Jane Bell is hoping for a quiet Halloween as she patrols the streets. But a call out concerning a Dracula brandishing a knife leads to a chase that is halted when her partner collapses and almost dies. The next morning Jane is devastated to be informed that the escaped Dracula went on to stab two women…
Murder on a Country Walk is the 4th police procedural book to feature Special Constable Jane Bell and her colleague DI Steph Warwick.
It’s a dramatic start to the book as Jane and her partner race after Dracula. The likelihood is that the knife is fake but they have to pursue the suspect. Jane is horrified as her partner crumples to the floor with a heart attack and the chase is abandoned. Shortly afterwards two women are attacked on the street and one is repeatedly stabbed to death in front of her daughter. Jane feels guilty that she couldn’t catch the killer and resolves to investigate by staying with her partner in the village where the two women lived. She uncovers a host of secrets and motives, and more death follows…
I felt a little lost at the start of the book as we are introduced to a range of characters and the connections and relevance isn’t immediately clear. The murder case then begins and Jane starts to gather background information about the victim. The plot shifts focus when another character, seemingly unconnected, disappears from the village and Jane wonders if there is a link between the cases.
Jane and Steph continue to have an uneasy working relationship. Both are utterly committed to their police work but the difference in rank and responsibility leads to tension. Jane is a bit nosy and oversteps her role, treading on Steph’s toes. But Steph needs Jane’s insight and easy going manner which helps others confide in her.
Murder on a Country Walk is an enjoyable police procedural with strong lead characters.
MURDER ON A COUNTRY WALK by Janice Frost
A TOTALLY GRIPPING BRITISH CRIME MYSTERY FROM BESTSELLING AUTHOR JANICE FROST.
It begins as a Halloween prank. It ends in cold-blooded murder.
Halloween. One of the busiest nights of the year for Lincolnshire police. Special Constable Jane Bell is called out to reports of someone in a Dracula mask terrorising the residents of a nearby estate with a replica knife. She races to the scene — but the man in the mask flees into the night.
The next morning, Detective Steph Warwick turns up on Jane’s doorstep. There’s been a murder. Dracula went on to attack two women, retired schoolteacher Susan Gedney and her daughter Gina. Susan died at the scene, Gina survived. The knife turned out to be all too real.
Then another young woman disappears from the picturesque village where Susan and Gina lived. She was last seen out on a country walk — but she never returned.
Three woman targeted from the same small village. This is no coincidence.
Detectives Steph and Jane are faced with the most baffling case of their careers.
This unputdownable mystery full of twists is the perfect read for fans of Angela Marsons, Helen H. Durrant, Rachel McLean and Michael Hambling.
READERS LOVE THE WARWICK & BELL SERIES:
‘I love this series . . . Gripping from start to finish.’ Booklover Bev
‘Filled with twists and turns aplenty.’ Valleri M.
‘Read it in one sitting. Loved it.’ Aileen G.
‘An unputdownable mystery full of twists . . . Had me gasping out loud.’ Paula H.
‘An excellent thriller that keeps the reader enthralled until the final pages.’ Rita H.
‘This book had everything! It has suspense, intrigue . . . and so many crazy twists and turns. Well worth reading!’ Debbie B.
MEET THE DETECTIVES
SPC Jane Bell is in her mid-forties, a widow of three years following the premature death of her husband, Sam. She has two grown-up children, Patrick and Norah, who are pursuing careers in London. After Sam’s death, Jane makes some changes to her life. She downsizes from their large family home in the country to a cottage in Lincoln.
DI Stephanie Warwick is in her mid-thirties. She left school at eighteen and worked in a bank before joining the police force. She is haunted by her ex-boyfriend, Cal. He attempted to kill her twelve years ago, and murdered her best friend.
ALSO BY JANICE FROST WARWICK & BELL SERIES
1: MURDER AMONG FRIENDS
2: MURDER ACROSS THE LINES
3: MURDER AGAINST THE ODDS
4: MURDER ON A COUNTRY WALK
THE COMPLETE MERRY & NEAL MYSTERIES
1: DEAD SECRET
2: DARK SECRET
3: HER HUSBAND’S SECRET
4: THEIR FATAL SECRETS
5: DIRTY SECRETS
6: MURDEROUS SECRETS
Nina is recovering from a miscarriage when the son she gave up for adoption 19 years ago arrives on her doorstep. He makes her re-evaluate her life and relationships, and her partner Gary is not happy at all with the new arrival…
The New Son is a psychological thriller set in the UK.
