After learning of a suspicious attempt to burn down a beloved old pub, The Crooked Horse, Libby Sarjeant and her friend Fran reluctantly agree to investigate.
But when a local antiques dealer mysteriously disappears after apparently taking out his boat, it appears there are dark and sinister forces at play.
Can Libby and Fran uncover a connection between the fire and the missing man? And will unravelling a deadly case put them in terrible danger?
Lesley Cookman writes the Libby Sarjeant Murder Mysteries and the The Alexandrians, an Edwardian Mystery Series. She lives on the south east coast of England, and is a former model, actor, and journalist. Her four adult children are all musicians and writers.
We regret to announce the tragic death of Phoebe Fredericks…
When crime novelist Phoebe opens the post and receives an invitation to her own funeral, she’s horrified. Not least because the date of her death is marked as tomorrow.
Deciding it’s nothing more than a prank from an enemy from her past, she determines to put it to the back of her mind.
But the next morning, when her completely infuriating postman (who likes to think himself her no.1 literary critic) rings her doorbell, a parcel of poisoned pen-nibs explodes in his face. Forced to confront the fact her correspondence is more RIP than RSVP, Phoeve realises someone must want her dead.
Together with the newly-formed Village Detectives – Juno, Mil and Felix – Phoebe resolves to find out who is behind the poison pen letters before they strike again and her fate is signed, sealed and delivered!
An totally hilarious, modern cozy crime mystery, from million-copy bestselling author Fiona Walker, perfect for fans of Richard Osman, Janet Evanovich and Janice Hallett.
The Poison Pen Letters is the second book in The Village Detective Series (or the VDs, as Juno somewhat unwittingly terms them). I’ve read book one and really enjoyed it. Book two is even stronger, perhaps because I know the characters, but also, I think because the plotting is even more secure. I genuinely had no idea who the real culprit was, which was fabulous.
Book 2 sees our intrepid foursome tackling the problem of who murdered the local postie on Phoebe’s doorstep with the use of a poison pen letter – a crime that, even though you know it’s coming at some point, is still quite shocking. While Pheobe’s husband is determined it’s someone outside the village from their past, Pheobe has other ideas. But of course, she is once more penning one of her crime novels (the little additions of that novel are delicious) and has no real time to focus on what’s happening. Juno is as outrageous as ever, and her mother is such a fun character as she dips in and out of the narrative, as does her creaky car.
The personalities of a small village are lovingly brought to life, and I appreciated all the N gauge model railway comments, as I once spent some time selling off a set. It was also good to see @VeryBritishProblems mentioned as part of the social media universe that makes up a large part of the novel.
The Poison Pen Letters is brimming with fabulous characters and a perplexing crime, and I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Meet the author
Fiona Walker is the million copy bestselling author of joyously funny romantic comedies. Most recently published by Head of Zeus, she will be turning to cozy crime for Boldwood. The first in her new Village Detectives series, The Art of Murder, will be published in May 2024.
Miss Green, the actress Lizzie Dixie has been murdered.” I stared at the young inspector. “But it’s impossible. She drowned. Years ago.”
London, 1883. Fleet Street’s pioneering lady reporter Penny Green is stunned when a long-dead actress is found murdered in Highgate Cemetery. Lizzie Dixie supposedly drowned in the River Thames years ago, so how did she end up shot to death on a foggy October night? Penny’s personal connection to the victim draws her into the case, as does the charm of Scotland Yard inspector James Blakely. But her return to work sparks the attentions of someone with evil intent.
Why did Lizzie fake her own death? Who knew she was still alive? With each revelation, the killer draws nearer. Can Penny unmask the culprit before she becomes the next victim? Or will the bright lights of Victorian London be forever dimmed by a killer lurking in the shadows?
An enthralling and atmospheric historical mystery that will have you reading deep into the night. Limelight is the first instalment in the bestselling Penny Green Victorian Mystery series.
My Review
Limelight is the first book in the Penny Green Victorian Mysteries. It is a fabulously atmospheric and evocative novel that brings a grimy, smog-covered 1880s London to life.
