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An English Village Mystery #1
Murder at Raven's Edge
When Milla Graham returns to her childhood home of Raven's Edge after eighteen long years away, she finds the perfect English village looks much the same – all rose-covered cottages, nosy neighbours, and chintzy teashops full of scones and gossip.
But her nostalgic visit takes a dark turn when the body of a local woman is discovered in an abandoned manor house on the edge of the forest. The murder scene is chillingly close to that of Milla’s own mother, whose death was never solved. As she begins to investigate the connection, Milla realizes this adorable village is guarding some dark secrets.
Handsome, grumpy local policeman Ben Taylor doesn't believe in coincidences, and he doesn’t think mysterious newcomer Milla Graham is as innocent as she seems. Why is she really here in Raven’s Edge, and how come she keeps turning up at his crime scenes, causing trouble? Can he solve this murder case without losing himself – or his heart – to the rather distracting Miss Graham?
When another body is found, everyone becomes a suspect – from the barmaid at the local pub to Milla Graham herself. It seems that in Raven's Edge, not everybody is as friendly, or as innocent, as they first seem...
This picture-perfect English village is full of rumour, romance... and murder! A gripping, funny, absolutely unputdownable murder mystery, which is perfect for fans of Faith Martin, Fiona Leitch and M.C. Beaton.
But her nostalgic visit takes a dark turn when the body of a local woman is discovered in an abandoned manor house on the edge of the forest. The murder scene is chillingly close to that of Milla’s own mother, whose death was never solved. As she begins to investigate the connection, Milla realizes this adorable village is guarding some dark secrets.
Handsome, grumpy local policeman Ben Taylor doesn't believe in coincidences, and he doesn’t think mysterious newcomer Milla Graham is as innocent as she seems. Why is she really here in Raven’s Edge, and how come she keeps turning up at his crime scenes, causing trouble? Can he solve this murder case without losing himself – or his heart – to the rather distracting Miss Graham?
When another body is found, everyone becomes a suspect – from the barmaid at the local pub to Milla Graham herself. It seems that in Raven's Edge, not everybody is as friendly, or as innocent, as they first seem...
This picture-perfect English village is full of rumour, romance... and murder! A gripping, funny, absolutely unputdownable murder mystery, which is perfect for fans of Faith Martin, Fiona Leitch and M.C. Beaton.
384 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 7, 2024
602 people are currently reading
216 people want to read
About the author
Louise Marley
17 books105 followersMost of my stories are set in small villages filled with quirky characters. These are partly inspired by the places I’ve lived in over the years, although the characters are straight out of my imagination! I currently live in Wales, close to a famous library and two ruined castles. My husband thinks we moved here by accident.
My first published novel was Smoke Gets in Your Eyes, which was a finalist in Poolbeg’s Write a Bestseller competition. As well as nine novels, I’ve written short stories for women’s magazines such as Take a Break and My Weekly. Before becoming a full-time writer, I worked as an administrative officer for the police.
When I’m not writing, I enjoy visiting big old houses, which I use as inspiration for the houses in my novels, and reading other people’s books when I ought to be writing my own…
Check out the Raven's Edge website here: https://ravens-edge.co.uk/
You can also find me on:
Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/louisemarley...
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LouiseMarley...
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/louisemarle...
** Be careful, there is another author with exactly the same name!**
My first published novel was Smoke Gets in Your Eyes, which was a finalist in Poolbeg’s Write a Bestseller competition. As well as nine novels, I’ve written short stories for women’s magazines such as Take a Break and My Weekly. Before becoming a full-time writer, I worked as an administrative officer for the police.
When I’m not writing, I enjoy visiting big old houses, which I use as inspiration for the houses in my novels, and reading other people’s books when I ought to be writing my own…
Check out the Raven's Edge website here: https://ravens-edge.co.uk/
You can also find me on:
Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/louisemarley...
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LouiseMarley...
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/louisemarle...
** Be careful, there is another author with exactly the same name!**
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 84 reviews
May 6, 2024
A really enjoyable mystery which I thought was a cut above the average, although I must admit I was totally confused most of the time! Who was Milla really and who actually set the fire in the first place?
The plot was fast paced and I found Ben to be a very sympathetic character. Milla was obviously a liar and a thief but was still very charming and an excellent main character. I was wishing the whole way through that the two of them could hook up and make a second book. I was delighted to discover that such a book exists and I am off to find it right now. Five stars.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.
The plot was fast paced and I found Ben to be a very sympathetic character. Milla was obviously a liar and a thief but was still very charming and an excellent main character. I was wishing the whole way through that the two of them could hook up and make a second book. I was delighted to discover that such a book exists and I am off to find it right now. Five stars.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.
May 5, 2024
Detective Ben Taylor was on his way home from London, driving through the storm as he neared his home. It was difficult to see, he was beyond tired, and when suddenly there was something in the middle of the road, he swerved violently, ramming his car into a tree. The woman was alright, but furious and wet. Why was she walking in the dark and rain, and in the middle of a road? Milla Graham told Ben her story, but he wasn't sure whether to believe her or not.
Milla was home in Raven's Edge to find the murderer of her mother. It was eighteen years since she'd been in the village, but she was determined. But another woman was murdered in a style similar to Milla's mother and Ben and his team were struggling to find evidence. Ben was a loner, working through his thoughts and ideas - frustration by Harriot, his sergeant, was high. Ben had faith in Milla, but he was the only one who did. Was she the murderer?
Murder at Raven's Edge is the 1st in An English Village Mystery series by Louise Marley and it was too busy! Too many characters; too much going on. I had trouble keeping up with it all. The most endearing character was Sophie and we didn't see a lot of her. Plus the aloof Binx!
With thanks to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for my digital ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.
Milla was home in Raven's Edge to find the murderer of her mother. It was eighteen years since she'd been in the village, but she was determined. But another woman was murdered in a style similar to Milla's mother and Ben and his team were struggling to find evidence. Ben was a loner, working through his thoughts and ideas - frustration by Harriot, his sergeant, was high. Ben had faith in Milla, but he was the only one who did. Was she the murderer?
Murder at Raven's Edge is the 1st in An English Village Mystery series by Louise Marley and it was too busy! Too many characters; too much going on. I had trouble keeping up with it all. The most endearing character was Sophie and we didn't see a lot of her. Plus the aloof Binx!
With thanks to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for my digital ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.
November 14, 2024
Harriet's next case hits very close to home. When a body is discovered. Her and her partner have alot of unanswered questions. This book had alot of twists and turns.
May 9, 2024
*I received a free copy of this book with thanks to the author, Storm Publishing and Rachel Gilbey at Rachel’s Random Resources blog tours. The decision to review and my opinions are my own.*
For a ‘cosy English mystery’ this book manages to pack in a surprising amount of dysfunctional family shenanigans, collegial bridge-burning and surreal literary-fairytale references.
I was mesmerised by the backstory and by the question of who main character Milla really is: is she really Camilla Graham, lost daughter to a tragic family, or is she pretending for her own benefit? And, if she is pretending, will she even survive to benefit?! The chapters from her point of view – as she flees the police, her possible family members and just about everyone else – manage cleverly not to give her secrets away and nor do the flashbacks to the night years ago when a family was destroyed.
