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Sarah Vane Mysteries #1
Murder at an English Pub
When retired doctor Sarah Vane moves to Merstairs, she has no idea that the quaint seaside town isn’t quite as friendly it seems, and something sinister is bubbling under the picturesque surface…
Recently widowed and looking for a fresh start away from city life, Sarah Vane moves into a lovely little cottage by the sea. The rustic charm is everything she hoped it would be, but her new home doesn’t quite have enough space for her things. Her old friend Daphne offers to store Sarah’s boxes in her messy beach hut, but while clearing it out, they are shocked to find a heavy trunk… containing a dead body.
They immediately recognise the poor man as pub landlord Gus Trubshaw. Sarah concludes that he was suffocated, but who could have wanted jolly Gus dead? Unimpressed by the police’s lack of interest, Sarah realises she will have to solve the case herself.
Soon, Sarah discovers that not everyone loved Gus as much as she’d thought. Could the killer be scoutmaster Bill, who was recently banned from the pub? Or perhaps it was antique store owner, Charles, who owned the beach hut before Daphne? Or was it brewery director Mr. Grimes, who was livid with Gus for squeezing him on the purchase price of his delicious ale?
Just when the clues are starting to fall into place, the prime suspect is found strangled on the beach. And when Sarah discovers a deadly secret that links the two murders, she’s certain that a dangerous killer is roaming the streets of Merstairs. With the town in a panic, time is ticking for Sarah. Will she solve the mystery before it’s last orders for another victim?
Set off for the breezy English seaside and join Sarah on her adventures in quirky Merstairs, where nothing is quite as it seems! Fans of Agatha Christie, Betty Rowlands and Katie Gayle will be instantly hooked by this deliciously gripping cozy mystery.
Recently widowed and looking for a fresh start away from city life, Sarah Vane moves into a lovely little cottage by the sea. The rustic charm is everything she hoped it would be, but her new home doesn’t quite have enough space for her things. Her old friend Daphne offers to store Sarah’s boxes in her messy beach hut, but while clearing it out, they are shocked to find a heavy trunk… containing a dead body.
They immediately recognise the poor man as pub landlord Gus Trubshaw. Sarah concludes that he was suffocated, but who could have wanted jolly Gus dead? Unimpressed by the police’s lack of interest, Sarah realises she will have to solve the case herself.
Soon, Sarah discovers that not everyone loved Gus as much as she’d thought. Could the killer be scoutmaster Bill, who was recently banned from the pub? Or perhaps it was antique store owner, Charles, who owned the beach hut before Daphne? Or was it brewery director Mr. Grimes, who was livid with Gus for squeezing him on the purchase price of his delicious ale?
Just when the clues are starting to fall into place, the prime suspect is found strangled on the beach. And when Sarah discovers a deadly secret that links the two murders, she’s certain that a dangerous killer is roaming the streets of Merstairs. With the town in a panic, time is ticking for Sarah. Will she solve the mystery before it’s last orders for another victim?
Set off for the breezy English seaside and join Sarah on her adventures in quirky Merstairs, where nothing is quite as it seems! Fans of Agatha Christie, Betty Rowlands and Katie Gayle will be instantly hooked by this deliciously gripping cozy mystery.
274 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 28, 2024
1973 people are currently reading
303 people want to read
About the author
Alice Castle
20 books153 followersAlice Castle lives in South London. She was a feature writer on national newspapers for many years. She has a degree in Modern History from St Andrews University, is the British Royalty expert for Flemish TV, and lived in Brussels for nearly a decade. Her first novel, Hot Chocolate, sold out in two weeks and her second, the cozy crime novel The Murder Mystery, is an Amazon bestseller. She has written nine more whodunnits starring single mum amateur sleuth Beth Haldane. She has also written two psychological thrillers for Harper Collins, The Perfect Widow and The Invitation, under the name A.M. Castle
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 109 reviews
July 5, 2024
First in a new series about a retired doctor, recently widowed called Sarah Vane. She has just moved to a quiet seaside town to live near a close friend called Daphne.
Needing extra storage for her boxes Sarah places some in Daphne's beach hut and discovers a dead body. Since Daphne is then on the suspect list, Sarah decides to play detective to find the real murderer. There are plenty of possibilities but the chief suspect turns up dead too which causes all kinds of problems.
I quite liked the character of Sarah especially when her doctoring skills come into play. However Daphne was awful and I could not like her at all, especially when she kept leaving tissues all over everywhere. Of course my favourite character was Hamish the dog. Dogs should star in every cosy, closely followed by cats.
Altogether this was a pleasant read but not outstanding in any way. However I will certainly try the next book to see how things develop and to spend more time with Hamish.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book
Needing extra storage for her boxes Sarah places some in Daphne's beach hut and discovers a dead body. Since Daphne is then on the suspect list, Sarah decides to play detective to find the real murderer. There are plenty of possibilities but the chief suspect turns up dead too which causes all kinds of problems.
I quite liked the character of Sarah especially when her doctoring skills come into play. However Daphne was awful and I could not like her at all, especially when she kept leaving tissues all over everywhere. Of course my favourite character was Hamish the dog. Dogs should star in every cosy, closely followed by cats.
Altogether this was a pleasant read but not outstanding in any way. However I will certainly try the next book to see how things develop and to spend more time with Hamish.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book
May 22, 2024
Publication Date: 03rd July 2024
3 Stars
One Liner: Interesting mystery; not-so-interesting MC
Sarah Vane is a 60-something retired GP from London. She moves to the quaint seaside town of Merstairs with her dog, Hamish, looking for a fresh start (and to mourn the death of her husband, Peter). Her best friend Daphne already lives here and is a neighbor. However, what Sarah doesn’t expect is to find a dead body in a trunk among the contents already presented in a hut her friend recently purchased.
Sarah is determined to solve the case, especially when she finds out that the dead man is Gus, a much-loved local pub owner. Soon, another body adds to the list. As she digs deeper into the cases, she finds secrets and links that connect the two deaths. Can Sarah solve the case before the killer targets her next?
The story comes in Sarah’s third-person POV.
My Thoughts:
You already know my love for cozies, so I won’t repeat it. ;)
The premise and the beginning are fun. We meet a newly widowed Sarah who moves from London to a seaside small town. She brings her judgmental attitude along with her, which adds a realistic touch to her character but also annoys the readers at times.
The setting is beautiful! I love the changing weather, the vast blue sea, the clear skies when the sun shines, and the near-constant breeze that turns windy in a blink. There are enough shops and eateries, too!
The best part of the book is the pets (and their names). Sarah has a Scottie called Hamish. Daphne has a massive orange cat called Mephisto (wish it had a bigger role), and another character has a Chihuahua called… Tinkerbell!
