Cold

Alex Duggins Mystery #1

by Stella Cameron

(Folly was originally published August 13, 2013 as Cold in eBook format.

Following the breakdown of her marriage, Alex Duggins has returned to her picturesque home town in the Cotswolds in order to start afresh. But you can't outrun the past, as Alex discovers, when she stumbles across a frosted corpse buried in the snow. The subsequent murder investigation threatens to unearth old secrets - including Alex's own.
As Folly-on-Weir braces for a chilling winter and Alex finds herself top of the police’s suspect list, she determines to clear her name and find the real murderer. But as she begins to peel back the layers of deception that have long-concealed one of the town’s darkest secrets, she herself becomes the target of a ruthless killer who has nothing left to lose. Will Alex be the next snow-covered body to be found in the beautiful hills above the town? .

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Crime, British Literature, Cozy Mystery, Mystery Thriller, Contemporary

238 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 13, 2013

About the author

Stella Cameron is a New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author. With over fourteen million copies of her books in print, Cameron is now turning her pen to mysteries and independently publishing COLD, Introducing Alex Duggins. She draws on her English background for this new, already critically acclaimed mystery series. Atmospheric, deeply character and relationship driven, COLD reveals the power of old secrets to twist the present. Cameron’s reputation for using her backgrounds to add tension and allure to her stories is heightened again.

Cameron is the recipient of the Pacific Northwest Achievement Award for distinguished professional achievement and for enhancing the stature of the Northwest Literary community. She lives in Washington with her husband Jerry, her Papillon Millie, black cat Zipper, and a cheeky little tabby named Jack.

Reviews

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Folly/Whisper of the Dead by Stella Cameron is a 2015 Crème de la Crime publication.

Deeply absorbing British Mystery-

After Alex’s divorce, she moves back to her hometown in Cotswold, and is now the new owner of a local pub. But, her fresh start hit a snag when she stumbles across a dead body covered by snow.

As the investigation proceeds, Alex finds herself mixed up in things, whether she likes it or not. Not only that, her past is being raked up, her renewed friendship with Tony, a man she grew up with, is in jeopardy, the local law enforcement has it in for her, and she could be in danger. If that weren’t bad enough- another murder takes place, putting the entire community on edge.

This is the first book in the Alex Duggins mystery series. I’ve been curious about this series for a while. It seemed like a bit of a departure for this author, after making a name for herself writing romantic suspense novels, many of which I really enjoyed.

I am happy to report this series got off to a great start for me, and Cameron did a great job writing a pure British style mystery. The location is divine, and the mystery is multi-layered and suspenseful, ending with a tense and stunning twist. There are still a few mysteries left to explore, especially concerning Tony and his mysterious past. I’m really looking forward to seeing how this series progresses.

4 stars
Note: (Folly was originally published August 13, 2013 as Cold in eBook format.)

[Charles van Buren · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review to follow

[Elaine · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is an entertaining, cosy amateur sleuth novel which at just over 200 pages is a fairly quick read. Set in a picturesque chocolate box type village in the Cotswolds in the middle of a snowy winter, we meet Alex Duggins who has returned to Folly after her divorce and bought the local pub around which village life seems to revolve. There are some good colourful, likeable characters who are fun to read about here and who keep your interest throughout the read. The story does twist and turn and throws up a number of suspects and is certainly not as predictable as you might think. It is a good read and although it is rounded off nicely the ending did feel a little abrupt and I would have liked to have seen some sort of epilogue just to finish it off. Thanks to the publishers for the review copy.

[Sina & Ilona Glimmerfee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Das Buch hat nicht ganz meine Erwartungen erfüllt. Ich hatte gehofft, es mehr zu mögen, aber irgendwie ist der Funke nicht übergesprungen. Leider kann ich nicht festmachen, was genau mich störte.

Der Schreibstil ist flüssig und gut lesbar. Die Kapitel haben eine gute Länge und es geht nicht in allen immer nur um Alex Sicht der Dinge. So erfahren wir auch mehr über den Tierarzt Tony und über den Inspector, allerdings sind diese Sprünge zu den anderen Charakteren so geschrieben, dass die Handlung weitergeführt und die Spannung erhalten bleibt - Was gut ist!