Interposed with Milla’s breathless running and hiding, we also get chapters from the point of view of Ben and his sergeant, Harriet, as they investigate a more recent tragedy and Milla’s obvious involvement in the events surrounding it. The chemistry between Ben and Milla is obvious and it was interesting to see how quickly he ‘turns to the dark side’, or at least the dubiously grey side, when it comes to questions of police procedure over personal life. And hints at his own family background suggest there is more story to come there!
A lot of the plot is a little far-fetched – Alice and Mad Hatters, millionaires and masquerades – but it doesn’t really matter as long as you are willing to suspend your disbelief, as the story and characters are interesting enough to keep you hooked and hoping for them to succeed.
I can’t wait to read Murder at Ravenswood House next and find out what further trouble Ben and Milla are able to get themselves into if they try… watch this space!
Review by Steph Warren of Bookshine and Readbows blog
https://bookshineandreadbows.wordpres...
For a ‘cosy English mystery’ this book manages to pack in a surprising amount of dysfunctional family shenanigans, collegial bridge-burning and surreal literary-fairytale references.
I was mesmerised by the backstory and by the question of who main character Milla really is: is she really Camilla Graham, lost daughter to a tragic family, or is she pretending for her own benefit? And, if she is pretending, will she even survive to benefit?! The chapters from her point of view – as she flees the police, her possible family members and just about everyone else – manage cleverly not to give her secrets away and nor do the flashbacks to the night years ago when a family was destroyed.
Interposed with Milla’s breathless running and hiding, we also get chapters from the point of view of Ben and his sergeant, Harriet, as they investigate a more recent tragedy and Milla’s obvious involvement in the events surrounding it. The chemistry between Ben and Milla is obvious and it was interesting to see how quickly he ‘turns to the dark side’, or at least the dubiously grey side, when it comes to questions of police procedure over personal life. And hints at his own family background suggest there is more story to come there!
A lot of the plot is a little far-fetched – Alice and Mad Hatters, millionaires and masquerades – but it doesn’t really matter as long as you are willing to suspend your disbelief, as the story and characters are interesting enough to keep you hooked and hoping for them to succeed.
I can’t wait to read Murder at Ravenswood House next and find out what further trouble Ben and Milla are able to get themselves into if they try… watch this space!
Review by Steph Warren of Bookshine and Readbows blog
https://bookshineandreadbows.wordpres...
June 9, 2024
What an excellent and very cleverly written mystery! It was, in all actuality, a mystery within a mystery. With the constant question throughout, is this Milla Graham really the true Milla Graham? Is this truly the same person as the little girl who supposedly died in a house fire, or is this an imposter? Detective Ben Taylor is tasked with sorting this all out and solving a murder.
There is so much going on with this mystery and plenty of red herrings to keep you guessing until the end. This was very enjoyable and a fantastic start to a new series!
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are my own.
There is so much going on with this mystery and plenty of red herrings to keep you guessing until the end. This was very enjoyable and a fantastic start to a new series!
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are my own.
October 28, 2024
A little convoluted and a lot frustrating since so much could have been cleared up with a simple DNA test. The explanation given for why they didn’t do one was kind of lame. But if you can ignore that part, it was entertaining and the audio narration was good.
September 23, 2024
This was not a good book and I’m very confused by the good reviews.
May 5, 2024
When Milla Graham returns to her childhood home of Raven's Edge after eighteen long years away, nothing has really changed. Her visit takes a dark turn when the body of a local woman is discovered in an abandoned manor house on the edge of the forest. The murder scene is chillingly close to that of Milla’s own mother, whose death was never solved. As she begins to investigate the connection, Milla realises this adorable village is guarding some dark secrets. Handsome, grumpy local policeman Ben Taylor doesn't believe in coincidences, and he doesn’t think mysterious newcomer Milla Graham is as innocent as she seems. Then another body is found
A new series & a new author to me. A well written book with strong characters & a story that starts slowly but the pace gradually increases. I found the characters hard to relate to in the beginning & also found the Graham family hard to remember how everyone was related & to begin with I nearly left the book unfinished but as it a book I received form NetGalley I felt I should complete it & I’m glad I did. The more I read the more engrossed I became. There were so many secrets & the Graham family was drowning in them. There were twists & turns & the denouement was surprising. There were unanswered questions & hope they will be answered as the series continues
A new series & a new author to me. A well written book with strong characters & a story that starts slowly but the pace gradually increases. I found the characters hard to relate to in the beginning & also found the Graham family hard to remember how everyone was related & to begin with I nearly left the book unfinished but as it a book I received form NetGalley I felt I should complete it & I’m glad I did. The more I read the more engrossed I became. There were so many secrets & the Graham family was drowning in them. There were twists & turns & the denouement was surprising. There were unanswered questions & hope they will be answered as the series continues
March 20, 2024
Thanks to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for this Advanced Reader’s Copy of Murder at Raven’s Edge by Louise Marley in exchange for an honest review due to be published May 7, 2024.
Milla Graham returns to Raven’s Edge, her childhood home, after eighteen years away. On the outside it looks the same, but as a body turns up eerily like that of her own mother’s murder that was never solved, the village starts to take on a more sinister look. Milla decides to investigate her mother’s murder, with the help of the local policeman, Ben Taylor, and finds herself the subject of another murder investigation.
It was a little hard to get into this book – the names in it were strange and it was hard to tell who was related to which person in what family. After a while, I caught on and it got better. I usually don’t read “cozy mysteries”, but this one was good. Lots of backstory woven in with the present time so I got to know more of the family histories.
Although I do like psychological thrillers better, I will definitely read the second book in the series and possibly look for more books from this new-to-me author.
#NetGalley #LouiseMarley #StormPublishing #MurderAtRavensEdge
Milla Graham returns to Raven’s Edge, her childhood home, after eighteen years away. On the outside it looks the same, but as a body turns up eerily like that of her own mother’s murder that was never solved, the village starts to take on a more sinister look. Milla decides to investigate her mother’s murder, with the help of the local policeman, Ben Taylor, and finds herself the subject of another murder investigation.
It was a little hard to get into this book – the names in it were strange and it was hard to tell who was related to which person in what family. After a while, I caught on and it got better. I usually don’t read “cozy mysteries”, but this one was good. Lots of backstory woven in with the present time so I got to know more of the family histories.
Although I do like psychological thrillers better, I will definitely read the second book in the series and possibly look for more books from this new-to-me author.
#NetGalley #LouiseMarley #StormPublishing #MurderAtRavensEdge
March 18, 2024
Most of the time I was reading Murder at Raven's Edge I was perplexed and bewildered about who everyone was and what had happened in the past. In fact I shared Ben's seemingly constant headache! Milla (let's call her that for argument's sake) was a well-executed character, an incorrigible liar but with a streak of vulnerability, and very appealing. Ben was more stereotypical and the whole police set-up was not very easy to believe in. But I was desperate to find out what was going on and I read the book in three chunks. And, although it's flawed, I'm keen to read the next in the series.
March 25, 2024
Thoroughly enjoyable read, all based partly around fairy tales and children's stories. Milla Graham returns to her childhood home after 18 years; meanwhile inspector Ben Graham has a case which may be linked to the death of Milla's mother, Rosemary. Just when you think you've worked it out, or you've decided who to trust, there's another twist! Lots of secrets, and who's telling the truth and who's not? Cracking pace, good cast, fabulous setting, and I'm looking forward to the next one in the series.