The mystery is actually decent, but it’s hard to like it much due to Sarah’s sleuthing abilities (or the lack of them). Wasn’t a fan of her, so I couldn’t enjoy it as much as I wanted.
There are several side characters. Most of them seem to be colorful, even if their reactions and words seem off. Or maybe the MC’s POV makes them appear that way.
Moreover, the repeated comments about Daphne’s ‘eccentricity’ got boring. I get it already! Also, as a supposed best friend, does it seem like the MC takes more than she gives? In this book, yes! It might change in the subsequent books. Can’t say.
The actual reason for sleuthing wasn’t great, nor was the book’s ending. Let’s say that as much as I love mysteries, I do want my living space to be peaceful. I’d rather have other kinds of excitement.
To summarize, Murder at an English Pub will appeal to some readers, though I can’t say whom. It’s not a bad book by any means. If you prefer judgemental MCs, you might enjoy this more than I did.
Cozy mysteries are the author’s genre, so can’t say if this was a variation that didn’t come out as planned or if something else. I hope the series gets better as it progresses. I’ll have to say goodbye here.
Thank you, NetGalley and Bookouture, for eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
#NetGalley #MurderatanEnglishPub
3 Stars
One Liner: Interesting mystery; not-so-interesting MC
Sarah Vane is a 60-something retired GP from London. She moves to the quaint seaside town of Merstairs with her dog, Hamish, looking for a fresh start (and to mourn the death of her husband, Peter). Her best friend Daphne already lives here and is a neighbor. However, what Sarah doesn’t expect is to find a dead body in a trunk among the contents already presented in a hut her friend recently purchased.
Sarah is determined to solve the case, especially when she finds out that the dead man is Gus, a much-loved local pub owner. Soon, another body adds to the list. As she digs deeper into the cases, she finds secrets and links that connect the two deaths. Can Sarah solve the case before the killer targets her next?
The story comes in Sarah’s third-person POV.
My Thoughts:
You already know my love for cozies, so I won’t repeat it. ;)
The premise and the beginning are fun. We meet a newly widowed Sarah who moves from London to a seaside small town. She brings her judgmental attitude along with her, which adds a realistic touch to her character but also annoys the readers at times.
The setting is beautiful! I love the changing weather, the vast blue sea, the clear skies when the sun shines, and the near-constant breeze that turns windy in a blink. There are enough shops and eateries, too!
The best part of the book is the pets (and their names). Sarah has a Scottie called Hamish. Daphne has a massive orange cat called Mephisto (wish it had a bigger role), and another character has a Chihuahua called… Tinkerbell!
The mystery is actually decent, but it’s hard to like it much due to Sarah’s sleuthing abilities (or the lack of them). Wasn’t a fan of her, so I couldn’t enjoy it as much as I wanted.
There are several side characters. Most of them seem to be colorful, even if their reactions and words seem off. Or maybe the MC’s POV makes them appear that way.
Moreover, the repeated comments about Daphne’s ‘eccentricity’ got boring. I get it already! Also, as a supposed best friend, does it seem like the MC takes more than she gives? In this book, yes! It might change in the subsequent books. Can’t say.
The actual reason for sleuthing wasn’t great, nor was the book’s ending. Let’s say that as much as I love mysteries, I do want my living space to be peaceful. I’d rather have other kinds of excitement.
To summarize, Murder at an English Pub will appeal to some readers, though I can’t say whom. It’s not a bad book by any means. If you prefer judgemental MCs, you might enjoy this more than I did.
Cozy mysteries are the author’s genre, so can’t say if this was a variation that didn’t come out as planned or if something else. I hope the series gets better as it progresses. I’ll have to say goodbye here.
Thank you, NetGalley and Bookouture, for eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
#NetGalley #MurderatanEnglishPub
July 4, 2024
I was excited to listen to the audiobook for this first in a new cozy mystery series. I liked the narrator and thought she was appropriate for the main character and really brought her to life. I thought the characters were very interesting and the setting was wonderful. This book laid a great foundation for a wonderful cozy mystery series. I thought this one didn’t grab me the way I hoped, but I think it might be one of those situations where the first book in a series lays a foundation and the rest are better. I will definitely be hoping for and trying book two to test that theory. Retired and widowed Dr. Sarah Vane moves to a small coastal town where her good friend Daphne lives. Daphne offers to let her use her beach hut for storage and the two women go to empty it out and find a body tucked into a trunk. Sarah quickly realized that this must be murder (it’s rarely accidental to lock yourself in a trunk by closing all the outside the trunk clasps. Determined that her friend won’t be railroaded as a suspect Sarah decides they must investigate themselves. This is a fun book and I will be keeping an eye out for this author.
August 19, 2024
This was okay, but not great. Our lead, reitred doctor Sarah Vane, has just moved from London to an English coastal town where her longtime friend Daphne lives. Sarah's husband recently died and she's still grieving and hoping for a new life. She gets it when she and Daphne discover a dead body -- who appears to have been murdered -- in Daphne's beach hut. Sarah and Daphne are at times suspects in the murder, so of course she decides to investigate.
The mystery was interesting for me, but I didn't warm to Sarah, and really didn't care for Daphne. We get lots of instances where Sarah and Daphne are bickering, and then burst into giggles. Okay, I guess that shows they're friends. Sarah has an adorable little dog named Hammish, but unfortunately for me, the POV a few times slips to Hammish. I really detest books in which animals have a POV, and suspect that's where this may be going.
I'll probably read the second in the series as I like the setting, but it'll be awhile.
The mystery was interesting for me, but I didn't warm to Sarah, and really didn't care for Daphne. We get lots of instances where Sarah and Daphne are bickering, and then burst into giggles. Okay, I guess that shows they're friends. Sarah has an adorable little dog named Hammish, but unfortunately for me, the POV a few times slips to Hammish. I really detest books in which animals have a POV, and suspect that's where this may be going.
I'll probably read the second in the series as I like the setting, but it'll be awhile.
July 5, 2024
Retired doctor Sarah Vane, recently widowed, has just moved to Merstairs, a lovely seaside town that should be the perfect place to settle down. Instead, even before she could get settled, Sarah and her old friend Daphne discover a dead body in a trunk. It was soon learned that it was the landlord of a pub and his name was Gus Trubshaw. Completely unimpressed with the local police, Sarah decides to discover for herself what happened to poor Gus and how he ended up in the trunk.
It doesn’t take Sarah long to realize that Merstairs is not the sleepy little town she thought it was. Also, her quickly growing reputation as an amateur sleuth begins putting people on guard. Along with Sarah’s predilection for demanding answers, she is often accompanied by her long-time friend Daphne, who also lives in the quaint little town Between the two of them, this first book in a new cozy mystery series is off to a good start. Sarah’s no-nonsense manner and the references of her past career as a GP work well together when it comes to looking for answers.
