Author: bookafterbook

Publication: 27th March 2025 – Quercus

Annie thought the murders were over.
She was wrong.

It is autumn in Castle Knoll and Annie Adams is busy settling into her new home. She doesn’t find Gravesdown Hall particularly cosy, especially since she found two dead bodies there over the summer. What’s more, ever since she arrived in the village, Annie has had the creeping sense she’s being watched.

Lonely, and desperate for some company, Annie starts talking to a stranger she meets in the grounds of the estate. The striking old woman introduces herself as Peony Lane, the fortune-teller who predicted Great Aunt Frances’ murder all those years ago. And now she has a fortune to tell Annie.

Desperate not to fall into the same trap as Frances, Annie flees Peony Lane, refusing to hear any of her grim predictions. But she can’t outrun Peony for long, as hours later she finds her, dead on the floor of Gravesdown Hall, a ruby-hilted dagger plunged into her back.

But who killed the mysterious fortune teller and why? And can Frances’ library of evidence help Annie solve the case?

AMAZON

WATERSTONES

How To Seal Your Own Fate is the fantastic sequel to one of my favourite books from last year, How To Solve Your Own Murder.

As in the first book, the story alternates between the present, with Annie Adams solving another mystery, and the past, in the 1960s, told in the form of a diary from Annie’s great aunt, Frances. There is mystery in the form of murder, right in Annie’s garden, and there are family secrets to uncover as Annie tries to figure out the past of her formidable great-aunt.

I loved how the author deftly alternates between the past and the present, between two different points of views, keeping me intrigued from the first to the last page. In the present time,  Annie has now settled down in Gravesdown Estate and Castle Knoll, even though people have not been exactly welcoming and her great-aunt’s personality seems to haunt the big house she lives in all alone. To distract her there is yet another murder. Peony Lane was the same fortune teller who had predicted Frances’ murder and, right before she was found murdered in Annie’s solarium, gave her a mysterious message. Now, it’s up to Annie to figure out who wanted her dead and to do that she needs not only to investigate the people of Castle Knoll, but also look into her great-aunt’s diaries. In the past, a young Frances Adams is still trying to figure out her future, but, in the meantime, she keeps herself busy looking into a car crash that may have not been an accident.  

I enjoyed How To Seal Your Own Fate as much as the first book. I loved the small-town setting and the amateur detectives and the complex and twisty mystery kept me guessing until the end. How To Seal Your Own Fate is a smart, gripping, and compelling read and I am really hoping there will be yet more mysteries to solve!

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

Kristen Perrin is originally from Seattle, Washington, where she spent several years working as a bookseller before moving to the UK to do a master’s and a PhD. She lives with her family in Surrey, where she can be found poking around vintage bookstores, stomping in the mud with her two kids, and collecting too many plants. How To Solve Your Own Murder is her debut adult novel.

Publication: 22nd May 2025 – One More Chapter

1812 The Lake District

Despite their attempts to keep their forbidden romance away from the disapproving eyes of society, Dr Jacob Sandys and his lover, the actress Dora Fitz-Pennington, find themselves drawn into the scandals of the British elite once more when William Wordsworth’s prized notebook of unpublished poems goes missing.

When news arrives of a disturbing murder in London – a body pulled from the Thames with a shepherd’s crook wedged in the victim’s mouth – Dora and Jacob are compelled to investigate.

What links a poet’s stolen treasure to a high-society murder? And will Dora and Jacob’s love weather the storm, or will dark secrets doom their happiness?

AMAZON

WATERSTONES

Historical mystery novels, especially the ones set in the Regency and Victorian era, are my favourite at the moment and I always enjoy discovering new series. The latest one is The Regency Secrets series by Julia Golding, which I easily read starting from the third book, The Wordsworth Key (I got my hands on the first two books, but I haven’t had the chance to read them, yet).

Set in 1812, the protagonists are Dora Fitz-Pennington, an illegitimate actress and forger, and Dr Jacob Sandy, the third son of a viscount and a physician, both turned into professional sleuths. Throughout the novel, not only they will have to investigate a theft and a murder, but also face their class differences and their feelings for each other.

