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Mitchell and Markby #3
Cold in the Earth
Evil Unearthed
Progress has overtaken the charming English village of Bamford in the Cotswolds—and Chief Inspector Alan Markby resents the heartless desecration of his boyhood home. But when a bulldozer uncovers the corpse of a mystery man buried alive on what was once Lonely Farm, Markby realizes that shopping malls and fast-food may be the least of Bamford’s woes.
Having accepted her friend Markby’s invitation to spend some vacation time in the country, consular officer Meredith Mitchell once again finds herself embroiled in a murder investigation. For just beneath the surface of this quaint, quiet community, something sordid and deadly is growing—a devastating evil that must be weeded out of one family’s garden of terrible secrets.
Progress has overtaken the charming English village of Bamford in the Cotswolds—and Chief Inspector Alan Markby resents the heartless desecration of his boyhood home. But when a bulldozer uncovers the corpse of a mystery man buried alive on what was once Lonely Farm, Markby realizes that shopping malls and fast-food may be the least of Bamford’s woes.
Having accepted her friend Markby’s invitation to spend some vacation time in the country, consular officer Meredith Mitchell once again finds herself embroiled in a murder investigation. For just beneath the surface of this quaint, quiet community, something sordid and deadly is growing—a devastating evil that must be weeded out of one family’s garden of terrible secrets.
262 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1992
19 people are currently reading
244 people want to read
About the author
Ann Granger
76 books300 followersAnn Granger attended the Northern Grammar School for Girls, and had thoughts about becoming a veterinarian, but discovered women were not accepted into vet schools because they were not believed to be strong enough. Instead she earned a Modern Languages degree at the University of London, where she first developed a desire to become a writer. worked in British embassies in various parts of the world. She met her husband, who was also working for the British Embassy, in Prague and together they received postings to places as far apart as Munich and Lusaka. They had two children.
Her first novels were historical romances published under the nom de plume Ann Hulme.
In 1991, Granger made the decision to switch to crime novels, saying, "Basically, there is only one plot in love stories: You can describe it in different ways, but you always come back to the subject of man and woman. Crime fiction opens up a world of possibilities for the writer. It lets you tackle deep and difficult issues." Her first crime novel, Say it with Poison, centred on the protagonists Meredith Mitchell, a consular clerk, and police officer Alan Markby. The book proved popular and Granger wrote 14 more Mitchell & Markby novels between 1991 and 2004.
Granger also wrote other crime novel series & in 2021, in recognition of thirty years of crime novels, Granger released a collection of eighteen short stories, Mystery in the Making.
On 24 September 2025, her publisher Headline announced that Granger had died at the age of 86
This autobiography was added to with information from Wikipedia & Encyclopedia.com.
Her first novels were historical romances published under the nom de plume Ann Hulme.
In 1991, Granger made the decision to switch to crime novels, saying, "Basically, there is only one plot in love stories: You can describe it in different ways, but you always come back to the subject of man and woman. Crime fiction opens up a world of possibilities for the writer. It lets you tackle deep and difficult issues." Her first crime novel, Say it with Poison, centred on the protagonists Meredith Mitchell, a consular clerk, and police officer Alan Markby. The book proved popular and Granger wrote 14 more Mitchell & Markby novels between 1991 and 2004.
Granger also wrote other crime novel series & in 2021, in recognition of thirty years of crime novels, Granger released a collection of eighteen short stories, Mystery in the Making.
On 24 September 2025, her publisher Headline announced that Granger had died at the age of 86
This autobiography was added to with information from Wikipedia & Encyclopedia.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 49 reviews
October 3, 2016
Cold in the Earth is the third book in the Mitchell and Markby Village series. Meredith Mitchell is a Foreign Service Officer who now is stationed at a desk job in London and becoming bored. She wants to be stationed abroad. Chief Inspector Alan Markby who is her friend/romantic interest is working in a village of Bamford. Alan invites Meredith to house sit for his sister who is on vacation. To his surprise and delight, she accepts.
The countryside around Bamford is being developed into housing developments much to Alan Markby's dismay. He grew up in Bamford and played on the land that is now being covered in cement and brick. During construction, a body is discovered and it is a recent murder. There are several more murders in the Bamford area.