As in many cozies, there is the presence of beloved pets. In this case, one of those pets is Sarah’s dog Hamish. I look forward to joining Sarah, Daphne and even Hamish in future installments in what looks like a promising new series.
Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.
It doesn’t take Sarah long to realize that Merstairs is not the sleepy little town she thought it was. Also, her quickly growing reputation as an amateur sleuth begins putting people on guard. Along with Sarah’s predilection for demanding answers, she is often accompanied by her long-time friend Daphne, who also lives in the quaint little town Between the two of them, this first book in a new cozy mystery series is off to a good start. Sarah’s no-nonsense manner and the references of her past career as a GP work well together when it comes to looking for answers.
As in many cozies, there is the presence of beloved pets. In this case, one of those pets is Sarah’s dog Hamish. I look forward to joining Sarah, Daphne and even Hamish in future installments in what looks like a promising new series.
Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.
June 21, 2024
When recently widowed Sarah Vane moved to a cosy seaside cottage with her dog Hamish she was looking for a fresh start, but this former doctor had no idea she'd become an amateur sleuth. A great start to a new series and I hope Hamish remains an important part of these stories. Cheers to NetGalley for the ARC/audiobook with the sweet narrator.
August 17, 2025
Murder at an English Pub is book one in the Sarah Vane Mysteries series by Alice Castle. After her husband's death, Doctor Sarah Vane decided to retire and move to Merstairs, a small, friendly seaside town. Sarah Vane was so wrong that she found a body in a box where she stored her things before arriving at Merstairs. However, when she was unpacking her things, she found a body. Sarah Vane and her friend Daphne recognised the body as the local pub owner, Gus Trubshaw. The local law enforcement was not interested in finding answers, so Sarah Vane decided to investigate. The readers of Murder at an English Pub will continue to follow Sarah Vane to discover what happens.
Murder at an English Pub is an enjoyable cozy mystery that I thoroughly enjoyed reading. As I delved into this book, I began to realise that not everything is as it seems at first glance. I did engage with this book.
I enjoy the way Alice Castle portrayed her characters and their interaction with each other. Murder at an English Pub is well-written and researched by Alice Castle. I like Alice Castle's description of the settings of Murder at an English Pub, which complemented the book's plot.
I recommend this book.
Murder at an English Pub is an enjoyable cozy mystery that I thoroughly enjoyed reading. As I delved into this book, I began to realise that not everything is as it seems at first glance. I did engage with this book.
I enjoy the way Alice Castle portrayed her characters and their interaction with each other. Murder at an English Pub is well-written and researched by Alice Castle. I like Alice Castle's description of the settings of Murder at an English Pub, which complemented the book's plot.
I recommend this book.
May 5, 2024
Actual 3.5*
July 2, 2024
This audiobook was made available for me to listen to and review by Alice Castle, Bookouture Audio, and NetGalley.
The narrator of this audiobook is Jilly Bond. Ms. Bond does a wonderful job as the voice of Sarah. I also enjoyed the tone she used for Daphne and how she handled Hamish's interactions.
This is a delightful and lighthearted introduction to a cozy mystery series. The first book generally establishes the history of the protagonist. In this, Sarah is a retired GP, recently widowed upon the sudden death of her long-time husband, Pete. She has 2 adult daughters and 2 young granddaughters. Plus, the dog, Hamish, that Sarah inherited from Pete. Sarah needs a change of scenery from London and moves to a picturesque English seaside of Merstairs.
Sarah's long-time friend, Daphne, is already a resident. Sarah hopes time spent with Daphne, and her relaxed attitude will help her heal from Pete's death. First up is the beach hut Daphne rented for them for the summer. The ladies have to clean it out before they can use it and, in the process, find the body of a local man.
A new career as an informal detective seems to have found Sarah, with her besty Daphne and Hamish for protection, this crime will definitely be solved in an entertaining way! Also, multiple pets were involved, which was great fun.
Thank you to Alice Castle, Bookouture Audio, and NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to and review this audiobook. All opinions and viewpoints expressed in this review are my own.
The narrator of this audiobook is Jilly Bond. Ms. Bond does a wonderful job as the voice of Sarah. I also enjoyed the tone she used for Daphne and how she handled Hamish's interactions.
This is a delightful and lighthearted introduction to a cozy mystery series. The first book generally establishes the history of the protagonist. In this, Sarah is a retired GP, recently widowed upon the sudden death of her long-time husband, Pete. She has 2 adult daughters and 2 young granddaughters. Plus, the dog, Hamish, that Sarah inherited from Pete. Sarah needs a change of scenery from London and moves to a picturesque English seaside of Merstairs.
Sarah's long-time friend, Daphne, is already a resident. Sarah hopes time spent with Daphne, and her relaxed attitude will help her heal from Pete's death. First up is the beach hut Daphne rented for them for the summer. The ladies have to clean it out before they can use it and, in the process, find the body of a local man.
A new career as an informal detective seems to have found Sarah, with her besty Daphne and Hamish for protection, this crime will definitely be solved in an entertaining way! Also, multiple pets were involved, which was great fun.
Thank you to Alice Castle, Bookouture Audio, and NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to and review this audiobook. All opinions and viewpoints expressed in this review are my own.
July 20, 2024
"Murder at an English Pub" by Alice Castle is a cozy mystery. It is set in modern day in England in a small fictional town.
Following the death of her husband, Sarah Vane moves to Merstairs, a small oceanside village where her college friend, Daphne, lives. As they are cleaning out Daphne's storage shed, they find a deceased body in it.
Sarah was a medical doctor, but now she fancies herself a detective. She goes around asking everyone lots of questions. Daphne is supposed to be funny, but mostly, she is just annoying. I liked that the main character and most of the rest of the cast are 50+, probably 60+ in age.
The narrator, Jilly Bond, did well in some aspects, but I had difficulty telling the female voices apart at times. I also didn't like her voice for Charles at all.
There is a lot of drinking in this book. No cursing. No romance. 2 murders.
Characters - 4/5
Writing - 3/5
Plot - 3/5
Pacing - 4/5
Unputdownability - 3/5
Enjoyment - 3/5
Narration - 3/5
Cover - 3/5
Overall - 26/8 = 3 2/8
Rounded to 3 stars
Thank you to Netgalley, Bookouture Audio, and Alice Castle for providing this audiobook in exchange for my honest review.
Following the death of her husband, Sarah Vane moves to Merstairs, a small oceanside village where her college friend, Daphne, lives. As they are cleaning out Daphne's storage shed, they find a deceased body in it.