The novel starts with Dora and Jacob taking a break from their London life and their investigations in the Lake District. However, first Jacob is called away to his family home while Dora helps a neighbour to find a manuscript that has been stolen and then, unexpected visitors keep turning up at their cottage. And when the theft is followed up by a murder, Dora and Jacob will have to say goodbye to their holiday and get deep into the investigation.

The Wordsworth Key is such a fun, delightful, and intriguing read. I liked the characters of Dora and Jacob and how their relationship develops and I love that the story features real historical figures of the times (like William Wordsworth). The mystery is well-developed and kept me guessing and there is also some family and romantic drama to keep the reader entertained. Highly recommended!

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

My journey to becoming an author has been a roundabout one, taking in many other careers. I grew up on the edge of Epping Forest and was that dreamy kind of child who was always writing stories. After reading English at Cambridge, I decided to find out as much as I could about the wider world so joined the Foreign Office and served in Poland. My work as a diplomat took me from the high point of town twinning in the Tatra Mountains to the low of inspecting the bottom of a Silesian coal mine.

On leaving Poland, I exchanged diplomacy for academia and took a doctorate in the literature of the English Romantic Period at Oxford. I then joined Oxfam as a lobbyist on conflict issues, campaigning at the UN and with governments to lessen the impact of conflict on civilians living in war zones – a cause about which I still feel very passionate.

Married with three children, I now live in Oxford between two rivers, surrounded by gargoyles, beautiful sandstone buildings and ancient trees.

My first novel, ‘The Diamond of Drury Lane’, won the Waterstone’s Children’s Book Prize 2006 and the Nestle Children’s Book Prize 2006 (formerly known as the Smarties Prize). I was also chosen by Waterstone’s in 2007 as one of their ‘Twenty-five authors for the future’. In the US, ‘Secret of the Sirens’ won the honor book medal of the Green Earth Book Award.

My latest book is The Curious Crime – a murder-mystery set in an amazing science museum. There may be dodos and cake too!

Publication: 29th April 2025 – Kensington

Minnie Harper isn’t used to putting herself first. Not after she moved away from England only to be left raising two children alone on the Greek Island of Corfu following her husband’s unexpected death. But with her daughter begging to be sent to school abroad and her son grasping at his own independence, Minnie realizes she must prepare for the next stage of her life.

When famous mystery author Stephen Dorian settles into a neighboring villa to escape writer’s block and hidden scandals, she is intrigued at first by the handsome Londoner—until he proves to be nothing more than a boorish grump. Determined to avoid the man as much as possible, Minnie is shocked when he offers her a well-paid job as his typist. She isn’t in a position to turn down work, even from a man she has sworn to hate.

But before Minnie can fully regret her decision to take the job, she makes a horrifying discovery that changes everything. A young maid has been murdered, and local authorities aren’t moving fast enough to bring justice to the terrible crime. Unwilling to allow the death to fade into obscurity like the stories of so many other women deemed unworthy by society, Minnie launches an investigation of her own—and reluctantly accepts Stephen’s help. As she embarks on a dangerous search for answers that reveals another side of Corfu, unsettling questions take shape about her employer-turned-confidant and the culprit who just might do whatever it takes to strike again . . .

AMAZON

Death on Corfu is my first Emily Sullivan’s novel and it certainly won’t be my last. I loved her writing and the setting is beautiful and atmospheric. The characters are well-developed and the story kept me completely engrossed.

It’s the turn of the new century, 1898, and the English expats on Corfu are a closed community. The protagonist, Minnie Harper, has been widowed for four years and she’s been raising on her own her two children, fifteen-year-old Cleo, who loves to read and sometimes seems already a grown-up, and eight-year-old Tommy, who loves to collect any kind of animals. Although her husband has left her a little money to live on, their house is in constant need of repairs so she’s accepted a few jobs as a typist, including for her new neighbour, arrogant bestselling mystery author Stephen Dorian. Minnie and Stephen don’t exactly hit it off, but when a maid is found murdered, they decide to investigate together to find the killer.