Mit den Charakteren wurde ich nicht richtig warm. Natürlich waren hier auch wieder zwei schrullige alte Damen eingebaut, wie sie in einem gemütlichen britischen Krimi eigentlich nicht fehlen dürfen, nur wird mir dieses Klischee langsam langweilig.
All die Charaktere werden mit der Zeit sicher aus meinem Kopf verschwinden. Auch der irische Inspector, der mir am Besten gefallen hat, wird schnell vergessen werden. Dafür waren die Charaktere nicht 'besonders' genug.
Und letztlich waren mir Alex und Tony die gesamte Zeit über unsympatisch, was wahrscheinlich eher ein persönlicher Eindruck von mir ist und daher nicht ins Gewicht fallen soll.

Da Alex und Tony mir egal waren, kann man sich denken, dass für mich keine rechte Spannung aufkommen wollte. Obwohl der Showdown sicher als rasant bezeichnet werden kann.

Das Setting ist ein kleines verschneites Dorf in den Cotswolds. Verscheint? Ja, bei dem Cover wäre ich auch nicht auf die Idee gekommen, dass dies ein Winterkrimi ist.

Ob dieser Krimi bei den Mordfällen und der Bedrohnung für Alex noch immer ein Wohlfühl-Krimi ist, weiß ich nicht.

Ich gebe 4 Sterne, weil ich nicht ausmachen kann, was mir nicht gefallen hat. Es ist für mich ein solider Krimi gewesen und eigentlich habe ich nichts zu beanstanden, außer dass er bei mir nicht gezündet hat.

Das Buch wurde mir als kostenloses Rezensionsexemplar vom Verlag zur Verfügung gestellt.

[Betty · Rating 5 out of 5]

After a life-changing event Alex Duggins returns home the town left as she enter college to recover. Taking a walk through the woods she hears a dog crying. She finds the dog and discovers a man dead with a dart in his throat. Alex meets the town vet an old flame in high school. Events are happening to Alex so she to suspects that someone is trying to chase her from town. The investigation begins to uncover event that happen years ago. Alex need to find the a solution before she looses all that is dear to her. I recommend this book.

Full Disclosure: I received a free copy from Severn House through Netgalley for an honest review. I would like to thank them for this opportunity to read and review the book. The opinions are my own

[Charlene · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have admired the writing in every Stella Cameron book I've read. This is a review of FOLLY, which is a newly-edited (with additional material, I think I read) version of COLD, which was published in 2013 on a somewhat limited basis. I have not read the earlier version, but I see that many of the reviews posted for this book appear together with reviews of the present edition. I do not know whether the reviewers would have changed their stars (or reviews) had they read FOLLY.

I was captured by the opening paragraph of Cameron's first book in her new Alex (Alexandra) Duggins series, and I eagerly await the second volume.

You can read summaries in the book blurb and some reviews, so I will not belabor the point or give spoilers here. I could see this story being characterized as mystery, suspense, and even as romantic suspense, and some might also list it as a cozy mystery. There is no gore, almost no foul language (two brief expletives, I think) and no sexual intimacy, for those who wish to know in advance.

I liked Alex, and sensed that Ms Cameron will unfold more of Alex's story upon her return to her childhood home after her failed marriage. I liked veterinarian, Tony, Alex's childhood friend whose own story is shrouded in some mystery in Australia. They recall their early friendship when the entire village of Folly-on-Weir in the Cotswolds is enveloped in a snowstorm and a murder, and the police investigators are looking at all possible suspects, many of whom we have to guess ourselves as characters are introduced. I liked the two elderly sisters who bicker, and several others -- I hope they show up in future stories, all!

I rarely give 5 stars, and perhaps this is more a 4.5 star read, but there is so much potential, such excellent writing and intriguing characters that I highly recommend this for readers of any of the genres I listed above.

[Julie · Rating 2 out of 5]

2⭐ =Below Average.
The storyline was absolutely fine but I thought that the dialogue was very strange at times. In the first third of the book, I kept having to reread sections, to understand what they were trying to say.
This appeared very 'British' on first appearance, until many of the words appeared as American spellings. On researching, it appears that the author was brought up in the UK but now lives in America. Perhaps thats why the dialogue between characters was stilted??
I'll very happily read a book set in America, with American phrases and spellings(and I do) , but when a book is based in the UK, I do like English spellings.