Sarah was a medical doctor, but now she fancies herself a detective. She goes around asking everyone lots of questions. Daphne is supposed to be funny, but mostly, she is just annoying. I liked that the main character and most of the rest of the cast are 50+, probably 60+ in age.
The narrator, Jilly Bond, did well in some aspects, but I had difficulty telling the female voices apart at times. I also didn't like her voice for Charles at all.
There is a lot of drinking in this book. No cursing. No romance. 2 murders.
Characters - 4/5
Writing - 3/5
Plot - 3/5
Pacing - 4/5
Unputdownability - 3/5
Enjoyment - 3/5
Narration - 3/5
Cover - 3/5
Overall - 26/8 = 3 2/8
Rounded to 3 stars
Thank you to Netgalley, Bookouture Audio, and Alice Castle for providing this audiobook in exchange for my honest review.
June 30, 2024
This was an ARC read via Audiobook from NetGalley.
A widowed woman, Sarah, moves to a small town with her adorable dog as her sidekick. She and her friend stumble upon a dead body that they find in her friend’s recently purchased beach hut. Sarah becomes very intrigued with who could be the murderer and when the police don’t seem to be much help, she takes on the task of solving this mystery herself. I enjoyed the accent of the narrator of the audio book, as it really helped set the scene/tone of the book. I thought that the author, Alice Castle, did a good job of providing lots of description in her writing. I found myself depicting vivid pictures in my mind while listening! This is a suitable uncomplicated read and readers would enjoy if they are looking for a cozy, easy to read, mystery
A widowed woman, Sarah, moves to a small town with her adorable dog as her sidekick. She and her friend stumble upon a dead body that they find in her friend’s recently purchased beach hut. Sarah becomes very intrigued with who could be the murderer and when the police don’t seem to be much help, she takes on the task of solving this mystery herself. I enjoyed the accent of the narrator of the audio book, as it really helped set the scene/tone of the book. I thought that the author, Alice Castle, did a good job of providing lots of description in her writing. I found myself depicting vivid pictures in my mind while listening! This is a suitable uncomplicated read and readers would enjoy if they are looking for a cozy, easy to read, mystery
July 3, 2024
Happy publication day 🎉🥳
Well. I’ve been on quite the streak of 4 and 5 star reviews lately. So I suppose the bubble had to burst at some point. I was looking forward to a nice cozy mystery in a quaint setting and the anticipation of a lovely doggy character. The dog was lovely the setting was quaint. The characters were all a bit dippy and the mystery’s weren’t very mysterious, I was rather more cringing than cozy.
Harsh I know. I’m sure this series will have great appeal for some readers, it was just all a bit meh for me. It felt like it desperately wanted to be The Thursday Murder Club, but didn’t quite get there, having said that, it may appeal to a similar audience.
That damned crossword clue, what was that? It could’ve at least been set over 2 paragraphs. It annoyed me immensely.
The narration was nice. The writing was nice equally but the story felt all a bit made for an obscure afternoon tv channel.
2.5 stars rounded up, as I’m not mean enough to leave 2 stars when it wasn’t awful…….sorry!
Thanks to bookouture audio and NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to this audio arc in return for an honest review.
Well. I’ve been on quite the streak of 4 and 5 star reviews lately. So I suppose the bubble had to burst at some point. I was looking forward to a nice cozy mystery in a quaint setting and the anticipation of a lovely doggy character. The dog was lovely the setting was quaint. The characters were all a bit dippy and the mystery’s weren’t very mysterious, I was rather more cringing than cozy.
Harsh I know. I’m sure this series will have great appeal for some readers, it was just all a bit meh for me. It felt like it desperately wanted to be The Thursday Murder Club, but didn’t quite get there, having said that, it may appeal to a similar audience.
That damned crossword clue, what was that? It could’ve at least been set over 2 paragraphs. It annoyed me immensely.
The narration was nice. The writing was nice equally but the story felt all a bit made for an obscure afternoon tv channel.
2.5 stars rounded up, as I’m not mean enough to leave 2 stars when it wasn’t awful…….sorry!
Thanks to bookouture audio and NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to this audio arc in return for an honest review.
April 12, 2024
Murder at an English Pub is the first book in a new cozy mystery series featuring Sarah, recently retired and widowed, and her eccentric friend Daphne. Sarah has just moved to a small cottage by the sea and next door to her dear friend. In hopes of being able to store some extra boxes in Daphne's newly acquired beach hut, Sarah and Daphne start organizing everything left by the previous owner. Unfortunately, they stumble upon a chest containing a body - the local pub owner, Gus. With Daphne as a prime suspect, Sarah is determined to solve this murder before her friend is arrested. Throughout her investigation, Sarah quickly gets to know the village and its people.
Murder at an English Pub is a delightful cozy. The setting is absolutely perfect; however, I felt that some of the characters, including Sarah, were a bit one-dimensional. My favorite character, by far, was Daphne. She was quirky and confident and kept Sarah on her toes. The mystery was intriguing, and I enjoyed the descriptions of the various pubs, restaurants, and stores. While not my favorite cozy, it was still enjoyable, and I may just pick up the next in the series to find out what Sarah and Daphne get into next.
Murder at an English Pub is a delightful cozy. The setting is absolutely perfect; however, I felt that some of the characters, including Sarah, were a bit one-dimensional. My favorite character, by far, was Daphne. She was quirky and confident and kept Sarah on her toes. The mystery was intriguing, and I enjoyed the descriptions of the various pubs, restaurants, and stores. While not my favorite cozy, it was still enjoyable, and I may just pick up the next in the series to find out what Sarah and Daphne get into next.
July 10, 2024
Dr Sarah Vane has moved to Merstairs, a quaint quiet little village, following the death of her husband. Whilst trying to store some of her husbands old clothing in a beach shed, she and her old friend Daphne stumble across a gruesome sight. After meeting the bumbling local police Sarah has little hope that they will solve the mystery and embarks on an investigation of her own.
The first 30 pages or so proceed with nary a mention of a pub and I was wondering if somehow I was reading the wrong book. The pub mentioned in the title does come into play but still seems like a slightly odd title choice.
This is a cosy small town/village murder mystery. Sarah is a likeable main character and Daphne makes for a fun eccentric sidekick. Although perhaps Hamish the dog is really the sidekick. It reads quite like a modern Miss Marple. The pacing is pretty good and it keeps you guessing with a few twists and turns.
Three and a half stars rounded up to four ⭐️
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this advance copy to review.
The first 30 pages or so proceed with nary a mention of a pub and I was wondering if somehow I was reading the wrong book. The pub mentioned in the title does come into play but still seems like a slightly odd title choice.
This is a cosy small town/village murder mystery. Sarah is a likeable main character and Daphne makes for a fun eccentric sidekick. Although perhaps Hamish the dog is really the sidekick. It reads quite like a modern Miss Marple. The pacing is pretty good and it keeps you guessing with a few twists and turns.