I really liked the character of Minnie and how she develops throughout the novel. Even though she stood up to her family when she was younger to get an education, she then always relayed to her husband, even promising him to stay in Corfu and never return to England. And even as she now struggles with her own daughter’s desire for an education in England, we see her coming to her own and fighting to find justice for a young woman who no one seems to really care about. I also liked the chemistry between her and Stephen and I am really hoping for a second book to explore it more.

Death on Corfu is a wonderful read: there is mystery, intrigue, lots of historical details, and compelling characters. And while I am keeping my fingers crossed for a follow-up, I am going to get started on the author’s Regency novels!

A huge thank you to Kensington and NetGalley for a proof of this fantastic novel.

Emily Sullivan is the author of multiple critically-acclaimed historical romances, including A Rogue to Remember and Duchess Material. She lives in New England with her family where she enjoys reading about history and writing about rebellious women. A Death on Corfu is her first mystery. She can be found online at EmilySullivanBooks.com.

Publication: 8th May 2025 – Simon & Schuster UK

Anna Whitlock is a people-pleaser, but she is done saying yes. Now she has to learn how to put herself first…
 
After splitting up with her fiancé and ready for a new start, Anna takes a job rewilding the glorious Stonemore Estate in Northumberland.
 
But when she arrives the only thing driving Anna wild is her boss: the sexy, but emotionally unavailable Jamie, who is hellbent on making Anna’s job – and her life – as difficult as possible.  On the plus side, there’s Callum, the gorgeous estate manager, her best friend Fi, and an enthusiastic beagle called Hugo.
 
When romance with Callum blossoms, is Anna’s resolve to stop people-pleasing about to falter? And why can’t she stop thinking about Jamie? Can she truly put herself first and say yes to the thing which will make her happiest, falling truly madly wildly in love…?

AMAZON

WATERSTONES

Happy Monday, everyone! Excited to start the week by taking part in the blog tour for Wild About You, the wonderful debut novel by Sophie Loxton.

From the synopsis, I expected a romantic and entertaining novel, but I got much more. The story is very well-written, the characters feel authentic, and the beautiful descriptions made me wish that I was in Northumberland, working at the magnificent, yet in need of a new roof, Stonemore Estate.

Wild About You is a story of new beginnings, friendship, romance, and found family. The protagonist, Anna Whitlock is relatable and loyal, complex and flawed, determined to leave behind her past and the fiancé who broke her heart and to exchange her exciting and fast-paced life in London for a quiet new one in Stonemore, a picturesque village with greystone cottages where everyone knows everyone. 

It’s the beginning of a new life for Anna who, after her world is turned upside down, makes a decision about her life: not only she does take on a new job in Northern England, but she is going to become a new person. Always a people pleaser, always saying “yes” to other people’s desires, it’s time for Anna to start saying “no” and to put herself first. However, her resolve to say “no” is often tested by the friendly and gorgeous estate manager Callum, her best friend Fi, her snobbish new colleague Tally, the adorable beagle Hugo who brings excitement to the office, and, most of all, the grumpy and distant lord of the manor, Jamie.

Wild About You is a charming, heartwarming, and uplifting novel which addresses sensible themes that sometimes make for a difficult and emotional read. However, there are also hilarious and entertaining scenes as well as romance. Overall, I really enjoyed this novel and I didn’t want it to end and I can’t wait to read the author’s next book!

A huge thank you to SJV and Simon & Schuster UK for inviting me to take part in the blog tour and providing me with a proof of this wonderful novel.

Sophie Loxton lives in Kent with her husband and dog. She writes her novels on train journeys. You can find her on Instagram @sophieloxtonauthor

Publication: 6th May 2025 – Piatkus

Meet Lady Gus and Lady Julia: unmarried, unruly and ready for adventure.

