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DI Beatrice Stubbs #3
Tread Softly
"You don't attract trouble. You go looking for it."
On a sabbatical from the Metropolitan Police, Beatrice Stubbs is considering her future while touring Northern Spain.
In the Basque County, she encounters a distant acquaintance. Beautiful, bloody-minded journalist Ana Herrero is onto a story.
Beatrice, scenting adventure, offers her expertise. The two women are sucked into a mystery of missing persons, violent threats, mutilated bodies and industrial-scale fraud. They are out of their depth. With no official authority and unsure who to trust, they find themselves up to their necks in corruption, blackmail and Rioja.
Beatrice calls for the cavalry. The boys are back, and this time, it's a matter of taste. But when her instincts prove fallible, Beatrice discovers that justice is a matter of interpretation.
Each book of the Beatrice Stubbs Series works stand-alone.
If you enjoy Martin Walker, DL Sayers and Louise Penny, you'll love Tread Softly.
"The novel oozes atmosphere and JJ Marsh captures the sights, sounds and richness of Spain in all its glory. I literally salivated as I read the descriptions of food and wine. JJ Marsh is an extremely talented author and this is a wonderful novel." - Sheila Bugler, author of Hunting Shadows
"There are moments of farce and irony, there are scenes of friendship, tenderness and total exasperation - and underlying it all a story of corruption, brutality, manipulation and oppression with all the elements you'd expect to find in a good thriller, including a truly chilling villain." - Lorna Fergusson, FictionFire
"Reminds me of Nicci French's new series featuring Dr Frieda Klein." Book'd Out
"I was hooked from start to finish by the plot, the rising tension and looming menace, and the many-faceted personalities--even minor characters leap off the page." Goodreads
"Read this, and you'll be desperate for a seat on a Vitoria balcony with a glass of white Rioja, a plate of pintxos and the next Beatrice Stubbs to accompany them." Annemarie Neary, author of A Parachute in the Lime Tree
On a sabbatical from the Metropolitan Police, Beatrice Stubbs is considering her future while touring Northern Spain.
In the Basque County, she encounters a distant acquaintance. Beautiful, bloody-minded journalist Ana Herrero is onto a story.
Beatrice, scenting adventure, offers her expertise. The two women are sucked into a mystery of missing persons, violent threats, mutilated bodies and industrial-scale fraud. They are out of their depth. With no official authority and unsure who to trust, they find themselves up to their necks in corruption, blackmail and Rioja.
Beatrice calls for the cavalry. The boys are back, and this time, it's a matter of taste. But when her instincts prove fallible, Beatrice discovers that justice is a matter of interpretation.
Each book of the Beatrice Stubbs Series works stand-alone.
If you enjoy Martin Walker, DL Sayers and Louise Penny, you'll love Tread Softly.
"The novel oozes atmosphere and JJ Marsh captures the sights, sounds and richness of Spain in all its glory. I literally salivated as I read the descriptions of food and wine. JJ Marsh is an extremely talented author and this is a wonderful novel." - Sheila Bugler, author of Hunting Shadows
"There are moments of farce and irony, there are scenes of friendship, tenderness and total exasperation - and underlying it all a story of corruption, brutality, manipulation and oppression with all the elements you'd expect to find in a good thriller, including a truly chilling villain." - Lorna Fergusson, FictionFire
"Reminds me of Nicci French's new series featuring Dr Frieda Klein." Book'd Out
"I was hooked from start to finish by the plot, the rising tension and looming menace, and the many-faceted personalities--even minor characters leap off the page." Goodreads
"Read this, and you'll be desperate for a seat on a Vitoria balcony with a glass of white Rioja, a plate of pintxos and the next Beatrice Stubbs to accompany them." Annemarie Neary, author of A Parachute in the Lime Tree
298 pages, Paperback
First published May 6, 2013
153 people are currently reading
364 people want to read
About the author
J.J. Marsh
34 books178 followersAs a child, Jill read so obsessively she got kicked out of the school library. But her passion for words continued. She graduated in English Literature and Theatre Studies from the University of Wales and set up a theatre company. Since then, as an actor, director, teacher, writer and journalist, she’s worked in fifteen countries. She learnt something from each one.
Now, with her husband and three dogs, Jill lives in Switzerland, a country with four languages and mountains of new words.
She works as a language trainer all over Europe, collaborates with Nuance Words and Triskele Books, and contributes regularly to Words with JAM magazine. But most of the time, she writes. And reads.
Behind Closed Doors is the first Beatrice Stubbs novel, a European crime series set in compelling locations all over the Continent.
Now, with her husband and three dogs, Jill lives in Switzerland, a country with four languages and mountains of new words.
She works as a language trainer all over Europe, collaborates with Nuance Words and Triskele Books, and contributes regularly to Words with JAM magazine. But most of the time, she writes. And reads.