Our main character is Penny, a currently jobless reporter who lost her job thanks to an unhappy member of the constabulary who called on the ‘gentleman’s club’ mentality of the era to have her dismissed, even though she only reported the truth. However, just as all seems quite desperate, Penny learns of the murder of a friend and is called upon to help the police. In return, she manages to regain her job. She is to help report on the police investigation and assist the police.
This sets up a good narrative. Penny is connected to the characters under investigation but hasn’t been for the last five years, so there is always an opportunity for her not to know things about them. And there is a great deal she doesn’t know.
While all this is happening, the tapestry of events in London is playing out, from visiting the circus to bombs on the underground to the opening of the new Natural History Museum. It teems with everyday life in London, from the reporters’ favourite pubs to the gentlemen’s favoured places to meet their courtesans, from cabs to omnibuses, from the hospital to the suitably dark and menacing cemetery. It is indeed an evocative novel of the era.
The mystery itself is intriguing – and what could be more Victorian than a woman already believed dead being found deceased?
Here’s an extract from Chapter 4 of It Never Rains
Detective Sergeant Sunita Roy has just arrived at a footballer’s mansion near Worcester after it was raided by burglars. The player’s stepson and bodyguard are missing.
As she parked her white Peugeot 208 next to the BMW and climbed out, an amiable uniformed constable approached.
‘All right, Sarge?’ asked PC Derek Underhill. ‘You’ve missed a bit of excitement.’
‘How do you mean?’
‘They’ve just taken the housekeeper away in an ambulance.’
‘I saw an ambulance travelling down the lane.’
‘That was her,’ he said. ‘They’re taking her to Queensbridge General.’
‘What happened?’
‘The poor woman was in the house on her own when she spotted three men in ski-masks. One of them threatened her with a gun and tied her up.’
Sunita was concerned. ‘Is she all right?’
‘I think so. They just roughed her up a bit.’
Sunita shook her head. ‘Must have been a hell of an ordeal for her.’
‘Yes, poor soul,’ said Underhill. ’They’ve taken her away for a check-up. Her husband’s here, but he didn’t see anything. He was out at the time, walking the dog.’
Sunita found the chief inspector talking to Dr Ling beside the main doorway to the house. A police photographer was taking pictures of a pool of blood on the block-paved forecourt. Three forensic staff in white coats were examining the entrance area. A fourth was inspecting possible tyremarks left among leaves, still damp following that morning’s light rain. Rubber anti-contamination plates had been placed at certain points along the ground so that detectives and forensic staff could walk around without the risk of damaging potential evidence. The scene was bathed in the white glow of arc lights.
Sunita stepped across carefully to join her boss.
‘Ah, Sergeant,’ said Roscoe sternly, ‘I’m glad you’re here. I don’t know how much you know but around four o’clock a gang of burglars appear to have disabled the alarm, cut the landline and disconnected the CCTV. Then they got in through the first-floor bathroom window on the other side of the house using a ladder and stole valuables and designer goods.’
‘Do we have any idea how many were in the gang?’ asked Sunita.
‘Not at the moment,’ he said. ‘The housekeeper, Mrs Willis, believes there were three, but there may have been more.’
‘What happened to Mrs Willis, sir?’
‘She was tied up and threatened with a gun.’
‘You’ve managed to speak to her, sir?’
‘Yes, I just grabbed a few words. She’s still in a state, of course. Underhill and another constable from Queensbridge were the first here and called an ambulance. She’s not badly hurt – just bruised wrists. It’s more the shock than anything else. Anyway, about ten minutes later she heard a bit of conversation, a car engine and soon after that two gunshots. Bear in mind she was strapped to a chair with her hands and feet tied and her mouth gagged.’
Sunita frowned. ‘Terrible, sir.’
‘After that, she heard what sounded like two cars driving away. Roughly twenty minutes later, our officers from Queensbridge arrived and untied her. The husband came back half an hour later.’
‘Where’s the husband now?’ she asked.
‘In their staff quarters just behind us. Police were alerted by a firm called Top Rank Protection in Wiltshire. One of their operatives, a guy called Danny Jukes, has been hired by the family as a bodyguard. He called the company’s boss, Ken Woodman, at around ten minutes past four. He’d been given charge of the footballer’s sixteen-year-old stepson, Marcel, for the afternoon. Jukes told his boss they’d arrived at the house to find a guy with a balaclava loading gear into a Range Rover.’
