Capable of Murder by Brian Kavanagh

Belinda Lawrence Murder Mystery #1

by Brian Kavanagh

The old lady's decaying body lay at the foot of the stairs. The police believe it was simply an accidental fall that killed great-aunt Jane. But was it? Young Australian, Belinda Lawrence is convinced it was murder and when she inherits her great-aunt's ancient cottage and garden on the outskirts of Bath, England, she finds herself deep in a taut mystery surrounding her legacy. A secret room. Unknown intruders. A hidden ancient document.They all contribute to the mounting dread. A second vicious murder by a ruthless killer intensifies the tension and Belinda, now under threat herself, is befriended by two charming her neighbour Jacob and real-estate agent Mark Sallinger. But can she trust them? And what interest has befuddled antique dealer Hazel Whitby in the cottage? Could one of them be the killer?An excellent example of a time-honoured English village murder mystery with a lively young heroine pitting her intellect against an evil killer, both bent on solving the riddle of an ancient garden. An inventive puzzle glazed with wit and the first of the Belinda Lawrence series.Publisher's As it says on the BeWrite website we try to give value for money and we have again with this book, if you care to take a look...

Genres: Mystery, Crime, Cozy Mystery, Murder Mystery, Cozy

Paperback

First published August 30, 2005

About the author

Brian Kavanagh has many years’ experience in the Australian Film
Industry in areas of production, direction, editing and writing. His
editing credits include The Chant Of Jimmie Blacksmith, Odd
Angry Shot, The Devil's Playground, Long Weekend, Sex Is A
Four-Letter Word and the recent comedy, Dags. He received a
Lifetime Achievement Award from the Australian Film Editors
Guild and an Australian Film Institute award for Best Editing for
Frog Dreaming. His first feature film which he produced and
directed, A City's Child, won an AFI award for actress Monica
Maughan and was invited to screen at the London Film Festival
as well as Edinburgh, Montreal, Chicago and Adelaide, where it
won the Gold Southern Cross Advertiser Award for Best Australian
Film. He is a member of the Australian Society of Authors.
Author of Belinda Lawrence mystery series, CAPABLE OF MURDER,
THE EMBROIDERED CORPSE,
BLOODY HAM.

Reviews

[Carmen · Rating 2 out of 5]

•1 and 1/2 stars•

I think the time has come that I can finally write the review of "Capable of Murder", a book that I really didn't care for.

The premise is this; Girl inherits cottage from Great Aunt she's met once, girl is summoned to cottage by aunt because she has some important news for her niece. Niece goes to aunts' cottage, finds her dead and the hunt to solve the "mystery" ensues....

Sounds like a great story, right? I thought it did anyway. But alas, I was very, very wrong. :(

There are just so may things that drove me crazy about this book and I'm having a hard time deciding what to put in or leave out. I have to admit, there is one likable character, but that's about all I got as far as nice stuff.
I think I'll just do it like this:

Belinda, the Niece: I found her cold, bitchy and rude. Hey, I like these qualities (Ha! I just described myself!) when they're needed to get things done. But geez Louise girlfriend! Do ya have to be like that ALL the time?!

The men: Awww....the men! The guys in this story are either; total twits, jerks, stupid or just plain mean. I've never read a book where every guy is yukky! And this was written by a guy! And some of the things he has them doing would probably land them in the ER or possibly jail, if they ever tried it in real life! Crazy!!

The writing: The writing was not my cup if tea. I guess the author was a writer for film and TV, and this felt like I was reading a script for one of those. It seemed like every sentence was treated like a paragraph all by itself. Erm, I'm no Einstein, but even I can pretty much tell where a natural sentence break should be. But this guy!? Maybe it's some new fancy-schmancy writing style, but I didn't get it or like it at all. It started to make my brain hurt! :P

After a lot of yelling at my cat (Hey, he was the only one here and he can't hear me anyway--he's deaf!), banging my phone on the pillow, and just plain being frustrated, I finally found out "Whodunit". I was proud of myself for actually making it through the entire book without my brain exploding! And I was oh so glad it was over!! (Cue the "AWWWW" music here!)