May 8, 2024
Murder at Raven's Edge is a promising start to a new cosy village mystery series.
The plot had me hooked from the very first page. It's twisty and has plenty of red herrings thrown in to steer you away from the truth and keep you guessing right to the end.
Birth Milla and Ben were fantastic characters and I soon became invested into them and their stories.
An enjoyable read full of lies, deceit and a fairytale.
The plot had me hooked from the very first page. It's twisty and has plenty of red herrings thrown in to steer you away from the truth and keep you guessing right to the end.
Birth Milla and Ben were fantastic characters and I soon became invested into them and their stories.
An enjoyable read full of lies, deceit and a fairytale.
January 5, 2025
Milla Graham is determined to uncover her roots after returning home to Raven’s Edge. She had been gone for eighteen years but now that she is back, she begins a relentless pursuit for answers. As soon as Miller is returned home, Detective Ben Taylor is called to the scene when the body of a woman is discovered. Milla wants to know what happened to her mother all those years ago, and will Milla find the truth she has always craved, no matter how painful?
Why is there a trail of dead bodies growing? Milla’s new in town. Dead bodies are being found. No way this is a coincidence as far as Ben is concerned.
Meanwhile Ben Taylor is a policeman just trying to do his job. Finding Milla at the center of what is going on, he is also driven by distraction by how much he is drawn to her. While Ben is working within the bounds of his job, Willa relentlessly looks for answers.
Murder at Raven’s Edge is a wonderful first book in a new cozy mystery series. An easy read, likable characters and an intriguing story. Next book in line for me is Murder at Ravenswood House.
Many thanks to Storm Publishing and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.
Why is there a trail of dead bodies growing? Milla’s new in town. Dead bodies are being found. No way this is a coincidence as far as Ben is concerned.
Meanwhile Ben Taylor is a policeman just trying to do his job. Finding Milla at the center of what is going on, he is also driven by distraction by how much he is drawn to her. While Ben is working within the bounds of his job, Willa relentlessly looks for answers.
Murder at Raven’s Edge is a wonderful first book in a new cozy mystery series. An easy read, likable characters and an intriguing story. Next book in line for me is Murder at Ravenswood House.
Many thanks to Storm Publishing and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.
April 1, 2024
Lots of family drama, murder and mystery.
A bit of a slow start, mainly due to a complex family tree that I'm not sure I wrapped my head around until about 70% through the book.
I will read book 2, hopefully it's easier to follow after this one.
3.5⭐
A bit of a slow start, mainly due to a complex family tree that I'm not sure I wrapped my head around until about 70% through the book.
I will read book 2, hopefully it's easier to follow after this one.
3.5⭐
September 29, 2024
For some reason, I didn’t feel anything for the characters like I hoped I would. Story itself though was enjoyable.
March 30, 2024
“I know something you do not know.”
“What’s that?”
“I am not left-handed.”
“There’s something I ought to tell you. I’m not left-handed either.”
This sleight of hand scene from The Princess Bride ran through my head when reading Murder at Raven’s Edge, arguably one of the more confusing books I’ve read in quite a long time.
This book and I started off on the wrong foot, because I couldn’t stand the lead character, Milla, from her appearance within the first few pages. She was rude, childish, and a habitual liar, none of which I find charming. I couldn’t for the life of me fathom what DI Ben Taylor was seemingly instantly attracted to in her, to the point of putting his career on the line for her repeatedly. The complicated Graham family web of secrets and the confusion of who’s who and who did what was both frustrating yet made for mildly addictive reading. Despite loose ends that were not satisfactorily resolved and implausibilities, I did want to figure out what exactly was going on so it wasn’t a total loss.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the opportunity to read and review this book.
“What’s that?”
“I am not left-handed.”
“There’s something I ought to tell you. I’m not left-handed either.”
This sleight of hand scene from The Princess Bride ran through my head when reading Murder at Raven’s Edge, arguably one of the more confusing books I’ve read in quite a long time.
This book and I started off on the wrong foot, because I couldn’t stand the lead character, Milla, from her appearance within the first few pages. She was rude, childish, and a habitual liar, none of which I find charming. I couldn’t for the life of me fathom what DI Ben Taylor was seemingly instantly attracted to in her, to the point of putting his career on the line for her repeatedly. The complicated Graham family web of secrets and the confusion of who’s who and who did what was both frustrating yet made for mildly addictive reading. Despite loose ends that were not satisfactorily resolved and implausibilities, I did want to figure out what exactly was going on so it wasn’t a total loss.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the opportunity to read and review this book.
April 14, 2024
Reviewed for Netgalley.
First, I thoroughly enjoyed the mystery of Murder at Raven's Edge, for we had a mystery within a mystery and it was very cleverly done. The ongoing theme: is Milla Graham really Milla Graham or not? Several years ago there was a fire with the death of an adult and some children - only the adult was murdered before the fire started. Someone has been convicted for the foul deed but did he do it or not? The repercussions are still reeling in and around the picture-perfect village of Raven's Edge. But then a young woman turns up claiming to be one of the dead children.
From here, the plot gets complicated with many tangled twists and turns, complicated by our hero detective, Ben Taylor, realising that he's falling in love with Milla (who might or might not be the assumed dead Camilla.)
The red herrings were well done, the plot moved at a good pace - I changed my mind several times about what the truth was or wasn't. (I ended up wrong.) So for that part I thoroughly enjoyed the read.
But (you knew there was going to be a but...) Even though I enjoyed the read, I'm still confused. (And reading some of the other reviews on Goodreads etc., I'm relieved that I'm not the only confused reader.) My main confusion, though, is because this is a series and I'm well and truly muddled about which plot belongs to which book. I think the descriptive blurbs for each could be clearer - this one for instance would be clearer as: 'When the woman claiming to be Milla Graham turns up..."
Book Two, Murder at Ravenswood House the blurb states: "Still reeling from her recent breakup with local police officer Ben Taylor..." Yet the book starts with their relationship intact. (So my first thought: 'Oops, have I missed an episode somewhere?') Confusing? So maybe something like: "when the discovery of a murder causes the breakup..." would be clearer and less confusing.
But my main confusion came because of a completely different book connected to the series, which I read first: Something Wicked: A romantic mystery with a supernatural twist, this one I also thoroughly enjoyed, but is the cause of my confusion because it's set in the same village, with similar characters and a very similar opening. (Woman in road nearly gets killed, meets the detective by chance...) I went back and forth with Murder at Raven's Edge a couple of times thinking 'Hang on, have I already read this one or not?' Then I started wondering, is this the same village/place/author?
These books are all standalone, but there are some loose ends in Murder at Raven's Edge: why didn't the police know that one of their officers used to babysit the children - surely a huge conflict of interest during a new investigation? And why was the murdered woman in this story murdered? (Nor did I consider her 'local' as in the blurb.) How did the murderer get hold of the dress? In such a small village the apparently unlived in cottage would have been well known about - so who did live there, or at least keep the cobwebs at bay? Who was the policeman outside who let Milla sneak off? Loose ends or did I miss something? And Ben's background? This is another puzzle not yet revealed? I guess we'll find out in the next book Murder at Ravenswood House?