Behind Closed Doors is the first Beatrice Stubbs novel, a European crime series set in compelling locations all over the Continent.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 68 reviews
August 1, 2023
‘Tread Softly’ is the third book in the Beatrice Stubbs series that currently stands at fourteen books in all. Each book can be read as a standalone novel but each has Beatrice Stubbs, a veteran Detective Inspector with the Metropolitan Police at its heart. Beatrice looks at the world differently from most people. She’s a bi-polar, metaphor-mixing, deeply insightful, introverted, suicide survivor with a strong sense of personal responsibility for solving the crimes she investigates.
I met her in 'Behind Closed Doors', set mostly in Switzerland, which was one of the best books I've read for capturing how international teams really work. Then I read 'Raw Material', set mostly in Wales, which was a much more intimate book, bringing me into Beatrice's personal life while solving a complicated mystery.
'Raw Material' ended with Beatrice feeling that she was not up to her job and that her poor judgement had placed other people at risk. 'Tread Softly' finds her on a sabbatical from the Metropolitan Police while she considers whether or not to retire.
Beatrice is taking things easy in northern Spain, travelling alone, taking in the art at the Guggenheim and sampling the great food and distinctive wines of the Basque country. What could possibly go wrong?
Well, just about everything. It isn't long before Beatrice lets herself be pulled in to support an investigative journalist intent on uncovering a scandal that has already cost at least two lives and which soon puts both of them at risk.
‘Tread Softly’ has many of the strengths of its predecessors: a well-drawn and diverse set of strong female characters drive the plot, the mystery is complicated, plausible and deeply rooted in the history and culture of the region, the violence and sense of threat feels real without becoming exploitative and Beatrice remains a intriguing mix of strength and fragility, energy and depression.
The main baddy in the book is charismatic, intelligent, cultured and fundamentally despicable. I thought he was a wonderful creation. Only his wife eclipsed him with her ruthlessly selfish pragmatism.
I liked that Beatrice wasn’t the main driver of the action in this book. Her role was meant to be that of an advisor and she mostly sticks to it, at least until she’s forced to act to protect herself and others. The main driver of the action is Anna, an Irish/Portugese investigative journalist. She is a powerhouse who refuses to acknowledge her own vulnerability and relentlessly chases her story.
I enjoyed the characters as much as the plot and the strong sense of place. I liked that J J Marsh gave each of the strong women in this book the space to become people rather than plot devices.
I smiled at the way Beatrice ended up involving three British soldiers that she met by chance. In theory, it was a bit of a stretch but actually, given Beatrice’s character and slightly chaotic way of working, it felt quite natural.
I think my favourite moment of the book was when Beatrice showed a flash of steel combined with cold-blooded cunning in the way she arranged the doom of someone who had betrayed her and her friends. It showed a side of her that she is careful to keep hidden but which is an essential part of her personality.
I’m hooked on this series now. I’ll be continuing to follow Beatrice as she unravels mysteries across Europe.
I met her in 'Behind Closed Doors', set mostly in Switzerland, which was one of the best books I've read for capturing how international teams really work. Then I read 'Raw Material', set mostly in Wales, which was a much more intimate book, bringing me into Beatrice's personal life while solving a complicated mystery.
'Raw Material' ended with Beatrice feeling that she was not up to her job and that her poor judgement had placed other people at risk. 'Tread Softly' finds her on a sabbatical from the Metropolitan Police while she considers whether or not to retire.
Beatrice is taking things easy in northern Spain, travelling alone, taking in the art at the Guggenheim and sampling the great food and distinctive wines of the Basque country. What could possibly go wrong?
Well, just about everything. It isn't long before Beatrice lets herself be pulled in to support an investigative journalist intent on uncovering a scandal that has already cost at least two lives and which soon puts both of them at risk.
‘Tread Softly’ has many of the strengths of its predecessors: a well-drawn and diverse set of strong female characters drive the plot, the mystery is complicated, plausible and deeply rooted in the history and culture of the region, the violence and sense of threat feels real without becoming exploitative and Beatrice remains a intriguing mix of strength and fragility, energy and depression.
The main baddy in the book is charismatic, intelligent, cultured and fundamentally despicable. I thought he was a wonderful creation. Only his wife eclipsed him with her ruthlessly selfish pragmatism.
I liked that Beatrice wasn’t the main driver of the action in this book. Her role was meant to be that of an advisor and she mostly sticks to it, at least until she’s forced to act to protect herself and others. The main driver of the action is Anna, an Irish/Portugese investigative journalist. She is a powerhouse who refuses to acknowledge her own vulnerability and relentlessly chases her story.
I enjoyed the characters as much as the plot and the strong sense of place. I liked that J J Marsh gave each of the strong women in this book the space to become people rather than plot devices.
