BLOG TOUR - Murder By Invitation

    

DESCRIPTION:

Lady Swift has been cordially invited to a huge royal celebration in Little Buckford to toast the King’s birthday… but wait, is that a body in the village hall?

Lady Eleanor Swift and her loyal butler Clifford are busy lending a hand with preparations for the big day. The grand dining room at Henley Hall is overflowing with home-sewn flags, paint and royal rosettes. Even Gladstone the bulldog and his new friend Tomkins the ginger cat are invited!

But just days before the event Mr Prestwick-Peterson, the chairman of the celebrations committee, is found dead in the village hall: strangled with handmade red, white and royal blue bunting.

With the village hall in total disarray and a key part of the decorations missing, Eleanor wonders if someone dastardly is sabotaging the King’s birthday celebrations? Teaming up with her handsome beau Detective Hugh Seldon to question the local butcher, baker, and pub landlord it becomes clear that the meddlesome busybody Mr Prestwick-Peterson was not universally liked in charming Little Buckford. Indeed, the only mystery is why he wasn’t murdered before…

Searching Mr Prestwick-Peterson’s pristinely organised rooms, Eleanor is surprised to find a faded photograph of a beautiful young woman hidden within the pages of a novel. Could this be the key to untangling this very village murder? And can Eleanor catch the killer before the party is over for her, too?

A totally charming, unputdownable Golden Age murder mystery with characters readers will adore. Perfect for fans of Agatha Christie, T.E. Kinsey and Lee Strauss.

BUY LINK:

Amazon: https://geni.us/B0C85XKDNVsocial

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MY THOUGHTS:

 

Title:   Murder By Invitation

Author:  Verity Bright

Series:  Lady Eleanor Swift Mystery #15
Publisher:  Bookouture    

Genre:   Cozy Mystery

Format:  Kindle ARC 

No. of Pages:  363

Date of Publication:  

My Rating:   4 Stars

When a Mr. Prestwick-Peterson is found dead at a celebration to which lady Eleanor Swift has been invited, she teams with her beau, Detective Hugh Seldon, along with her faithful butler Clifford and loyal dog Gladstone, and another investigation is underway. 

Readers are definitely in for a treat as this current investigation brings back delightful characters in this successful cozy mystery series. Eleanor is up to the task as she always is, and the ever-proper Clifford never misses a beat. 

As the celebration they are attending is surrounding the King’s birthday, Hugh’s assistance to Eleanor comes right in on time. Verity Bright has done it again with this engaging read. Danger is never far behind as the group plans on solving the murder and this charming read kept me entertained. 

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

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Verity Bright is the pseudonym for a husband-and-wife writing partnership that has spanned a quarter of a century. Starting out writing high-end travel articles and books, they published everything from self-improvement to humour, before embarking on their first historical mystery. They are the authors of the fabulous Lady Eleanor Swift Mystery series, set in the 1920s.

https://twitter.com/BrightVerity

Sign up to be the first to hear about new releases from Verity Bright here: https://www.bookouture.com/verity-bright

BLOG TOUR - Murder in the Blitz

 

DESCRIPTION:

England, 1940. Newspaper secretary Edie York wants nothing more than to be a real wartime reporter. But when she stumbles upon the death of a Home Guard soldier she must turn her investigative skills to sleuthing…

Rookie reporter Edie York dreams of being out in the field, instead of being stuck writing up the wartime headlines, transcribing Churchill’s rousing speeches on her cranky typewriter. So when her first real assignment one misty morning ends with the crack of a pistol shot and the sudden death of a Home Guard soldier, she’s determined to take her chance and investigate.

With the local police force, under the utterly irritating but outrageously handsome DCI Louis Brennan, stretched to the limit as bombs rain down, Edie strikes out alone. And she quickly discovers more than she’d ever hoped – or feared. From undercover spies to priceless stolen artwork, Edie is plunged headlong into a mystery that stretches from Manchester to Berlin.

But when she finds another body in the blackout, Edie realises she’s bitten off more than she can chew. With an exasperated Louis finally lending a hand, can Edie unveil the murderer and make headline news, her name in print at last? Or will she be next…?

A brilliantly addictive and totally twist-packed cozy historical mystery perfect for fans of Richard Osman and Agatha Christie. This is the first book in the Edie York Mystery series.

BUY LINK:

https://geni.us/B0C33RSQ4Jsocial

MY THOUGHTS:

 

Title:   Murder in the Blitz

Author:  F.L. Everett

Series:  Edie York Mystery #1
Publisher:  Bookouture

Genre:   Cozy Mystery

Format:  Kindle ARC

No. of Pages:   308

Date of Publication:   September 21, 2023

My Rating:   4 Stars

It is 1940 in England and Edie York is a newspaper secretary who wants more. Much more. She would love to become a wartime reporter. Instead, she gets a different type of promotion. She is to become a newspaper obituary writer.  