To most of Regency high society, Lady Augusta ‘Gus’ Colebrook and her twin sister, Julia, are just unmarried ladies of a certain age. But the Colebrook twins are far from useless old maids . . . they are secretly protecting women and children ignored by society and the law.

When Lord Evan, a charming, escaped convict who has captured Gus’s heart, seeks their help to shield his sister and her lover from from their vindictive brother, the twins take the two women into their home. But Lord Evan’s complicated past puts them all in danger. Gus knows that if he is to survive the thieftakers who hunt him, they must clear his name of murder. But it is no easy task. The fatal duel was twenty years ago, and a key witness is nowhere to be found.

Caught in a deadly cat-and-mouse game, Gus, Julia, and Lord Evan are thrust into the ugly underworld of Georgian gentlemen’s clubs, spies, and ruthless bounty hunters, not to mention the everyday threat of narrow-minded brothers. Will the truth be found in time, or will the dangerous secrets from the past destroy family bonds and rip new love and lives apart?

AMAZON

WATERSTONES

I have been waiting to read The Ladies Road Guide to Utter Ruin for two years, since I finished reading the first book, The Benevolent Society of Ill-Mannered Ladies. The adventures of Lady Augusta “Gus” and her twin sister Julia, as they help those in need, kept me completely engrossed and this new book is even better.

Following the events of the first book, Gus is determined to prove the innocence of the man she loves, Lord Evan Belford, accused of murder twenty years earlier. Also, Gus and Julia are hiding his sister, Lady Hester, and her lover, Miss Grant, from their brother who wants to keep her in an asylum. And with Bow Street Runners, ruthless bounty hunters, and insufferable brothers watching their every move, the two sisters are quite busy.

Set in Regency England, the main protagonist of this engaging novel is a witty, strong, and independent 42-year-old woman who, according to society and her own brother, should stay quiet and do what is told. Luckily, Gus has her own mind and she is determined to protect those in need and to find justice for them. She is outspoken and interfering, so that sometimes people, including her own twin, find her controlling, but I liked how she would stop at nothing to get to the truth and protect everyone. On the other hand, Julia is calm and more sensible, always ready to keep peace. They are involved in quite a few adventures, some dangerous and some more exciting, and the sisters both find time for a bit of romance.

Entertaining, intriguing, and well-written, The Ladies Road Guide to Utter Ruin will appeal to those who love Regency mysteries with some romance and humour and great characters. With a compelling ending and teasing of more adventures, I can’t wait to read the next book!

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

Alison Goodman is the bestselling Australian author of several novels including the reknowned Eona and The Two Pearls of Wisdom.

Publication: 24th April 2025 – Aria

They say you should keep your enemies closer.

For Fliss, the prospect of a team building work trip fills her with dread. Mostly because she cannot stand her pushy colleague James, who often attempts to derail her brilliant plans. But when the two arrive in the Scottish Highlands, they find themselves facing a unique challenge: their boss has abandoned them in the middle of nowhere with only one tent, two sleeping bags and a few protein bars.

Cut off from the outside world, the pair are forced to put aside their differences to weather the unpredictable elements of the Highlands and get home. As they set out on a journey across miles of rugged wilderness – pushing each other to survive and testing their physical and emotional limits – they remain fully aware of their boss’s manipulative plan to orchestrate a hook up between them.

But even with only each other for company, Fliss and James stand firm in their resolve: they won’t give in to any romantic notions. Or will they?

AMAZON

WATERSTONES

Work Trip is an engaging and enjoyable novel. I read it right before my first trip to Scotland and the Scottish Highland, where most of the story is set, and it made me even more excited about my holiday. The setting is beautiful and remote, perfect to keep the two protagonists together and isolated from the rest of the world.

The protagonists, James and Fliss, are enemy colleagues, always against each other during the company’s meetings and now on the run for the same promotion. Fliss is determined to get the position of director, after all she’s sacrificed the last six years of her life to this job, spending long hours at the office and giving up on any kind of social life, and James really gets on her nerves, with his perfect hair and perfect suits and his arrogant responses. After yet another animated meeting, their boss organizes a corporate retreat in Scotland. However, when she gets there, Fliss discovers that it’s just for her and James as they are left to survive in the Scottish wilderness with only a tent, two sleeping bags, and an uncomfortable number of condoms and tampons. Forced to work together, Fliss and James start to know each other better and to question their life choices.