I smiled at the way Beatrice ended up involving three British soldiers that she met by chance. In theory, it was a bit of a stretch but actually, given Beatrice’s character and slightly chaotic way of working, it felt quite natural.
I think my favourite moment of the book was when Beatrice showed a flash of steel combined with cold-blooded cunning in the way she arranged the doom of someone who had betrayed her and her friends. It showed a side of her that she is careful to keep hidden but which is an essential part of her personality.
I’m hooked on this series now. I’ll be continuing to follow Beatrice as she unravels mysteries across Europe.
May 28, 2013
I couldn't wait to read the next instalment from Beatrice Stubbs, eager to see what scrapes she could manage to get herself into this time! And I wasn't disappointed. Even when on leave in Spain from her job at the Met Police, Beatrice manages to attract trouble like iron filings to a magnet! An innocent meeting with a friend-of-a-friend, journalist, Ana Herrero, starts badly and soon spirals into a full investigation - all in a foreign country where Beatrice's credentials mean for little and leave her on rocky ground. The location here is stunning, the food mouth-watering, the pace positive and drama-filled, and the characterisation, as ever, is effortless. You can't help but tut and roll your eyes at many of Ms Stubb's decisions, and it is a nail-biting journey to her final dramatic showdown. JJ Marsh writes with a skill, style and confidence that improves with each novel, and I look forward with bated breath for the fourth book in the series.
April 23, 2025
Set in Spain, DI Beatrice Stubbs is on leave from the Metropolitan Police to reevaluate her life choices but is drawn into a missing person mystery that soon becomes a murder investigation. Warned off the case by her own boss in London as well as the Spanish police, Stubbs can’t let go of the case and soon ropes in her long-time partner, Matthew, and close friend, Adrien, who play continuing supporting roles in the series. The chief villain in this story is truly despicable and the reader cheers Stubbs’ determination to see justice done despite the fact that she’s supposed to be recuperating and contemplating her future. This is the third in the DI Beatrice Stubbs series. Another good read chiefly due to the interesting characters and the varying locations of each book — enough to keep me pursuing this JJ Marsh series.
“She turned to her visitor. ‘Please, come in.’
‘Thank you.’ Luz handed her the flowers. ‘These are for you. Did you have another accident?’
‘Yes, this time with the wall of the police station. Seems I attract trouble.’
Luz closed the door behind her. ‘No, I don’t think you attract trouble, I think you go looking for it’.”
“She turned to her visitor. ‘Please, come in.’
‘Thank you.’ Luz handed her the flowers. ‘These are for you. Did you have another accident?’
‘Yes, this time with the wall of the police station. Seems I attract trouble.’
Luz closed the door behind her. ‘No, I don’t think you attract trouble, I think you go looking for it’.”
July 29, 2013
I read this novel while on holiday in Provence, and although the book is set in Spain rather than France, the theme of wine and food suited my mood perfectly. This was my first introduction to Beatrice Stubbs, a police detective from the Metropolitan Police, who in Tread Softly is on a sabbatical in Northern Spain, with a plan to sample the regions fine wine and foods.
Beatrice holiday in Spain is interrupted when an old acquaintance, the young and strikingly beautiful investigate reporter, Ana, asks for her help to track down a missing colleague. Before she can stop herself, Beatrice is knee-deep in intrigue and corruption, and getting into trouble not only with the police in Spain but also with her bosses back in London.
Tread Softly is a brilliantly executed police drama. The start is quite violent, and I was a little afraid there’d be more scenes like that (The Englishman says I can't watch anyone break as much as a fingernail in police drams on the telly). But I needn’t have worried, because although there are more scenes like the first one, the violence is never gratuitous, or too gory. The character of Beatrice, an older woman with some stress-induced mental health issues, is very well drawn. The reader is often made to feel very worried about Beatrice, and at the same time in awe of her persistent, and intelligent, pursuit of justice.
The story is skilfully paced, with lovely, atmospheric descriptions of the Spanish town of Vitoria, as well as the food and wine Beatrice manages to consume in spite of the intensity of her investigations. After reading Tread Softly, I downloaded the other two detective novels by JJ Marsh, featuring Beatrice Stubbs. I can’t wait to devour them in the same quick manner as I did Tread Softly.
Beatrice holiday in Spain is interrupted when an old acquaintance, the young and strikingly beautiful investigate reporter, Ana, asks for her help to track down a missing colleague. Before she can stop herself, Beatrice is knee-deep in intrigue and corruption, and getting into trouble not only with the police in Spain but also with her bosses back in London.
Tread Softly is a brilliantly executed police drama. The start is quite violent, and I was a little afraid there’d be more scenes like that (The Englishman says I can't watch anyone break as much as a fingernail in police drams on the telly). But I needn’t have worried, because although there are more scenes like the first one, the violence is never gratuitous, or too gory. The character of Beatrice, an older woman with some stress-induced mental health issues, is very well drawn. The reader is often made to feel very worried about Beatrice, and at the same time in awe of her persistent, and intelligent, pursuit of justice.