But, (yes, another but! :-) despite my comments and continuing confusion I did enjoy these mysteries, and look forward to the series continuing.
First, I thoroughly enjoyed the mystery of Murder at Raven's Edge, for we had a mystery within a mystery and it was very cleverly done. The ongoing theme: is Milla Graham really Milla Graham or not? Several years ago there was a fire with the death of an adult and some children - only the adult was murdered before the fire started. Someone has been convicted for the foul deed but did he do it or not? The repercussions are still reeling in and around the picture-perfect village of Raven's Edge. But then a young woman turns up claiming to be one of the dead children.
From here, the plot gets complicated with many tangled twists and turns, complicated by our hero detective, Ben Taylor, realising that he's falling in love with Milla (who might or might not be the assumed dead Camilla.)
The red herrings were well done, the plot moved at a good pace - I changed my mind several times about what the truth was or wasn't. (I ended up wrong.) So for that part I thoroughly enjoyed the read.
But (you knew there was going to be a but...) Even though I enjoyed the read, I'm still confused. (And reading some of the other reviews on Goodreads etc., I'm relieved that I'm not the only confused reader.) My main confusion, though, is because this is a series and I'm well and truly muddled about which plot belongs to which book. I think the descriptive blurbs for each could be clearer - this one for instance would be clearer as: 'When the woman claiming to be Milla Graham turns up..."
Book Two, Murder at Ravenswood House the blurb states: "Still reeling from her recent breakup with local police officer Ben Taylor..." Yet the book starts with their relationship intact. (So my first thought: 'Oops, have I missed an episode somewhere?') Confusing? So maybe something like: "when the discovery of a murder causes the breakup..." would be clearer and less confusing.
But my main confusion came because of a completely different book connected to the series, which I read first: Something Wicked: A romantic mystery with a supernatural twist, this one I also thoroughly enjoyed, but is the cause of my confusion because it's set in the same village, with similar characters and a very similar opening. (Woman in road nearly gets killed, meets the detective by chance...) I went back and forth with Murder at Raven's Edge a couple of times thinking 'Hang on, have I already read this one or not?' Then I started wondering, is this the same village/place/author?
These books are all standalone, but there are some loose ends in Murder at Raven's Edge: why didn't the police know that one of their officers used to babysit the children - surely a huge conflict of interest during a new investigation? And why was the murdered woman in this story murdered? (Nor did I consider her 'local' as in the blurb.) How did the murderer get hold of the dress? In such a small village the apparently unlived in cottage would have been well known about - so who did live there, or at least keep the cobwebs at bay? Who was the policeman outside who let Milla sneak off? Loose ends or did I miss something? And Ben's background? This is another puzzle not yet revealed? I guess we'll find out in the next book Murder at Ravenswood House?
But, (yes, another but! :-) despite my comments and continuing confusion I did enjoy these mysteries, and look forward to the series continuing.
April 24, 2024
My thoughts:
Murder at Raven's Edge is a mystery within a mystery and it was very cleverly done. The ongoing theme: is Milla Graham really Milla Graham or not? Several years ago there was a fire with the death of an adult and some children - only the adult was murdered before the fire started. Someone has been convicted for the foul deed but did he do it or not? The repercussions are still reeling in and around the picture-perfect village of Raven's Edge. But then a young woman turns up claiming to be one of the dead children.
From here, the plot gets complicated with many tangled twists and turns, complicated by our hero detective, Ben Taylor, realising that he's falling in love with Milla (who might or might not be the assumed dead Camilla.)
The red herrings were well done, the plot moved at a good pace - I changed my mind several times about what the truth was or wasn't. (I ended up wrong.) So for that part I thoroughly enjoyed the read.
But I was a little confused because this is a series and I initially found myself muddled about which plot belonged to which book because of a different book connected to the series, which I read first: Something Wicked: A romantic mystery with a supernatural twist, this one I also thoroughly enjoyed, but is the cause of my confusion because it's set in the same village, with similar characters and a very similar opening. (Woman in road nearly gets killed, meets the detective by chance...) I went back and forth with Murder at Raven's Edge a couple of times thinking 'Hang on, have I already read this one or not?' Then I started wondering, is this the same village/place/author? Which, of course it is. So maybe a little more backstory would have helped?
These books are all standalone, but there are some loose ends in Murder at Raven's Edge: why didn't the police know that one of their officers used to babysit the children - surely a huge conflict of interest during a new investigation? And why was the murdered woman in this story murdered?I rtaher lost track of that bit. How did the murderer get hold of the dress? In such a small village the apparently unlived in cottage would have been known about - so who did live there, or at least keep the cobwebs at bay? Who was the policeman outside who let Milla sneak off?
And Ben's background? This is another puzzle not yet revealed. I guess we'll find out in the next book Murder at Ravenswood House?
However ... despite my comments above I thoroughly enjoyed this mystery and look forward to the series continuing.
Murder at Raven's Edge is a mystery within a mystery and it was very cleverly done. The ongoing theme: is Milla Graham really Milla Graham or not? Several years ago there was a fire with the death of an adult and some children - only the adult was murdered before the fire started. Someone has been convicted for the foul deed but did he do it or not? The repercussions are still reeling in and around the picture-perfect village of Raven's Edge. But then a young woman turns up claiming to be one of the dead children.
From here, the plot gets complicated with many tangled twists and turns, complicated by our hero detective, Ben Taylor, realising that he's falling in love with Milla (who might or might not be the assumed dead Camilla.)
The red herrings were well done, the plot moved at a good pace - I changed my mind several times about what the truth was or wasn't. (I ended up wrong.) So for that part I thoroughly enjoyed the read.
But I was a little confused because this is a series and I initially found myself muddled about which plot belonged to which book because of a different book connected to the series, which I read first: Something Wicked: A romantic mystery with a supernatural twist, this one I also thoroughly enjoyed, but is the cause of my confusion because it's set in the same village, with similar characters and a very similar opening. (Woman in road nearly gets killed, meets the detective by chance...) I went back and forth with Murder at Raven's Edge a couple of times thinking 'Hang on, have I already read this one or not?' Then I started wondering, is this the same village/place/author? Which, of course it is. So maybe a little more backstory would have helped?
These books are all standalone, but there are some loose ends in Murder at Raven's Edge: why didn't the police know that one of their officers used to babysit the children - surely a huge conflict of interest during a new investigation? And why was the murdered woman in this story murdered?I rtaher lost track of that bit. How did the murderer get hold of the dress? In such a small village the apparently unlived in cottage would have been known about - so who did live there, or at least keep the cobwebs at bay? Who was the policeman outside who let Milla sneak off?
And Ben's background? This is another puzzle not yet revealed. I guess we'll find out in the next book Murder at Ravenswood House?
However ... despite my comments above I thoroughly enjoyed this mystery and look forward to the series continuing.