[Jonel · Rating 4 out of 5]

This novel was a shocker right from the 1st paragraph. Cameron took off running and the suspense didn’t let up right until the very end. I found myself always guessing until I came to the ‘I didn’t see that coming’ ending. Cameron has definitely mastered the mystery/suspense genre, keeping her story fast paced without having to resort to mass amounts of death, dismemberment, and explosions to keep the attention of her audience.

Through her vivid and uniquely developed writing style Cameron is able to bring her world to life in the most natural way. Her understated descriptions bring a calm and natural air to this community amidst a time of crisis. As a reader you are able to experience this world in an all-encompassing way through the eyes of the various characters.

Cameron has created some very captivating and insightful characters for this novel. Both the main characters and the supporting cast are extremely well developed. They all play counterpoint to each other to create an entire community, rather than a one sided cast.

All in all this was a very unique murder mystery/suspense novel that kept me captivated and guessing right till the last page.

Please note that I received this novel free of charge from the author in exchange for an honest review.

[Knewmyer · Rating 2 out of 5]

Boring.

[Erin · Rating 1 out of 5]

Folly is a novel by Stella Cameron. It was formerly titled "Cold" when it was initially released. It is the first book in the “Alex Duggins” series. The book begins with Dominic, a man travelling to Folly-on-Weir. However, the next day, Alex Duggins finds the dead body of the man and the townspeople are left wondering as to who Dominic was, and why he was killed.

My first thought is that it’s kind of bland. I didn’t feel much build up of suspense. Especially when the murder is about to happen. It just felt like the author skimmed over it really quickly through the prologue, without giving it enough time to build up some drama. Even once I get into the chapters… It just feels bland for me. I don’t feel like there are any characters I enjoy, or have an interest in. I think the author hasn’t spent enough time building them up and informing the reader about who these people are and their roles. It’s the type of book where a civilian will come across a dead body, force their way into the murder investigation and then get supremely annoyed when the police don’t want them to nose around. Also, when the police were first asking Alex questions, she seemed to get really annoyed that they would dare ask her these questions and, although she realised they were investigating a murder, it felt weird about how annoyed she was getting. It just seemed ridiculous that she understood yet, at the same time, had zero understanding of why they needed to ask her these things.

There’s a lot of skimming through important bits of scenes. The author generally gives a vague overview of what happens, but not much in-depth talk of important things. And I feel like it means the mystery gets kind of boring. Because the author doesn’t take much time building up evidence, characters to suspect, or giving details on relevant scenes, it feels like the story is getting brushed over. For example, in chapter nine, there’s a town meeting going on about the death. Yet, the actual talk of the meeting is very quick, and the author doesn’t share many details of what was said, or details about the townspeople. It could have been a great opportunity to give us at least some clues, or to go in-depth about who people are, what the townspeople think about the crime. Yet, as the book goes in, it feels like there’s a very lacking amount of evidence to consider.

The actual investigation stuff is just dodgy for a lot of character stuff going on. For example, in chapter eleven, a man (Percy) has come into the pub and asks the main character about the death of his friend… Which seems weird. She barely knows anything about it, because she’s just a civilian and has very little knowledge about the ongoing police investigation or the evidence… So why would he come to her? It doesn’t make sense. Mmmm… And I think it was a weird choice to make the darts as the murder weapon. Firstly, even if you’re good at them, it feels like it would be a pretty poor murder weapon… Also, it felt weird that the police kept asking about who in town has them, whether the ones at the pub were locked up. For me, darts are a reasonably common item in shops; sold at department stores and easily available online. It just felt really strange and out of place.

I didn’t really like any of the characters. I kept feeling like the author was trying to push Alex into a stereotype, with the way the author was describing her, even though it just didn’t fit with the way Alex was acting or talking. Even in the author’s notes, it’s written, “Alex Duggins is not the girl next door. At first glance, she could be – but only until you come to know her better. Pub owner, graphic artist and animal lover, Alex returned to her little home town of Folly-on-Weir in search of a chance to regroup following her divorce.” But what’s meant to be different about Alex? How is she different than other women? It’s absolutely normal for women to own a pub, be a graphic artist and an animal lover. Even with the way she would talk to characters, it would feel like the author was trying to make her seem cool or unusual, with the way the author described the conversation. Even though it was just bland, mundane talk between people. And the same for the relationship aspects of the plot, too. There was an awkward, forced romance between Alex and Tony. Because of the murder, they have reason to spend time together. They knew each other during childhood. But it just feels like they’re very awkward together and that the romance the author is building just isn’t suited to this book. And, honestly, it really takes away from the mystery elements of the book. The amount of time spent between these two characters, building the awkward romance, could have been better spent developing the mystery and evidence of the book.