The book is strong in character development. It was well written and plotted. I thought the ending was well thought out. In many books, the endings feel rushed. Not so, in this book. Readers who like village English mysteries with a amateur sleuth who is a friend of a policeman should like this book. I have read the first three books and this one is my favorite. I believe one could read this as a stand alone and not be lost. Then could decide if they want to go back and pick up the first two. The author has done a good job of making this possible.
The countryside around Bamford is being developed into housing developments much to Alan Markby's dismay. He grew up in Bamford and played on the land that is now being covered in cement and brick. During construction, a body is discovered and it is a recent murder. There are several more murders in the Bamford area.
The book is strong in character development. It was well written and plotted. I thought the ending was well thought out. In many books, the endings feel rushed. Not so, in this book. Readers who like village English mysteries with a amateur sleuth who is a friend of a policeman should like this book. I have read the first three books and this one is my favorite. I believe one could read this as a stand alone and not be lost. Then could decide if they want to go back and pick up the first two. The author has done a good job of making this possible.
September 20, 2024
Murder in the Cotswolds…
Meredith Mitchell has left the Cotswolds to live in London, where she works at the Foreign Office. Her friend and would-like-to-be-more-than-friend, Alan Markby, is missing her, so when his sister is looking for a house-sitter for a couple of weeks, he asks Meredith if she’d take on the job. Meredith is happy to comply, feeling that a short holiday back in the Cotswolds is just what she needs. But then a body is found in a ditch on a building site, and Alan, a detective with the local police, is leading the investigation, so doesn’t have much time to spare. Meredith finds herself quietly snooping around the village and surrounding farms, trying to help find out who the murdered man was and what he was doing in the neighbourhood.
This is the third in a long-running series about Meredith and Markby, though it’s the first I’ve read. It has lots of elements of the cosy – the village environment, the sort-of romance between the two main characters – but it also has a darker edge of cruel acts carried out in both present and past, and buried secrets that tear families apart. It is also incredibly slow, though well enough written for that slowness to be bearable – just. The narration by Judith Boyd is excellent, which also helps.
Although Markby is the police detective, it’s really Meredith Mitchell who is the focus of the book, and she acts in the tradition of the amateur caught up in events. She does snoop and pry, but for the best of reasons – she is worried about Jessica Winthrop, a young woman living on the farm near to where the body was found, who seems to be suffering badly from anxiety. Meredith wants to know what it is that is worrying her and to help her if she can. The Winthrop family seems unusually tight-knit, almost to the point of excluding all outsiders, and there are a lot of pent-up disagreements among them over the question of whether they should go on struggling to make the farm profitable, or sell up to the builders who want to build houses all over the Cotswolds. To give her an excuse to spend time at the farm, Meredith starts researching an old tragedy that took place there over a hundred years ago, when the meeting-hall of a religious sect was burned to the ground. Meredith begins to find odd parallels between that old event and the present.
Pros and cons in this one for me. I liked Meredith very much as a character. She is determined without being aggressive, and is a kind person so that she finds herself getting involved in the lives of anyone with troubles. Her interest in other people’s business stays this side of pushiness – she’s one of these people who really ought to become the vicar’s wife or even the vicar, to give her a legitimate reason to stick her nose in. Markby on the other hand is not handled as well. The police investigation really doesn’t amount to much, and in the end he has the solution handed to him on a plate, several hours after Meredith had got there by her own more insightful observations. I thought the depiction of the village and farming life was very well done, and there’s a real sense of place, with the prettiness of the tourist side of the Cotswolds contrasted with the hard and often unprofitable life of the farms. On the other hand, the romance between Meredith and Alan didn’t convince me at all. I could see nothing that they had in common – neither interests nor ambitions. To be fair, Meredith too seemed to feel this, but that made me wonder why she didn’t just put Alan out of his misery once and for all. He, constantly being rejected, comes over as pathetic and needy, and also somewhat grumpy. The idea that this romance would be the focus of the series, currently running to sixteen books, rather appalled me!