May 7, 2024
DI Ben Taylor and journalist Milla Graham meet unexpectedly when he hits her with his car as she tries to walk home to Norchester from a music festival after having her bag stolen. With a storm raging and roads flooded, he crashes the car and has no option but to take her to his picturesque cottage which he shares with cat Binx and occasionally his young daughter Sophie when his ex-wife permits. His DS Harriet March calls him the following day and takes him to a murder scene, the abandoned decrepit mansion King’s Rest where a strangely posed woman lies dead in a vintage gown like something out of a fairy tale. Initially in charge, neighbouring Calahurst’s DI Lydia Cavill believes it to be Camilla Graham due to the bag found with her, but Ben knows that’s not the case after meeting Milla the previous night. And everyone else knows it’s not her as she died in the house fire there in what came to be known as The Grim House Murders eighteen years ago. Didn’t she? Soon Ben and Harriet are facing a baffling case. Who is the woman calling herself Milla and why has she come back to Raven’s Edge? How much danger does that place her in as she keeps turning up on Ben’s radar? And will Ben allow his growing attraction for the woman to influence his handling of the case?
The first part of the story is quite confusing in many ways as there are lots of people and differing stories for the reader to take in. I soon realised it was just best to go with the flow rather than try to work it all out and I’m glad I did as about a quarter into the book much was explained and revealed about the main characters and the history behind the Graham family. That said, it really is a tangled web of lies and deceit and full of red herrings and surprises right up to the end. It’s essentially two murder stories in one, the past and the present, and of course how they tie into each other, with some great and likable detectives in Ben and Harriet. My only problem with Ben was how unprofessional his behaviour was at times but his heart was in the right place and his hunches often spot on. I am certainly intrigued to learn more about his own family history as the series progresses. Milla is more of an acquired taste, although the reasons for her behaviour become clear as the mystery unfolds. There really is loads for the reader to enjoy in this highly engrossing first story in a new series. I’m looking forward to diving into book 2, Murder At Ravenswood House, next!
The first part of the story is quite confusing in many ways as there are lots of people and differing stories for the reader to take in. I soon realised it was just best to go with the flow rather than try to work it all out and I’m glad I did as about a quarter into the book much was explained and revealed about the main characters and the history behind the Graham family. That said, it really is a tangled web of lies and deceit and full of red herrings and surprises right up to the end. It’s essentially two murder stories in one, the past and the present, and of course how they tie into each other, with some great and likable detectives in Ben and Harriet. My only problem with Ben was how unprofessional his behaviour was at times but his heart was in the right place and his hunches often spot on. I am certainly intrigued to learn more about his own family history as the series progresses. Milla is more of an acquired taste, although the reasons for her behaviour become clear as the mystery unfolds. There really is loads for the reader to enjoy in this highly engrossing first story in a new series. I’m looking forward to diving into book 2, Murder At Ravenswood House, next!
August 16, 2024
Louise Marley’s Murder at Raven’s Edge introduces amateur sleuth Milla Graham, who certainly doesn’t get the homecoming she expected when she returns to her childhood home.
Not much has changed in the almost twenty years Milla had been away from Raven’s Edge. Everything in the quintessentially English village looks very much the same from the nosy neighbours to the charming cottages and quaint tearooms full of scones and gossip. However, her visit takes a dark turn when the body of a local woman is discovered on the edge of the forest in a scene that is chillingly reminiscent of her mother’s unsolved murder. Could there be a connection between the two deaths? Milla is desperate to find out and begins doing some sleuthing of her own – much to the chagrin of Ben Taylor, the local policeman.
Ben’s job sees him getting up close and personal with the darker recesses of the human condition on a daily basis and despite his obvious attraction to her, he finds himself suspicious of Milla. Why does she always seem to turn up at his crime scenes intent on causing trouble? What brought her back to Raven’s Edge? And can he focus on the job at hand instead of thinking about Milla all the time?
When another body is discovered, everybody becomes a suspect. In the idyllic village of Raven’s Edge a deadly killer with a dangerous secret is hiding in plain sight. But who could it possibly be? And will Milla and Ben manage to put their differences aside to uncover who is responsible for the murder at Raven’s Edge?
Louise Marley’s Murder at Raven’s Edge is a witty, charming and hugely entertaining cosy mystery perfect for Midsomer Murders fans. Quirky, exciting and unpredictable, Murder at Raven’s Edge is a nail-biting page-turner that grabbed my attention from page one and kept me hooked until the end.
With a terrific cast of characters, humour, tension, red herrings and shocks and revelations aplenty, Louise Marley’s Murder at Raven’s Edge will delight mystery fans everywhere!
I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Not much has changed in the almost twenty years Milla had been away from Raven’s Edge. Everything in the quintessentially English village looks very much the same from the nosy neighbours to the charming cottages and quaint tearooms full of scones and gossip. However, her visit takes a dark turn when the body of a local woman is discovered on the edge of the forest in a scene that is chillingly reminiscent of her mother’s unsolved murder. Could there be a connection between the two deaths? Milla is desperate to find out and begins doing some sleuthing of her own – much to the chagrin of Ben Taylor, the local policeman.
Ben’s job sees him getting up close and personal with the darker recesses of the human condition on a daily basis and despite his obvious attraction to her, he finds himself suspicious of Milla. Why does she always seem to turn up at his crime scenes intent on causing trouble? What brought her back to Raven’s Edge? And can he focus on the job at hand instead of thinking about Milla all the time?
When another body is discovered, everybody becomes a suspect. In the idyllic village of Raven’s Edge a deadly killer with a dangerous secret is hiding in plain sight. But who could it possibly be? And will Milla and Ben manage to put their differences aside to uncover who is responsible for the murder at Raven’s Edge?
Louise Marley’s Murder at Raven’s Edge is a witty, charming and hugely entertaining cosy mystery perfect for Midsomer Murders fans. Quirky, exciting and unpredictable, Murder at Raven’s Edge is a nail-biting page-turner that grabbed my attention from page one and kept me hooked until the end.
With a terrific cast of characters, humour, tension, red herrings and shocks and revelations aplenty, Louise Marley’s Murder at Raven’s Edge will delight mystery fans everywhere!
I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
April 22, 2024
I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review
Murder at Raven's Edge by Louise Marley is a dual-POV contemporary murder mystery with some flashbacks. Ben, a British member of law enforcement and a divorced dad, comes across Milla Graham, a young woman making her way to Raven's Edge to get some closure for her past. Milla and Ben are attracted to each other, but when another young woman who looks a lot like Milla with an idea claiming the same identity is found dead, they have more than seeing each other again to worry about.
Between the two, I really gravitated towards Milla’s chapters. Milla is half-Indian half-British and has spent much of her life under several identities. A lot of her POV is peeling back the layers of the story to who Milla was and how that made her into the woman she is now and how she's connected to Raven's Edge and the murder victim, Amita. The Graham family has power, money, and secrets of their own that Milla threats to upheave by coming to town.
The use of Alice in Wonderland, Rapunzel, Sleeping Beauty, and Red Riding Hood were darker takes on the classics. Amita was found dressed up in a gown identical to an illustration of Sleeping Beauty drawn by a member of the Graham family. Alice in Wonderland comes up often without feeling contrived.
Ben thinks about Milla quite a bit as the murder investigation goes on. From concerned that she was killed to questioning whether or not she's involved, Milla is always on the back of his mind in both professional and personal capacities. He doesn't fetishize her darker skin tone or her features but remarks that she is quite beautiful.
