Thursday, November 9, 2023

BLOG TOUR - Mystery at Saltwater Cottages

 

DESCRIPTION:

Saltwater Cottages, Saxford’s new arts and crafts centre, is as pretty as a picture. But when murder makes a blot on the landscape, Eve Mallow must draw on all her detective skills to solve the case!

When beautiful Saltwater Cottages opens, offering art courses in charming surroundings, 
Eve Mallow and best friend Viv sign up straight away. Viv’s brother Simon is in charge, and they all want him to succeed.

But from the start, Eve finds herself in a sticky situation. Famous guest artist 
Nena Field is a complete nightmare, painting everyone in a bad light. So when Eve finds her body in Blind-Eye Wood, there’s no shortage of suspects. But who could have hated her enough to take her life? Was it the curiously over-qualified cook, the secretive manager, or the chatty receptionist, mysteriously missing at the time of the murder?

Determined to find the killer and save Simon’s business, Eve sets to work sketching out a theory of the crime. Nena was working on a secret painting when she died, which has now vanished without a trace, and Eve is convinced it holds the answers she needs. But when all her best suspects seem to have alibis, Eve is forced back to the drawing board.

Then Eve has her own brush with death, and realises she must be on the right track. But what did she see or hear at Saltwater Cottages, and 
can she find the killer before they paint her out of the picture?

An utterly delightful and page-turning English cozy mystery, perfect for fans of Faith Martin, J.R. Ellis, and Agatha Christie.


MY THOUGHTS:
 
Title:   Mystery at Saltwater Cottages 
Author:  Clare Chase
Series:  Eve Mallow #11
Publisher:  Bookouture 
Genre:   Cozy Mystery 
Format:  Kindle ARC
No. of Pages:  296
Date of Publication:  November 6, 2023
My Rating:   5 Stars 

Artist Nena Field has been found dead at Saltwater Cottages and Eve Mallow is determined to find her killer. Eve is with friends Viv and Viv’s brother Simon. Can Eve question the various guests who were prepared to attend art courses in order to find the guilty party?

Eve’s queries are especially important as Simon was starting a new business and a murder on the grounds simply does not look good. Although a rather adept amateur sleuth, Eve certainly has her work cut out for her because Nena was not well liked and thus there are no shortage of suspects. Not only is Eve looking for Nena’s killer, but the work of art Nena was painting has disappeared, thus increasing the challenge of Eve’s investigation. 

This thoroughly engaging story is the eleventh book in the very entertaining cozy mystery series by Clare Chase. Eve is an enjoyable character and her side story with her friendships as well as her growing relationship with her beau Robin add flavor to the mystery at hand. I would be remiss if I do not mention Eve’s adorable, dachshund, Gus. I love him in these books. This one-sitting read grabbed me from the beginning and I can’t wait for Eve’s next adventure. In fact, the next book, Mystery on Meadowsweet Grove has already be slated for May 2004 and I am eager to read it. 

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

Social Media
Website: www.clarechase.com 
Bookouture email signup: https://www.bookouture.com/clare-chase

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