The plot is very well done, and it becomes quite dark in the end. There is a kind of thriller climax, but in line with the tone of the rest of the book, this is rather subdued and reasonably credible – Meredith does not suddenly change into Superwoman, karate-chopping baddies, for which I’m grateful. The darkness is alleviated by some more humorous aspects, such as the vicar dealing with a troublesome youth who has been sentenced to community service, namely keeping the church’s grounds in order. Despite the crimes, the community is generally shown as one where neighbourliness still exists, and most people are basically good.
In the end, I enjoyed it, although that slowness did make me consider giving up once or twice. It may be the audiobook format, where skim-reading is not possible – perhaps on paper the slowness wouldn’t have been such an issue. On the other hand, it may be that it was only the excellence of the narration that kept me going. The question is would I read/listen to another? The answer is – I’m not sure...
Meredith Mitchell has left the Cotswolds to live in London, where she works at the Foreign Office. Her friend and would-like-to-be-more-than-friend, Alan Markby, is missing her, so when his sister is looking for a house-sitter for a couple of weeks, he asks Meredith if she’d take on the job. Meredith is happy to comply, feeling that a short holiday back in the Cotswolds is just what she needs. But then a body is found in a ditch on a building site, and Alan, a detective with the local police, is leading the investigation, so doesn’t have much time to spare. Meredith finds herself quietly snooping around the village and surrounding farms, trying to help find out who the murdered man was and what he was doing in the neighbourhood.
This is the third in a long-running series about Meredith and Markby, though it’s the first I’ve read. It has lots of elements of the cosy – the village environment, the sort-of romance between the two main characters – but it also has a darker edge of cruel acts carried out in both present and past, and buried secrets that tear families apart. It is also incredibly slow, though well enough written for that slowness to be bearable – just. The narration by Judith Boyd is excellent, which also helps.
Although Markby is the police detective, it’s really Meredith Mitchell who is the focus of the book, and she acts in the tradition of the amateur caught up in events. She does snoop and pry, but for the best of reasons – she is worried about Jessica Winthrop, a young woman living on the farm near to where the body was found, who seems to be suffering badly from anxiety. Meredith wants to know what it is that is worrying her and to help her if she can. The Winthrop family seems unusually tight-knit, almost to the point of excluding all outsiders, and there are a lot of pent-up disagreements among them over the question of whether they should go on struggling to make the farm profitable, or sell up to the builders who want to build houses all over the Cotswolds. To give her an excuse to spend time at the farm, Meredith starts researching an old tragedy that took place there over a hundred years ago, when the meeting-hall of a religious sect was burned to the ground. Meredith begins to find odd parallels between that old event and the present.
Pros and cons in this one for me. I liked Meredith very much as a character. She is determined without being aggressive, and is a kind person so that she finds herself getting involved in the lives of anyone with troubles. Her interest in other people’s business stays this side of pushiness – she’s one of these people who really ought to become the vicar’s wife or even the vicar, to give her a legitimate reason to stick her nose in. Markby on the other hand is not handled as well. The police investigation really doesn’t amount to much, and in the end he has the solution handed to him on a plate, several hours after Meredith had got there by her own more insightful observations. I thought the depiction of the village and farming life was very well done, and there’s a real sense of place, with the prettiness of the tourist side of the Cotswolds contrasted with the hard and often unprofitable life of the farms. On the other hand, the romance between Meredith and Alan didn’t convince me at all. I could see nothing that they had in common – neither interests nor ambitions. To be fair, Meredith too seemed to feel this, but that made me wonder why she didn’t just put Alan out of his misery once and for all. He, constantly being rejected, comes over as pathetic and needy, and also somewhat grumpy. The idea that this romance would be the focus of the series, currently running to sixteen books, rather appalled me!
The plot is very well done, and it becomes quite dark in the end. There is a kind of thriller climax, but in line with the tone of the rest of the book, this is rather subdued and reasonably credible – Meredith does not suddenly change into Superwoman, karate-chopping baddies, for which I’m grateful. The darkness is alleviated by some more humorous aspects, such as the vicar dealing with a troublesome youth who has been sentenced to community service, namely keeping the church’s grounds in order. Despite the crimes, the community is generally shown as one where neighbourliness still exists, and most people are basically good.