I don't like giving bad reviews, but I don't like reading bad books either. I wrote this so others can see that: 1) not everyone gives this a 4-5 star rating (How THAT is possible, I will never understand!) 2) no, it's not you, it's the book that awful. I think this was the authors' first stab at writing a novel. Hey, I give the guy props for the effort because I know I couldn't do it--so, way to go Brian! But at the end of the day, I just can't reward a badly written book when I read it. :/

[Cheryl Landmark · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this murder mystery. It was well-written and managed to convey an atmosphere of tension, dread and danger. There were several clever twists and turns that made it difficult to guess who the killer was until right near the end.

Belinda was a wonderful character--full of feistiness and courage and smart enough to know that something was fishy about her great-aunt's death. The sudden interest of several people wanting to purchase the cottage that was part of the inheritance left to her by Aunt Jane also had Belinda's instincts quivering with suspicion and doubt.

The story had all the elements of a good mystery--a secret room, a document valuable enough to bring out the killer instincts in people, a gloomy, oppressive cottage full of secrets and cobwebs, a cast of characters with plenty of motive and opportunity, and a heroine who wasn't afraid to find out the truth. The historical references and descriptions also made the novel quite enjoyable.

I would recommend this book to any fan of murder mysteries.

[Brenda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Belinda Lawrence hadn’t had much to do with her great-aunt Jane, apart from a Christmas card each year, as she was a bit of a recluse. But when she received a letter from her, asking her to visit as soon as she could, as she had something important to show her, she took time off work and was on her way the following weekend.

The shock she felt when she arrived and found great-aunt Jane dead at the bottom of the stairs was intense, especially as it seemed she had been dead for some time. The police determined it was a tragic accident, a tumble down the stairs…but Belinda wasn’t quite so sure.

When Belinda was called to the solicitor’s office after the funeral, another shock awaited her. She had inherited the old cottage plus a substantial amount of money. Old Mr Munro explained the will to her, and said she could stay in the cottage straight away if she wished…after all, it was hers now.

Her neighbours, up the hill a little way, were Jacob and Rosemary. They informed her that her great-aunt was unsociable and unfriendly, and they hadn’t had anything to do with her. But something didn’t seem quite right to Belinda…strange vibes were coming from the two of them. And when she met real estate agent Mark, who also seemed too interested, she knew something odd was going on….

Another vicious death had the police changing their views on great-aunt Jane’s death, and suddenly Belinda realized how much danger she was in. Would she discover who the killer was before it was too late?

I really enjoyed this book, the first in the Belinda Lawrence series. The twists were intriguing, and Belinda was a character I liked. I’m looking forward to reading the second in the series by Australian author Brian Kavanagh.

[Missi Martin (Stockwell) · Rating 5 out of 5]

When you read the brief description of Capable of Murder by Brian Kavanagh on the back of the book, you know that Great-aunt Jane is going to die. There is hardly a surprise there and you may even know that after Belinda, her great-niece and main character, receives the letter asking her to visit that she will be dead upon Belinda's arrival.

And if you read the entire description on the back of the book, you see that Belinda does not agree that her aunt's death was an accident and you will be so engrossed in the story and her interest in finding the killer that when someone else ends up dead, which we were forewarned of, it will totally blow your mind and make you STOP reading while you TRY to grasp this person's death !!

Kavanagh grabs the reader from page one and continues that hold until you read the last words. And not one to ruin anything for the reader but the last paragraph will have you extremely overjoyed that Capable of Murder is the first installment in the Belinda Lawrence Mystery series and there are more great books following it.

Now that Belinda is finally settled into her new home in this quaint English village and she has TWO murders solved, she can sit back, relax in her new home and garden, and get to know the area. I'm sure nothing else could possibly go wrong..... But if you are a huge fan of Capable of Murder like me, we can only hope something goes bad....