The story is skilfully paced, with lovely, atmospheric descriptions of the Spanish town of Vitoria, as well as the food and wine Beatrice manages to consume in spite of the intensity of her investigations. After reading Tread Softly, I downloaded the other two detective novels by JJ Marsh, featuring Beatrice Stubbs. I can’t wait to devour them in the same quick manner as I did Tread Softly.
August 15, 2013
Many years ago my husband and I toured northern Spain, visiting San Sebastian, Santander and Vitoria along the way, so it was a great pleasure to discover J.J. Marsh's Tread Softly. This is actually the third in the series featuring her detective heroine Beatrice Stubbs, but the choice of setting lured me to try it first. I wasn't disappointed: the locations, including the city of Vitoria and a major wine estate nearby, are well realised and there's an extremely pleasing focus on the gourmet delights of the Basque region. Characters are convincing, often amusing. I was a bit bemused at times but only because I've entered Beatrice's unfolding story late in the day: I'll definitely be catching up by reading the first two books in the series. Beatrice is bright but endearingly disaster-prone. She's also intensely self-critical and on the edge - this made me worry about her a great deal. There are moments of farce and irony, there are scenes of friendship, tenderness and total exasperation - and underlying it all a story of corruption, brutality, manipulation and oppression with all the elements you'd expect to find in a good thriller, including a truly chilling villain. Highly recommended.
July 13, 2013
I am now a confirmed Beatrice Stubbs fan and Tread Softly, the third in the series, is yet another great read. Beatrice is in the Basque region of Spain, hoping that some time alone will help her see if she has any future in the police. She intends to luxuriate in the wonderful food and wine of the area, but after a chance meeting with beautiful and bloody minded journalist, Ana, she is soon embroiled in a new investigation. What’s particularly clever here is that wine, specifically white Rioja, plays a central role in the intricately plotted mystery.
As the action began to heat up, I was hoping to meet her partner, Matthew, and neighbour, Adrian, again and I wasn’t disappointed. These three make a great team, but then in a Beatrice Stubbs novel it seems there are no minor characters. The local police detectives, the editor of Ana’s paper, each member of the extended Aguirre family, from the godfather-like Arturo to his rebellious youngest daughter, and even a group of squaddies on a stag weekend, all play crucial parts in the mystery and all are complex individuals. Above all I love the way J.J. Marsh never fails to ensure that her victims, however briefly they may appear, are shown as real people whose deaths are significant tragedies.
As the action began to heat up, I was hoping to meet her partner, Matthew, and neighbour, Adrian, again and I wasn’t disappointed. These three make a great team, but then in a Beatrice Stubbs novel it seems there are no minor characters. The local police detectives, the editor of Ana’s paper, each member of the extended Aguirre family, from the godfather-like Arturo to his rebellious youngest daughter, and even a group of squaddies on a stag weekend, all play crucial parts in the mystery and all are complex individuals. Above all I love the way J.J. Marsh never fails to ensure that her victims, however briefly they may appear, are shown as real people whose deaths are significant tragedies.
January 1, 2014
After reading Behind Closed Doors and Raw Material, I couldn't wait to get my hands on Beatrice's latest adventure. I have to be honest I was a tad apprehensive, hoping I wasn't going to be disappointed. I need not have worried. It was, as were the two before it, truly brilliant.
The research that must have gone into this is breath-taking. The eloquent descriptions of the Rioja region made me want to visit immediately. The images of the local food and wine, were sumptuous. The characters as always were authentic and solid. I love them all and can picture each one. The simple beauty of Ana, the very suave Jaime. Aguirre, charismatic and calculating, all exquisitely crafted.
Beatrice is supposed to be taking it easy on holiday in Northern Spain, but as you'd expect from JJ Marsh, Beatrice doesn't do relaxing. She quickly becomes involved in what appears to be a missing person case, but soon turns into something far more sinister, dangerous and intricate. I loved the first, adored the second and just devoured the third. I Can't wait for number four. I read this immediately after it was released, I can't believe I forgot to review it at the time. Hurry up with number four please Ms Marsh and I promise to be less tardy reviewing that one.
The research that must have gone into this is breath-taking. The eloquent descriptions of the Rioja region made me want to visit immediately. The images of the local food and wine, were sumptuous. The characters as always were authentic and solid. I love them all and can picture each one. The simple beauty of Ana, the very suave Jaime. Aguirre, charismatic and calculating, all exquisitely crafted.