Edie quickly decides to make much more of her new assignment. The opportunity presents itself almost immediately when a Home Guard soldier is murdered. Edie puts on a new hat, that of an investigative reporter. Her investigation leads her further than even she could have imagined, and this brings danger to Edie. When another murder occurs, Edie finds that she must rely on an unlikely ally, DCI Louis Brennan. 

What an exciting start to a new series. Not only is this the first book in the Edie York series, but it is a remarkable and entertaining debut work of F.L. Everett. I enjoyed Edie’s exploits and am eager to read the second book in the series, Murder in the Homefront, set to come out in just a couple of months. Edie is an entertaining character and I love the setting and how engaging this first book was. 

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

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Flic Everett is a Mancunian writer who now lives in a cottage in the beautiful West Highlands with her patient husband and two deranged cocker spaniels. She still misses Manchester, and returns like a homing pigeon every month to see family and friends. She spends a lot of time writing on trains.

Flic has owned an award-winning vintage shop, guest-presented Woman’s Hour and was once a part-time tarot reader. She has a grown up son who makes her laugh more than anyone on earth, and she likes reading, painting, cooking, clothes, animals, Art Deco and rummaging in charity shops for bargains. Her greatest fear is being stranded without a book. She has spent many years as a freelance journalist and editor for national newspapers and magazines and can’t believe she’s finally allowed to make up stories from the comfort of her own home.

 

Author social media 

Website

Www.fliceverett.com

Facebook URL

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61551319733773

Instagram URL @fliceverett

Twitter URL @fliceverett

Newsletter: https://bookouture.com/subscribe/f-l-everett/

BLOG TOUR - My Child is Missing

 

DESCRIPTION:

The little girl’s bright blue eyes are wide with fear, her hair tousled, her tears making tracks in the dirt smudged across her cheek. Curled tight in a tiny ball, it’s as if she wants to hide away forever. “He took her!” she cries. “He took my sister!”

When a desperate mother calls Denton police department to report her children missing, Detective Josie Quinn races to investigate. Sixteen-year-old Kayleigh and her little sister Savannah went for a walk in the woods but never came home. They are good girls and know not to go far, say their frantic parents. Kayleigh always looks after Savannah and brings her home safely. Until now…

Even as she vows to bring the sisters home safely, Josie’s blood runs cold: because they are not the only missing children. Rumors are spreading about the legend of “The Woodsman”: when pairs of children go into the woods, The Woodsman takes one of them and only one comes out alive. With local teenagers daring each other to walk into the woods at night in pairs, Josie knows that nobody is safe from the hysteria sweeping Denton. Little Savannah Patchett is soon mercifully found alive, alone and terrified, but she tells Josie “The Woodsman has taken my sister”.

All Josie’s leads seem to reach dead ends: her team traces Kayleigh’s scent to a dank, dark cabin in the woods, but the owner has an alibi and there is no evidence that Kayleigh has been inside. When Josie persuades Kayleigh’s classmates to talk, she learns that Kayleigh herself had a secret boyfriend whose identity is a mystery. Josie is desperate to track him down and to work out if he could hold the key to solving the case.

Then Josie’s worst fears come true: another pair goes missing and one of them is found dead soon after. Another teenage girl, lying straight and still, a halo of blood surrounding her beautiful blonde hair.

Josie knows that the legend of The Woodsman is nothing more than a story, but the truth is far more horrifying… With Kayleigh still out there somewhere and the TV news filled with stories of a serial killer at large, how far will Josie have to go to find the killer before more innocent lives are lost?

BUY LINKS:

Amazon:  https://geni.us/B0C7WN474Csocial

Apple: https://ow.ly/295Q50OOVk6

Kobo: https://ow.ly/ZB6x50OOVip

Google: https://ow.ly/IsBR50OOVlw

MY THOUGHTS:

Title:   My Child Is Missing

Author:  Lisa Regan

Series:   Detective Josie Quinn #18
Publisher:   Bookouture 

Genre:   Mystery & Thrillers

Format:  Kindle ARC 

No. of Pages:  385

Date of Publication:   September  8, 2023

My Rating:   5 Stars

Sixteen-year-old Kayleigh Patchett is missing. Rumors abound that she was taken by “The Woodsman”. Detective Josie Quinn, husband Lieutenant Noah Fraley and the rest of their team are in a race against time with hopes of finding her alive. Kayleigh disappeared after going on a walk with her younger sister, Savannah, and after finding Savannah safe and unharmed, all she could say is “He took her. He took my sister.”