Three and a half stars rounded up to four ⭐️
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this advance copy to review.
March 25, 2024
Murder at an English Pub in the first in a new series by Alice Castle, featuring a recently widowed and retired GP, Sarah. She and her Scottie dog, Hamish, have moved from London to live next door to her best friend of sixty years, Daphne, in Merstairs, Kent. Daphne is a larger than life character who always dresses in spectacularly colourful outfits and insists that the spirits from beyond tell her things. Sarah wants to store her late husband’s stuff somewhere and Daphne suggests a beach hut that she has recently purchased. The pair trot down to the hut in Chapter Two and find a body in one of the many boxes inside the hut. The two beat constables who turn up in response to Sarah’s 999 call are incompetent but Daphne’s daughter, Mariella, also works for the police and is much more efficient, but is very junior. As is traditional in such novels, Sarah decides she needs to solve the murder herself – well, with the aid of Daphne and Hamish, of course.
The title page describes it as “A completely gripping and addictive cozy mystery” but I wasn’t gripped and I’m not addicted. The writing is competent; the plot is OK; and the characters are beautifully depicted, with that last being the book’s strength. Every character stands out and I can picture them all in my mind. However… the only other thing that stands out is the stupidity of someone who is supposed to be a GP. For a (presumably) highly educated professional who needs to assess evidence and reach a diagnosis, Sarah does reach some mind-boggingly naive conclusions. How likely is it that a shop-keeper would murder a pub owner because the brewery delivery wagon hampers access to the shop for thirty minutes every so often? Sarah plans to meet a suspect in the pub; ask him questions and record the answers on her phone to play back to Mariella. Did Sarah expect the conversation to proceed along these lines; “Did you kill him?” “Well, how on earth did you guess? Yes, I did, but don’t tell anyone.” The conversation didn’t happen after all, but, if it had, how would it have progressed? After a bit of thought, Sarah tends to realise that her plans and suspicions are ill-founded and to back off. However, my point is that she should never have entertained them for a second. I’m accustomed to suspending my disbelief to read a novel, but there are limits! The ending felt rushed and also unrealistic.
Thank you very much for the free advance review copy, Bookouture and NetGalley. I’m sorry that the book and I weren’t suited.
#MurderatanEnglishPub #NetGalley
The title page describes it as “A completely gripping and addictive cozy mystery” but I wasn’t gripped and I’m not addicted. The writing is competent; the plot is OK; and the characters are beautifully depicted, with that last being the book’s strength. Every character stands out and I can picture them all in my mind. However… the only other thing that stands out is the stupidity of someone who is supposed to be a GP. For a (presumably) highly educated professional who needs to assess evidence and reach a diagnosis, Sarah does reach some mind-boggingly naive conclusions. How likely is it that a shop-keeper would murder a pub owner because the brewery delivery wagon hampers access to the shop for thirty minutes every so often? Sarah plans to meet a suspect in the pub; ask him questions and record the answers on her phone to play back to Mariella. Did Sarah expect the conversation to proceed along these lines; “Did you kill him?” “Well, how on earth did you guess? Yes, I did, but don’t tell anyone.” The conversation didn’t happen after all, but, if it had, how would it have progressed? After a bit of thought, Sarah tends to realise that her plans and suspicions are ill-founded and to back off. However, my point is that she should never have entertained them for a second. I’m accustomed to suspending my disbelief to read a novel, but there are limits! The ending felt rushed and also unrealistic.
Thank you very much for the free advance review copy, Bookouture and NetGalley. I’m sorry that the book and I weren’t suited.
#MurderatanEnglishPub #NetGalley
July 22, 2024
Following the death of her beloved husband, Peter, recently retired doctor, Sarah Vane and her Scottie dog, Hamish, have relocated to the small town of Merstairs on the Kent coast to a picturesque cottage next door to her best friend, Daphne. The two women have been friends since their schooldays, and both are delighted with the new arrangement.
Daphne kindly offers to store some of Sarah’s moving boxes for her, but the subsequent visit to the beach doesn't go quite according to plan after a body is discovered! When Sarah finds out the victim was not universally loved, she is unable to stop herself becoming involved in an investigation she’s sure the local police aren't up to solving. With the discovery of a second body and a dangerous encounter, it's clear someone thinks Sarah and Daphne are getting too close for comfort. If only the two friends were as confident!
A new cosy crime series is always an exciting prospect, even if some are a bit of a letdown! This absolutely doesn't fall into that category and was a very enjoyable read. Sarah is a, mostly, sensible and reliable main protagonist, while Daphne would drive me to distraction but is a great fictional partner in crime for her best friend. The investigation was interesting, varied, and fast moving, and I will definitely be on the lookout for book 2.
I was able to read an advanced copy of this book thanks to NetGalley and the publishers, Bookouture, but the opinions expressed are my own. This is a good start to what promises to be a fun and enjoyable new cosy series. 4.5 stars rounded up to 5.
Daphne kindly offers to store some of Sarah’s moving boxes for her, but the subsequent visit to the beach doesn't go quite according to plan after a body is discovered! When Sarah finds out the victim was not universally loved, she is unable to stop herself becoming involved in an investigation she’s sure the local police aren't up to solving. With the discovery of a second body and a dangerous encounter, it's clear someone thinks Sarah and Daphne are getting too close for comfort. If only the two friends were as confident!
A new cosy crime series is always an exciting prospect, even if some are a bit of a letdown! This absolutely doesn't fall into that category and was a very enjoyable read. Sarah is a, mostly, sensible and reliable main protagonist, while Daphne would drive me to distraction but is a great fictional partner in crime for her best friend. The investigation was interesting, varied, and fast moving, and I will definitely be on the lookout for book 2.
I was able to read an advanced copy of this book thanks to NetGalley and the publishers, Bookouture, but the opinions expressed are my own. This is a good start to what promises to be a fun and enjoyable new cosy series. 4.5 stars rounded up to 5.
April 8, 2024
Thank you Bookouture and NetGalley for a copy of "Murder at an English Pub" in exchange for my honest review.
Sarah Vane is a retired doctor who has moved to Merstairs, Kent with her Scottie dog, Hamish after the death of her husband Peter. Her friend Daphne Roux from way back in boarding school is her next door neighbour. She can best be described as a rather loud, whirlwind.
When Sarah needs some extra space to store some of Peter's belongings that she hasn't had the heart to do something with, Daphne offers her the use of her beach hut. They soon find a dead body in the cluttered hut. The police are depicted as not the brightest, the area is barely cordoned off, and hardly any questions are asked.