In the end, I enjoyed it, although that slowness did make me consider giving up once or twice. It may be the audiobook format, where skim-reading is not possible – perhaps on paper the slowness wouldn’t have been such an issue. On the other hand, it may be that it was only the excellence of the narration that kept me going. The question is would I read/listen to another? The answer is – I’m not sure...
April 28, 2016
A body is discovered when builders are digging the foundations for a new development of houses. DCI Markby happens to be walking in the area when the corpse is disinterred. But this is no historical find and it is definitely a murder victim. There is nothing to identify the dead man and local people seem to be incredibly tight-lipped about the whole thing. Markby decides that diplomat Meredith Mitchell might get on better unearthing information than he will and under the guise of historical research she sets about talking to people.
There are plenty of suspects in this well written murder mystery and some interesting historical background as well. I like this author's low key writing style and the way she is slowly developing the relationship between Mitchell and Markby. I think it must be quite difficult to think up ways of combining a professional and an amateur detective and giving them both tasks which are suited to their relevant positions but this author does manage to do this in a convincing way.
If you like your crime stories without graphic violence then I can recommend this cleverly plotted book as well as the series. This is the third book in the series and I think they are best read in order of publication rather than as standalone novels.
There are plenty of suspects in this well written murder mystery and some interesting historical background as well. I like this author's low key writing style and the way she is slowly developing the relationship between Mitchell and Markby. I think it must be quite difficult to think up ways of combining a professional and an amateur detective and giving them both tasks which are suited to their relevant positions but this author does manage to do this in a convincing way.
If you like your crime stories without graphic violence then I can recommend this cleverly plotted book as well as the series. This is the third book in the series and I think they are best read in order of publication rather than as standalone novels.
June 23, 2018
I didn't enjoy this quite as much as I'd hoped to. I've read the whole series some time ago and will carry on with the next one to see how I get on.
I found Meredith's doubts over her relationship with Alan got me down a bit - perhaps I'm just in the mood for something a bit jollier at the moment.
I found Meredith's doubts over her relationship with Alan got me down a bit - perhaps I'm just in the mood for something a bit jollier at the moment.
June 8, 2025
What I like about this series so far: Alan Markby, the cop, actually does the investigation. We actually see him earning his keep and isn't there just to play the female protagonist's boyfriend and nag at her about "staying out of my investigation" and do zilch investigative work, the way every cozy mystery series cop boyfriend does.
What I don't like so far: Meredith is a frigid, prickly bitch much of the time and Alan is like a needy stray hungry for love, even from this cold fish.
The murder whodunit didn't interest me and I'm probably jut going to try one more installment then decide if I should cross the series off my TBR list.
What I don't like so far: Meredith is a frigid, prickly bitch much of the time and Alan is like a needy stray hungry for love, even from this cold fish.
The murder whodunit didn't interest me and I'm probably jut going to try one more installment then decide if I should cross the series off my TBR list.
May 23, 2024
I have slightly mixed feelings about this book. I liked it, but there were few buts for me. The murder plot line was really interesting and it took me a while to start to guess who was behind it. And some parts of the story are really sad as result. Because I really felt for the person who did it, much like Meredith and Markby did. And I liked how Meredith's research was actually interlinked in some small way to the present and it was not just to use it as an excuse to get some information out of people.
I did not like the current state of relationship between the two. I forgot how it was at this stage and well, I do not like it, sadly. I know how it ends, but right now, the arguments were something. Ok, but in Meredith's shoes, I would do it as well!
Overall, it is a good book and if you like the series, I would consider it.
I did not like the current state of relationship between the two. I forgot how it was at this stage and well, I do not like it, sadly. I know how it ends, but right now, the arguments were something. Ok, but in Meredith's shoes, I would do it as well!
Overall, it is a good book and if you like the series, I would consider it.
November 23, 2017
I've read all this series (albeit sometime ago) & find them really enjoyable. Mitchell & Markby are both very likeable characters & while the stories are generally easy paced, they are certainly never slow & boring. I'm not always a fan of "cosy" mysteries - which is what these seem to be classed as - but these are certainly not of the twee & mawkish kind. While you won't find lots of blood & gore here (although it does have it's moments!) this series does have a bit more bite about it than the average "cosy".