By the end of it… I guess I feel like there wasn’t enough actual investigative elements to the book. There were very little good portions about learning of evidence, or the history of these crimes; what might have led to them. The portions of such that were in the story… It all felt so vague and didn’t build any suspense or drama for me. The author spends a long time on building up conversations that ultimately feel like they go nowhere, and don’t have any substance to the mystery or romance elements of the book. The author spends a weird amount of time talking about how much alcohol all the characters drink in a bunch of scenes, rather than getting the characters to further the plot in any meaningful way. I get it, they drink alcohol, but I wish the author would completely skip over those elements; it just felt like it was so unnecessary, yet the author would mention it again and again and again. If anything, Alex comes across as an unfortunately self-entitled character, who seems to think she’s smarter than the police, regarding the investigation. Yet she’s very ill-informed, with almost no real knowledge of the investigation. And the way she treats other people is just so… Disrespectful. Whether it be police or other townspeople, she often has a lot of negative thoughts about them, even when she is supposedly meant to be friends with them.

I initially found the book in the BorrowBox catalogue of my local library, so I read it for free via that. However, funnily enough, when I went to check the page count on the Kindle version, I found that I already own a Kindle copy. I got it for free about a year ago. Though, admittedly, I don’t think I would want to spend money on buying a copy for myself.

Overall… I do not recommend it. I felt like the author spoke too much of irrelevant things, yet very little about the important plot elements. Such as spending a lot of time writing about what characters are eating and/ or drinking in a scene yet writing relatively very little about the important bits of the mystery and investigation. Alex was a somewhat unlikeable character for me, and the romance elements of the book seemed really awkward and the characters didn’t seem suited for each other at all. I definitely don’t think I would read further in the series.

[Damaskcat · Rating 4 out of 5]

Alex Duggins returns to her home village of Folly-on-Weir in the Cotswolds after the traumatic breakdown of her marriage determined to make a new life for herself. She is settling into being the owner of a pub and restaurant and continuing her career as a graphic artist. Out for a walk one snowy morning she stumbles across a body. It is soon clear that the police have Alex cast as first murderer and she will need all her wits about her and the help of her friends to extricate herself and uncover the real murderer and the secrets the whole village seem to be in league to keep secret from everyone including the police.

I liked the characters in this well written mystery and there are plenty of suspects and motives for the crime and the next murder which takes place soon after. The village background in the depths of winter is well realised and the build up of tension and the fear engendered in Alex herself is very well done. The final pages are tense and I found myself willing Alex and the other characters to succeed in a race against time to stop the killer disposing of another victim.

If you like mysteries set in the English countryside with some interesting characters then try this one. It is the first book in a proposed series so I shall be watching out for new future episodes. I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley for review purposes.

[Karen · Rating 2 out of 5]

This mystery, set in a small Cotswolds village, was meh. A few too many characters to keep track of, a typical female in jeopardy who keeps making stupid decisions that put her in danger (man, this just gets old), a convoluted plot, characters not that well drawn, uninspiring dialogue, and confusing relationship dynamics. One and done for this series. And my personal pet peeve? Giving the protagonist, a woman, the name of Alex, which typically is a male name. As if I'm not puzzling over character names enough as it is, my mind would wonder "who is he" and then remember Alex is a she. Too much work and not enough enjoyment in reading this.

[Jan · Rating 3 out of 5]

For me this book was difficult to read. The author’s writing seemed not to flow smoothly or logically. The storyline was good with surprises and twists here and there but there were so many characters and even names of houses- I was confused a lot of the time. The main characters were not well-developed and not particularly likeable. I found I liked the police better than the main character! The ending took me by surprise. I might read another in this series but not anytime soon.