Sarah comes up with a list of suspects and for an educated woman comes up with some odd theories. The story moves along at a rather slow pace and it would benefit from moving along at a faster pace. The best character of course is Hamish!!
Sarah Vane is a retired doctor who has moved to Merstairs, Kent with her Scottie dog, Hamish after the death of her husband Peter. Her friend Daphne Roux from way back in boarding school is her next door neighbour. She can best be described as a rather loud, whirlwind.
When Sarah needs some extra space to store some of Peter's belongings that she hasn't had the heart to do something with, Daphne offers her the use of her beach hut. They soon find a dead body in the cluttered hut. The police are depicted as not the brightest, the area is barely cordoned off, and hardly any questions are asked.
Sarah comes up with a list of suspects and for an educated woman comes up with some odd theories. The story moves along at a rather slow pace and it would benefit from moving along at a faster pace. The best character of course is Hamish!!
July 30, 2024
DNF 50%
I try to finish books even when I don't like them but this one broke me. It was boring, unengaging and I can't even remember what happens 'cause it's so unmemorable
I try to finish books even when I don't like them but this one broke me. It was boring, unengaging and I can't even remember what happens 'cause it's so unmemorable
December 2, 2024
Really tedious, strange jumps into omniscient narration, not very likable characters.
January 24, 2025
So boring and confusing I couldn’t waste time reading it. Did not finish
January 22, 2025
This book took me forever to read! Thought it was going to be a DNF. I won't be reading any other books in this series.
June 22, 2024
Murder at an English Pub AUDIO by Alice Castle is the first in a new (and I hope ongoing) cozy mystery series. It features Sarah Vane, a retired GP and recent widow, who has moved to a cottage by the sea. Next door is her childhood friend, Daphne, who has chosen to fill her time with all kinds of bizarre hobbies. Sarah has yet to dispose of her deceased husband’s clothing and so her small cottage is filled with boxes. Daphne has recently purchased a beach hut and suggests storing them there but when they begin the process they discover it is already nearly full of other things. As they explore they open a chest, only to find a body. Sarah has no idea but Daphne recognizes it immediately as that of Gus Trubshaw, one of the owners of the local pub. Sarah recognizes the symptoms of strangulation immediately and dials 999. Eventually two constables show up and then wander off, deciding it was natural causes. Sarah and Daphne wait for the coroner’s van. The autopsy shows Sarah to be correct, but also that he had been drugged. This had happened some six weeks earlier and Gus’ partner, Trevor, believes Gus to be on vacation in Canada. Sarah is intrigued. Being a GP, she is used to solving mysteries so she is curious about this one. Then there is another murder, and he had been Sarah’s main suspect.
This was a gem of a listen. Sarah and Daphne make an enticing team: Sarah calm and level-headed; Daphne a bit in la-la-land. She is hilarious. What wonderful characters. Another of the main characters that is fairly well fleshed-out is Charles Digory, who owns an antiques and second-hand shop and is momentarily thought to be the murderer. This is a lovely quaint seaside village and Castle sets the stage perfectly. The mystery is a good one with clues appearing to Sarah as they appear to the reader. Sarah has a small dog, Hamish, whose mind the reader is able to read sometimes, which makes the book even funnier, as his opinion of humans is less than complimentary. I have never read an Alice Castle book before, a great deficiency on my part as this one was quite good. Thanks Alice Castle for Sarah and Daphne!
The narrator was Jilly Bond and she was priceless. She really only did three voices: Sarah, Daphne, and Charles and her version of Daphne made the book as far as I am concerned. I am not a big fan of airheads but I make an exception in this case. Jilly Bond was superb.
I was invited to listen the Murder at an English Pub by Bookoutre Audio. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #Netgalley #BookoutreAudio #AliceCastle #MurderAtAnEnglishPub
This was a gem of a listen. Sarah and Daphne make an enticing team: Sarah calm and level-headed; Daphne a bit in la-la-land. She is hilarious. What wonderful characters. Another of the main characters that is fairly well fleshed-out is Charles Digory, who owns an antiques and second-hand shop and is momentarily thought to be the murderer. This is a lovely quaint seaside village and Castle sets the stage perfectly. The mystery is a good one with clues appearing to Sarah as they appear to the reader. Sarah has a small dog, Hamish, whose mind the reader is able to read sometimes, which makes the book even funnier, as his opinion of humans is less than complimentary. I have never read an Alice Castle book before, a great deficiency on my part as this one was quite good. Thanks Alice Castle for Sarah and Daphne!
The narrator was Jilly Bond and she was priceless. She really only did three voices: Sarah, Daphne, and Charles and her version of Daphne made the book as far as I am concerned. I am not a big fan of airheads but I make an exception in this case. Jilly Bond was superb.
I was invited to listen the Murder at an English Pub by Bookoutre Audio. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #Netgalley #BookoutreAudio #AliceCastle #MurderAtAnEnglishPub
June 26, 2024
Originally posted on my blog Nonstop Reader.
Murder at an English Pub is a cozy mystery series starter by Alice Castle. Due out 3rd July 2024 from Bookouture, it's 317 pages and will be available in paperback, audio, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout. For Kindle Unlimited subscribers, this book will be included in the KU subscription library to borrow and read for free.
This is a nicely engaging village cozy featuring a retired GP as an amateur sleuth. She's recently widowed and has moved to a new place to make a new start near her quite eccentric friend. Despite being chalk and cheese, they're good together, and it's heartwarming to read about their genuine friendship and how they get on together despite being utterly different.
The village is full of oddball eccentric characters and the "whodunit" part of the book is well constructed and satisfying to figure out. Even with the introduction first-book-in-the-series background necessary, the author has done a good job of providing the necessary info without bogging readers down or drowning them in details.
The actual solution to the murder was a bit over the top, but not suspension of disbelief breaking. The language is very clean, nothing worse than an occasional "damn" and no graphic violence or sexual content.
The unabridged audiobook has a run time of 8 hours, 15 minutes and is capably read by Jilly Bond. She has an -excellent- command of modulation and accents and she delineates each of the characters well, with varying regional accents and of a wide range of ages and both sexes. She does an excellent job with the read; one can only hope that she'll be the choice for the following books in the series. Sound and production quality are high throughout the read.
The plot, denouement, and resolution are self contained in this volume, but there are foreshadowings for upcoming mysteries for Sarah, Daphne, and co.
Four stars for the mystery itself, a strong 5 stars for the narration and audiobook.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
Murder at an English Pub is a cozy mystery series starter by Alice Castle. Due out 3rd July 2024 from Bookouture, it's 317 pages and will be available in paperback, audio, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout. For Kindle Unlimited subscribers, this book will be included in the KU subscription library to borrow and read for free.
