Trying to recover their business after the last murder case, Alexi and her friends host a cookery show at their hotel. But death isn’t far behind…
A Contest To Kill For is the second book in this series featuring journalist Alexi and private investigator Jack. There are spoilers about the last case which occurred in the first book A Date To Die For.
Four contestants are battling it out on a reality cooking show when one is found dead. The main suspect is head chef Marcel who admits to sleeping with the contestant and his knife was used to stab the body. But he declares his innocence and Alexi and Jack believe him. Plus the hotel needs him to be exonerated to save their own reputation!
Alexi and Jack grew close in the last book but they have been apart while they try to sort out their lives and emotions. This leaves a romantically charged atmosphere in this book especially as Alexi’s ex is on the scene. Alexi’s huge cat Cosmo has a starring role once more which offers some light relief and softens the tone.
The murder happens quite early on and the amateur sleuths spring into action trying to clear their friend Marcel’s name. The chapters are quite long and I felt that this slowed the pace. There are twists and reveals up until the end to keep us guessing
A Contest To Kill For is an enjoyable cosy murder mystery.
A Contest to Kill For
The competition is fierce….
Desperate to try and rebuild the reputation of Hopgood Hall, owners Alexi Ellis and Cheryl and Drew Hopgood agree to host a reality TV baking show, spearheaded by their arrogant but enigmatic head chef Marcel Gasquet. Hopefully the ratings will bring in bookings to the struggling hotel and Cosmo, Alexi’s antisocial feral cat, is hoping to get a starring role too!
The temperature is high…
Fiery and hot-headed, Marcel’s antics makes for brilliant television, but off-screen trouble is brewing. One of the contestants, femme fatale Juliette Hammond, makes it clear that she will do anything to secure the winning prize – even if it means sweetening up the prima donna chef.
The results are deadly!
So when Juliette is found dead, all eyes turn to Marcel. Has his fiery French temper got the better of him or has someone else fallen victim to Juliette’s devious ways?
With the reputation of the hotel in tatters and Marcel’s liberty on the line, Alexi needs answers and fast. And the only person she can turn to for help is her old friend and private eye Jack Maddox. Jack’s working his own case, but he can’t refuse Alexi and he knows more than anyone that this murder could cost them everything!
Author Bio –
Evie Hunter has written a great many successful regency romances as Wendy Soliman and is now redirecting her talents to produce dark gritty thrillers for Boldwood. For the past twenty years she has lived the life of a nomad, roaming the world on interesting forms of transport, but has now settled back in the UK.
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Whilst waiting for my night out at the Mary Rose Museum’s new experience, I enjoyed the sights of Portsmouth, ending in a solo meal out.
I had already planned to visit the Slug and Lettuce as I have had previous positive experiences. I had identified 3 dishes that I wanted to try. When I arrived, the site was only able to accept cash payments or via the app. I downloaded the app and sat upstairs gazing at the sea.
Only one of my dishes was available which was a shame as I would have eaten all three! I ordered the thai curry via the app and it arrived quite quickly.
The curry was reasonably spicy but not overwhelming. I liked the inclusion of the lime to add an extra detail to the flavour. There was plenty of sauce to coat the rice and the vegetables were crunchy but cooked.
A young woman is found dead, seemingly in an accident but the autopsy reveals murder. She was branded before her death in an act which is hauntingly familiar to the patholgist who was herself branded…
Close Her Eyes is the 17th book to feature Detective Josie Quinn, her family and police team. The personal storylines continue from earlier books but there are no spoilers about previous cases.
Shannon Eddy was branded then strangled to death. The only clue the police have is the link to pathologist Anya Feist’s personal experiences of being branded by her ex husband Vance. Josie discovers multiple links between the victim and characters from another town including Vance. The case seems quite straight forward but twists and turns of the plot kept me guessing. Josie is unable to prevent a second victim being killed and there is another cold case which is connected…
Josie’s protective side comes to the fore as Anya reveals her traumatic past. But Josie can’t afford to ease up on the investigation to protect her friend. The descriptions of the bodies is quite graphic although handled using an objective forensic perspective to minimise the emotional impact.
Josie is placed in danger as she investigates and this brings back her own issues from the past. There are some big shocks as we neared the end of the book and Josie is emotionally and physically challenged.
Close Her Eyes is a vivid and engaging police thriller that kept me guessing.
Media Pack Info Sheet:
Title: CLOSE HER EYES
Author: Lisa Regan
Publication Day: MAY 3RD 2023
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The young woman lay among the rocks next to the creek like a broken doll, strands of her long dark hair covering her face. Her body was the kind of cold that only the dead can be…
A body lies beside Kettlewell Creek, the waters rushing and churning next to her broken form. When Detective Josie Quinn arrives at the scene, she finds few clues and a victim with no enemies. Nineteen-year-old Sharon Eddy was cherished by her beloved grandmother, who raised her, and her death shocks the Denton community where she worked at the local animal hospital.