Beatrice is supposed to be taking it easy on holiday in Northern Spain, but as you'd expect from JJ Marsh, Beatrice doesn't do relaxing. She quickly becomes involved in what appears to be a missing person case, but soon turns into something far more sinister, dangerous and intricate. I loved the first, adored the second and just devoured the third. I Can't wait for number four. I read this immediately after it was released, I can't believe I forgot to review it at the time. Hurry up with number four please Ms Marsh and I promise to be less tardy reviewing that one.
December 7, 2017
As I did with her novel set in Zurich, I read this book because I like to remind myself of places that I have traveled via books about the places, including works of fiction. I was a bit off my mark on this one, as, while I have been in Spain, I have never been in the northwest - Rioja country - where this is set.
I think I enjoyed Behind Closed Doors (the Zurich book) more than I did this one. Some of the characters were not as believable as others, and the plot got very far-fetched. I accept that mystery books must be to an extent formulaic, but this seemed to me almost all formula, almost no substance.
Marsh's detective, Beatrice Stubbs, is Scotland Yard, and good at her job. Her psychological issues however often interfere with her work, and her trust in herself. This is an interesting character, and I know that Marsh has written several other Stubbs books. While I was somewhat disappointed in this one, I will likely re-kindle (punning - my eyes are shot and all the books I read these days I read only on Kindle) my acquaintanceship with Marsh and her detective if I find another on a place in Europe I have been or to which I want to go.
I think I enjoyed Behind Closed Doors (the Zurich book) more than I did this one. Some of the characters were not as believable as others, and the plot got very far-fetched. I accept that mystery books must be to an extent formulaic, but this seemed to me almost all formula, almost no substance.
Marsh's detective, Beatrice Stubbs, is Scotland Yard, and good at her job. Her psychological issues however often interfere with her work, and her trust in herself. This is an interesting character, and I know that Marsh has written several other Stubbs books. While I was somewhat disappointed in this one, I will likely re-kindle (punning - my eyes are shot and all the books I read these days I read only on Kindle) my acquaintanceship with Marsh and her detective if I find another on a place in Europe I have been or to which I want to go.
May 27, 2013
After Behind Closed Doors and Raw Material, JJ Marsh has again excelled in the international crime field with Tread Softly, the third in the Beatrice Stubbs series.
On leave from the Metropolitan Police, Beatrice Stubbs is taking a gourmet trip in Northern Spain. In Vitoria, she meets the beautiful and determined journalist, Ana Herrero, and, unable to ignore a missing person’s case, she finds herself in the midst of violent threats, corpses, blackmail and Rioja. As her partner, Matthew, tells Beatrice: “You don’t attract trouble, you go looking for it.”
Apart from the fast-paced, suspenseful and brilliant plot, the author also hooked me with her wonderful evocation of the sights, tastes and smells of the Basque Country.
Another excellent crime novel from JJ Marsh, which I would highly recommend to lovers of intelligent crime.
On leave from the Metropolitan Police, Beatrice Stubbs is taking a gourmet trip in Northern Spain. In Vitoria, she meets the beautiful and determined journalist, Ana Herrero, and, unable to ignore a missing person’s case, she finds herself in the midst of violent threats, corpses, blackmail and Rioja. As her partner, Matthew, tells Beatrice: “You don’t attract trouble, you go looking for it.”
Apart from the fast-paced, suspenseful and brilliant plot, the author also hooked me with her wonderful evocation of the sights, tastes and smells of the Basque Country.
Another excellent crime novel from JJ Marsh, which I would highly recommend to lovers of intelligent crime.
May 27, 2013
After Behind Closed Doors and Raw Material, JJ Marsh has again excelled in the international crime field with Tread Softly, the third in the Beatrice Stubbs series.
On leave from the Metropolitan Police, Beatrice Stubbs is taking a gourmet trip in Northern Spain. In Vitoria, she meets the beautiful and determined journalist, Ana Herrero, and, unable to ignore a missing person’s case, she finds herself in the midst of violent threats, corpses, blackmail and Rioja. As her partner, Matthew, tells Beatrice: “You don’t attract trouble, you go looking for it.”
Apart from the fast-paced, suspenseful and brilliant plot, the author also hooked me with her wonderful evocation of the sights, tastes and smells of the Basque Country.
Another excellent crime novel from JJ Marsh, which I would highly recommend to lovers of intelligent crime.
On leave from the Metropolitan Police, Beatrice Stubbs is taking a gourmet trip in Northern Spain. In Vitoria, she meets the beautiful and determined journalist, Ana Herrero, and, unable to ignore a missing person’s case, she finds herself in the midst of violent threats, corpses, blackmail and Rioja. As her partner, Matthew, tells Beatrice: “You don’t attract trouble, you go looking for it.”
Apart from the fast-paced, suspenseful and brilliant plot, the author also hooked me with her wonderful evocation of the sights, tastes and smells of the Basque Country.
Another excellent crime novel from JJ Marsh, which I would highly recommend to lovers of intelligent crime.