I had fun reading this novel. There is quick and witty banter, sexual and romantic chemistry, and a few hilarious adventures and mishaps that make for an easy and entertaining read. And I really liked the character of Fliss. I found her relatable and authentic and, even though she is a bit controlling sometimes, I liked how her character develops throughout the novel.

Work Trip is a fantastic novel full of humour, romance, and charm that makes me look forward to the author’s next novel!

A huge thank you to Aria and NetGalley for providing me with a proof of the 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: 29th April 2025 (ebook), 8th May 2025 (paperback) – One More Chapter

The time has finally come for former Met police officer Jodie ‘Nosey’ Parker to wed her fiancé DCI Nathan Withers, But their long-anticipated wedding doesn’t quite go to plan…

As their guests descend on a luxurious Cornish castle for a weekend of pre-wedding activities, the happy couple look forward to spending time with friends and family. But celebrations grind to a halt when an arrow flies off-course during the archery session, and they find the body of a young woman floating face down in an ornamental pond.

With the champagne chilling and canapes assembled, and an old London adversary brought in to investigate, it’s up to Jodie and Nathan to uncover the killer, before they strike again.

Could the murderer be on the guest list?

AMAZON

WATERSTONES

The Cornish Castle Murder is the eight book in one of my favourite mystery series, the Jodie “Nosey” Parker series. Set in Cornwall, this is a fantastic cozy mystery full of humour and intrigue featuring a former Met police officer turned caterer and her entertaining family and friends.

In this eighth book, Jodie and her fiancé DCI Nathan Withers are getting married, but, of course, murder is behind the corner. They have organized a weekend of festivities in a beautiful Cornish Castle, but when a woman is found murdered and one of their friends is among the suspects, Jodie and Nathan must put their happiness on hold and find the killer.

The beautiful descriptions of the castle, the atmosphere of celebration and then of mystery kept me completely engrossed. I loved the character of Jodie, witty, smart, and strong-willed, who, somehow, always manages to stumble upon a body, whether it’s at a Christmas party, a festival, or, in this case, her own wedding. I am also a big fan of Nathan and her daughter Daisy, and her mother Shirley is one of my favourite characters. The mystery is compelling and full of twists. Is the killer one of their friends or someone in the victim’s life? And, are some of their friends keeping secrets? Overall, The Cornish Castle Murder is an engaging and immersive read that made me turn page after page and with a perfect ending to celebrate Jodie and Nathan!

A huge thank you to One More Chapter and NetGalley for providing me with a proof of this fantastic novel in exchange for my honest opinion.

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: 8th April 2025 – Quercus Books

Lexi is looking for no-strings-attached fun with a stranger. She deserves one night for herself, doesn’t she?

Zeke is looking for love. But for one night with a woman like Lexi, he’ll break his rules . . .

Sparks fly at the pub, one passionate kiss leads to another and they end up stumbling home to the marina together.

The next morning, hungover and shaken by an amazing night together, Lexi is more than ready for Zeke to leave. There’s just one small problem . . . the houseboat they stayed on has been swept out to sea.

As their supplies start to run dangerously low, and the waves pick up, Zeke and Lexi soon realise there’s much more on the line than their new relationship.

How long can they really survive on a drifting houseboat in the North Sea? Will search and rescue find them? And who will they be if they both make it back to dry land?

Swept Away is the epic new romance from the million-copy bestselling author of The Flatshare and The No-Show about your one-night stand becoming your one and only lifeline.

AMAZON

WATERSTONES

The new novel by Beth O’Leary is an immersive and entertaining novel featuring two relatable and complex characters, romance, adventure, and a seagull named Eugene.