[Liana Goode · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brian Kavanagh’s murder mystery, Capable of Murder, is a fantastically written novella which successfully manages to thrill its reader. It begins with a letter arriving for the protagonist Belinda addressed from her great-aunt Jane which summons the young girl to her great-aunt’s cottage in Milford. Upon arrival, Belinda is shocked to find the old woman dead; the verdict: accidental death. However, Belinda is not persuaded and after inheriting the cottage another neighbour is found murdered; this compounds the girl’s fears that her aunt was indeed killed in cold blood. As the story progresses, Belinda uses her intellect to uncover details surrounding the mysterious deaths and it is through Kavanagh’s use of descriptive narrative that we see Belinda’s emotions seep through to the reader, sweeping you along with the shocking events in the girl’s life.
Kavanagh’s use of light and dark storylines means that Capable of Murder is unlike other murder mysteries. The novella contrasts the mundane lives of its characters with a more sinister undercurrent which emerges as the novella progresses, so that when shocks occur, Kavanagh ensures the reader feels the act with full force making Capable of Murder an exhilarating read.

[LLona Cunningham · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have dragged my heels on writing a review for this one -- for a specific reason. When I started reading I was busy enjoying the vocabulary and location and little differences between the characters from those in the US. The story was very good, and included a true mystery with plenty of red herrings and suspicious actions. I wasn't particularly conscious of the change when it moved from 'good little story' to 'holy cow, I can't put it down', because the pace was so smooth it just sucked me right in. But what I really find outstanding is that several days after completing the book, and in fact having read another book in the meantime, I still have those characters and that location on my mind. That is such a rare quality! I admire the author's ability to weave it into the pages. Great job!

[WhatShouldIRead · Rating 2 out of 5]

Enjoyable, if somewhat simplistic, story and characters. I enjoyed the atmosphere and setting, who wouldn't with a secret sealed off room and hidden treasures long forgotten within? And the mystery was pretty good as well.

I guess the real problem I had was with the dialogue and attitudes of the characters. The main characters could not communicate without sarcasm and irritation, each and every time. Reminded me of high school drama and not something I enjoy to relax with.

And there was the case of who the murderer was and what he/she did. I can't believe that the heroine of the story went to bed with him, then found out he was the killer and didn't bat an eye nor was there any explanation of how she felt about this. Major ick factor.

Oh well. This was one of those 'it entertained' me books but unfortunately will be the last one in this series I read.

[Nancy Cholewczynski pitts · Rating 5 out of 5]

A first for me again to read. It was a book I thought why not try, new authors are good to try out and have been for awhile now. It was a spellbinding mystery that held me from the first page. This book is hard to put down. The characters are fascinating and so real. The author has created a plot that keeps you turning those pages. If you love a good mystery, you will love this book.

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Intriguing mystery considering it's length. Although it does have a very high body count.

[Marsha · Rating 4 out of 5]

I first became aware of "Capable of Murder" when the author alerted readers that this book was being offered for free on amazon.com. In all honesty, I knew this was a murder mystery but did not realize the historical relevance or the amount of intrigue that would be contained in this wonderful short read.

Belinda had only met her great aunt once. However, she and the crotchety old woman would send Christmas cards to each other every year. So, imagine her surprise when she received a letter from her aunt requesting that she visit her at her cottage near Bath. Upon her arrival, Belinda realuzes something us wrong but it is confirmed when she discovers the rodent eaten body of her aunt at the bottom of the stairs.

The subsequent police investigation rules Belinda's aunt death an accident. However, Belinda is not do sure. Soon she discovers that she is the sole heir to her aunt's cottage, property and estate. Belinda takes it upon herself to move into the cottage until she can decide what to do with it. The cottage is in a state of disrepair as well as the massive garden.

Soon people begin clammering around Belinda in an attempt to purchase the estate. However, she is shrewd enough to recognize all is not as it seems. Here is where the plot gets really good. si love historical references in fiction and this book taught me about the famous gardener and landscaper, 'Capability Brown.'

This sent me on a mad hunt to learn more about the man and his designs. The murder mystery and intrigue of the book just added fuel the flame. I really enjoyed this story and was truly greatful to have stumble upon it. I will definitely. be checking out other books by this author. Do yourself a favor and pick this book up while it is free. You won't regret it!

