BLOG TOUR - Mystery at Farfield Castle

  

DESCRIPTION:

Beautiful Farfield Castle is opening its grounds for a party, and everyone in Saxford’s invited. But as the champagne flows, the owner takes a fatal fall. Fortunately, amateur sleuth Eve Mallow is on the case!

When novelist Julian Fisher buys Farfield Castle to turn the charming old building into a writers’ retreat, he wants the neighbours onside. But he has his work cut out: Saxford St Peter locals tried to buy the castle for the village, and are furious that only the very rich will be able to enjoy it.

At the lavish launch party, Fisher treats the villagers like royalty, but Eve Mallow is distracted by the tension in the air. She watches as Fisher’s wife Kitty argues with several guests, almost in tears, before she disappears altogether…

Later that evening, when Kitty is found dead in the castle’s icehouse, it’s quickly proved to be no accident. With dozy Detective Palmer on the wrong track, Eve can’t resist getting involved. Convinced the answers lie inside Farfield Castle, Eve questions an overly inquisitive journalist, Kitty’s less-than-loyal husband, and his prickly PA.

But when it emerges that a family heirloom and Julian’s computer both went missing on the night of the party, Eve is sure that solving the theft will solve the murder. Who is behind this deadly tale… and can Eve find the killer before she gets written off?

A completely charming English cozy mystery, perfect for fans of Agatha Christie, Faith Martin and J.R. Ellis.

BUY LINK:

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MY THOUGHTS:

 

Title:   Mystery at Farfield Castle 

Author:  Clare Chase

Series:  Eve Mallow #10

Publisher:  Bookouture 

Genre:   Cozy Mystery 

Format:  Kindle ARC

No. of Pages:  280

Date of Publication:  May 5, 2023

My Rating:   5 Stars 

Eve Mallow is exceptional when it comes to writing obituaries. In most cases, however, she finds herself quite adept when it comes to solving murders. Currently, she is attending a launch party for a newly purchased castle. The castle was hoped to be purchased as a writers’ retreat, but the local villagers had another purpose in mind for the castle. As Eve is in attendance at the launch party, it does not take her long to realize how much tension is among the people there.

In fact, the castle was purchased by a novelist named Julian Fisher, and Eve had noticed that his wife Kitty was not happy with several people there. When she is found dead, the police nearly immediately recognize that it was murder. Eve’s attention to the article that she was to write is quickly shifted as she is determined to find out who the killer was. As she now will be writing Kitty's obituary, this affords her the opportunity to dig really deep as to the possible motive, and hopefully discover Kitty’s murderer. 

Meanwhile, Eve’s boyfriend Robin is away in the city for a very important matter, and this gives her the chance to evaluate their relationship. For the matter at hand, there was more than one theft at the launch party, and Eve knows that they must be tied to Kitty’s murder. 

I love this cozy mystery series, and this book was a true delight and an excellent addition to a very enjoyable series. Eve is the perfect amateur sleuth and I love how she is always accompanied by her trusty dachshund Gus. Pets in these cozy mystery series always add just the right touch, and Clare Chase has done that with this series. 

One thing I loved about this book is how I felt like I was working right alongside Eve as she was eliminating suspects. As I was checking off names as to whom I was certain was not responsible for Kitty’s murder, I loved being surprised at the twists as they came through, and loved being proved wrong. Ten books in and this series keeps on getting better and better. I am keenly awaiting the next installment. 

Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Clare Chase writes classic mysteries. Her aim is to take readers away from it all via some armchair sleuthing in atmospheric locations.

Her debut novel was shortlisted for Novelicious’s Undiscovered Award, as well as an EPIC award post-publication, and was chosen as a Debut of the Month by LoveReading. Murder on the Marshes (Tara Thorpe 1) was shortlisted for an International Thriller Writers award.

Like her heroines, Clare is fascinated by people and what makes them tick. Before becoming a full-time writer, she worked in settings as diverse as Littlehey Prison and the University of Cambridge, in her home city. She’s lived everywhere from the house of a lord to a slug-infested flat and finds the mid-terrace she currently occupies a good happy medium.

As well as writing, Clare loves family time, art and architecture, cooking, and of course, reading other people’s books.

You can find Clare's website and blog at www.clarechase.com

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