So far, I’ve read most of Beth O’Leary’s novels (I still have a couple of my kindle to enjoy) and I’ve loved and appreciated all of them. My favourite remains The Wake-Up Call but Swept Away is a close second. It all starts with drinks in a pub, a one-night stand, and a bit of misunderstanding and then the two protagonists, Lexi and Zeke, find themselves in a boat in the middle of the sea with no way to ask for help. Stuck together, Lexi and Zeke have no choice but to try to find a way to survive, while also facing their past, their fears, and their feelings for each other.

I love Beth O’Leary’s writing and the idea of setting the story in the middle of the sea is unique and refreshing, keeping the two protagonists in close proximity and in isolation and providing them with a few (some quite scary) challenges to face.

Beth O’Leary not only creates beautiful stories, but also wonderful, authentic, and likable characters. Lexi is smart and strong, but she’s always put others before her, putting her own dreams on hold. On the other hand, Zeke has always felt something missing from his life and he is haunted by his relationship with his family, especially his father. I loved their relationship, their chemistry and how they slowly learn to be honest with each other.

Swept Away is a fun, exciting, and also emotional escapist read that kept me immersed from the first to the last page!

A huge thank you to Quercus Books and NetGalley for a proof of this fantastic novel.

Beth O’Leary is a Sunday Times bestselling author whose novels have been translated into more than thirty languages. Her debut, The Flatshare, sold over a million copies and is now a major TV series. Her subsequent novels, The Switch, The Road Trip, The No-Show and The Wake-Up Call, were all instant bestsellers. A TV series of The Road Trip was first aired in 2024. Beth lives in the Hampshire countryside, and if she’s not in her writing shed, you’ll probably find her chasing a toddler, with a strong coffee in hand . . .

Publication: 10th April 2025 – HarperCollins

He’s a rogue. She’s a liar. Together, they’re scandalous…

Mira Marleigh hides behind a pen name to write scandalous stories about the lords and ladies of society at the court of Queen Charlotte. Her world is turned upside down when an outrageous circular she writes sends Regency buck, Finnegan Underwood, on the run for murder.

As Mira heads to the Devon coast in search of the real culprit, she finds herself caught in a den of ruffians and scoundrels, not least Finnegan himself. Now turned smuggler, he is proving to be one lawbreaker who is very hard to resist.

Can Mira keep her head, and her heart, in her quest for the truth…?

AMAZON

WATERSTONES

I have been reading and enjoying the Marleigh Sisters series since the first book and each time a new story comes out it becomes my new favourite. I love the writing style and there is the right mix of romance and mystery, and, in An Unladylike Secret, we have murder, scandal, smuggling, and adventure.

The protagonist of the novel is the third younger of the Marleigh Sisters. Daughters of an English lord and his Indian mistress, the three sisters were brought to England after the death of their parents and raised (and mistreated) by their father’s wife and their son. The three sisters became estranged and started leading an independent life and now Mira is the true writer behind Aurelius, the famous journalist who reveals all the aristocracy scandals. Her latest circular about the disagreement she overheard between the two Underwood brothers led everyone to believe that Finnegan Underwood had murdered his brother a few days later and he is now on the run. Feeling responsible and not sure of Finnegan’s guilt, Mira heads to Devonshire to investigate. She certainly doesn’t expect to find herself involved with smugglers or adrift on a boat in the middle of the night with a handsome and charming suspect. Used to be alone and independent, Mira is surprised to find herself surrounded by friends ready to help her and a man who becomes harder and harder to resist.

I must admit that I couldn’t put it down. I loved the characters, the mystery, the romance between Mira and Finnegan, and also the setting of the coast of Devon. Mira, like her sisters, is still haunted by her past and her upbringing and Finnegan, too, has his own demons to face. Their characters develop quite well and the story flows easily, keeping me glued to the pages. I am looking forward to the next book in the series!

A huge thank you to HarperCollins and NetGalley for a proof of this fantastic novel, in exchange for my honest review.

