Author: bookafterbook

Publication: 21st October 2025 (paperback); 10th November 2025 (eBook) – Storm Publishing

The snow falls, carollers sing, and a killer plots his next move…

London, 1928. Marius Quin and Lady Bella Montague are ready for a quiet Christmas when they learn that Bella’s beloved Aunt Adele has met a shocking end in her picture-perfect cottage. Immediately heading for Holly Village, the enclave of retired aristocrats and eccentric pensioners where Adele lived, they discover that her death was far from natural.

The dead woman’s priceless Manet painting has vanished, and a cryptic note she left hints at scandalous goings-on among her neighbours. When another resident is murdered during the village Christmas party, it’s clear that a devious killer is preying on the sleepy community. Marius and Bella must navigate a web of village intrigue, false identities, and long-buried scandals to stop this from being a Christmas to remember for all the wrong reasons…

AMAZON

It’s Christmas time in the sixth book in the Marius Quin Mystery series. After the events of the previous books, crime author and sleuth Marius Quin and his first love/partner in detection/best friend (who he is still in love with) Lady Bella Montague are celebrating Christmas at Bella’s family house where he has a weird meeting with her honorary aunt Adele which takes a more sinister turn when they find out that she had died shortly after returning home from the party. Still uneasy about his encounter with Adele and not at all convinced that her death was natural, Marius and Bella decide to investigate, by visiting her home at Holly Village in Highgate. Described as “the very definition of picturesque”, Holly Village is a closed and exclusive community, a “village within a town within a city”, but its inhabitants are hiding something and Marius and Bella are determined to find out what. 

The Holly Village Murders takes a break from the mysteries still unsolved from the previous books for a brand new mystery, so it can easily be read as a stand-alone, a Christmas cozy mystery. Marius and Bella are a resolute and remarkable duo of detectives. While the police don’t believe that Adele’s murder is suspicious, they are convinced that something strange is going on in the idyllic Holly Village, with its quirky pensioners, their secrets and their false identities.

The Holly Village Murders is yet another witty, engaging, and immersive mystery from Benedict Brown, an intriguing mystery that kept me glued to the pages and made me look forward to the next Marius and Bella’s sleuthing adventure!

A huge thank you to Storm Publishing and NetGalley for providing me with a proof of this intriguing mystery

I’m a Welsh-Irish-Englishman originally from South London but now living in Burgos, a beautiful city in the north of Spain, with my French-Spanish wife and our two young children.

Writing has always been my passion. It was my favourite half-an-hour a week at primary school, and I started on my first, truly abysmal book as a teenager. So it wasn’t a difficult decision to study literature at university which led to an MA in Creative Writing.

I grew up in a crime-fiction-mad family and had made a few clumsy attempts at writing one over the years before coming up with the idea for my contemporary whodunits “The Izzy Palmer Mysteries”. My second series, the 1920s-set “Lord Edgington Investigates…”, has been a great success, with each of the books becoming a bestseller. I have a new series called “The Marius Quin Mysteries” coming in November 2023.

If you’d like to tell me what you think about my detectives, my writing or the world at large, I’d love to hear from you, so feel free to get in touch at www.benedictbrown.net where you can also download my free mystery novellas and join my readers’ club.

Publication: 9th October 2025 (paperback); 6th November 2025 (eBook) – Storm Publishing

Dawn Cross sits motionless in her recliner, her eyes staring sightlessly at the television screen. Death is no stranger to Silver Fern House… but when Detective Lauren Pengelly arrives at the scene, it’s clear she’s got a cold-blooded murder on her hands.

What should have been a routine investigation at a care home for former entertainers quickly becomes Lauren’s most complex case yet. When a second resident is found dead and then a third is targeted, Detective Lauren Pengelly knows she’s hunting a killer with a twisted agenda. Each death is different, but there’s a pattern emerging that chills her to the bone.

As Lauren and DS Matt Price dig deeper into the famous residents’ pasts, they uncover secrets that some would kill to keep buried. In a building full of people who’ve spent their lives playing roles, everyone is a suspect and anyone could be the killer’s next victim…

Get ready to be totally hooked! From the bestselling author of the Cavendish & Walker series, you won’t be able to put this murder mystery down. Fans of LJ Ross, Rachel McLean and J M Dalgliesh will love it.