[Mare · Rating 4 out of 5]

Brenda is a trooper. I do like this series. I just reread this book for a book group discussion and I enjoyed it even more the second time. It is a wonderful book and I look forward to the newest...Canterbury Crime I think it the title.

When Belinda Lawrence receives a letter from her great aunt in England asking her to visit, she leaves Australia with to see her last remaining relative. Her aunt hadn't been overly welcoming to her on a visit years earlier and Belinda was curious as to the reason for her aunt's request.

Arriving in Milford, outside of Bath, Belinda finds her aunt's house open and dark. Thinking that perhaps her aunt was ill in bed, Belinda walks to the stairway and stumbles, literally, over her aunt's body at the foot of the stairs.

Belinda finds that she is the sole heir of her aunt's estate and now has the decision of staying in England or selling the cottage and returning to Australia. She meets Mark, a real estate agent, and Hazel, an antiques dealer. both of whom seem very interested in her aunt's home and possessions. Her next door neighbors, Rosemary and Jacob welcome her to the village and things seem propitious for staying. Jacob is a landscape gardener and it turns out that Belinda's new home may have one of the few small gardens created by a very famous landscape gardner, Lancelot Brown.

The characters in this books are wonderfully defined. They all behave in a sinister manner at one time or another. The descriptions of the gardens and cottage are quite vivid. Historical information interspersed with the story is wonderful. I very much enjoyed learning about the gardens and their various incarnations.

[Min · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'd rate this more as 2.5. I liked the characters well enough; they didn't feel two-dimensional or too cliched to me. Though, I did have a few issues with Belinda's behaviour a time or two. What kept me from giving it a higher rating are the times that Belinda did something blatantly stupid after having, herself, assessed the danger (examples: Mark directs a look of 'intense animosity' at her yet she agrees to a date with him; after hiding the documents behind her aunt's portrait she realises the curtains were open and anyone could have seen her, yet she doesn't close the curtains and re-hide the documents elsewhere before she leaves the house and goes about her day; and, a minor issue but a kind of stupid that runs throughout the book and makes me question her smarts - she never got a telephone installed in the cottage, even after the break-in or Rosemary's murder). You know what? I've talked myself down to a 2 star rating. Still, I'll read the next one because I really liked Hazel and I'd like to get to know more. Maybe Belinda will improve with the company.

[Annette · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book very much. Belinda inherits a very old cottage in the country. The great-aunt who left her the cottage sent a request for Belinda to visit, and when she did, she was the one who found the body. From there, the atmosphere becomes almost oppressive. She meets various characters and each of them seem to want something from her. The mystery is well developed and the descriptions of places, people and situations are very well done. This is the first book in the Belinda Lawrence series, and I look forward to finding the next book. I recommend this new author to anyone who likes a good well done mystery.

[AngryGreyCat · Rating 2 out of 5]

Capable of Murder is the first in a series with Belinda Lawrence as a protagonist. An older aunt dies and leaves her a cottage with an interesting garden history. Belinda doesn’t believe her aunt’s death was an accident and engages in some cursory sleuthing. There is a pair of odd siblings living next door, a somewhat sleazy real estate broker, a lawyer who seems to disappear when she needs him most, and some other interesting characters.

The idea behind the mystery was really interesting, however the book was too short coming in at just over 200 pages and this make the plot seem rushed and relationships between the characters happened too quickly.

[Cheryl (Collier) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story managed to cram in quite a few murders in a very few pages. However, written in the style of old mysteries my aunt might have enjoyed, it held my interest. I love it when I don't guess the worst villain right away and this book allowed me to turn several pages past the half way mark before I had the right murderer. A good way to spend a few hours.

[Joy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quite good, and not a bad twist toward the end. I finished this over 1 night so it was an easy book to read without too much thinking to be done about whodunit, but rather for me an introduction to the characters. I am looking forward to reading the next in the series.

[Jan Ashley · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this murder mystery..an easy read, not too taxing but kept me guessing until the end..I think I may read the sequel!

[Dee · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well, I didn't figure out who did it right away. It was a good story.