[☺Trish · Rating 4 out of 5]

Folly by Stella Cameron started out strong but got bogged down a bit about three quarters of the way through with an abrupt and muddled ending that I had to read a couple of times - who drowned Graham Cummings or was it an accident?
I liked the town vet, Tony Harrison, but wasn't too sure about main character Alex Duggins. The village has a few notable characters including elderly sisters Harriet and Mary Burke, village GP Doctor James Harrison, loudmouth pub regular Kev Winslet (thoroughly unlikable), and Alex's mother, Lily Duggins (not much in evidence in this book). Detective Inspector Dan O'Reilly is an intelligent, no-nonsense investigator.
3 1/2 Stars rounded up to four. I plan on reading more of the Alex Duggins cozy mystery series.

[Lori · Rating 3 out of 5]

Alex Duggins returned to Folly-on-Weir, a village in the Cotswolds where she grew up, after a failed marriage. She purchased a cottage and the local pub. She discovered the body of a monk with a missing ring. Who is he? Why was he in Folly-on-Weir? A second monk shows up, claiming the man was from his traveling order of monks. I loved the use of DNA in the resolution of the mystery. The snowstorm adds to the atmosphere. Some characters needed further development, but it was a good start to the series.

[WhatShouldIRead]

I've enjoyed many books by this author in the past. I think my tastes have changed because I found this slow going and didn't appreciate the descriptive passages as much as I used to.

[Shelley Fearn · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's always lovely to get in on the ground floor of a mystery series so that you can read the entire run without missing a title. Folly is the 1st in the Alex Duggins mysteries. Recently having returned to her childhood home in Folly-on-Weir, Alex has become the owner of the local tavern. After stumbling on a dead body in the woods, it quickly becomes apparent that Alex herself is being targeted in connection to the murder. In traditional cozy style, place and character rather than violence take center stage. Readers will find Alex Duggins an engaging character and the mystery is well developed. The 4th book in the series will be out in June so start the series now.

[E. · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Cold" by Stella Cameron introduces Alex Duggins (aka Alex Bailey-Jones) as she deals with a series of horrific events taking place in the normally peaceful and picturesque village of Folly-on-Weir. A grim discovery embroils Alex in a murder investigation that threatens the peace of mind that she has sought to regain after her personal tragedy yet it also forces her to interact with others, among them a personable veterinarian named Tony Harrison and a couple of delightful canines. As events continue to intensify, Alex discovers that there is a chilling purpose to all of the villain’s actions, and she seems to be the focus of that person’s attentions. Will the investigators Detective Inspector O’Reilly and Detective Sergeant Lamb be able to get past the insular villagers’ distrust in time to solve the case? Or will Alex have to take matters into her own hands?

This entertaining mystery evokes the charm of a small village in the Cotswolds yet cloaks it in the chilling aura that this author creates so well. The action nicely escalates yet is tempered by the vignettes that feature the four-footed companions of various characters. It would be nice to have a bit more depth to the main characters but I suspect that the gradual exposition of their pasts will take place over the course of several novels in the series. There are plenty of fascinating secondary characters who provide great color and background to the story and the snippets of information revealed such as the artistry that goes into creating lace are enlightening both in terms of the mystery itself and as a way of detailing some of the fascinating resources that can be found in these quiet villages. An enjoyable light read that will make one grateful for a way to warm blanket to snuggle into.

© Night Owl Reviews

I received a copy of this title in return for an honest review.

[Liz Barnsley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to the author and publisher for the copy of this book via netgalley.



I do love a good mystery story and this was certainly that - add in the fact that its set in my very own stomping grounds and it made for a terrific read.



Alex Duggins has moved back to the sleepy town of Folly-on-Weir in the Cotswolds due to suffering a tragedy, but after stumbling over a murder victim in the countryside she sets off a chain of events that will put her life in very real danger. With its roots set firmly in the past, Alex must uncover the facts in order to understand why someone wants her out of the way..but just who can she trust?



I very much enjoyed this - it had a touch of the old school about it, those gentle rambling mysteries that came from Agatha Christie and Victoria Holt in my youth and are now coming from a whole new generation of crime writers...but with a modern twist. I love that Alex is not in any way affiliated with the police, nor does she do a job that would normally bring her into contact with them or give her any reason for them to consult her. She is at the heart of this story though...and to find out why she will have to dig deep and discover the truth for herself.



The supporting cast of characters are all very good - I particularly liked the enigmatic Detective O'Reilly who keeps trying to keep Alex out of trouble and away from the danger zone with little success, and her old school friend Tony, who himself has a past, who tries to do the same. They mystery element is complicated enough to hold interest and the final resolution is satisfying.