AMAZON

The Marazion Murders is the sixth book in the Cornwall Mystery series and, not having read the first five books, I can tell you that it can be easily read as a standalone. Along the way, we get a bit of back story about the main characters and the story is easy to follow.

The protagonists of the series are Detective Lauren Pengelly and DS Matt Price who, in this sixth book, investigate a series of murders in a care home. After the death of his wife a few years back, Matt is raising his younger daughter with the help of his parents, although he is looking forward to moving into his own home, even if it’s just down the road. From what I gathered, Matt arrived at Penzance just a few years back and had a bit of a slow start with Detective Pengelly as his second in command, but they are now close friends. I found Detective Lauren Pengelly a smart and determined woman and we get a good look into her private life that I found as interesting as the murder mystery.

Laurel and Matt are investigating the death of an elderly woman in Silver Fern House, an exclusive care home for entertainers. What was initially thought to be a natural death quickly became a murder and it’s not going to be the only one, but it’s not easy to find the killer when each murder is different and you don’t know who the next victim could be. Every resident is both a suspect and a potential victim as Laurel and her team try to figure out what is going on…

I really enjoyed The Marazion Murders: a riveting and twisty mystery, intriguing and engaging characters, and the beautiful Cornish setting… I am looking forward to reading the other books in the series!

A huge thank you to Storm Publishing and NetGalley for providing me with a proof of the novel.

Sally Rigby was born in Northampton, UK. After leaving university she worked in magazines and radio before finally embarking on a career lecturing in both further and higher education. Sally has always had the travel bug and after living in Manchester and London moved overseas with her family to New Zealand, which she considers to be one of the most beautiful place in the world. Sally now lives in Winchester, UK. Sally is the author of the acclaimed Cavendish and Walker series, the Detective Sebastian Clifford series, and the Cornwall Murder Mystery series. In collaboration with another author, Amanda Ashby, she also writes psychological thrillers. Sally has always loved crime fiction books, films and TV programmes. She has a particular fascination with the psychology of serial killers. Check out her website for a FREE prequel story.

Publication: 26th October 2025 – Boldwood Books

Hannah Merrill is about to marry the love of her life…

The couple are determined their low-key celebration will go without a hitch, but there can’t be an ‘I do’ while the vicar is missing. And when he’s found dead – a victim of a poisoning – in the crypt behind the church, Hannah knows only she and Aunt Violet can find out who did it.

Hannah’s beloved thinks she shouldn’t interfere. But if he fails to remember that an independent woman in 1916 doesn’t do what she’s told to by a man, the dead vicar may be the least of his worries…

Then the vicar’s own fiancé appears on the scene, even though nobody knew he was engaged. And suddenly it becomes clear someone has a secret, one shocking enough to kill for.

Will the intrepid pair of amateur sleuths catch the murderer before they kill again? Or will it be til death parts them all?

https://mybook.to/MurderattheWedding

Happy Halloween! Today, I am excited to take part in the blog tour for a fantastic new cozy mystery, Murder at the Wedding by Anita Davison.

I do love cozy historical mystery novels, and the Miss Merrill and Aunt Violet Mysteries is one of my favourite and in this fifth book it’s time for a wedding.

It’s wedding day for Hannah Merrill and her fiancé Darius Clifford. After waiting for the war to end and for Darius’s job in the government to give them time to get married, their day has finally arrived. The day is not off to a good start when they can’t find the vicar, but, fortunately, they find a substitute. And when Hannah and Darius find some time alone for themselves, they discover why the vicar was missing. His body is found inside the tomb of Hannah’s best friend leaving Hannah to wonder who would want him dead and why. With Darius already back at his job at the War Office and Hannah finding it strange to adapt to her role as a wife and mistress of the house, she and her aunt Violet embark in yet another investigation, determined to find out the truth. 