‘Have we got the registration?’ Sunita asked.
‘Yes, but you know what these people are like,’ said Roscoe. ‘Chances are they were false plates and may have been replaced by now in any case. Anyway, Danny Jukes’ last words to Ken were, “Can you call the cops and alert the family? I’m going in.” And since then he and the boy have vanished off the face of the earth.’
Sunita shook her head and stared across at the blood stains on the ground and at the hedge beyond.
‘We know two shots were fired by someone,’ her boss continued. ‘As you can see, there are traces of blood on the forecourt here but we don’t know what the outcome of that was – although someone was obviously harmed.’
Sunita cast her eyes towards the hedge and trees on the far side of the forecourt.
‘What about the family, sir?’ she asked.
‘Jean-Jacques and his wife Camille are on their way back from watching the team play in Newcastle and should be here in a few hours,’ he said. ‘We obviously need to speak to them. In the meantime, I suggest you have a chat with the gardener, David Willis, and see if he can add anything to what we know.’
He handed her a scrap of paper with a phone number scribbled on it.
‘Maybe you could also have a word with Woodman. Here’s his number. Whatever you do, don’t go into the house right now. The forensic team are up to their eyes.’
‘Sir, do we have any idea at all what might have happened to Danny Jukes and Marcel?’ she said.
The chief inspector shook his head. ‘No. But it’s not beyond the realms of possibility that they’ve both fallen victim to foul play.’
Here’s the blurb
It never rains but it pours . . . When a ruthless gang burgles the home of a Premier League football player, DCI Gavin Roscoe and DS Sunita Roy suddenly have a murder and a kidnap on their hands. The footballer’s stepson, Marcel, is taken from the palatial property whilst it is being ransacked, and his bodyguard is shot, stone cold dead. To help them with their task, DI Parkes from the National Crime Agency’s Kidnap Unit joins the investigation but he has very different ideas about how the operation should be run. While rain lashes the surrounding countryside, tempers rise, as do the flood waters. Can the police track down this dangerous gang, unmask its malevolent ringleader, and reunite the boy with his family before it’s too late? IT NEVER RAINS is the sixth book in the detectives Roy and Roscoe crime fiction series by Tony Bassett.
Tony Bassett is a former journalist who worked on regional and national newspapers in Britain for more than 40 years. He mainly reported on crime, show business, human interest and consumer topics. Now retired, he writes crime fiction. Tony is best known for his series of novels set in the West Midlands. They feature Detective Chief Inspector Gavin Roscoe, an experienced detective and family man, and his sergeant, law graduate and resourceful problem-solver Sunita Roy. The fifth book in the series, Heir To Murder, was judged first in the Mystery and Suspense (Police Procedurals) category in the American Fiction Awards in June 2024. The novel concerns a peer of the realm’s son found axed to death after a row over loud music. Two years earlier, his older brother mysteriously disappeared while hiking in Spain. Here is the Amazon link: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0CPFNJNQJ The series is published by The Book Folks, an independent London publisher specialising in crime fiction. Other books in the series (in order) are: Murder On Oxford Lane, The Crossbow Stalker, Murder Of A Doctor and Out for Revenge. His stand-alone thriller Seat 97, about a man shot dead at a London concert hall, has also been published by The Book Folks. Two further works (the crime novel Smile Of The Stowaway and the spy novel The Lazarus Charter) were published by The Conrad Press. Tony first developed a love of writing at the age of nine when he produced a junior school magazine. A few years later, his local vicar in Tunbridge Wells staged his play about the Biblical story of Naboth’s Vineyard. At Hull University, Tony was judged Time-Life Magazine student journalist of the year in 1971. Tony, who has five grown-up children, is a Life Member of the National Union of Journalists. He lives in South-East London with his partner Lin.
Harriet White is no stranger to odd correspondence. Ensconced in the basement of the Baker Street building society, her job is to reply to the mail they receive on behalf of Sherlock Holmes.
