Murder in the Village: A Completely Unputdownable English Cozy Mystery

Murder in the Village: A Completely Unputdownable English Cozy Mystery

Author: Lisa Cutts

Publisher: A Belinda Penshurst Mystery

Published: 2021-08-25

Total Pages: 286

ISBN-13: 9781800197336

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Meet Belinda Penshurst. Castle owner, dog lover... crime solver? Belinda Penshurst loves her home village Little Challham, with its shady lanes, two pubs and weekly market, and she's determined to keep it peaceful. She may live in Challham Castle but she knows almost everything that goes on under her nose. So when irritable pub landlord Tipper is found dead in his cellar, she's perfectly placed to investigate. Retired detective Harry Powell moved to Little Challham for a quiet life. He didn't expect to be dragged into a murder investigation. But the police don't seem half as enthusiastic as Belinda about the case, and there are strange things happening in the village. Particularly the number of dogs that have disappeared lately... Is there a dognapper snaffling schnauzers and luring away Labradors? Is Belinda barking mad to be worried that her brother Marcus was arguing with Tipper on the day he died? Belinda and Harry track down the suspects: the rival landlord, the outraged barmaid, the mysterious man in the black car following dogwalkers around. But are the dogged detectives running out of time to sniff out the killer, before he starts hounding them? A charming cozy mystery full of laughs and eccentric characters. Fans of M.C. Beaton, H.Y. Hanna and Emily Organ will love the first novel in the Belinda Penshurst series! See what readers are saying about Murder in the Village 'Wonderful... I absolutely adored this book! Had me reading and finishing the book in no time! I highly recommend this book! Stunning, a page-turner which stays long in the memory!' NetGalley reviewer 'What a great start to a new series!... A lively, spark-filled investigation... Wonderfully entertaining with the perfect set of ingredients.' Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'Charming... A super quick read perfect for the beach!' Bless Their Hearts Mom, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'A zany cast of characters, most of whom are suspected of being dognappers, murderers or both. A humorous mystery perfect for dog lovers' Goodreads reviewer 'Fun, full of mystery... Top notch cosy crime... Has a kind of Midsomer Murders vibe and in spite of the murderer on the loose, kept me smiling from start to finish... Fabulous... I can't wait to see what this fabulous duo get up to next. Fans of cosy mysteries (and dog lovers) are just going to eat this up.' Jen Med's Book Reviews 'Excellent village mayhem and murder' NetGalley reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐


The Bookshop Murder: An Absolutely Gripping Cozy Mystery

The Bookshop Murder: An Absolutely Gripping Cozy Mystery

Author: Merryn Allingham

Publisher: Bookouture

Published: 2021-07-26

Total Pages: 248

ISBN-13: 9781800196827

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Bookshop owner Flora Steele escapes the sleepy English village of Abbeymead through the adventures in the stories she sells. Until one morning, everything changes when she discovers a body amongst her own bookshelves... The young man with the shock of white-blond hair lay spread-eagled on the floor, surrounded by fallen books. His hand reached out to the scattered pages, as though he was trying to tell her something. But who is he? How did he come to be killed in Flora's ordinary little bookshop? Flora finds out he was staying at the Priory Hotel, and when the gardener suddenly dies in its beautiful grounds only a few days later, she is certain that something untoward is happening in her quiet village by the sea. But are the two deaths connected? And is someone at the hotel responsible - the nervous cook, the money-obsessed receptionist, or the formidable manageress? Determined to save her beloved bookshop's reputation and solve the murder mystery, Flora enlists the help of handsome and brooding Jack Carrington: crime writer, recluse and her most reliable customer. As the unlikely duo set about investigating the baffling case, guilty faces greet them at every door. And they soon realise there's more than one person hiding secrets in Abbeymead... The start of a brand-new murder mystery series featuring bookshop owner Flora Steele and crime writer Jack Carrington. Fans of Agatha Christie, Faith Martin and Joy Ellis will love this perfect cozy murder mystery novel. An utterly addictive story that will have you guessing until the very end. Why readers love Merryn Allingham: 'Excellent... the tension builds and builds right up to the last chapter... a page-turner.' Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'Love... so many twists and turns that kept me guessing most of the way through. Deserving of its 5 stars... highly recommend.' Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'A roller coaster of suspense and intrigue. Grabs you from the first page. Entertaining and interesting characters. There are many twists and turns that will keep you turning the page until the end.' Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐


Exhaustive Enquiries

Exhaustive Enquiries

Author: Betty Rowlands

Publisher: Orion

Published: 2013-06-14

Total Pages: 255

ISBN-13: 1471907392

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A gifted and knowledgeable writer . . . engaging and readable' Financial Times Melissa Craig has taken time away from writing bestselling mysteries to script a murder play for an amateur drama group. 'Murder with a giggle' is how she thinks of it. But no one is laughing when a cast member dies in the cellar of the old Cotswold Heyshill Manor Hotel where the play is to be produced. Persuaded by the manager to investigate, Melissa finds . . . nothing. No well-ordered clues, no sure suspects, just lots of tension. Then she chances upon a vital discovery in the hotel's parking lot, and everything begins to fall into place. This isn't a matter of "murderous plots and murky deeds, all in rhyming couplets" but a death-defying journey along a trail of crime on an international scale.