When a K-9 officer leads the team to a cabin in the woods, they find the trail for Kayleigh suddenly reaches a dead end. While Josie is determined to follow lead after lead, the tension she feels is palpable. While the reader is drawn into the story with regard to the investigation, there are also snippets from the killer’s point of view, giving this already thrilling book even more impetus.

Josie doesn’t want to believe in the story of a creepy “Woodsman”, but since things are so unclear and so wrought with danger and tension, she is forced to consider the possibility. Meanwhile, aspects of Josie’s personal life add an additional layer to this already well-written and intriguing story. 

Eighteen books in! Yes, eighteen, and this series is still running at full throttle. I cannot wait for the next installment. 

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

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Lisa Regan is the USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestselling author of the Detective Josie Quinn series. Lisa is a member of Sisters In Crime, International Thriller Writers, and Mystery Writers of America. She has a Bachelor’s Degree in English and Master of Education Degree from Bloomsburg University. She lives near Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in the U.S. with her husband, daughter, and Boston Terrier named Mr. Phillip. Find out more at her website: www.lisaregan.com

 

Author Social Media Links:

FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/Lisa-Regan-189735444395923/

TWITTER: https://twitter.com/Lisalregan

WEBSITE: www.lisaregan.com

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6443334.Lisa_Regan

Bookouture Email Sign Up: https://www.bookouture.com/lisa-regan 

BLOG TOUR - An Orphan’s Wish

DESCRIPTION:

England, 1953. An emotional and heartbreaking story about children tragically orphaned by the war, and the woman who is determined to save them, whatever it takes.

When Clara Newton became House Mother of Shilling Grange Orphanage, it was only supposed to be temporary, a job to help piece her life back together again after the war had torn it apart. But five years on, Shilling Grange is more than just a job, it’s her calling. The orphans have given her a reason to live again, as has her handsome war hero neighbour Ivor, who is now her dashing fiancé.

As Clara starts to plan her perfect wedding, she is shocked to discover that the village expects her to leave Shilling Grange once she is married. They can’t imagine how she could possibly be a good housewife while working full time at the orphanage. But Clara is horrified at the idea of deserting her orphans who have no one else in the world.

Clara starts to consider who could possibly replace her if she left. Who would take care of precious Peg who has never spoken a word or known love from anyone but Clara? And who would protect timid Jonathan from his life-changing secret that only Clara knows?

But when a storm causes a catastrophic flood that risks the life of Ivor and the children, Clara is suddenly on the brink of losing everything once more. In this final heart-wrenching book in the series, will Clara and Ivor finally make it down the aisle? And will Clara find the strength to save the orphanage and stop it from falling into the wrong hands?

An utterly tear-jerking and unforgettable historical novel, set in the aftermath of World War Two. Perfect for fans of Before We Were Yours, Diney Costeloe and The Orphan Sisters.

 

Buy Link: https://geni.us/B0BX6THMB7social

MY THOUGHTS:

 

Title:   An Orphan’s Wish

Author:  Lizzie Page

Series:  Shilling Grange Children's Home #5
Publisher:  Bookouture 

Genre:   Historical Fiction 

Format:  Kindle ARC

No. of Pages:     428

Date of Publication:   September 6, 2023

My Rating:   5 Stars

In another stellar addition to the Shilling Grange Children's Home series, House Mother Clara Newton has spent the last several years caring for the children orphaned by the war who have come under her care. Now soon to marry her neighbor Ivor, Clara's life has come full circle.

However, Clara runs into difficulties. For one thing, her superiors are determined that she will be leaving Shilling Grange once she marries, but this is not something that Clara wants. Furthermore, will the wedding even take place once a storm and the resulting flood just might take lives, including that of her precious Ivor?

Desperation faces Clara at every turn. However, what is abundantly clear about her is that she loves deeply. Every child that crosses her path is dear to her and no matter what she is determined to keep the orphanage running, all while being very concerned for Ivor's safety.

What a lovely story. Like all the previous books in this series, this one definitely tugged at my heartstrings. Clara is a wonderfully strong woman and I have enjoyed reading about her and the children in this series. This book brings about a perfect conclusion to a series that will always hold a special place in my heart.

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

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Lizzie Page is the pseudonym of Sam Lierens, a mum of three, who (for some reason) got a puppy this year. Sam has lived and worked in Paris, Tokyo and London and loves combining her love of history with fiction.

Social Media

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lizzie.page.75

Twitter: https://twitter.com/lizziepagewrite

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/17677783.Lizzie_Page

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lizziepagewriter/