Read
May 23, 2013The third outing for the incomparable Beatrice Stubbs, and possibly my favourite to date. Beatrice is on leave and enjoying a break in northern Spain. But as Matthew tells her – you don’t attract trouble, you go looking for it.
Those of you who have read the first two books will know that Beatrice loves her food. And from the first page, this book is imbued with the smells and tastes of the Basque Country. You’ll be tempted to rush off and book the first flight to San Sabastien - if only you didn’t have to put the book down first.
Another fine crime novel from my Triskele stablemate, J.J. Marsh.
Those of you who have read the first two books will know that Beatrice loves her food. And from the first page, this book is imbued with the smells and tastes of the Basque Country. You’ll be tempted to rush off and book the first flight to San Sabastien - if only you didn’t have to put the book down first.
Another fine crime novel from my Triskele stablemate, J.J. Marsh.
Read
May 25, 2013The third outing for the incomparable Beatrice Stubbs, and possibly my favourite to date. Beatrice is on leave and enjoying a break in northern Spain. But as Matthew tells her – you don’t attract trouble, you go looking for it.
Those of you who have read the first two books will know that Beatrice loves her food. And from the first page, this book is imbued with the smells and tastes of the Basque Country. You’ll be tempted to rush off and book the first flight to San Sabastien - if only you didn’t have to put the book down first.
Another fine crime novel from my Triskele stablemate, J.J. Marsh.
Those of you who have read the first two books will know that Beatrice loves her food. And from the first page, this book is imbued with the smells and tastes of the Basque Country. You’ll be tempted to rush off and book the first flight to San Sabastien - if only you didn’t have to put the book down first.
Another fine crime novel from my Triskele stablemate, J.J. Marsh.
January 31, 2015
Time out in Spain with fine wine and tapas; how relaxing that sounds. Unless, your name is Beatrice Stubbs, of course. Instead of chilling, the Detective Inspector of London’s Metropolitan Police gets sucked into another adventure. What starts as a little help for a friend spirals into threats, big scale crime, and violence. Beware, reader! You’ll even get to look into the villain’s head and learn to understand his motives but that will only make you worry more for Beatrice. Believe me, once the lovely-holiday-on-the-sunny-side-of-life has turned into death-lurking-behind-every-corner, you’ll just go and turn another page…
July 10, 2013
An Intelligent Thriller
Set in the Rioja producing area of Northern Spain, Tread Softly, is another classy crime thriller featuring Beatrice Stubbs. Having read the previous two in the series, I can confirm that this one keeps up the high standard set by J J Marsh. The descriptions of food and wine are enough to make anyone drool and long to hop on a plane to Vitoria, while the tensions of the plot are gripping enough to take the mind off whatever comestibles happen to be on the table right now.
Complex characters, sumptuous descriptions and a nail-biting finale. What's not to like?
Set in the Rioja producing area of Northern Spain, Tread Softly, is another classy crime thriller featuring Beatrice Stubbs. Having read the previous two in the series, I can confirm that this one keeps up the high standard set by J J Marsh. The descriptions of food and wine are enough to make anyone drool and long to hop on a plane to Vitoria, while the tensions of the plot are gripping enough to take the mind off whatever comestibles happen to be on the table right now.
Complex characters, sumptuous descriptions and a nail-biting finale. What's not to like?
January 3, 2014
Beatrice Stubbs did it again: She made me read a crime story and I could not put her down. I like Beatrice because she is a little bit like me (:-) Hello Dr. Freud). I also like the depths of Matthew, Ana and Adrian and the story line. I am not sure how she does it but I really feel the scenes and characters come to life. I can smell the wine and food as well as the blood, sweat and fear when the plot gets rough. I do not want to spoil the story so just this: Read it. Beatrice Stubbs, I am looking forward to your next adventure.
September 5, 2014
Fabulous addition to the series. There's a lot more action in this one which was a very nice contrast to the slightly slower-pace of the previous book. What a fabulous series, honestly, I could keep reading about Beatrice Stubbs forever. Thankfully there is a book 4 on the way, and it's set in Athens, Greece, where I live. VERY excited about that one!
July 20, 2013
This is the first time i've read a novel by JJ Marsh and I enjoyed it. So much so that i'm going to get her first one Behind Closed Doors i belive is the name. For some reason and I couldn't tell you why I found it hard at first to get into but after that 2d chapter i was in deep.
Read
October 19, 2013Good mystery, but the writing style wasn't my cup of tea. Will pick it up again in the future because I suspect it might just be an issue of "mood."
September 12, 2017
I thoroughly enjoyed my ‘boxed set’ of 3 titles by JJ Marsh. The ‘set’ consisted of the first 3 books in Ms. Marsh’s Beatrice Stubbs mystery series: BEHIND CLOSED DOORS - RAW MATERIAL - TREAD SOFTLY.