I do love this series. Set in England in 1918, with WWI in the backdrop, it features strong and independent female characters, intriguing mysteries, and also lots of humor. I love the author’s attention to historical details which perfectly blends with the mystery to solve. Hannah and Violet are two wonderful and authentic characters, always determined to discover the truth, and I loved getting an insight into Aunt Violet’s quite eventful past. Well-written, engaging, and compelling, Murder at the Wedding is the perfect for fans of Agatha Christie and cozy mysteries and, even though it is the fifth book in the series, it can easily be read as a stand-alone!

A huge thank you to Rachel and Boldwood Books for inviting me to take part in the blog tour.

Anita Davison is the author of the successful Flora Maguire historical mystery series.

Twitter: @AnitaSDavison

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Publication: 30th October 2025 – Viking

Cornwall, 1910. On a remote tidal island, the Viscount of Tithe Hall is absorbed in feverish preparations for the apocalypse that he believes will accompany the passing of Halley’s Comet. The Hall must be sealed from top to bottom – every window, chimney and keyhole closed off before night falls. But what the pompous, dishonest Viscount has failed to take into account is the danger that lies within… By morning, he will be dead in his sealed study, murdered by his own ancestral crossbow.

All eyes turn to Stephen Pike, Tithe Hall’s newest under-butler. Fresh out of Borstal for a crime he didn’t commit, he is the wrong man in the wrong place at the wrong time. His unlikely ally? Miss Decima Stockingham, the foul-mouthed, sharp as a tack, 80-year-old family matriarch. Fearless and unconventional, she relishes chaos and puzzles alike, and a murder is just the thrill she’s been waiting for.

Together, this mismatched duo must navigate secret passages, buried grudges and rising terror to unmask the killer before it’s too late…

AMAZON

WATERSTONES

I can’t recommend this book enough! The Murder at World’s End is such a fun and intriguing story, I read it one sitting, completely entertained by the characters and immersed in the story.

The Murder at World’s End is set in a remote island off the coast of Cornwall in April 1910, when the comet Halley passed over the earth and was visible to the naked eye. After a difficult upbringing, the protagonist, Stephen Pike, thinks to have finally found his luck in landing a job as an under-butler at Tithe Hall, the home of the eccentric Viscount, Lord Conrad Stockingham-Welt, who is convinced that the passing of the comet will bring the end of the world and that by sealing themselves into the house, they will be able to survive and start a new world. Stephen’s job, during the night, is to keep an eye on Miss Decima Stockingham, the offensive and difficult lady relegated to a distant room of the house, who no one wants to deal with, but Stephen seems to get along with. In the morning, the world is still there, but as everyone unseals their own rooms, they find Lord Conrad murdered in his study, the room locked from the inside. As the members of the family start thinking about the inheritance and an inept detective of Scotland Yard is determined to accuse Stephen of the murder, because of his past in prison, Stephen and Miss Decima team up to investigate on their own.

I really enjoyed this novel. There is a gripping locked-room murder mystery, lots of humor and twists, and original and quirky characters. I really liked the character of Stephen, a young man raised in East London who ended up in prison for a crime he didn’t commit and now he is trying to start afresh. Miss Decima Stockingham is a fascinating character: astute and feisty, she loves to enter a room, create chaos among her family, and then leave. The Murder at World’s End was such an excellent and addictive read and I was delighted to learn that it’s the first in a series. I can’t wait for more of Stephen and Miss Decima’s adventures!

A huge thank you to Viking and NetGalley for providing me with a proof of this brilliant novel.

Ross Montgomery is the author of award-winning books for children. His novels have been twice shortlisted for the Costa Children’s Book of the Year and twice selected for the Waterstones’ Children’s Book of the Month, as well as chosen for the Sunday Times ‘Top 100 Modern Children’s Classics’. His latest, I Am Rebel, was an immediate bestseller, chosen by Waterstones as their Children’s Book of the Year 2024.

He lives in London with his wife, a baby, and a cat named Fun Bobby. The Murder at World’s End is his first adult novel.

Publication: 6th November 2025 – One More Chapter

It’s Christmas in Penstowan, and local amateur dramatics group the Penstowan Players are putting on their annual pantomime.

This year it’s ‘Aladdin’, and half the town have been drafted in to help, including Shirley Parker, who only has a small part in the chorus but will no doubt upstage everybody, and Tony Penhaligon, who’s treading the boards as the baddie, Abanazar. Ex-Metropolitan police officer turned caterer Jodie Parker has managed to get away with not appearing, but only if she agrees to cater the opening night party.