[Beverly Owens · Rating 5 out of 5]

A most interesting mystery. I read it in one sitting as I could not out it down. I loved the English country setting and the characters were well thought out. I went back and forth on who the killer was. At one point I was suspicious but due to the author's clever writing, I changed my mind. Highly recommend this author and his books.

[Margaret · Rating 3 out of 5]

Did anyone else find it disconcerting the way Mr. Kavanagh would start a new paragraph in the middle of a scene which made me think I had missed a page or two. It was very annoying. The story was good, just his style of writing irritated me.

[Alison Eden · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was OK but not a favourite. Easy to read but a bit simplistic in parts.

[Jack · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very readable mystery, despite the surplus of adjectives. Featuring an elderly aunt, a creepy old house, some creepy villagers and obsessive gardening.

[Deb Mervold · Rating 4 out of 5]

I look forward to reading more of this series.

[Charlotte Jones · Rating 4 out of 5]

Capable of Murder is the first book in the Belinda Lawrence Murder Mystery series and is just under 200 pages long. It is about a young woman called Belinda Lawrence who receives a mysterious letter from her great-aunt, who she then finds dead in her village cottage. Belinda suspects it was murder despite the police's opinions that it was an accident, and basically the story takes off from there! I don't want to say too much as that would spoil the plot.

I really enjoyed this book! The writing style was what made this for me; the way that the author created the atmosphere and suspense was artistic and beautiful, yet did not distract from the plot at all. Sometimes in this type of novel, the creative writing can take away from what's actually happening, but I feel that Brian Kavanagh got the balance perfect.

The characters were amazing in this book. They really developed throughout the novel, and although the book itself is quite short, there was a lot of development with certain characters and also a lot of tension built up steadily as you read. I won't say much about the plot, as I said, but I will say that this was a great mystery and I honestly didn't know who was the villain until the very end.

The only negative thing that I have to say about this book is, although I do love strong female characters in literature, I found that at some points Belinda did act a bit too irrationally in situations that were potentially extremely dangerous, and for that reason, sometimes this book was a little unrealistic. Having said that the mystery element was great and the writing really suited the style of novel.

Overall, I would give this book 4 out of 5 stars and would definitely recommend it. The ending was perfect and I am looking forward to reading more from Brian Kavanagh in the future.

[Yvonne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Belinda Lawrence is summoned to England by her great aunt Jane. Leaving her home in Australia behind, Belinda heads to the small English village but she is shocked beyond belief to discover her aunt’s dead body. The police insist it was an accident, but Belinda isn’t buying it. She’s convinced someone murdered her aunt and she intends to find out who that person is.

When Belinda learns she is the sole heir to Jane’s home and belongings, she suddenly finds herself in danger. First, the home she inherits from her aunt is broken into and vandalized, then her own life is threatened. She also finds herself involved with two very handsome men, but she doubts their motives. Are they truly interested in her or are they more interested in her inheritance?

This is the perfect cozy mystery. It has everything from a curious heroine, to a small English village, to a mysterious old house and two men trying to be heroes to our heroine. This is the first Belinda Lawrence and hopefully there are many more to come. Three others have already been written and I will eventually be reviewing those as well.

I loved that this was set in a small English village. It’s been a long time since I read one with this setting and it made me feel like I was right there in that village. It was a warm, cozy feeling.

The author gave us an amazing cast of characters. Belinda is the type of heroine that will be beloved and leave readers wondering what’s happening to her next. I know I will be.

This book had the feel of a mystery along the lines of Agatha Christie. There were many twists and turns leaving readers guessing right along with Belinda. It was fast-paced leaving me wanting more.