All in all a terrific read and I shall look forward to the next Alex Duggins mystery.



Happy Reading Folks!

[Iris · Rating 5 out of 5]

I see a lot of differing reviews here which range from OMG this book was so great to I was greatly disappointed. That makes it difficult for a reader to really decide whether a book is worth purchasing or not. Let me me preface my review by saying I have been a fan of Ms. Cameron for as long as I can remember. I devoured her historical romances when I was in high school. COLD is about as different from those novels as you can get and still have the same feel for a Stella Cameron book.

I was captivated with the story from the very beginning. Wonderfully descriptive, I could almost feel the cold, biting wind. I could feel the angst of wanting to do what was right no matter the cost that Brother Dominic felt in those final moments of his life. Let's not forget Alex Duggins! Having suffered so much upheaval in her life she comes back to her previously quiet, peaceful town and a murder. She's not sure who she can and cannot trust. Even her closest friends' motives are questionable.

I found myself so embroiled in the story and characters to the point of losing track of time. This is a sign of a truly awesome book. I set high expectations for certain authors that I follow and I must say that Ms. Cameron has not disappointed me yet.

[Jen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cold (an Alex Duggins mystery). After her divorce, Alex Duggins returns to the small town in the Cotswolds where she grew up. While she is out walking her dog early one morning, she discovers a body in the snow. The victim was killed by a dart like the ones in her pub, and Alex is a master at the game. Then another man is murdered, and the Vicar is pushed down the stairs and remains in a coma. A suspect, even if not a very likely one, Alex begins some investigating on her own.

Aided by her childhood friend Tony, Alex begins inquiring into the past in an attempt to find a motive for the murder. Secrets begin to surface and more than one party begins to have a reason to want the victim out of their lives.

A fast-paced mystery with some interesting characters. This is my first book by Cameron, but she is a prolific writer. She must turn out a book or two a year.

NetGalley/Purple Papaya

Mystery. 2013. Print version: 238 pages.

[Sharla · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is labeled “cozy mystery” and there are elements of that genre but this book features more tension and suspense than typical in cozy mysteries. For me it was a real page turner and there were several elements I liked overall. The setting is drawn well and I found the main characters interesting. The romance setup isn’t my cup of tea but it’s not terribly heavy handed here. The biggest flaw was the way the back story leading up to the murders was never fully revealed in a coherent way. The events precipitating the murders are brought out in bits and pieces in a higgledy-piggledy manner that is not at all easy to follow. There are also a lot of loose ends left hanging about one of the main characters but that seems to be standard practice these days in trying to get readers to go for the next in the series. I give it a three and a half, rounded up.

[Carol - Reading Writing and Riesling · Rating 2 out of 5]

My View:
The introduction to this mystery was gripping and tense... a man on a mission to right wrongs, a cry for help in the isolated snow covered back roads... a cruel murder ensues; sadly the rest of the book did not live up to my expectations of a classic murder/mystery, instead I believe I read another romantic- suspense and if that is your genre of choice then this novel is not half bad. It is not my genre of choice.

I felt the narrative was too complicated, too many allusions to past lies, hurts, deaths and divorces that were not relevant to this supposed mystery and it wasn’t until the very last chapters the tension began to build. I could not understand why Alex was a threat to anyone initially. Sorry this premise did not work for me.

[Joyce · Rating 4 out of 5]

Folly was a real departure for Stella Cameron who is known to me as a chick lit author. It is a genuine mystery and although there is the start of a romance, it is not important to the plot and is treated as quite secondary.

Alex has returned home after a bad marriage. She is attempting to rebuild her life when she runs (almost literally) into a body on her morning walk. The police began investigating the crime, but so does Alex and her friend, the local Vet (the romance).

the story moves at a decent pace but is definitely not your basic action - adventure. It is well written and well plotted. The characters are likable and believable. It is the first of an Alex Duggins series. I will read more of them.

Thanks to NetGalley for the advance copy of the book.

[Deb · Rating 3 out of 5]

Alex Duggins has returned to her home village after the disaster of her marriage and a breakdown. She's the new owner of the pub where her mother has worked for years and she's kept the former owners on as managers. On her way to the pub one morning she discovers the body of a murdered man in the woods. The tragedy sets off a chain of events which eventually results in a long-held village secret being uncovered, putting several people at serious risk.