Poor Nina has had a rough life. She got pregnant at 16 and lost her true love Ryan as well as giving away their child, Now she is with the awful Gary and she has just had a miscarriage. Liam’s arrival seems like a miracle to her but Gary is angry that he has competition for her love but more importantly her money.
Ooh Gary had me mad! He is sponging off Nina constantly and I honestly saw no redeeming features to him at all. I was so pleased when Liam sparks such hope and joy for NIna after her recent tragedy and the hideous way she is treated by Gary and his equally repugnant daughter.
The plot takes a darker turn as emotions reach boiling point. Nina has accepted second best for so long and let others order her around. I understood Nina’s dilemma as she tries to protect her son but she is still letting others dictate her life. Adding to the tense atmosphere, there are some violent imaginings and nightmares which are quite unpleasant and vivid. The ending is dramatic and unexpected.
The New Son is a tense and engaging psychological thriller.
Nina always wanted a child of her own. Now she has one.
Nina feels trapped. Her partner Gary is controlling, his daughter hates her, and she’s recently suffered a miscarriage. Just as her life seems hopeless, Alex, the son she gave up for adoption nearly 20 years ago, shows up at her door. Somehow, he has tracked her down.
Their reunion is everything Nina has hoped for. Now she has a child of her own, someone in the family who really cares about her.
But honeymoons are brief and this one is no exception.
Far from welcoming him, Gary is hostile to Alex and as their arguments become increasingly vicious, it soon becomes clear that Nina must choose between them.
But how will the abusive Gary react if she rejects him? And can she trust Alex? Is he really the loving son he seems to be – or does he have a sinister agenda of his own?
Iain’s Bio
Iain Maitland is the author of three previous psych thrillers for Inkubator Books: The Soulmate, The Perfect Husband and The Girl Downstairs.
Iain is also the author of two memoirs, Dear Michael, Love Dad, a book of letters written to his eldest son who experienced depression and anorexia, and (co-authored with Michael) Out Of The Madhouse.
He has also written a semi-autobiographical novel, The Old Man, His Dog & Their Longest Journey.
He is an Ambassador for Stem4, the teenage mental health charity. He talks regularly about mental health issues in schools and colleges and workplaces.
Guinea pigs are social animals so you would think that bonding them so that they can successfully live together would be easy: it isn’t!
Boys and girls need to be kept separate unless you want babies. In fact, boys and girls need to be separated from age 5 weeks! Female guinea pigs should not get pregnant after a year due to pelvis fusion.
Teenage years or any change can be tricky. We adopted Larry and Garry last year and the move unsettled them and they began to fight, drawing blood. We separated them and now Larry lives NEXT TO other boys so he can still have social interaction while Garry has successully bonded with another male Ginger. The bonding process was awful to witness but they live so happily together now!
My 3 boys (2 full siblings and a half brother) have been together since 5 weeks old but have had some arguments. One boy ended up clambering into an adjacent enclosure and was injured. So I had to take the difficult decision to remove the dominant violent individual. I am hoping that he will bond with a baby from our next litter. Otherwise he will continue to live side by side with his brothers.
Girls are so much easier. Our oldest girl rules the roost and the others follow suit (now they all want to be hand-fed veggies, thanks to Sugar!)
Guinea pigs should be introduced in a neutral space. Plenty of hay but no hides should be available. This is also easier outside with a fresh supply of grass to distract them. The living area should be cleaned so it is also a neutral space when they return. Bonding should be done all in one go, not over several sessions, so don’t give up while they figure out the pecking order.
Make sure you research suitable cage sizes for the bonded group and ensure there are enough hides. Think carefully about the time of day as well: guinea pigs are most active at the beginning and end of the day. The middle of the day might be best unless they are cranky from being disturbed from their nap!
Good luck and congratulations if you are planning to welcome new guineas and bond them!
Lady Eleanor Swift, her staff and her pets are enjoying the sights of Venice when she witnesses a murder. Could a family feud have been reignited and is Ellie safe?
A Death In Venice is the 17th book in the Lady Swift series of historical cosy murder mysteries.
Ellie is spellbound by the beauty of Venice but she finds herself in the midst of a centuries old family feud and a murder investigation. Following an accidental collision with another woman, Ellie is left holding a glass heart and wants to track down the true owner who promptly vanished. But the murder and the heirloom could be connected and Ellie herself is placed in danger.
The lighthearted tone softens the drama and murder elements of the book. Once again Ellie has brought butler Clifford and ‘the ladies’ of her staff along and this adds opportunities for humour. Gladstone the dog and Tomkins the cats are also travelling with Ellie and add to the melee! We are also introduced to a range of other characters with comedic effect, for example Kip who wants to replicate Byron’s escapades. Poor Hugh, Ellie’s fiance, is stuck at home at the other end of an intermittent telephone connection and feeling very jealous.