The lead characters were very flawed; very likable; very detailed. Beatrice - bipolar with hints of a prior suicide attempt, Detective Inspector for the Metropolitan Police; her husband Matthew and neighbor Adrian.
The plots were edgy, suspenseful and detailed; very character-driven.
The ‘sense of place’ (which first attracted me to the series) was extremely well-done. I really felt a part of the locations.
BEHIND CLOSED DOORS took place mainly in Zurich, Switzerland. I liked the back and forth of the murder scenes and the current investigations. It helped set the tone and especially the personalities of the victims. I quite liked the development of the team’s characters and Herr Karl Kalin.
RAW MATERIAL was set in UK locations. A seemingly innocent set of photographs from a beach holiday turn into the basis for a major investigation. Adrian and Matthew ‘help out’ on the case.
TREAD SOFTLY was my favorite title mainly because of its northern Spain location. The descriptions - of foods, wines, vineyards, wineries, Spanish cities and towns, people - were superb. The plot was very well-paced which I liked.
I liked these mysteries so much that I ordered the next 3 titles in the Beatrice Stubbs series.
**I do want to note that I didn’t order the ‘boxed set’ - I ordered 3 individual books. The digital ‘set’ titles were awkward to read. There was no access to each title’s table of contents. I like to move around in a book and often reread passages or confirm details. While I could bookmark, I couldn’t maneuver well in the books. This is nothing to do with the writing, but a glitch or problem with the format.
The lead characters were very flawed; very likable; very detailed. Beatrice - bipolar with hints of a prior suicide attempt, Detective Inspector for the Metropolitan Police; her husband Matthew and neighbor Adrian.
The plots were edgy, suspenseful and detailed; very character-driven.
The ‘sense of place’ (which first attracted me to the series) was extremely well-done. I really felt a part of the locations.
BEHIND CLOSED DOORS took place mainly in Zurich, Switzerland. I liked the back and forth of the murder scenes and the current investigations. It helped set the tone and especially the personalities of the victims. I quite liked the development of the team’s characters and Herr Karl Kalin.
RAW MATERIAL was set in UK locations. A seemingly innocent set of photographs from a beach holiday turn into the basis for a major investigation. Adrian and Matthew ‘help out’ on the case.
TREAD SOFTLY was my favorite title mainly because of its northern Spain location. The descriptions - of foods, wines, vineyards, wineries, Spanish cities and towns, people - were superb. The plot was very well-paced which I liked.
I liked these mysteries so much that I ordered the next 3 titles in the Beatrice Stubbs series.
**I do want to note that I didn’t order the ‘boxed set’ - I ordered 3 individual books. The digital ‘set’ titles were awkward to read. There was no access to each title’s table of contents. I like to move around in a book and often reread passages or confirm details. While I could bookmark, I couldn’t maneuver well in the books. This is nothing to do with the writing, but a glitch or problem with the format.
May 1, 2020
Tread Softly is the third book in the Beatrice Stubbs mystery series. Each could be a stand alone book, but it is probably better to read them in order for character development. Stubbs has had a rough time emotionally and decides she needs a break from her detective police inspector job with the British Metropolitan Police. She is taking a three month leave of absence to evaluate if she wants to return to work or not. So Spain it is, for an extended solo vacation. But of course, being Beatrice, work is never totally out of the picture.
In Spain, Beatrice checks in with an old acquaintance she hasn't seen since Anna was an awkward teenager. Anna is now a beautiful journalist, researching information on a potential big story. As it is developing, Anna and Beatrice become involved and at risk. They don't know who to trust as the people involved are very high powered and influential, and Anna and Beatrice fear even the police are on their payroll. People involved are disappearing and being found murdered, and they may be next.
As in the previous Stubbs books, Beatrice is trying to maintain her equilibrium, take her bi-polar medication, and keep in touch with her long-time partner, while still working under stress. She makes the same mistake of trusting the wrong people, not suspecting who the criminals are, and yet solving the case well in the end. Once again, she has to depend on other people to help her out of a bad situation, she is not a super hero, but she is smart enough to know when she needs rescuing. She is fragile and strong at the same time, what a great combination. And she seems like a very authentic character, someone you would want to know.
In Spain, Beatrice checks in with an old acquaintance she hasn't seen since Anna was an awkward teenager. Anna is now a beautiful journalist, researching information on a potential big story. As it is developing, Anna and Beatrice become involved and at risk. They don't know who to trust as the people involved are very high powered and influential, and Anna and Beatrice fear even the police are on their payroll. People involved are disappearing and being found murdered, and they may be next.