But it’s not just terrible jokes, quick costume changes and backstage chaos that wait in the wings… When the Widow Twankey (otherwise known as Tim, the mayor’s husband) trips over a corpse lying next to Aladdin’s bloodstained magic lamp, it’s time for Jodie and her partner, DCI Nathan Withers, to find the killer.

Was it the genie of the lamp or an overly harsh theatre critic? Or does someone in the Penstowan Players have a dark secret they will do anything to protect?

AMAZON

WATERSTONES

The Nosey Parker series is one of my favourite cozy mystery series so I was really excited for a Christmas mystery and I wasn’t disappointed. It’s the first Christmas for Jodie and DCI Nathan Withers as a married couple and almost the entire family is involved in the community pantomime, also known as Panto: her feisty mother Shirley is in the play, her daughter Daisy helped writing the play, and Jodie is catering the event. The opening night is a success and everyone is having fun until a body turns up. DCI Withers is in charge of the investigation, but, of course, Jodie, a former Met detective turned caterer, can’t keep her nose out of it.

The Cornish Christmas Pantomime Murder was my first Christmas novel of the year and I read it in one evening, not able to go to bed until I finished the last page. There is a murder with a list of suspects all in possession of an alibi and no motive; there are red herrings and old secrets that keep you glued to the pages; and a Christmas to prepare when Jodie is not busy investigating the murder. I love the characters and the relationships in this series because they feel authentic and there are talks of culture, sex and contraception, and menopause. There are mystery and tension, but also a lot of humor, especially between Jodie and her mother, that lightens the mood as the murder investigation progresses, and a Christmas atmosphere to get you in the mood.

The Cornish Christmas Pantomime Murder is yet another engaging cozy mystery in this fantastic series and I can’t wait for more.

A huge thank you to One More Chapter and NetGalley for providing me with a proof of this gripping novel.

Fiona Leitch is a novelist and screenwriter with a chequered past. She’s written for footballing and motoring magazines, childbirth videos and mail order catalogues; DJ’ed at illegal raves in London, been told off by a children’s TV presenter during a studio debate; and was the Australasian face of a series of TV commercials for a cleaning product. All of which has given her a thorough grounding in the ridiculous, and helped her to write funny stuff.

Publication: 23rd October 2025 – Aria

A slow-burn romance fifteen years in the making…

Hattie has spent half her life secretly crushing on Freddie – her best friend Sam’s irresistibly gorgeous older brother. But Freddie? He’s barely spared a glance for Hattie, the girl Sam befriended one fateful New Years’ Eve when they discovered they were birthday twins.

Fast-forward to now: Hattie finds herself single for the first time in years – just before the holidays. Enter Sam, who, in classic best-friend fashion, whisks her away to a remote cabin in the Forest of Dean to cheer her up. Snowy woodland views? Check. A crackling fire and a steamy hot tub? Check. Zero cell service, ravenous wild boars, and an incoming snowstorm of apocalyptic proportions? Also check.

And to make matters even more intense, Freddie joins them, unexpectedly. Still infuriatingly gorgeous, and still ridiculously off-limits. Except this time, he’s actually noticing Hattie. But then again, maybe he’s been noticing her all along.

Fifteen years of longing. One night to change everything. This New Year’s Eve, they’re playing with fire.

AMAZON

WATERSTONES

Back in April, I loved the author’s debut novel, Work Trip, but after reading House Party, Chloe Ford has become one of my favourite authors. I was completely addicted to this novel: the slow-burn romance and the chemistry, the snowed-in remote cabin, the close friendships, and the wonderful cast of characters.

The protagonist, Hattie, is funny and smart and I found her relatable and authentic. Single for the first time after a relationship of nine years, she wants to focus her last year in her twenties on herself and do all the things she couldn’t do before. First on the list is to organize a New Year’s Party to celebrate also her birthday and that of her best friend Sam, born one day apart. I loved the easy friendship between Hattie and Sam. They met on New Year’s Eve when they were fourteen years old and Hattie promised to hate his brother Freddie as much as he did and they have been friends ever since, going to the same school and university and even living together. However, as we see through flashbacks, it wasn’t that simple for Hattie to hate the handsome and arrogant Freddie. And now, Freddie has joined them on their New Year’s house party, determined to repair his relationship with his brother and, between confessions in hot tubs, sudden blackouts that leaves them alone in the dark, squeezing in a closet during a game of hide-and-seek, and snow-ball fights, they will face not only their feelings for each other, but also their past.