But while letters to the fictional sleuth may be plentiful, telegrams are rare, and so when she receives one describing the grave situation of celebrated author Philip St John, her interest is piqued. The writer describes St John as being consumed by terror, seeing ghostly apparitions on the fens, and only at ease in the company of his loyal wolfhound.
Before long, Harry finds herself in Cambridgeshire under the guise of being Holmes’ assistant. The residents of Thurmwell Manor believe their master is cursed. Harry is sure there must be a logical explanation, but inside the echoey halls of the grand gothic house, her confidence in science and reason begin to crumble…
Can Harry solve the mystery before the fens claim their next victim?
Join Harriet White in 1930’s London for another glorious Sherlock Holmes-inspired mystery, for fans of Nita Prose and Janice Hallett.
The Cursed Writer is the second book in the Baker Street Mysteries. I’ve read book 1. Check out the review for The Missing Maid.
Events start immediately after the end of book 1, with our detective Harry returning to her poky office after the thrilling ending to her first mystery. She could be forgiven for being a little glum when she finds herself typing the same reply to every message she receives, but never fear—an urgent telegram soon lifts her from her melancholy. It has her adopting her detecting hat once more.
This time, we’re taken to the Fens in Cambridgeshire to investigate a strange mystery surrounding the sudden change in author Philip St John’s demeanour. His nephew desperately seeks the aid of celebrated detective Sherlock Holmes at 221B Baker Street. So desperately, he’s prepared to spend the money to send a telegram and not just a letter. And not just one, but two! While Harry tries to determine how she can uncover more about the telegram without revealing that Holmes is, of course, a fictional character, she is also embroiled in a few other little mysteries, which, for some time, appear irrelevant but offer excellent continuity from book one until they become increasingly relevant.
Harry’s two trips to the Fens are very Holmesesque, providing us with an eerie atmosphere in the depths of winter, and it felt very true to form.
The mystery elements themselves are very well strung together, and while I might have guessed part of the solution, the eventual conclusion was even better than I could have hoped.
This was a thrilling continuation of the Baker Street Mysteries. I was entirely hooked and devoured the story in a few sittings.
Meet the author
Holly Hepburn writes escapist, swoonsome fiction that sweeps her readers into idyllic locations, from her native Cornwall to the windswept beauty of Orkney. She has turned her hand to cosy crime inspired by Sherlock Holmes himself. Holly lives in leafy Hertfordshire with her adorable partner in crime, Luna the Labrador.
In a charming seaside town, secrets don’t stay buried for long…
Body of Chef Found in Wall Three Years After He ‘Left to go to Australia’
Human remains found inside the wall of a disused building have now been identified as those of Victor Blackwell. He was the head chef at Windstanton’s The Seaside Lounge until just over three years ago, when, according his friends, he left for a job in Australia. Detective Inspector Albert Finch from Fenshire’s Cold Case Unit has asked for anyone who has information about the chef’s movements three years ago to come forward.
We have no choice! With only three weeks until the Grand Opening, the last thing Bea and Perry need is the grim discovery of a skeleton in the wall of Simon and Ryan’s soon-to-open restaurant, SaltAir. But when it’s designated a crime scene, and the policeman in charge of the investigation into Vic’s murder refuses to let them have access to continue the refurbishment, they have no other option than to investigate the murder themselves or risk letting Simon and Ryan down.
But in a town where everyone harbours secrets, can they uncover the truth in time or will SaltAir’s opening be a damp squib?
A Death of Fresh Air is the new book in the Right Royal Cozy Mystery series. I’ve read all the previous books and love the series and characters. It’s always a treat to have a new one to devour.
The new book begins with the chance discovery of a man believed to have left the country three years before. What follows is typical of Bea and Perry’s determination to solve the mystery of how the body ended up in the new restaurant, who put it there, and why the poor man had to die. Never to be put off by looming deadlines, our intrepid duo, ably assisted by some of our series regulars, get to work. And the story that unfolds is as complex and satisfying as other books in the series. I enjoy these stories because the solutions never feel contrived while remaining complex. The solution is never easy.
While all this is happening, both Bea and Perry are contending with challenges in their personal lives as well, which moves the series on but never overwhelms the mystery. I think it’s a tough balancing act, and Helen Golden manages it perfectly.