Murder at Primrose Cottage

Murder at Primrose Cottage

Author: Merryn Allingham

Publisher: Bookouture

Published: 2022-03-18

Total Pages: 276

ISBN-13: 9781803140728

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Join Flora Steele - bookshop owner, bicycle rider, daydreamer and amateur detective - in her quest to solve a brand-new murder mystery! Cornwall, 1956: When Flora Steele sets off for a peaceful vacation with crime writer Jack Carrington in his little red Austin, the last thing she expects to find is a body at their pretty rental cottage! Shocked by the discovery, inquisitive Flora joins forces with handsome Jack to find out how the poor man came to such an untimely end in the overgrown orchard of Primrose Cottage. They discover Roger Gifford was a man with plenty of friends and the villagers seem devastated by his sudden death... So why was he murdered? And who has blood on their hands - his estranged wife Beatrice, his wayward younger brother Lionel, or the suspicious newcomer Mercy Dearlove? The baffling case gets even more complicated when a second man is found dead and a set of puzzling clues lead them to an intriguing wartime mystery connected to Jack's estranged father. As old secrets emerge and Jack receives an unsettling letter, it seems the crime writer is in danger of a fate befitting his fictional characters. Will Flora be able to crack the case and save Jack? Or will this be one murder too many for Flora Steele? Readers love the Flora Steele Mysteries: 'Wonderful book! I absolutely adored this... Had me reading and finishing the book in no time! I highly recommend!!!' Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'I absolutely love this book! I was so captivated... I could not put this book down... I read this book in one sitting!... Amazing.' @thenerdandherbooks, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'Absolutely fantastic... An addictive perfect mix of mystery, crime, suspense and quirkiness which kept me turning the pages late at night!! An explosive start to a new series!' Bookworm86, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'A joy to read... Full of mystery and secrets!... Truly an unstoppable read! And I loved every minute of it!' NetGalley reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'I loved... A cozy, heart-warming, fast read. It felt like Scooby-Doo meets Agatha Raisin. I am here for it!... Delightful.' Frosta Wings It, ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'Fantastic cozy mystery!... Fun to read... This author knows how to keep the reader's attention from the first chapter!' Books and Benches, ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'Love... The story twisted along, with everyone becoming a suspect... A fab read, that I devoured in a day.' Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'What a joy... Fabulous... Totally fantastic... I highly recommend this outstandingly fabulous book.' Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'Pace moves along as you keep turning the pages to find out whodunit. You'll find yourself rooting for Flora and Jack in more ways than one. I can't wait for the next book!' Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐


Murder in First Class

Murder in First Class

Author: Helena Dixon

Publisher: Bookouture

Published: 2022-02-16

Total Pages: 256

ISBN-13: 9781800195455

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All aboard a train bound for... murder. Kitty Underhay is looking forward to a week of long lunches and wedding planning with her husband-to-be, Captain Matthew Bryant. But the plan is derailed when he is called on to collect a former comrade-in-arms, arriving on the 15:50 from Bakerloo. As the train bearing Simon Travers pulls up to the platform, a piercing scream rises over the screech of its brakes. Travers is dead in his seat, a dagger in his heart. Who gave this defenceless man a one-way ticket to the next life? And why? And could Matt's close connection put him at risk? Only a few individuals had access to Travers's compartment, and Kitty must find out which of these seemingly benign passengers is in fact a cross-country killer. But when Kitty's prime suspect, the travelling salesman with no merchandise, is found murdered, she is stumped. Until she makes the connection between the two victims and realises that this murderer has an even more deadly destination in mind. Can she stop them before they strike again? Or will Kitty's own next stop be the graveyard? A pitch-perfect and totally gripping Golden Age historical cozy mystery! Perfect for fans of Agatha Christie, T.E. Kinsey and Lee Strauss. Readers love the Miss Underhay mysteries: 'This was excellent and I read it in one sitting, a page-turner I couldn't put down.' Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars 'Fast, fun and utterly unputdownable... perfect for fans of Agatha Christie.' Robin Loves Reading 'What can I say? I loved it.' Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars 'Oh how I love this series!' Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars 'Excellent cosy mystery! The story was gripping... I loved the character development with the little hint of romance and cannot wait for the next book.' Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars 'I love this series... The murder mystery itself was engrossing... It kept me guessing right until the final scene.' Roberta Reads, 5 stars 'I felt right at home the moment I started reading... It was a joy.' Goodreads reviewer 'This murder mystery is perfect... This story has it all. An absolute page-turner with characters to care about.' Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars 'My favourite cosy mystery series.' Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars 'A page-turner that will keep you guessing.' Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars 'Do yourself a favour, cozy up with a blanket, a cup of something warm and dig into this cozy mystery.' Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars 'Great story with a perfect mixture of mystery, suspense, romance and family to make this a wonderful cozy mystery book.' Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars 'A wonderful book, I loved it.' Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars


Murder in the Belltower: An Utterly Gripping Historical Cozy Mystery

Murder in the Belltower: An Utterly Gripping Historical Cozy Mystery

Author: Helena Dixon

Publisher: A Miss Underhay Mystery

Published: 2021-02

Total Pages: 248

ISBN-13: 9781800190597

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Kitty Underhay's hymn book is open... at murder. Winter, 1933. Kitty Underhay is enjoying a restorative break from sleuthing on a visit to her family at Enderley Hall. The only thing marring her peace - aside from the uncomfortable sensation she has of being watched - is the obvious history between her beau, ex-army captain Matthew Bryant and another guest, the beautiful Juliet Vanderstafen. So, when the parish clerk is found dead on her front doorstep, Kitty leaps at the chance of distraction. The police are happy to conclude that Miss Plenderleith met her unfortunate end on a patch of ice, but Kitty isn't convinced this was a case of bad weather and worse luck. And when the Reverend Crabtree fails to show for tea the next day, she heads to the church to speak to him. But she arrives to find the clergyman hanging from the bell rope, dead. With Matt seemingly wrapped up with his alluring Austrian, Kitty must solve the case on her own. But as she snoops into parish affairs, she makes some less-than-saintly discoveries. Just who has broken the sixth commandment? Meanwhile the killer is preparing a churchyard grave for Kitty, and she'll have to use all her wits to avoid falling in... An addictive, absorbing and completely unputdownable Golden Age cozy murder mystery, perfect for fans of Agatha Christie, T.E. Kinsey and Lee Strauss. Readers love the Miss Underhay mysteries: 'This murder mystery is perfect... This story has it all. An absolute page-turner with characters to care about.' Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars 'This was excellent and I read it in one sitting, a page-turner I couldn't put down.' Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars 'Excellent cosy mystery! The story was gripping... I loved the character development with the little hint of romance and cannot wait for the next book.' Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars


Smokescreen

Smokescreen

Author: Betty Rowlands

Publisher: Severn House

Published: 2010

Total Pages: 0

ISBN-13: 9780727878267

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In this Sukey Reynolds Mystery, a wealthy, bestselling author is drowned in her bath just days after being threatened by a disturbed fan who has subsequently disappeared. It is just the start of the investigation, as Sukey's apparently straightforward case becomes more complicated.


Murder at Hawthorn Cottage

Murder at Hawthorn Cottage

Author: Rowlands Betty

Publisher: Melissa Craig Mystery

Published: 2018-08-21

Total Pages: 288

ISBN-13: 9781786816092

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Meet Melissa: cat lover, caring mother... daring detective? Melissa Craig is absolutely delighted with her new life in an old crumbling cottage, spending her days pruning the primroses and getting to know Binkie, the ginger cat next door. She only wishes she had made the move to the countryside sooner. But when a knock at the door brings news of a shocking discovery, she suddenly finds herself thrown in to the middle of a baffling mystery: the bones of a young woman have been found in the woods just behind her new home. Perhaps the little village of Upper Bembury is not as idyllic as it first seemed? Strange phone calls in the night convince Melissa that the police are barking up completely the wrong tree, so she can't resist doing a little digging of her own. From the bingo hall to the beauty salon and beyond, her search ruffles a few feathers and uncovers many of the village's most scandalous secrets, but gets her no closer to finding the culprit... The discovery of a tatty old photograph in a drawer is the final piece of the puzzle she needs, but as a newcomer in this close-knit community, does Melissa have what it takes to get to the bottom of this extraordinary murder mystery alone? A joy to read! An absolutely unputdownable whodunnit for fans of Agatha Christie, P.D. James and Faith Martin. This book was previously published as A Little Gentle Sleuthing.