I couldn’t put down this well-written, witty, swoony, and immersive novel and I can’t wait for the author’s next novel!!!

A huge thank you to Aria and NetGalley for providing me with a proof of this wonderful novel.

Chloe Ford grew up in rural Sussex but is now based in South Gloucestershire. She has an affinity with all things country, from riding horses to muddy walks. Her love for writing began at secondary school when her English teacher would set a writing task for the whole hour. An avid reader, she started sneaking Mills & Boon books out from under her mum’s bed as a teenager and hasn’t stopped devouring romance books ever since.

Publication: 7th October 2025 – Severn House

Countess-turned-advice columnist Amelia Amesbury has a wedding to plan alongside a new murder in this charmingly deadly historical mystery.

Countess Amelia Amesbury has her work cut out. As well as balancing her alter ego—secret advice columnist, Lady Agony—and the blackmailer threatening to reveal her real identity, her sister has also announced she’s getting married. It’s joyous news, but places all the planning for a high society wedding firmly at Amelia’s door.

Luckily, her good friend and local vicar Mr. Cross has agreed to the expedited nuptials, so that’s one less thing to worry about. Until Cross is found dead at the church. Now in between bridal arrangements, Amelia must follow the clues Mr. Cross left behind.

Clearly, he’d made some enemies during his parishioner work, as strange mishaps begin to occur wherever Amelia goes. But when the danger becomes all too real, Amelia must rely on her friends and the handsome Simon Bainbridge to help solve the murder, save the wedding, and Amelia’s life too . . .

AMAZON

I am delighted to return to this fantastic Victorian mystery series featuring Lady Amelia Amesbury, columnist and occasional detective. In Murder in Matrimony, the fourth book in the series, Amelia is quite busy. First, her sister Madge is getting married in a month and the wedding is at her house so Amelia is juggling wedding preparations, the arrival of her entire lively family, and her sister’s cold feet. Then, her close friend, Reverend Cross, is murdered leaving her a cryptic letter and a mystery to solve, while someone threatens to reveal her secret identity as the columnist Lady Agony.

This is such an entertaining and immersive series with a strong, smart, and confident protagonist. Lady Amelia is a widow who lives in Mayfair with her young ward and her late husband’s fierce aunt. As in the previous books, she investigates with the help of her friend Kitty (and, this time, even her husband Oliver) and with Simon, her charming love interest.

The mystery is intriguing with lots of secrets and a good pace and I loved the inclusion of the blackmail plot, even though it was resolved a bit too quickly and too easily. The family drama surrounding her sister’s wedding was also engaging with the arrival of the drunk uncle and the loud aunt, and the romance between Amelia and Simon was well-developed as it moved forward and it reached a satisfying ending. I loved how each chapter begins with a letter to Lady Agony and her witty responses are quite amusing. Murder in Matrimony is an engaging and thrilling cozy mystery and I am looking forward to the next books!

A huge thank you to Severn House and NetGalley for providing me with a proof of this novel.

Mary Winters is the author of the Lady of Letters historical mystery series, two cozy mystery series, and several short stories. A longtime reader of historical fiction, Mary set her latest work in Victorian England after being inspired by a trip to London. Since then, she’s been busily planning her next mystery – and another trip! 

Publication: 30th September 2025 – Simon & Schuster UK

She’s hexed. He’s vexed. And for Scotland’s most magical small-town, their feud might just spell disaster.

Sloane MacGregor swore she’d never return to Briarhaven, but with her twenty-fifth birthday looming – the day witches come into their magic – her grandmother summons her and her sisters back for one tiny task: break the centuries-old curse haunting their bloodline.