This is a nicely engaging village cozy featuring a retired GP as an amateur sleuth. She's recently widowed and has moved to a new place to make a new start near her quite eccentric friend. Despite being chalk and cheese, they're good together, and it's heartwarming to read about their genuine friendship and how they get on together despite being utterly different.
The village is full of oddball eccentric characters and the "whodunit" part of the book is well constructed and satisfying to figure out. Even with the introduction first-book-in-the-series background necessary, the author has done a good job of providing the necessary info without bogging readers down or drowning them in details.
The actual solution to the murder was a bit over the top, but not suspension of disbelief breaking. The language is very clean, nothing worse than an occasional "damn" and no graphic violence or sexual content.
The unabridged audiobook has a run time of 8 hours, 15 minutes and is capably read by Jilly Bond. She has an -excellent- command of modulation and accents and she delineates each of the characters well, with varying regional accents and of a wide range of ages and both sexes. She does an excellent job with the read; one can only hope that she'll be the choice for the following books in the series. Sound and production quality are high throughout the read.
The plot, denouement, and resolution are self contained in this volume, but there are foreshadowings for upcoming mysteries for Sarah, Daphne, and co.
Four stars for the mystery itself, a strong 5 stars for the narration and audiobook.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
July 2, 2024
Murder At An English Pub by Alice Castle The book was narrated by my favorite female British narrator jilly Bond and it is about Dr. Susan Vane. She recently moved to Merstairs. She recently lost her beloved husband and wants to be closer to her friend Daphne. While getting settled in she realizes she brought stuff of her husbands that she really doesn’t need so Daphne offers to store it for her and her surprising new beach front cottage. The only problem is they have to empty the cottage out first. While the ladies are unpacking boxes of old clothes books shoes ATC Hamish is obsessed with a certain box and cannot stop barking at it and ripping the paper off so the ladies picked that one next and inside they find a dead body. After calling 999, Susan sees how inadequate the police department is in her new little village and decides to investigate the case herself. Something that Daphne’s constable daughter is totally against but as Susan meets new people and learns the ins and outs of the town she is also looking for a killer. Just when she thinks she has found the culprit her and Hamish find him dead on the beach. Is there a Serial Killer in Merstairs or is there more than one? I thought Susan solving this Crime while getting to know her new village was such a brilliant choice I loved Susan and her out of the box BFF Daphne I thought Jilly Bond’s deadpan was so laugh out loud funny! I do want to say when the culprit was eventually pointed out I was surprised but I was also like really? You have to read/listen to the book to know why but in my opinion it almost came out of left field. Having said that I absolutely love this book and would definitely read the next one especially if it is narrated by Jilly Bond. I have never read a book by Alice Castle before but I’m looking forward to the next book I can get my hands on by her. I found the riding funny no matter what part of the investigation the story was on I found it interesting I loved Hamish and especially loved Susan and“Psychic“ Daphne‘s friendship. What a great read! #BookoucherAudio, #NetGalley, #AliceCastle, #MurderAtAnEnglishPub,
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 24, 2024
One Liner : Cozy read !
Synopsis : Sarah Vane, a retired doctor moves to Merstairs with her dog Hamish after the death of her husband Peter. Merstairs, a seaside quaint town also houses her best friend Daphne. Sarah's stuff was received by Daphne at her beach hut. Sarah doesn't expect her first day in her new home would begin by finding a dead body in a trunk at Daphne's beach hut. Sarah is determined to help and solve the case since the cops on scene didn't seem to do much and also to help her friend Daphne since the body was found in her beach hut. Is Sarah successful in solving the case?
My thoughts
* I really loved the setting of the story. Merstairs seemed to be such a quaint and beautiful town with lot of places to eat and the description of the sea was marvelous. Any day I would love to settle down in a place like this for my retirement
* I couldn't connect with Sarah's character much. She seemed too judgmental and seemed to be trying to be center of attention most of the times
* Hamish was my favorite. His presence felt so nice in the story including his love for Tinkerbell, the chihuahua
* I also felt that Sarah judged her best friend Daphne way too much for her eccentric nature. She would have surely known about that side of her given that they were friends since long.
* The sleuthing abilities of Sarah really did not seem as great as she thought which kind of made the mystery drag on a little. It did not have that "Oomph" factor in it
* I went with audio book for this and the British accent threw me off a little bit. There were many places where I had to rewind and listen, especially when the narrator was making deep throat voices for men. I think this book would have worked better if I had this instead
All in all it was a decent listen for me. I look forward to more in this series. My rating is 3.2 rounded to 3
My sincere thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture, for this audiobook. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
#Netgalley
Synopsis : Sarah Vane, a retired doctor moves to Merstairs with her dog Hamish after the death of her husband Peter. Merstairs, a seaside quaint town also houses her best friend Daphne. Sarah's stuff was received by Daphne at her beach hut. Sarah doesn't expect her first day in her new home would begin by finding a dead body in a trunk at Daphne's beach hut. Sarah is determined to help and solve the case since the cops on scene didn't seem to do much and also to help her friend Daphne since the body was found in her beach hut. Is Sarah successful in solving the case?
My thoughts
* I really loved the setting of the story. Merstairs seemed to be such a quaint and beautiful town with lot of places to eat and the description of the sea was marvelous. Any day I would love to settle down in a place like this for my retirement
* I couldn't connect with Sarah's character much. She seemed too judgmental and seemed to be trying to be center of attention most of the times
* Hamish was my favorite. His presence felt so nice in the story including his love for Tinkerbell, the chihuahua
* I also felt that Sarah judged her best friend Daphne way too much for her eccentric nature. She would have surely known about that side of her given that they were friends since long.
* The sleuthing abilities of Sarah really did not seem as great as she thought which kind of made the mystery drag on a little. It did not have that "Oomph" factor in it
* I went with audio book for this and the British accent threw me off a little bit. There were many places where I had to rewind and listen, especially when the narrator was making deep throat voices for men. I think this book would have worked better if I had this instead
All in all it was a decent listen for me. I look forward to more in this series. My rating is 3.2 rounded to 3
My sincere thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture, for this audiobook. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
#Netgalley
December 18, 2024
Murder at an English Pub by Alice Castle
I received an advance review copy for free thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Blurb
When retired doctor Sarah Vane moves to Merstairs, she has no idea that the quaint seaside town isn’t quite as friendly it seems, and something sinister is bubbling under the picturesque surface…
Recently widowed and looking for a fresh start away from city life, Sarah Vane moves into a lovely little cottage by the sea. The rustic charm is everything she hoped it would be, but her new home doesn’t quite have enough space for her things. Her old friend Daphne offers to store Sarah’s boxes in her messy beach hut, but while clearing it out, they are shocked to find a heavy trunk… containing a dead body.