I would recommend this to fans of dual-POV mysteries with a strong romantic subplot, readers looking for male main characters in the MST space who are divorced fathers and their children are not forgotten by the narrative, and those drawn to mysteries in the English countryside that are not cozy
Murder at Raven's Edge by Louise Marley is a dual-POV contemporary murder mystery with some flashbacks. Ben, a British member of law enforcement and a divorced dad, comes across Milla Graham, a young woman making her way to Raven's Edge to get some closure for her past. Milla and Ben are attracted to each other, but when another young woman who looks a lot like Milla with an idea claiming the same identity is found dead, they have more than seeing each other again to worry about.
Between the two, I really gravitated towards Milla’s chapters. Milla is half-Indian half-British and has spent much of her life under several identities. A lot of her POV is peeling back the layers of the story to who Milla was and how that made her into the woman she is now and how she's connected to Raven's Edge and the murder victim, Amita. The Graham family has power, money, and secrets of their own that Milla threats to upheave by coming to town.
The use of Alice in Wonderland, Rapunzel, Sleeping Beauty, and Red Riding Hood were darker takes on the classics. Amita was found dressed up in a gown identical to an illustration of Sleeping Beauty drawn by a member of the Graham family. Alice in Wonderland comes up often without feeling contrived.
Ben thinks about Milla quite a bit as the murder investigation goes on. From concerned that she was killed to questioning whether or not she's involved, Milla is always on the back of his mind in both professional and personal capacities. He doesn't fetishize her darker skin tone or her features but remarks that she is quite beautiful.
I would recommend this to fans of dual-POV mysteries with a strong romantic subplot, readers looking for male main characters in the MST space who are divorced fathers and their children are not forgotten by the narrative, and those drawn to mysteries in the English countryside that are not cozy
May 8, 2024
Murder at Raven's Edge by Louise Marley
I received an advance review copy for free thanks to Rachel's Random Resources and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Blurb
When Milla Graham returns to her childhood home of Raven's Edge after eighteen long years away, she finds the perfect English village looks much the same – all rose-covered cottages, nosy neighbours, and chintzy teashops full of scones and gossip.
But her nostalgic visit takes a dark turn when the body of a local woman is discovered in an abandoned manor house on the edge of the forest. The murder scene is chillingly close to that of Milla’s own mother, whose death was never solved. As she begins to investigate the connection, Milla realizes this adorable village is guarding some dark secrets.
Handsome, grumpy local policeman Ben Taylor doesn't believe in coincidences, and he doesn’t think mysterious newcomer Milla Graham is as innocent as she seems. Why is she really here in Raven’s Edge, and how come she keeps turning up at his crime scenes, causing trouble? Can he solve this murder case without losing himself – or his heart – to the rather distracting Miss Graham?
When another body is found, everyone becomes a suspect – from the barmaid at the local pub to Milla Graham herself. It seems that in Raven's Edge, not everybody is as friendly, or as innocent, as they first seem...
My Opinion
Going into this Louise Marley was a new author to me, but I had taken part in the cover reveal for this book and found myself wanting to read this book. Raven's Edge sounds like a great village - except for the murder. There is a lot going on in this book and there are a lot of characters to keep track of but I found this to be a great read.
Milla is returning to Raven's Edge following the murder of her mother, when a second body is found in similar circumstances the hope is that this one will be solved.
Rating 4/5
I received an advance review copy for free thanks to Rachel's Random Resources and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Blurb
When Milla Graham returns to her childhood home of Raven's Edge after eighteen long years away, she finds the perfect English village looks much the same – all rose-covered cottages, nosy neighbours, and chintzy teashops full of scones and gossip.
But her nostalgic visit takes a dark turn when the body of a local woman is discovered in an abandoned manor house on the edge of the forest. The murder scene is chillingly close to that of Milla’s own mother, whose death was never solved. As she begins to investigate the connection, Milla realizes this adorable village is guarding some dark secrets.
Handsome, grumpy local policeman Ben Taylor doesn't believe in coincidences, and he doesn’t think mysterious newcomer Milla Graham is as innocent as she seems. Why is she really here in Raven’s Edge, and how come she keeps turning up at his crime scenes, causing trouble? Can he solve this murder case without losing himself – or his heart – to the rather distracting Miss Graham?
When another body is found, everyone becomes a suspect – from the barmaid at the local pub to Milla Graham herself. It seems that in Raven's Edge, not everybody is as friendly, or as innocent, as they first seem...
My Opinion
Going into this Louise Marley was a new author to me, but I had taken part in the cover reveal for this book and found myself wanting to read this book. Raven's Edge sounds like a great village - except for the murder. There is a lot going on in this book and there are a lot of characters to keep track of but I found this to be a great read.
Milla is returning to Raven's Edge following the murder of her mother, when a second body is found in similar circumstances the hope is that this one will be solved.
Rating 4/5
April 5, 2024
British Cozy-ish Mystery featuring a music journalist who's return to her childhood English village turns deadly when a new murder mirrors her mother's unsolved cold case.
4/5 stars: This is the first entry in Marley's English Village Mystery series, which is a British Cozy-ish Mystery that features a music journalist who's return to her childhood English village takes a dark turn when the body of a local woman's discovered in an abandoned manor house and the crime scene's chilling close to her mother's eighteen years old unsolved murder. With plenty of twists and turns, Marley has crafted a mystery that balances the suspects, clues and red herrings and will leave you pondering the whodunit until the final reveal. Marley manages to mix the new murder investigation with the cold case effortlessly. I really liked the addition of the fairy tale elements, it adds a nice Gothic edge. Told in multiple POVs and utilizing flashbacks, Marley's writing and character work is great; the characters are well-rounded and complex while remaining incredibly likable. The main POVs are Milla and Ben, a local policeman, with additional POVs added in the present, Ben's co-worker Harriet, and in flashback to fill out the plot. Milla's lead a tough life and has built up very tall walls. But while working with Ben to solve the cases she begins to open up. Sensitive topics are discussed, take care and check the CWs. A nice start to a new series.
I received this eARC thanks to NetGalley and Storm Publishing in exchange for an honest review. Publishing dates are subject to change.
4/5 stars: This is the first entry in Marley's English Village Mystery series, which is a British Cozy-ish Mystery that features a music journalist who's return to her childhood English village takes a dark turn when the body of a local woman's discovered in an abandoned manor house and the crime scene's chilling close to her mother's eighteen years old unsolved murder. With plenty of twists and turns, Marley has crafted a mystery that balances the suspects, clues and red herrings and will leave you pondering the whodunit until the final reveal. Marley manages to mix the new murder investigation with the cold case effortlessly. I really liked the addition of the fairy tale elements, it adds a nice Gothic edge. Told in multiple POVs and utilizing flashbacks, Marley's writing and character work is great; the characters are well-rounded and complex while remaining incredibly likable. The main POVs are Milla and Ben, a local policeman, with additional POVs added in the present, Ben's co-worker Harriet, and in flashback to fill out the plot. Milla's lead a tough life and has built up very tall walls. But while working with Ben to solve the cases she begins to open up. Sensitive topics are discussed, take care and check the CWs. A nice start to a new series.
I received this eARC thanks to NetGalley and Storm Publishing in exchange for an honest review. Publishing dates are subject to change.