Knox Douglas, Briarhaven’s grumpy mayor, has worked tirelessly to make his town a haven for magical folk. The last thing he needs is a cursed MacGregor wreaking havoc. It doesn’t matter he once crushed on her. For the sake of Briarhaven, Sloane has to go.

But magic has other plans – and in Briarhaven, love really is a witch.

AMAZON

WATERSTONES

Today, it’s my turn on the blog tour for Love’s a Witch, the delightful new novel by Tricia O’Malley.

It seems that everything I read lately is set in Scotland. It’s not intentional and I am not complaining as there is always an evocative atmosphere in the story. The latest one is Love’s a Witch, the first in The Scottish Charms by Tricia O’Malley which, based only on the first book, is going to be a fun and intriguing series. There are magical creatures, headstrong heroines, and, already mentioned, the beautiful setting of the Scottish Highlands.

The protagonists of the series are the McGregor girls who carry a centuries old curse that their grandmother thinks it’s about time they break. In Love’s a Witch the protagonists are Sloane McGregor and Knox Douglas. As the eldest daughter, Sloane has always borne the burden of their parents’ fights and she’s always taken responsibility for her sisters, managing a complex relationship with their estranged mother. Knox, as well, is the first son of the family that, for centuries, has taken care of the small town of Briarhaven. After university, he was called back to the family castle and left in charge of everything, while his parents and his younger brothers travel around the world. Despite having a lot in common, when Sloane returns to Briarhaven on her twenty-fifth birthday to claim her powers, Knox is not exactly thrilled as her erratic magic covers the town in snow. Sparks fly as Knox wants her gone and she’s determined to stay and break her family curse. 

Love’s a Witch is an entertaining and charming enemies-to-lovers cozy romance with a magical setting, quirky characters, and adorable magical animals like the young emberwolf (a mix of dragon and and a werewolf) who loves cheese. The romance is full of chemistry, witty banter, and spice and I also loved the family dynamics, especially the bond between the McGregor sisters. Love’s a Witch is the perfect autumnal read and I can’t wait to read the next book!

A huge thank you to SJV and Simon & Schuster for inviting me to join the blog tour and providing me with a copy of this wonderful novel.

Tricia O’Malley is a New York Times, USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestselling author of contemporary, paranormal and fantasy romance. Her books have sold over three million copies worldwide. When she’s not writing, Tricia can be found scuba diving, travelling, or debating the best popcorn topping. She splits her time between Scotland and the Caribbean, loves fun vacation reads, and thinks life is better with a little bit of sparkle. To see some of her Scotland or island life photos, visit her on Facebook, on Instagram, or at www.triciaomalley.com.

Publication: 28th August 2025 (paperback), 25th September 2025 (eBook) – Storm Publishing

A churchyard discovery. A shocking secret. A deadly confrontation.

London,1889. When the body of a wealthy widow is found in the neglected graveyard of St Anne’s Church, Soho, Emma Langley and Penny Green soon discover her respectable façade concealed a web of bitter enemies.

From a disgraced doctor stripped of his livelihood to a governess whose reputation was destroyed by lies, the victim, Mrs Melbourne, left a trail of devastation in her wake.

Then Mrs Melbourne’s Belgravia mansion is consumed by a mysterious fire. Emma and Penny must race to decipher water-damaged papers salvaged from the ruins that could hold the key to the truth.

But as anonymous threatening letters arrive warning them to abandon their investigation, the friends realise they’re hunting someone who will kill again to protect their secret. In the shadow-filled streets of Victorian London, can Emma and Penny expose the murderer before they become the next victims?

AMAZON

Even though Murder in the Soho Graveyard is the third novel in the Emma Langley Victorian Mystery series, this is my first book, both in the series and by this author, and I can tell you that not only it can be easily read as a stand-alone, but that it made me want to read the previous book in the series. The writing is immersive, the atmosphere is evocative, and the mystery is intriguing.

It’s 1890 in London and it all starts when the body of a widow is found in an abandoned graveyard. Emma Langley, a music teacher, and her friend Penny Green, a former journalist, decide to investigate to prove the innocence of the woman who found the body, Clara Clifton, whose job is to visit neglected graveyards for the Metropolitan Public Gardens Committee. As Emma and Penny investigate, they discover that the victim, a respected philanthropist who everyone initially seems to commend, was actually hated by many and the list of suspects keeps growing.