Murder in Steeple Martin

Murder in Steeple Martin

Author: Lesley Cookman

Publisher: Accent Press

Published: 2012-05-01

Total Pages: 309

ISBN-13: 1908917075

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THERE'S A BAFFLING MYSTERY IN THE VILLAGE OF STEEPLE MARTIN...BUT ACTRESS AND AMATEUR SLEUTH LIBBY SARJEANT IS ON THE CASE! 'The characters are so likeable. I would love to visit the mythical Steeple Martin!' ***** GoodReads review Libby Sarjeant, former actress and artist, loves life in the idyllic English countryside. She's busy with her friends preparing a play for the pretty new Oast House Theatre in Steeple Martin when there's suddenly news of a baffling mystery - the murder of a cast member. Written by Libby's friend Peter, the play is based on real events from his family's history, and it seems that these events still cast a long shadow in Steeple Martin. From the Pink Geranium restaurant to the Manor Farm, Libby risks causing a scene as she uncovers secrets hidden in the village. Can Libby, with best friend Fran and Sidney the cat in tow, find the culprit and get her show on the road? The first book in Lesley Cookman's bestselling series featuring amateur sleuth Libby Sarjeant, this unputdownable cozy crime novel is perfect for fans of Betty Rowlands, Faith Martin, J.R. Ellis, LJ Ross, Miss Marple and Midsummer Murders. _________________________________________________________________ Praise for the bestselling series: 'Cozy village mystery with an amateur theater and links to the past. What's not to love?' ***** Goodreads reviewer 'Absolutely fabulous read. I couldn't put it down and had to finish it, reading through bath, breakfast and getting dressed' ***** Goodreads review 'I'm surprised this is not a BBC series... it's that good and I for one intend to read more of Libby's adventures' ***** Goodreads review


Murder on the Marshes

Murder on the Marshes

Author: Clare Chase

Publisher: Bookouture

Published: 2024-09-27

Total Pages: 407

ISBN-13: 1786814307

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The sun rises on a lush, stone courtyard, where birds sing and ferns shade an ancient, burbling fountain. But in the fountain’s murky depths, a young woman’s body grows cold… Samantha Seabrook – an ambitious young woman with a chequered past – is found drowned in the ornamental fountain of a locked Cambridge courtyard. The only clue is an antique silver chain wound tightly around her throat. It’s local reporter Tara Thorpe’s job to discover what happened to Miss Seabrook – but the case becomes personal when she learns that Samantha had been receiving threatening messages… rather like the one that landed on the doorstep of Tara’s little cottage the night the woman died. Together with Detective Inspector Garstin Blake, Tara follows a lead that takes her to the deep and watery fens on the outskirts of the city. But there’s something Tara can’t quite admit to Blake about her past – and it could make all the difference to whether they crack the case before the killer strikes again. If you love mysteries by Faith Martin, P.D. James and Agatha Christie, you won’t be able to put this series down! Readers absolutely rave about Murder on the Marshes: ‘Literally couldn't put it down!! This was an excellent thriller with well-developed characters and great twists!! From the first page until the end… a great ride of mystery, suspense and murder… Excellent thriller and crime read!!’ Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars 'Wow what a book! One of the best mysteries I have read! Loved it from start to finish and couldn't put it down! A masterpiece! Plotting perfection! The writing is brilliant and flows off the page, the characters stay with you. A thoroughly satisfying, absolutely stunning book! I cannot wait to read more by this amazing author!’ Renita D’Silva ‘Fast-paced, twisty… I just ripped right through this book.’ Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars ‘I have to say that I loved this book… a fantastic start to the series.’ Jen Med’s Book Reviews, 5 stars ‘I absolutely loved this book. I have read it cover to cover in less than a day and I cannot wait to get my sticky mitts on the second book… grabbed me by the throat from the opening chapter and refused to let go until the very end… The story was a fantastic puzzle, filled with twists, turns, red herrings, esoteric clues, dubious characters, tensions, rivalries, all set against the beautiful backdrop of Cambridge and the menacing emptiness of the surrounding Cambridgeshire fens.’ A Little Book Problem, 5 stars ‘Clever, twisty stories, with great characters.’ Kate Rhodes, author of Hell Bay 'Ooh yes, I liked this one!’ The Book Trail ‘You'll enjoy her books including this one if you like Joy Ellis, L. J. Ross, and Faith Martin… I absolutely adored the setting here. It reminds a little of the sort of setting in Midsomer Murders – quaint and idyllic with some very shady characters. The twists in the plot were plentiful and I liked the relationship and dynamic between Thorpe and Blake.’ Goodreads reviewer ‘A tense, exciting read with plenty of twists… an addictive read.’ Goodreads reviewer ‘A whip-smart read that had a good many surprises and twists… I'd definitely recommend this to fans of procedural mysteries. It was like an Inspector Morse & Midsomer layer cake with Christie for the frosting. I'm awaiting my next slice.’ Goodreads reviewer ‘A darned good read.’ Goodreads reviewer ‘An easy read that moves at a steady pace and reminds me of Agatha Christie. Grabbing me straight from the start… will keep you guessing until the very end… A perfect gripping who-dunnit story, fans of LR Ross will love it.’ Chelle’s Book Reviews