Three celebrities prepare to open a retreat and Eve Mallow has been asked to write a review. However, she is soon back to her day job of obituary writer when one of the owners Kitty is found murdered. And of course, Eve can’t resist investigating the death herself…
Mystery at Farfield Castle is the 10th cosy murder mystery novel featuring Eve, her dog Gus and boyfriend Robin.
Eve is a bit nervous of going outside her comfort zone and doing a review rather than an obituary but the fates soon conspire to put her at her ease! Eve has observed several incidents which indicate friction between different characters so once the murder takes places she needs to assess what she has seen and heard.
There are a limited number of suspects present at the castle and each has a different motive so Eve has to dig deeper under the guise of writing the obituary. We do get to return to the familiar territory of the village and Eve’s friends so she can discuss the background to the characters and events.
On the personal side of the plot, Eve’s boyfriend Robin’s circumstances have changed and this gives her pause for thought. The dynamic between them has also altered now that they are not keeping their relationship or his true identity secret. Eve is accompanied once more by her dog Gus throughout.
Mystery at Farfield Castle is an enjoyable cosy murder mystery.
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.
Author Bio
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.
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