I liked the book but felt that it was a bit too rushed in the story telling. It was hard to feel very connected to most of the characters and the plot needed to be fleshed out a bit more. But it did keep my attention, and I thought the author did a good job creating the setting.

[Mary Baker · Rating 2 out of 5]

I felt that the plot of the story was not connected much of the time. It just didn't seem to move smoothly at times. I didn't like that some of the conflict was unresolved and that the book ended so suddenly--no denouement--just the end!! We don't know if Alex ever found out what had happened with her old friend's marriage which his father seemed to think she needed to know about. I think with more character and plot development this could have been a much better read than it was. I did read it on Kindle Unlimited; if I had bought the book, I would have been upset.

[EmmyT · Rating 2 out of 5]

Don't know if I'll finish this. Bizarre, stilted, words, sentence structure from Alex. Conversations are delayed by set -up and setting descriptions. Don't know if that's to build up suspense, or more choppy writing. Editing pet peeves: Britains spell 'whisky' this way. Not American 'whiskey'. In describing school mates, should be 'sister alumna', not 'alumnus'.

[Steven Toby · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mystery that isn’t a police procedural

This differs from most recent British mysteries in that the main character, Alex Duggan, isn’t employed by the police but turns out to be at the center of the action. She discovers a body in chapter 1 and there’s a bit of a dispute between her and the police DI assigned to the case as to who is to lead the investigation. Most civilians would happily step aside and let the police do their job but Alex’s character matches her actions very well and as the story moves on at a brisk pace it seems to evolve in a straightforward way with her and the DI eventually on terms of mutual respect. A good mystery with an exciting conclusion.

However, as I’ve said before, the UK and US are divided by a common language and the helpful but not complete glossary of British slang could use more work. I’ve figured out the abbreviations for the police ranks and I know that a solved case goes to the CPS for prosecution. But there’s a lot about the UK language that I don’t know. What’s a punter? Do digestive biscuits taste good or do people eat them for their health? And fairly common terms like terraced houses although I’m pretty sure they are in the glossary I keep forgetting what they mean. Since I’m reading this on a kindle, could it be enhanced to allow the glossary to be consulted by just highlighting a word?

[John Hardy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have always loved mystery novels and police procedurals, so I am constantly on the lookout for new ones. By chance I came upon this book, the first in a series about the amateur detective Alex Duggins. I won't be reading any more of them. It's a pity, because there were elements of the story that were interesting. It's just that the main character is so odious and annoying. She suffers from panic attacks, often brought on by her own thoughtless (stupid?) behaviour, and which require her to breathe into a paper bag. Warned by the police to be careful, she puts herself in danger on several occasions. She blurts out information which the police wanted to be withheld. One could not imagine a more amateurish amateur detective. She constantly asks for information from the police, but conceals evidence from them and in fact lies about her activities. Her relationship with Tony, the local vet and a childhood friend, develops in a most nauseating fashion.
Dialogue is rather forced in places, although at least the author seems to have avoided any American idioms.
The book is a good length at just under 200 pages and could be read in a sitting. The cliched ending is completely rushed and therefore rather unsatisfactory.
If I were to read another book in this series, i would also need a paper bag, but not to breathe into.

[Alison · Rating 3 out of 5]

I couldn't get beyond the fact that Alex moved back to the Cotswolds, buying a pub and not one but two cottages (both of which are of course old and quaint!) in an expensive part of England! Where did she get the money from?

That aside, I didn't really get a real sense of setting. I felt the writing and story was rather cliched at times and I'm not really sure I understood the ending which seemed a bit far fetched and rushed.

So Will murdered Edward because he didn't want him to reveal that Will was not the father of the child he had brought up? But I suppose then he would also lose the income from Leonard for keeping quiet. And he wanted to scare Alex from the village because he resented her taking over "his" pub? But even if she went, she still owned the pub so Will would have to find the money to buy it back. Who placed the obituary that Will copied from the library? Why did Alex believe the reverend was in a hospital in London? And why would he have asked to see Alex and not the police?

As I say, it all felt unbelievable at the end. I don't think I'll bother with another in a rush though it might be worth it for an easy holiday read.