I do love historical mysteries and Murder in the Soho Graveyard kept me engrossed. The protagonists are two strong, intelligent, and inquisitive women who are determined to find out the truth, even after they receive threatening letters. The author perfectly mixes historical facts with the narrative and adds a gothic atmosphere that fits perfectly with the mystery. I am always looking for more historical mysteries and I am delighted to have discovered Emily Organ. I can’t wait to read more of her books!

A huge thank you to Storm Publishing and NetGalley for providing me with a proof of the novel.

Emily has been a full-time author since 2017. She’s written over thirty books which include the Penny Green Victorian mystery series and the Augusta Peel 1920s mysteries. Born in Yorkshire, Emily grew up in the south of England. She got hooked on mysteries at a young age when she came across Agatha Christie’s books in her local library. Emily studied and worked in London where many of her stories are set. London’s architecture and history has always fascinated her, and she’ll happily spend hours geeking over old maps and historical newspapers. Emily lives in Berkshire with her husband and teenage children. When she’s not writing and researching, she enjoys running, walking her dog and drawing.

Publication: 10th September 2025 (paperback), 8th October 2025 (eBook) – Storm Publishing

At The Wild Haggis Bookshop, the murder mysteries aren’t just on the shelves!

Beth Cunningham thought she’d closed the book on her troubled past when she opened The Wild Haggis Bookshop in the charming Scottish town of Oban. But when her inaugural book club evening ends in real murder – the body dramatically posed amongst the party decorations – her fresh start ends in a twist she definitely didn’t see coming.

With local police detective Logan Hunter eyeing her as his prime suspect, Beth must fight to clear her name. Still, she can’t help but notice his warm brown eyes and dedication to justice… even as he builds a case against her.

Determined to find the truth, Beth is shocked to discover a web of lies among her book club attendees, each one hiding secrets worthy of a bestseller. With time running out before she lands in jail, can Beth uncover the secret worth killing for?

AMAZON

I want to be like the protagonist of this new series by Jackie Baldwin, Beth Cunningham, and move to the Scottish Highlands and open my own bookshop. What I wouldn’t like is having Beth’s secret from her past which makes her a suspect for the murder of a young woman.

After past events forced Beth to leave the beautiful town of Oban in the Scottish Highlands, she’s now returned for a fresh start. She’s opened a bookshop, The Wild Haggis Bookshop, she’s got a black cat named Toby, and she’s getting to know her peculiar employees. The first night of the Armchair Detectives Book Club seems also to go quite well until one of the members is found murdered and Beth is one of the main suspects.

This book has everything I love. A cozy mystery, an engaging and interesting protagonist, a bookshop with its own cat, all set in the beautiful setting of the Scottish Highlands. The plot is clever and well-developed and, even though the ending felt a bit rushed, I enjoyed it very much. The mystery is intriguing and I loved how Beth’s staff comes together to help her figure out who is the killer. As they investigate, they find out that Beth is not the only one with a secret and the list of suspects grows. 

Murder at the Wild Haggis Bookshop is the first book in the The Highland Bookshop Murders series and I am already looking forward to the next book for a new immersing mystery and, hopefully, for more of Detective Logan Hunter.

A huge thank you to Storm Publishing and NetGalley for providing me with a proof of this gripping novel.

Jackie Baldwin grew up in a small, rural town in southwest Scotland. She went off to study law at Edinburgh which proved something of a culture shock and returned to Dumfries to practice family and criminal law. Much later, she retrained as a hypnotherapist and discovered a passion for the inner workings of the human mind. Her first novel was published in 2016 and featured former priest, Detective Inspector Frank Farrell. Murder by the Seaside is her fourth novel and the first in her Detective Grace McKenna series. It is set in Portobello, the seaside suburb of Edinburgh. Married, with two grown-up children and a little grandson, Jackie loves roaming about the East Lothian countryside with her golden retriever, Lucy, or taking her for long walks on one of the many beaches. If you come across her in the wild she will likely be a combination of windswept, muddy, or soggy with twigs in her hair. She also loves to swim in the sea, but is only brave enough to do it in the summer.