As in the previous Stubbs books, Beatrice is trying to maintain her equilibrium, take her bi-polar medication, and keep in touch with her long-time partner, while still working under stress. She makes the same mistake of trusting the wrong people, not suspecting who the criminals are, and yet solving the case well in the end. Once again, she has to depend on other people to help her out of a bad situation, she is not a super hero, but she is smart enough to know when she needs rescuing. She is fragile and strong at the same time, what a great combination. And she seems like a very authentic character, someone you would want to know.
March 4, 2021
Tread Softly by J. J. Marsh 1/15/2021 Kindle
The setting of this third in the author’s series is far afield from her usual base. DI Beatrice Stubbs takes a sabbatical from her police duties and vacations in Spain. Her agenda calls for a food tour, tasting the delicacies of the region. However, relaxing is not easy after she becomes involved helping a journalist digging into a mystery of missing persons and dead bodies. Without her usual police back up and access to information, the going is tough. When the trail leads to the local wine industry, Stubbs calls for help from back home. Enter her friends from prior adventures.
The descriptions of the Basque region are vivid and while the story line wanders at times, overall I enjoyed this read very much. While it is light reading, I will continue with the series and recommend it.
January 11, 2018
Set against the backdrop of Spain’s wine industry, this corker of a crime novel features the feisty but flawed Beatrice Stubbs, who can’t avoid work even when she’s meant to be enjoying a sabbatical. As with the other Stubbs novels, the foreign setting is an integral part of the story. The characters are well-rounded and compelling, and the dialogue always hits the right note. What kept me reading, however, were the twists and turns in the story, and the dangers confronting Beatrice and her little band of allies (she has a couple of good friends to call on, and usually makes a few more during each novel). Another clear five-star read. Why can't this series go on forever?
March 11, 2019
The third Beatrice Stubbs novel from a boxset of the first three Stubbs novels The Beatrice Stubbs Boxset.
This one's set in Northern Spain, where Stubbs is supposedly on vacation (or as she would say 'holiday'), so it does have an international flavor. Not too bad.
I won't go looking for more Beatrice Stubbs novels unless I find inexpensive Kindle editions (which this boxset was).
This one's set in Northern Spain, where Stubbs is supposedly on vacation (or as she would say 'holiday'), so it does have an international flavor. Not too bad.
I won't go looking for more Beatrice Stubbs novels unless I find inexpensive Kindle editions (which this boxset was).
August 13, 2019
Another gripping adventure with Beatrice Stubbs! With her penchant for finding herself in the middle of mysteries, Beatrice, who is on sabbatical in Spain, becomes involved in solving the disappearance of an acquaintance's co-worker. There is more death and betrayal in this novel than I noticed in the previous ones. Or maybe it's a different sort. That Beatrice could hold herself and her compatriots together in the face of sorrows and disaster, and exact a fitting revenge, showed the strength of the woman she is.
June 5, 2023
I was undecided as to whether I wanted to continue reading this series. I commented before that there seem to be a lot of mistakes. One reviewer said that the main character was always mixing her metaphors. I think the author is. My decision was made easy to not continue when Beatrice Stubbs, who is the hero of these books, told an acquaintance that she hoped she wouldn’t be tossed out on the streets like “an old moggie”. Finding that Beatrice thinks it’s amusing to refer to discarding an old cat like trash was the end. It was a sickening reference. Goodbye, JJ Marsh.
April 13, 2025
This series keeps getting better. Now that familiar characters have been established and there is a past from other books to refer to, the reader can feel centered for a great mystery. This takes place on Beatrice's sabbatical in northern Spain. She more or less falls into strange company and ends up using her investigative skills when supposedly she shouldn't. There is action and suspense in spades. I'm starting the next book right away. This is a great series. A rival to my favorites of Donna Leon's Brunetti, Peter Grainger's David Smith and Colin Dexter's Morse.
January 27, 2021
This series just gets better and better! While on sabbatical in Northern Spain, determined to relax and enjoy the food and wine, Beatrice inevitable gets sucked into another mystery, trying to help the feisty Ana. Both new and well-established characters were added to the mix in this excellent story. Really engrossing.
October 20, 2023
Beatrice is taking a sabbatical, after giving her boss a letter of resignation. However her ‘sabbatical’ in Spain turns out a bit more dangerous. She reacquaint herself with a young woman who is now a journalist. A prominent Spaniard is watering the Rioja so to speak. Corrupt policemen, and lots of bruisers ready to do what is asked of them. Real entertaining.
January 6, 2019
Great series and intriguing Plots. This book is set in Spain so wine and fabulous cuisine also claim some attention. A powerful vintner is key to the plot and his extended family all play roles. Highly recommend this and the other books in the Beatrice Stubbs series by JJ Marsh.
January 31, 2019
A Beatrice Stubb's mystery solved while she is on holiday in Spain. A friend asks her to help with finding a missing friend and co-worker. Beatrice brings in Adrian and Mathew to help when the missing person also points to wine fraud. Beatice ends up more banged up but keeps moving forward as ever.
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