Thoroughly enjoyable and highly recommended.
Check out my reviews for the other books in this fabulous series.
Hello. I’m Helen Golden. I write British contemporary cozy whodunnits with a hint of humour. I live in small village in Lincolnshire in the UK with my husband, my step-daughter, her two cats, our two dogs, sometimes my step-son, and our tortoise.
I used to work in senior management, but after my recent job came to a natural end I had the opportunity to follow my dreams and start writing. It’s very early in my life as an author, but so far I’m loving it.
It’s crazy busy at our house, so when I’m writing I retreat to our caravan (an impulsive lockdown purchase) which is mostly parked on our drive. When I really need total peace and quiet, I take it to a lovely site about 15 minutes away and hide there until my family runs out of food or clean clothes
London 1918: Is Fiona Figg ready to exchange her sleuthing cap for a bridal veil?
Fiona is set to tie the knot with her dashing captain, Archie Somersby. But, while Fiona is busy planning her happily ever after, side-kick Kitty Lane and a group of judo-chopping suffragettes are kicking up trouble at the Piccadilly Jujitsu Club.
When Kitty is found unconscious in the locker room during a high-stakes competition, Fiona must forsake her bouquets and bridal gown to investigate. Her sleuthing leads to a posh lady’s luncheon where a mysterious death crashes Fiona’s wedding plans.
To make matters worse, the arch-nemesis of all things matrimonial Fredrick Fredricks is up to his old tricks, attempting to put the brakes on Fiona’s journey down the aisle. Will he succeed in tripping up Fiona’s wedding vows? Or will she finally say “I don’t” to the charming devil?
Poison in Piccadilly is the latest Fiona Figg and Kitty Lane mystery. I’ve read them all.
Told with its tongue-in-cheek humour and with Fiona’s penchant for fake moustaches never far away, this story is set mostly in London, with a quick trip to Ireland, and in a role-reversal, sees Kitty requiring Fiona’s help. All the while, Fiona is supposed to be preparing for her wedding. As ever, torn between the man she’s supposed to trail as he’s suspected of being a spy and her soon-to-be husband, Fiona is never entirely sure who to trust as she investigates the latest mystery to fall in her lap.
With all of the series favourites and many unexpected twists and turns, Poison in Piccadilly is a fun read. For all its humour, I do adore the way this series effortlessly weaves a fictional narrative featuring historical people and events.
You’re missing a treat if you’ve not tried a Fiona Figg ad Kitty Lane story yet.
Kelly Oliver is the award-winning, bestselling author of three mysteries series: The Jessica James Mysteries, The Pet Detective Mysteries, and the historical cozies The Fiona Figg Mysteries, set in WW1. She is also the Distinguished Professor of Philosophy at Vanderbilt University and lives in Nashville, Tennessee
Escaping the city doesn’t mean escaping the criminals…
1916, Midwinter Manor: Desperate for a Christmas weekend break from war-torn London, Hannah Merrill and her Aunt Violet take Bartleby the cat and themselves off to visit Hannah’s sister, in her beautiful country estate, deep in the English countryside.
The huge house is full of relatives, friends and merrymakers, and everyone’s excited to have a Christmas to remember.
But then, when a fellow-guest’s body is found in the library – apparently bludgeoned to death – and a precious ruby is stolen from another guest, it appears that it’s going to be memorable for all the wrong reasons.
With the house snowed in, and the rural police force completely incapable of finding a single credible suspect, Hannah and Aunt Violet realise that once again it’s going to be down to them to get to the bottom of it.
Because whoever’s behind the crimes must be at Midwinter Manor… And if they’re not found, who knows what their next ‘gift’ will be?
A totally unforgettable Golden Age, country house, cozy crime novel, perfect for fans of Helena Dixon, Verity Bright, and Agatha Christie.
Murder at Midwinter Manor is the third Miss Merrill and Aunt Violet mystery book, and I’ve read all of them.
This story takes us to Hannah’s sister’s house for a Christmas party. Some of the guests are family, and some of them are not (Oh dear for them).
While we get to know the members of the party, there are strange goings-on in the background, and when Hannah is left with not one but two mysteries to solve, things start to become more interesting.