August 14, 2018
Fair storming through this series since discovering it. These are “English village mysteries,” seemingly written by a Britisher for Britishers, and although starting only in about 1991 they have a flavor of books from an older generation. I don’t mind that, it’s charming in a way, and beyond the pas-de-doux of Meredith Mitchell and Alan Markby circling each other like moths to flame, the stories themselves are interesting. Not sure how many I’ll gorge on before needing a break, but I’ll check the local libraries for the next in the series - recommendation enough!
June 18, 2018
Auch Band 3 dieser Englischen Krimireihe konnte mich überzeugen und viele schöne Lesestunden bescheren. Ich gebe 08/10 Punkte
http://sunsys-blog.blogspot.com/2018/...
http://sunsys-blog.blogspot.com/2018/...
June 7, 2019
Excellent read.
Excellent read. Great characters and storyline.
Surprising conclusion. It’s a lively read from beginning to end. Thoroughly recommend this book.
Excellent read. Great characters and storyline.
Surprising conclusion. It’s a lively read from beginning to end. Thoroughly recommend this book.
March 31, 2020
Good example of village murder/mystery. Misuse of exclamation points is annoying!
August 22, 2020
I am a great fan of Ann Granger and just reading the whole Mitchell and Markby series. Love it all, great cosy mystery series you can lose yourself in.
April 1, 2023
I do love a mystery series set in the English countryside. So glad to have found this one.
April 20, 2025
Someone in a review pointed out Granger's habit of including far too many exclamation points. I hadn't noticed it previously but they're correct. I started raising my voice slightly as I was reading (in my head) where each exclamation mark was and it became rather mad. I shall ignore them. Like I'm ignoring the time setting. I'm still saying it reads far too old-fashioned for the early 90s.
I feel like I'm enjoying each book a tiny bit more though. Granger is the queen of the ship tease. Meredith (Mitchell) and Alan (Markby) have go no further than dinner and a kiss. Ugh. They have, however, had a couple of huge arguments which, really, is much more intimate. You don't get into such emotional spats with platonic friends.
This installment is also set at Easter, so reading it now, across the Easter weekend, seemed very apt.
4 out of 5 and off to read the next in the series
I feel like I'm enjoying each book a tiny bit more though. Granger is the queen of the ship tease. Meredith (Mitchell) and Alan (Markby) have go no further than dinner and a kiss. Ugh. They have, however, had a couple of huge arguments which, really, is much more intimate. You don't get into such emotional spats with platonic friends.
This installment is also set at Easter, so reading it now, across the Easter weekend, seemed very apt.
4 out of 5 and off to read the next in the series
February 21, 2023
Slow but steady for me.
This book took a few days as I was doing other things. The murder is that of a naked man on a building site as they are about to dig the foundations deeper. Meredith cones down for a holiday, house sitting at Laura's. Then there is their arguments, shilly shallying about. Will they? Won't they? At the moment it's still up in the air. There's a DCI from the Yard as well who doesn't go down well with the locals.
Hopefully more murder in a few days.
I enjoy reading them but they go a little bit slower as I've been reading cosy mysteries which are quite short books compared to these. No hard words or anything.
This book took a few days as I was doing other things. The murder is that of a naked man on a building site as they are about to dig the foundations deeper. Meredith cones down for a holiday, house sitting at Laura's. Then there is their arguments, shilly shallying about. Will they? Won't they? At the moment it's still up in the air. There's a DCI from the Yard as well who doesn't go down well with the locals.
Hopefully more murder in a few days.
I enjoy reading them but they go a little bit slower as I've been reading cosy mysteries which are quite short books compared to these. No hard words or anything.
September 28, 2021
3rd in the (Meredith) Mitchell & (Chief Inspector Alan) Markby series, set in the Cotswolds, England. Meredith is back in Bamford from London over the Easter holidays to house-sit for Alan's sister Laura and her family while they're away. After a body is found at a building site, Alan and his second, Pearce, investigate the death as well as that of a young woman who's died of a heroin overdose, and Meredith pretends to be researching an old sect that lived in the area to give her reason to ask questions of the farming families nearby, one of which is very resistant to outsiders.