The murder and heirloom mystery start early on and then retreats a little as the focus stays on Ellie’s experiences while she makes connections between events and enjoys the scenic beauty of the city. Her title offers her opportunities but she is constrained by being a woman. The history and geography of the setting underpin the plot and characters and have been well researched.
A Death In Venice is an enjoyable murder mystery.
Book Description:
Stunning views across the Grand Canal and a hotel suite fit for royalty… Lady Eleanor Swift is having a jolly good time on her Italian vacation, until a gondola ride is cut murderously short!
1924. Lady Eleanor Swift has been on a grand tour around Italy for a month with her butler Clifford. Finally arriving in Venice, she’s thrilled to be attending the famous carnival: all that’s needed is the perfect bejewelled costume for her faithful bulldog, Gladstone. But on her first gondola ride to take in the sights, a passenger collapses into the canal with a knife sticking out of his back.
Eleanor saw an argument break out between the gondolier and the victim, Councillor Benetto Vendelini, and it turns out they’re rivals from the city’s two great families. Vendelini’s murder is sure to reignite their centuries-long feud. While attending a glitzy ball that night, Eleanor learns of a plot to steal a precious family heirloom from the Vendelini household. Is the stolen item the key to solving this baffling murder?
In this floating city of tiny winding alleyways, Eleanor traces the missing heirloom to an antiques dealer in a far-flung corner of town. But when her handbag is snatched by a cloaked thief, she realises the murderer is dangerously close. Can Eleanor unmask this most cunning of killers, before she joins the other victim at the bottom of the Grand Canal?
An utterly gripping historical murder mystery set in Italy, full of intrigue and charming characters. Fans of T.E. Kinsey, Agatha Christie and Catherine Coles will be totally hooked by A Death in Venice!
Author Bio:
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.
Harriet ‘Harry’ White is demoted to a role in the post room where she has to respond to letters addressedto Sherlock Holmes. Most letters are met with polite declines of further involvement but one catches Harry’s eye and she decides to investigate…
The Missing Maid is the first book in a new series of amateur sleuth mysteries set in the 1930s.
Mildred Longstaff’s family are concerned when she is accused of theft and dismissed from her position as a maid with a prominent London family. Now she is missing and Harry accepts the request for Sherlock Holmes to investigate. Except Sherlock is a fictional character so she is the one investigating!
Poor Harry is sexually harrassed by her boss and then demoted when she refuses his advances. She comes from a good family so has many opportunities in life and this is demonstrated when she decides to investigate the maid’s disappearance. Harry is smart and resourceful with quite a modern outlook on life.
I liked the premise of this book and the 1930s class and gender details that constrain the characters felt authentic and well researched. The pace of the mystery was just right in balance with the introduction to Harriet and there is a light tone despite some big topics being covered (e.g. sexual harrassment, shoplifting).
The Missing Maid is an enjoyable mystery with an easy to like main character and I look forward to seeing what happens to Harry next.
The Missing Maid
A GLORIOUS SHERLOCK HOLMES-INSPIRED MYSTERY FOR FANS OF NITA PROSE AND JANICE HALLETT
London, 1932.
When Harriet White rebuffs the advances of her boss at the Baker Street building society where she works, she finds herself demoted to a new position… a very unusual position. Deep in the postal department beneath the bank, she is tasked with working her way through a mountain of correspondence addressed to Baker Street’s most famous resident: Mr Sherlock Holmes.
Seemingly undeterred by the fact that Sherlock Holmes doesn’t exist, letter after letter arrives, beseeching him to help solve mysteries, and Harry diligently replies to each writer with the same response: Mr Holmes has retired from detective work and now lives in Sussex, keeping bees.
Until one entreaty catches her eye. It’s from a village around five miles from Harry’s family estate, about a young woman who went to London to work as a domestic, then disappeared soon afterwards in strange circumstances. Intrigued, Harry decides, just this once, to take matters into her own hands.
Holly Hepburn has wanted to write books for as long she can remember but she was too scared to try. One day she decided to be brave and dipped a toe into the bubble bath of romantic fiction with her first novella, Cupidity, and she’s never looked back. She often tries to be funny to be funny, except for when faced with traffic wardens and border control staff. Her favourite things are making people smile and Aidan Turner.
She’s tried many jobs over the years, from barmaid to market researcher and she even had a brief flirtation with modelling. These days she is mostly found writing.
She lives near London with her grey tabby cat, Portia. They both have an unhealthy obsession with Marmite.