As we watch Hannah and her aunt, alongside their two male sidekicks, at work, we’re treated to everything we’d expect from a Golden Age country-house-style murder. (I was somewhat jealous about all the Afternoon Teas they managed to consume.) The mystery is intricately connected to the era of First World War Britain, and the events are believable and enjoyable to read about.
When they come, the conclusions are both satisfying after suspicion has fallen on just about everyone.
As a huge fan of this genre of fiction, I really enjoyed Murder at Midwinter Manor and the glimpse given of a divided society in a single house between servants and masters.
When a pantomime turns deadly, Iris investigates a cast of killers…
Christmas, 1923. When reporter Iris Woodmore is sent to cover the Prince of Wales’ visit to historic Winchester, she discovers more than just royal gossip.
The leading lady in Winchester Cathedral’s charity pantomime is found dead in mysterious circumstances. And the chief suspect is Cinderella’s handsome prince, played by Percy Baverstock’s younger brother, Freddie.
For the sake of the Baverstocks, Iris must investigate the murder, even though it means confronting an old enemy. And as the line between friend and foe blurs dangerously, she’s ensnared by someone she hoped she’d never see again…
Everyone’s favourite amateur sleuth returns for a Christmas mystery, perfect for fans of Verity Bright, Claire Gradidge and Emily Organ.
I love a new Iris Woodmore 1920s mystery, and A Corpse in Christmas Close is as well-plotted and deeply grounded in the historical events of the day as the previous books in the series.
Iris is a great main character. She is tenacious and outspoken, aware of society’s conventions but often keen to ignore them. She and her fellow cast members are all well-drawn and believable.
I almost always determine how much I love a mystery by whether I work out the culprit or not, and once more, I was caught out by the resolution for A Corpse in Christmas Close.
The pacing is great. I’m looking forward to Iris’ next adventure.
Michelle Salter writes historical cosy crime set in Hampshire, where she lives, and inspired by real-life events in 1920s Britain. Her Iris Woodmore series draws on an interest in the aftermath of the Great War and the suffragette movement.
Life at Hopgood Hall is never boring, but Alexi Ellis hopes that there will be no more murders for the time being – she’s solved four already and is getting a reputation in the local area for being bad luck.
So when local gossip Polly Pearson arrives at Hopgood hall, Alexi knows this can only mean bad news. Polly has made it clear that she dislikes Alexi, and has campaigned for her to leave Hopgood Hall forever – so what could Polly want?
Then Polly reveals that her partner, Gerry has been found murdered in her B&B and that she is the main suspect! Alexi, her partner Jack and Cosmo the cat are all left speechless. More so when Polly begs Alexi for help improving her innocence.
But Alexi isn’t sure she wants to help this spiteful gossip. Is she really innocent or as deadly as the police believe her to be?
A Deadly Affair is the latest book in the Hopgood Hall Murder Mystery series. I’ve read them all.
By now, we know our main characters, Jack and Alexi, well. However, they are still asking questions about their relationship, and I’m afraid this aspect of the series is my least favourite. Luckily, Cosmo comes to the rescue more often than not.
The mystery itself is complex and well-plotted as our sleuths try to understand why Gerry has been murdered. It quickly transpires that all is not as simple as it first appears. Lambourn is filled with dodgy individuals, any of whom could have been the ones involved.
The resolution of the mystery unfolds quickly. I always say I judge a mystery by whether or not I guessed ‘who did it,’ and I did not see this one coming.
These mysteries often have quite a dark underbelly to them (a nod to the author’s other genre, I’m sure), and this one, similar to book 1, fits that bill. It is not quite as cosy as I prefer (because I’m a big wuss), but that doesn’t detract from the fine plotting and masterful way the mystery has been plotted by the author. I take my hat off to EV Hunter for that:)
I have read book 4, A Story to Strangle For, but I’ve failed to review on the blog.
Meet the author
Evie Hunter has written a great many successful regency romances as Wendy Soliman and is now redirecting her talents to produce dark gritty thrillers for Boldwood. For the past twenty years she has lived the life of a nomad, roaming the world on interesting forms of transport, but has now settled back in the UK.
MJ Porter 