[Penny Marks · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great new cozy mystery set in England. Capable of Murder is a Belinda Lawrence Murder mystery first in a new series. Really love the small English town and set of characters. Only problem is that in a small town people love to get into everyone's business. Belinda finds out quickly about small town life.
Belinda Lawrence is from Australia but is called to England because of a letter sent from her Great Aunt Jane. She goes to her house in the small town of Milford just outside of Bath only to find her dead! She is not totally convinced that she died from a fall like law enforcement keeps saying. She begins to try and find out information on her recluse Aunt. Belinda is shocked to find out that she is the only relative for her Aunt's house,land, and assets. She has a big decision to make, will she stay or go back to Australia?
This is where things get a bit more complicated. She meets not one but two very handsome men who seem to be vying for her attention. Are they trustworthy or are they just after her for her finances and much more??? Days after meeting her two callers her home is broken into and it appears that nothing is taken but someone sure was looking for something. Then when a second murder occurs in the small town Belinda realizes she maybe in great danger. Love the plot to this book as well as the Old English charm. So cozy up to a fire and sit back and be amazed at all the twists and turns coming your way.

[Roddy Williams · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this in a day. Very much in the Midsomer Murders/Rosemary and Thyme vein, particularly R&T since the plot (which becomes clear very early on) concerns a garden. It also features a character called Rosemary, but that's neither here nor there.
Belinda Lawrence, a young Australian, receives a mysterious letter from a great-aunt she has only met once before, inviting her down to her cottage in Milford, near Bath. Belinda, however, finds her great aunt's decaying body at the foot of the cottage stairs and finds herself embroiled in a dangerous mystery.
It was certainly enjoyable and held my interest although I couldn't help finding Belinda herself a tad irritating.
It's not clear when the story is set, since it seems unfeasible that none of the characters appear to have mobile phones if it is set in the present day, and yet there are no cultural references to date it in any other time. Additionally, the author's background seems to give a quiet surreal view of British life and there are occasional reference which jar such as when Rosemary, an English woman exclaims 'I'm such a Stickybeak!' which is a specifically Australian phrase and not common at all in Bath.
The body count gets higher toward the end.
Other than that, it was good

[Debra · Rating 3 out of 5]

When Belinda Lawrence’s Aunt Jane dies suddenly, Belinda is stunned to learn that she’s inherited Jane’s cottage in a village outside Bath. She’d only visited her aunt once before and the taciturn Jane hadn’t made Belinda feel particularly welcome. The official cause of Jane’s death was a fall down the stairs, but a visit to the cottage and encounters with the locals, among other things, force Belinda to think otherwise. Add an intense interest in her aunt’s property from two handsome strangers and ominous events, and you’ve got the making of a great curl-up-with-a-blanket cozy.

Capable of Murder is a short 184 page whodunit that zips along at a pretty quick pace because there aren’t any of those pesky subplots to weave through the main story. Thing is, I love subplots. They add depth to a mystery and help flesh out characters, which is partly why I feel something was missing in this book. Also, I would have welcomed a few more suspects to make the puzzle trickier. Most readers will figure out who the killer is quite quickly. Still, those who love cozies that incorporate gardening into the story, not to mention a little romantic suspense, will enjoy the book.

[Brenda Kirton · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was uncomfortable. The characters were unformed. The outcome predictable with a contrived ending. Foolish protagonist. Not to mention the simple fact of her not bothering to get a phone of any kind. Who does that without a specific reason. The ages of the people involved and time period it was set in were hard to determine. One character mentioned using a mobile phone. That is the closest I could get to dating it. The rest felt more like it was set in the 1960's or 70's. And I could go on and on. It had potential, but never delivered.
And I had to read it on my phone as it was only on Kindle and I am not interested in buying a kindle. I have a Sony/Kobo. It was only 3.99 but it was wasted.

[Paul Trembling · Rating 2 out of 5]

I couldn't finish this. I hate giving in, but I really couldn't get into it. To be fair, it has had some very good reviews in other places, but it just wasn't working for me. The pace was slow, without any compensating depth; the characters seemed plastic, changing to suit the plot. And - a pet hate of mine - the police procedure was woeful. Why do so many writers seem to hang a crucial plot element on the Police's inability to recognise suspicious circumstances? In this case, a women found dead in an insecure house by a distant relative who's only been there once before and who inherits everything - and there's only the most rudimentary attempt to carry out an investigation! Sorry, but there's only so much disbelief I can suspend.