Amita is a writer, based in London. She first discovered her love for Georgette Heyer’s sparkling banter and runaway horses when she found one of Heyer’s romantic adventures in a second-hand bookstall as a teenager. There was no looking back – as in, it took another few decades to realise that Heyer was more than just a delicious obsession. Amita’s first Regency, Unladylike Lessons in Love, comes out in 2023 and takes readers on a ride through a diverse 19th century London landscape like you’ve never seen it before. Amita’s Arya Winters series of mysteries is published with Agora. The first came out in 2021. Get in touch @AmitaMurray and amitamurray.Wordpress.com

Publication: 8th April 2025 – Bookouture

When the family gardener is murdered near a site of legendary buried treasure, dog-lover and mystery-solver Cressida Fawcett is on the case!

1926, Sussex. The Honourable Cressida Fawcett is delighted to return to her parents’ rambling mansion to introduce them to her pug Ruby’s puppies. But when the pups go running off with Cressida in hot pursuit, they lead her to a bubbling stream – Hell’s Ditch. And the body of Bob the gardener is floating there, his outstretched hand clutching a soggy cheese and pickle sandwich.

Everyone assumes Bob died of natural causes. But when Cressida finds a glittering gold coin grasped in his other fist, she realises this is part of the long-hidden Saxon hoard. Was Bob struck down by the gold’s ancient curse? As Cressida interviews the colourful members of the local historical society, she learns that Bobhad been boasting of new-found wealth, much to the annoyance of his wife, and perhaps deadly jealousy of the other members…

Luckily for Cressida, eminent historian Sir James Colston, friend of the family, arrives at the mansion with tantalising information on the whereabouts of the rest of the Saxon gold. He promises to tell all, but the very next day he collapses into his morning porridge…

To Cressida’s horror, Marian -Bob’s widow and her parents’ cook – is accused of poisoning both the porridge and Bob’s sandwich and is carted off to jail. But Cressida is sure the answers are buried in the past. Just how far would a history boffin or a hard-up local go for an ancient pot of gold? And can Cressida dig up the truth before poison worms its way into her family’s kitchen again?

AMAZON

WATERSTONES

It’s my turn on the blog tour for Death in an English Village, the new enjoyable novel by Fliss Chester.

Death In An English Village is the seventh book in which the Honourable Cressida Fawcett finds herself solving a murder with the help of her pug Ruby. This time the murder is close to home, at her parents’ mansion in Sussex, and the victim is their gardener Bob. Initially it seems that Bob died of natural causes while eating his lunch, but Cressida is not so convinced, especially because she found him clutching in his hand a gold coin that could be linked to a missing Anglo-Saxon hoard which the local historical society is actively looking for. While everyone thinks that the killer is his wife Marianne, Cressida is convinced of her innocence and is determined to prove it with the help of her best friend Dotty and her brother (and Cressida’s possible future husband) Alfred, and DI Andrews and DS Kirby also arrive from London to help.

I quite enjoy this series. It is set in the 1920s and it features intriguing mysteries and a cast of engaging and likable characters. Cressida Fawcett is a wonderful protagonist. A young woman who loves her independence and is opposed to marriage, although a charming and understanding Alfred seems to be making huge steps in changing her mind; she is a fantastic interior designer and her two big loves are her puppy Ruby and her car, a Bugatti. She lives in London, but she is back to her parents’ house to introduce them to Ruby’s puppies, who create havoc among the staff and hilarious scenes in the story. The mystery left me guessing until the end, but Cressida’s investigative skills prove that she is an amazing sleuth. I can’t wait for her next investigation!

A huge thank you to Sarah Hardy and Bookouture for inviting me to join the book tour.

Fliss Chester lives in Surrey with her husband and writes historical cozy crime. When she is not killing people off in her 1940s whodunnits, she helps her husband, who is a wine merchant, run their business. Never far from a decent glass of something, Fliss also loves cooking (and writing up her favourite recipes on her blog), enjoying the beautiful Surrey and West Sussex countryside and having a good natter.

https://www.instagram.com/flisschester/

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