost. It’s even worse when a dead body complicates things. There are real-life stories of bodies found in houses for sale or rent, and that’s also a crime-fictional plot point. In fact, if you read enough crime fiction, you might be tempted to put off your move…

In one plot thread of Agatha Christie’s The Man in the Brown Suit, for instance, we meet an enigmatic dancer named Nadina. Early in the novel, her body is discovered on the upstairs floor of the Mill House, owned by Sir Eustace Pedler. It seems that the house is to be let, unfurnished, and Nadina had requested an order to view the house. Oddly enough, another order to view has been discovered in the pocket of a man who fell (or was pushed) under an oncoming train. As it happens, a young woman called Anne Beddingfield witnessed the man’s death, and when she finds out about the body in the Mill House, she can’t help but be curious about what’s going on there. She ends up getting drawn into a web of international intrigue, stolen jewels, and real danger.

As Dorothy L. Sayers’ Busman’s Honeymoon begins, Lord Peter Wimsey and Harriet Vane have gotten married and are on their honeymoon trip. Lord Peter has purchased a farmhouse in Hertfordshire called Tallboys, and he and Harriet skip out of their wedding reception to go there. They arrive late at night, only to find that the house is locked up and no preparations have been made for them. They’re surprised that the former owner, William Noakes, isn’t there to show them in, but they gain entrance and spend the night there. The next morning, they discover Noakes’ body in the cellar. The honeymoon plans are ruined as police and reporters go through the house. As you can imagine, Lord Peter and Harriet are involved in the investigation, too. It turns out that more than one person had a motive to kill Noakes, as he was an unpleasant man and a blackmailer.

Lynda Wilcox’s Strictly Murder is the first in her series featuring Verity Long. She’s the personal assistant to best-selling crime novelist Kathleen ‘K.D.’ Davenport. Among other things, her job is to research true crime stories to find those that would make effective bases for KD’s books. In one plot thread, Verity is looking for a new place to live. She goes with a house agent to visit one place in particular, only to find the body of Jaynee ‘J.J.’ Johnson in one of the bedrooms. Since she found the body, Verity comes in for her share of police interest, and even suspicion. After all, it’s awfully convenient that she would happen to go into a house where there’s a dead body. Soon enough, the police dismiss her as a suspect, but Verity is still interested in the case. And she quickly finds that it can be very dangerous to look for answers when someone doesn’t want her to find them.

As Catherine Ryan Howard’s Buyer Beware begins, a woman named Ellie is just moving into a new home at 1 Delaney Row. She doesn’t have very many possessions, and we soon learn that she has secrets. Before long, Ellie discovers that her new home has secrets of its own. For one thing, she discovers that there’s a body-shaped stain under one of the carpets. Then other strange and unsettling things begin to happen. And there are break-ins. As the story goes on, we see how Ellie’s story intersects with two other stories, all relating to 1 Delaney Row.

And then there’s Phil Hogan’s A Pleasure and a Calling. William Heming is a realtor who does business in a commuter community outside London. He’s not the sort of person who stays in people’s minds, and that’s how he likes it. His job is to let people in and out of homes for sale in the area. Once the transaction is done, and the house is sold, most people don’t even remember Mr. Heming. But he remembers everyone. He keeps a copy of the key to each home he’s sold, and he keeps himself informed of everyone’s doings. One day, the peace of the community is disturbed when a body is discovered in one of the yards. Mr. Heming is just as concerned as everyone else is. If there’s too much fuss about this discovery, then too many questions might be asked. And Mr. Heming does not want that to happen…

See what I mean? As if moving isn’t enough, you have to be careful of the house you end up choosing. Anything could happen. These are just a few examples. Your turn.

*NOTE; The title of this post is a line from Phillip Phillips’ Home.