When Josie is called to the morgue to hear the results of Sharon’s autopsy, the case takes a sinister turn. She is horrified to see that a mark has been burned on to Sharon’s left hip with a cattle brand: a horseshoe shot through with an arrow. Shaken and terrified, the usually cool and collected Medical Examiner Anya Feist lifts her own top to show Josie an identical mark. Ten years ago, Anya fled her hometown after her marriage to her high school sweetheart ended in terror.
But Josie can find nothing to connect Anya’s ex-husband Vance Hadlee to the murder. Her search of his family farm leads to more questions than answers.
Then another body is found. A young woman in a red coat, lying in her final resting place, her hip bearing the same tell-tale horseshoe mark. As Josie gets closer to finding the truth, the killer creeps ever closer to home, threatening the lives of those Josie loves the most. Can she put together the pieces of this terrifying puzzle before it’s too late?
A completely unputdownable crime thriller from an Amazon, USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestselling author. Gripping, page-turning and guaranteed to keep you up all night, it’s perfect for fans of Angela Marsons, Robert Dugoni and Rachel Caine
Author Bio:
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
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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.
MEDIA PACK
Book: Mystery at Farfield Castle
Author: Clare Chase
Pub Day: May 5th 2023
About the Book:
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.
You can find Clare’s website and blog at www.clarechase.com
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A pregnant woman goes missing but is soon found dead. Her body has injuries which suggest a Satanic cult could be involved but, as Jo Fournier investigates, she discovers the woman had secrets that could have led to her death…
Little Lost Dolls is the 7th police procedural and crime thriller book to feature detective Jo Fournier. There are no spoilers about previous cases although the personal and family plotlines have continued.
Jo’s heart sinks when her brother in law’s pregnant ex lover calls her asking for help locating her missing friend Madison. The personal dynamic to Jo’s involvement creates a layer of tension as she struggles to maintain her professionalism. She has to put her distaste to one side as she begins to fear for Madison’s safety and her fears are confirmed when a body is found in the woods.
The descriptions of the body are unpleasant especially as the death of an unborn child is completely abhorrent. Jo has a naturally emotional response to the discovery of the body even though she needs to try to remain objective and focussed.
The posing of the body and a symbol left at the scene suggest a Satanic cult could be behind the death but Jo also finds that Madison has been keeping secrets from her friends and family. There are mutiple avenues of investigation for Jo and her partner Arnett and I was kept guessing until the end.
Little Lost Dolls is an emotionally engaging detective thriller.
MEDIA PACK
Little Lost Dolls: An absolutely gripping crime thriller with a shocking twist (Detective Jo Fournier Book 7) by M. M. Chouinard
The young woman lying on the forest floor looks like she’s dreaming; her brown hair fanning out into a crown around her head, her hands clasped over her breast. She could be sleeping—if it weren’t for the brutal slash across her neck…
It’s autumn in Oakhurst when Detective Jo Fournier rushes to local beauty spot, Crone Ridge Woods, desperately hoping to find Madison Coehlo alive. Instead, she discovers the pregnant woman’s pale and lifeless body, killed in the spot where she loved to walk her dog. Madison looked after her sick mother and studied at community college, who could have wished her harm?
Madison’s mother is utterly broken by her brutal murder, but she cannot give Jo any insight into the tiny doll pushed into her daughter’s hand. Supposed to bring luck to whoever finds one, is it a coincidence or a warning from the killer? When Jo gets another frantic emergency call, she rushes to the scene, determined to catch this cruel monster before he can steal more innocent lives. Her heart pounds when she finds another identical plastic doll.
As the local community panics, Jo and her team work round the clock to keep other pregnant women safe. The call logs of the murdered expectant mothers give Jo the clue she desperately needs, but her heart splits in two when she realizes another woman is in danger. Can Jo get to her first, or is the killer pulling them both into a deadly trap?
From USA Today bestseller M.M. Chouinard, Little Lost Dolls is a keep-you-up-all-night utterly gripping crime thriller with a truly jaw-dropping twist! Fans of Lisa Regan, Melinda Leigh and Gregg Olsen will be completely addicted.
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Author bio
M.M. Chouinard’s first fiction story was published in her local paper when she was eight, and she fell in love with Agatha Christie novels not long after. While pursuing a Ph.D in psychology and helping to found the first U.S. research university of the new millenium, the stories kept rattling around inside her skull, demanding to come out. For sanity’s sake, she released them. She’s currently at work on her seventh novel.
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