May 1, 2024
I truly enjoyed Murder at Raven’s Edge. Milla Graham has returned to her childhood home for reasons of her own. At the same time, Inspector Ben Graham has a case which may be linked to the death of Milla’s mother, Rosemary, 18 years ago. But is Milla really Milla Graham? Milla was presumed to have died in a fire the same night her mother was killed. Things get more complicated when Ben realizes he ight be falling in love with Milla, who lies as easily as breathing but is so likeable. She’s a member of a wealthy family but feels very much alone. Ben is a divorced cop who doesn’t always play by the rules, but is also uncomfortable straying too far from them. He’s also very competent at his job and has learned when to trust his instincts.
The setting was interesting. It’s a quirky, small English town, but this one leans into its witchy history.
The book just worked really well for me. I like Milla and Ben. Milla’s family’s secrets were confusing in a good way. The characters were all developed well and their actions felt believable. The mystery was put together well with plenty of red herrings and people not telling all they know. There are also some interesting flashbacks to the night of the fire and the Alice in Wonderland costume party
Murder at Raven’s Edge grabbed my attention and kept me wondering what was going to happen next and who was telling the truth. The twist was good, even if I should have seen it coming. I’m looking forward to reading the next in the series.
The setting was interesting. It’s a quirky, small English town, but this one leans into its witchy history.
The book just worked really well for me. I like Milla and Ben. Milla’s family’s secrets were confusing in a good way. The characters were all developed well and their actions felt believable. The mystery was put together well with plenty of red herrings and people not telling all they know. There are also some interesting flashbacks to the night of the fire and the Alice in Wonderland costume party
Murder at Raven’s Edge grabbed my attention and kept me wondering what was going to happen next and who was telling the truth. The twist was good, even if I should have seen it coming. I’m looking forward to reading the next in the series.
April 15, 2024
Raven's Edge is a picture-perfect example of the ideal gothic novel village. The place is literally brimming with witches, ghosts, highwaymen and other creepy characters. The town's Detective Inspector Ben Taylor has his hands full with them, Until one night when he is driving home in very bad weather that equals his bad temper he literally bumps into Milla Graham, short for Camilla, and invites her into his house because the roads are blocked. But is Camilla/Milla really who she says she is? Next morning his nocturnal visitor is gone, as are some of his possessions and about a hundred pounds.
But it certainly isn't the last Ben sees of Milla. Soon a body turns up in an abandoned manor house on the edge of the forest. The murder scene closely resembles a much older murder in which the victim was... Milla's mother. That is, if Milla really is Camilla Graham, or is she actually Camilla's niece?
I loved the quaint village, the sometimes eccentric characters and the interesting plot twists but in the and I found that there were also a couple of loose ends to the story that really should have been dealt with better. Well, maybe there will be some explanations in the next episode because I noticed that there already is a second book in this series.
Benefit of the doubt, so 4 stars
I want to thank Netgalley for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.
But it certainly isn't the last Ben sees of Milla. Soon a body turns up in an abandoned manor house on the edge of the forest. The murder scene closely resembles a much older murder in which the victim was... Milla's mother. That is, if Milla really is Camilla Graham, or is she actually Camilla's niece?
I loved the quaint village, the sometimes eccentric characters and the interesting plot twists but in the and I found that there were also a couple of loose ends to the story that really should have been dealt with better. Well, maybe there will be some explanations in the next episode because I noticed that there already is a second book in this series.
Benefit of the doubt, so 4 stars
I want to thank Netgalley for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.
April 30, 2024
Murder And A Gothic Tale
When Milla Graham returns to her childhood home in Ravens Edge after being away for 18 years her life takes a dark turn after a body is discovered of a woman who is found at the edge of the forest in an abandoned manor house. The murder scene is chillingly close to that of her mother who death has never been solved.
The story is more complicated by Ben Taylor the detective in charge of the murder after he had picked Milla up the night of her arrival after hitting her with his car as she was walking in the dark in the pouring rain. Ben takes her home due to flooding on the roads that night after Milla grabs the steering wheel and the car ends up in a ditch by Ben's home.
Ben does not believe in coincidences when Millies's bag and I.D. turn up at the murder scene so when he catches up with Milla at her flat and she runs away Ben is sure Milla is not as blameless as she tries to Petray.
The author finds the right kind of tone for the story. The isolation complete with the drafty old mansion on the edge of the woods is a fitting setting for a murder and a gothic tale. Sadly, I got bored with all the fairy tales the author kept repeating throughout the book it was more like a teenager's book so hence the 2 stars Thanks to NetGalley and to the publishers of this book for giving me a free advance copy of the book to preview and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
When Milla Graham returns to her childhood home in Ravens Edge after being away for 18 years her life takes a dark turn after a body is discovered of a woman who is found at the edge of the forest in an abandoned manor house. The murder scene is chillingly close to that of her mother who death has never been solved.
The story is more complicated by Ben Taylor the detective in charge of the murder after he had picked Milla up the night of her arrival after hitting her with his car as she was walking in the dark in the pouring rain. Ben takes her home due to flooding on the roads that night after Milla grabs the steering wheel and the car ends up in a ditch by Ben's home.
Ben does not believe in coincidences when Millies's bag and I.D. turn up at the murder scene so when he catches up with Milla at her flat and she runs away Ben is sure Milla is not as blameless as she tries to Petray.
The author finds the right kind of tone for the story. The isolation complete with the drafty old mansion on the edge of the woods is a fitting setting for a murder and a gothic tale. Sadly, I got bored with all the fairy tales the author kept repeating throughout the book it was more like a teenager's book so hence the 2 stars Thanks to NetGalley and to the publishers of this book for giving me a free advance copy of the book to preview and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
May 6, 2024
The book opened like a dark, twisted fairytale coming to life, complete with a mysterious stranger turning up. I loved all the fairytale themes which connected back to the original murder and the central characters lives.
Raven’s Edge is a real cottagecore setting with quaint thatched roofed shops, a big posh house and the cutely named Rose Cottage – it was giving me all the Midsomer Murders vibes.
Police officer Ben is a very likable character who is willing to see the best in people and wears his heart on his sleeve. The plot really got going for me when the relationship between him and Milla started to develop and they began investigating together. I was quickly drawn into Milla’s story with her dark past which was rather intriguing. She investigated better than the police and they were inept at tracking her down.
While the police came up with many theories, they didn’t find a lot of clues. The murders tied in with the overall fairytale theme and whilst chilling, some of the motivations could have been a bit more explained. Also, I was left wondering what happened to Ravi. Maybe he’ll come back in book two.
I would read a sequel of this book to see where the characters storyline goes. The sequel Murder at Ravenswood House also comes out on the 7th of May. Whilst I received an advanced reader copy of this book, this review is left entirely voluntarily and all opinions in it are my own. 3.5 stars.
Raven’s Edge is a real cottagecore setting with quaint thatched roofed shops, a big posh house and the cutely named Rose Cottage – it was giving me all the Midsomer Murders vibes.
Police officer Ben is a very likable character who is willing to see the best in people and wears his heart on his sleeve. The plot really got going for me when the relationship between him and Milla started to develop and they began investigating together. I was quickly drawn into Milla’s story with her dark past which was rather intriguing. She investigated better than the police and they were inept at tracking her down.
While the police came up with many theories, they didn’t find a lot of clues. The murders tied in with the overall fairytale theme and whilst chilling, some of the motivations could have been a bit more explained. Also, I was left wondering what happened to Ravi. Maybe he’ll come back in book two.