February 6, 2023
Markby is out walking over a building site, bemoaning the March of development when a body is found in the foundation’s trench. As Easter is coming up Meredith comes to the area for a visit. Separately and together they try to identify the dead man and find out what is happening.
August 8, 2018
A good mystery plot but the characters of Irritable Meredith and Clinging-vine Markby are irritating.
April 18, 2019
Thoroughly enjoyed the story. Good plot. Interesting setting.
March 12, 2023
The third in the Mitchell and Markby Village series is another gently gritty police procedural set in the English countryside.
August 28, 2023
3.5 stars. Mystery is fine, but their relationship needs to go somewhere. It's becoming annoying. Will try one more to see if there is any progress.
November 12, 2023
A really tight exciting tale!
April 20, 2025
3 1/2 Stars
April 22, 2025
I enjoy this series but a little old fashioned in the telling
April 30, 2011
Although apparantly the third in the Mitchell and Markby series, this is the first one that I have read. I keep seeing these Ann Granger books around, and had wondered what they were like. I found this one in The Works for just a few pence.
Meredith Mitchell woring for the FO is not enjoying her job, or the London flat she is living in. She longs to get back to the Cotswolds. Her friend Chief Inspector Markby meanwhile has to witness the destruction of one of his boyhood haunts, as the bulldozers move in to start work on a new housing estate. A man's body is then found in the foundations of one plot and Markby has a murder investigation to undertake. He also finds a good excuse to invite Meredith to come for a visit. Upon arrival she too quickly gets stuck into investigating aspects of the case.
This is a quick lightish read - not gory or too explicit in the murder details - so right up my street, and set in the Cotswolds where we see old traditional ways and values juxtaposed with the so called march of progress and development. A nice, fast paced, weekend type read.
July 4, 2013
I really like Ann Granger's style of writing.
It is a bit schmaltzy, and the stories are always interesting.
Of course I have always liked the English village murder mystery.
Ann Granger has good plots and you kinda know who did the murder(s), but not really.
This is the 3rd one of Ann's books I have read and I will read the others as well.
I have read them in sequence, but the library does not carry all of her books. The books I do find are well read and almost falling apart.
That is always a good sign that others have read and found them enjoyable as well.
It is a bit schmaltzy, and the stories are always interesting.
Of course I have always liked the English village murder mystery.
Ann Granger has good plots and you kinda know who did the murder(s), but not really.
This is the 3rd one of Ann's books I have read and I will read the others as well.
I have read them in sequence, but the library does not carry all of her books. The books I do find are well read and almost falling apart.
That is always a good sign that others have read and found them enjoyable as well.
February 22, 2014
This is the first book I have read in this series even though it is someway through- and to be honest it didn't affect my enjoyment as the relationship between Mitchell and Markby is so what incidental to the mystery story.
There is a death from a drug overdose and then a body is found in the footings of a new house being built on what used to be a farm. It takes some time for the story to develop but there is an exciting denouement.
There is a death from a drug overdose and then a body is found in the footings of a new house being built on what used to be a farm. It takes some time for the story to develop but there is an exciting denouement.
October 9, 2016
I wanted a light read and this was just the ticket. Easy to read and and fast paced. I did guess some of it but not all. There is a little bit of romance in the book, including the will they won't they between the two main characters. I've not read any of the other books in the series but they don't seem terribly compatible.
I wouldn't rush look for another in the series but would happily read one if it came my way!
I wouldn't rush look for another in the series but would happily read one if it came my way!
February 22, 2023
Maybe because it was fairly early (3rd) in this series or maybe it was due to reading a superb series immediately before this, but I found this disappointing. Perhaps a 2.5 rather than simply 2. A reliable read but that's all. I've enjoyed books in this series previously so I think it's more likely to be the after effect of my previous reads.
It's a good solid cosy mystery with a pleasant setting and generally likeable characters.
It's a good solid cosy mystery with a pleasant setting and generally likeable characters.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 49 reviews