I would read a sequel of this book to see where the characters storyline goes. The sequel Murder at Ravenswood House also comes out on the 7th of May. Whilst I received an advanced reader copy of this book, this review is left entirely voluntarily and all opinions in it are my own. 3.5 stars.
May 7, 2024
✨Blurb✨
After a run-in with Milla, an enigmatic and beautiful woman, Detective Ben Taylor is called to the scene of a murder. The victim is initially identified as Milla Graham, the same woman Ben encountered the night before. But there are two problems: the body didn’t match the Milla that Ben met, and Milla Graham perished in a house fire years ago. Ben begins to uncover the dark secrets of the Graham family and is left to wonder about Milla’s true identity. Is Milla just a con-artist, or did she somehow escape death all those years ago? If Milla didn’t die in the fire, whose body was buried? Ben is taken through twists and turns as he works to solve this mystery.
✨Review✨
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This book starts out with a bang within the first couple pages and had me hooked from the beginning. It was a little hard for me to follow the back and forth between who Milla was, but I think that was by design! I honestly had no idea if Milla was telling the truth about who she was or if she was just trying to capitalize off of the Graham family. There are a lot of secrets that are uncovered about the family, so it does have elements of family drama. I also see that this is the first book in the series, so I imagine it will be fun to see where the story takes Ben and the rest of the police force, as they investigate crimes in the quaint village of Raven’s Edge. If you’re looking for a twisty cozy mystery series, I think you’ll enjoy this!
After a run-in with Milla, an enigmatic and beautiful woman, Detective Ben Taylor is called to the scene of a murder. The victim is initially identified as Milla Graham, the same woman Ben encountered the night before. But there are two problems: the body didn’t match the Milla that Ben met, and Milla Graham perished in a house fire years ago. Ben begins to uncover the dark secrets of the Graham family and is left to wonder about Milla’s true identity. Is Milla just a con-artist, or did she somehow escape death all those years ago? If Milla didn’t die in the fire, whose body was buried? Ben is taken through twists and turns as he works to solve this mystery.
✨Review✨
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This book starts out with a bang within the first couple pages and had me hooked from the beginning. It was a little hard for me to follow the back and forth between who Milla was, but I think that was by design! I honestly had no idea if Milla was telling the truth about who she was or if she was just trying to capitalize off of the Graham family. There are a lot of secrets that are uncovered about the family, so it does have elements of family drama. I also see that this is the first book in the series, so I imagine it will be fun to see where the story takes Ben and the rest of the police force, as they investigate crimes in the quaint village of Raven’s Edge. If you’re looking for a twisty cozy mystery series, I think you’ll enjoy this!
September 18, 2024
Murder at Raven's Edge
An unputdownable English cozy murder mystery (An English Village Mystery Book 1)
by Louise Marley
Pub Date May 07 2024
Storm Publishing
General Fiction \(Adult\)| Mystery & Thrillers
Storm Publishing and Netgalley sent me a copy of Murder at Raven's Edge to review:
Milla Graham returns to Raven's Edge after 18 years away to discover that the perfect English village remains the same - all rose-covered cottages, nosy neighbors, and chintzy tearooms.
When a body is discovered in an abandoned manor house on the edge of the forest, her nostalgic visit takes a darker turn. A chilling parallel can be drawn between the murder scene and the death of Milla's own mother, whose death was never solved. It's not long before Milla realizes that this cute village holds some dark secrets as she begins to investigate the connection.
Policeman Ben Taylor doesn't believe in coincidences, and he doesn't believe the mysterious newcomer Milla Graham is as innocent as she appears. Is she really here in Raven's Edge, and why does she appear at his crime scenes so often? Can he solve this murder case without losing himself - or his heart - to the rather distracting Miss Graham?
When another body is found, everyone becomes a suspect, including Milla Graham herself. It seems that not everyone in Raven's Edge is as friendly or innocent as they first appear.
I give Murder at Raven’s Edge five out of five stars!
Happy Reading!
An unputdownable English cozy murder mystery (An English Village Mystery Book 1)
by Louise Marley
Pub Date May 07 2024
Storm Publishing
General Fiction \(Adult\)| Mystery & Thrillers
Storm Publishing and Netgalley sent me a copy of Murder at Raven's Edge to review:
Milla Graham returns to Raven's Edge after 18 years away to discover that the perfect English village remains the same - all rose-covered cottages, nosy neighbors, and chintzy tearooms.
When a body is discovered in an abandoned manor house on the edge of the forest, her nostalgic visit takes a darker turn. A chilling parallel can be drawn between the murder scene and the death of Milla's own mother, whose death was never solved. It's not long before Milla realizes that this cute village holds some dark secrets as she begins to investigate the connection.
Policeman Ben Taylor doesn't believe in coincidences, and he doesn't believe the mysterious newcomer Milla Graham is as innocent as she appears. Is she really here in Raven's Edge, and why does she appear at his crime scenes so often? Can he solve this murder case without losing himself - or his heart - to the rather distracting Miss Graham?
When another body is found, everyone becomes a suspect, including Milla Graham herself. It seems that not everyone in Raven's Edge is as friendly or innocent as they first appear.
I give Murder at Raven’s Edge five out of five stars!
Happy Reading!
June 27, 2025
What a wild ride this story was! Milla Graham has returned to Raven's Edge after eighteen years, but there is a question as to who she really is as she and her mother and two other siblings died in a fire eighteen years ago. Is she really Milla Graham or Kiran McKenzie, a cousin?
The story starts with Detective Inspector Ben Taylor hitting Milla with his car on a dark and stormy night and then he lets her sleep at his house due to the storm. Ben is called to a crime scene where the victim is Camilla Graham, but he knows it is not because the corpse doesn’t look like the woman he knows to be Camilla. The victim is laid out in a style similar to how Milla’s mother died eighteen years ago. We are taken through scenes from Milla’s past and trying to figure out if she is really Milla or Kiran.
There are so many twists and turns in this story and I think Ms. Marley is some kind of magician because she cleverly misdirects you to one thing and then you are hit with new information that turns the story on its head. This book is a wild ride and very fast paced. The characters are engaging and mostly likeable. There was a lot going on with the past story and the present story so that I felt like I needed a scorecard to keep everything straight.
The ending is quite the surprise and one I didn’t see coming, which is such fun when that happens. I think readers will enjoy this story and be begging for more of Milla and Ben. If I could give it more than 5 stars, I would.
The story starts with Detective Inspector Ben Taylor hitting Milla with his car on a dark and stormy night and then he lets her sleep at his house due to the storm. Ben is called to a crime scene where the victim is Camilla Graham, but he knows it is not because the corpse doesn’t look like the woman he knows to be Camilla. The victim is laid out in a style similar to how Milla’s mother died eighteen years ago. We are taken through scenes from Milla’s past and trying to figure out if she is really Milla or Kiran.
There are so many twists and turns in this story and I think Ms. Marley is some kind of magician because she cleverly misdirects you to one thing and then you are hit with new information that turns the story on its head. This book is a wild ride and very fast paced. The characters are engaging and mostly likeable. There was a lot going on with the past story and the present story so that I felt like I needed a scorecard to keep everything straight.
The ending is quite the surprise and one I didn’t see coming, which is such fun when that happens. I think readers will enjoy this story and be begging for more of Milla and Ben. If I could give it more than 5 stars, I would.
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