They immediately recognise the poor man as pub landlord Gus Trubshaw. Sarah concludes that he was suffocated, but who could have wanted jolly Gus dead? Unimpressed by the police’s lack of interest, Sarah realises she will have to solve the case herself.
Soon, Sarah discovers that not everyone loved Gus as much as she’d thought. Could the killer be scoutmaster Bill, who was recently banned from the pub? Or perhaps it was antique store owner, Charles, who owned the beach hut before Daphne? Or was it brewery director Mr. Grimes, who was livid with Gus for squeezing him on the purchase price of his delicious ale?
My Opinion
When Sarah Vane discovers a body in a trunk, she is determined to do her own investigating. This is the first book in a new series and it was definitely entertaining. I have previously enjoyed Alice Castle’s writing so I was delighted when I saw that there was going to be a new series – I am already hooked. A great introduction to the series and the characters.
Rating 4/5
I received an advance review copy for free thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Blurb
When retired doctor Sarah Vane moves to Merstairs, she has no idea that the quaint seaside town isn’t quite as friendly it seems, and something sinister is bubbling under the picturesque surface…
Recently widowed and looking for a fresh start away from city life, Sarah Vane moves into a lovely little cottage by the sea. The rustic charm is everything she hoped it would be, but her new home doesn’t quite have enough space for her things. Her old friend Daphne offers to store Sarah’s boxes in her messy beach hut, but while clearing it out, they are shocked to find a heavy trunk… containing a dead body.
They immediately recognise the poor man as pub landlord Gus Trubshaw. Sarah concludes that he was suffocated, but who could have wanted jolly Gus dead? Unimpressed by the police’s lack of interest, Sarah realises she will have to solve the case herself.
Soon, Sarah discovers that not everyone loved Gus as much as she’d thought. Could the killer be scoutmaster Bill, who was recently banned from the pub? Or perhaps it was antique store owner, Charles, who owned the beach hut before Daphne? Or was it brewery director Mr. Grimes, who was livid with Gus for squeezing him on the purchase price of his delicious ale?
My Opinion
When Sarah Vane discovers a body in a trunk, she is determined to do her own investigating. This is the first book in a new series and it was definitely entertaining. I have previously enjoyed Alice Castle’s writing so I was delighted when I saw that there was going to be a new series – I am already hooked. A great introduction to the series and the characters.
Rating 4/5
July 3, 2024
Following the death of her husband, recently retired doctor, Sarah Vane, has moved next door to her best friend, Daphne, in the small town of Merstairs on the Kent coast. The two women have been friends since their schooldays, and both are delighted with the new arrangement. Daphne has recently purchased a beach hut and offers to let Sarah store some boxes there, but first it needs cleaned out a bit. While the two are working on it, they discover a body in a trunk, clearly murdered. Turns out the dead man was a mostly well-liked local bar owner. Sarah, of course, decides she has to snoop around. I’ll grant you the cops don’t seem incredibly competent, but Sarah barely knows the people in town aside from Daphne who isn’t a real suspect. I felt her reasons for jumping headlong into the investigation seemed a little weak.
The small town setting with quirky characters is a cozy mystery staple, but it was nicely done here. The town was described so well, with the breeze from the sea and the quaint cottages. The townspeople are an assorted lot and Sarah has a bit of a tendency to look down her nose at them. Daphne is a joy, but perhaps not as appreciated by Sarah or the town as she should be. We even have pets. Sarah has a Scottie called Hamish. Daphne has a massive orange cat called Mephisto, and another character has a Chihuahua called Tinkerbell.
The mystery itself was fine. Sarah jumps to conclusions a bit quickly but usually reevaluates before making a total fool of herself. In the end, she gets to the solution.
I listened to the audiobook and the narrator did a good job. She differentiated the characters well and dealt nicely with the few spots where we get to hear Hamish’ thoughts. Hopefully, she will also narrate the next in the series.
The small town setting with quirky characters is a cozy mystery staple, but it was nicely done here. The town was described so well, with the breeze from the sea and the quaint cottages. The townspeople are an assorted lot and Sarah has a bit of a tendency to look down her nose at them. Daphne is a joy, but perhaps not as appreciated by Sarah or the town as she should be. We even have pets. Sarah has a Scottie called Hamish. Daphne has a massive orange cat called Mephisto, and another character has a Chihuahua called Tinkerbell.
The mystery itself was fine. Sarah jumps to conclusions a bit quickly but usually reevaluates before making a total fool of herself. In the end, she gets to the solution.
I listened to the audiobook and the narrator did a good job. She differentiated the characters well and dealt nicely with the few spots where we get to hear Hamish’ thoughts. Hopefully, she will also narrate the next in the series.
July 6, 2024
Thanks to Alice Castle, Bookouture Audio, and NetGalley for allowing me to listen to a free eaudio ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Calling the subtitle's bluff---this book is not gripping or addictive. It is cozy, though, and felt rather like sitting at Grandma's kitchen table listening to her reminisce while plying me with sweets. Except the protags aren't my grandma's age (god rest her soul), they're my parents'.
Oh my god. I'm old.
Well, that puts a bit of a different perspective on it. The narrator sounded like a grandmother, not someone retirement age. In my opinion, anyway. So I'm imagining octogenarians sleuthing around with hearing aides and orthopedic shoes. Sigh. Narration matters, people!
No, Jilly Bond is truly a wonderful and talented narrator. She just sounded too old to my ear.
*narrows eyes* *re-reads blurb*
Actually, the blurb seems to almost avoid mentioning the protag's age. Only the word "retired" suggests a figure, and that could be easily missed. No wonder I was taken aback to hear a narrator sounding like a grandma.
Aaaanyway---this is a quaint and enjoyable narrative. There's not much tension or sense of danger. Sarah and Daphne had so much fun sleuthing it came off like a lark. Hamish and Tinker Bell stole their scenes to the point that I didn't much mind when we suddenly switched to Hamish's point of view. I wasn't sure what to think about Charles at first, especially as a potential love interest, but he grew on me.
Overall, if you like cozy English mysteries and don't mind if the characters arent thirty-somethings, you'll love this book.
Calling the subtitle's bluff---this book is not gripping or addictive. It is cozy, though, and felt rather like sitting at Grandma's kitchen table listening to her reminisce while plying me with sweets. Except the protags aren't my grandma's age (god rest her soul), they're my parents'.
Oh my god. I'm old.
Well, that puts a bit of a different perspective on it. The narrator sounded like a grandmother, not someone retirement age. In my opinion, anyway. So I'm imagining octogenarians sleuthing around with hearing aides and orthopedic shoes. Sigh. Narration matters, people!
No, Jilly Bond is truly a wonderful and talented narrator. She just sounded too old to my ear.
*narrows eyes* *re-reads blurb*
Actually, the blurb seems to almost avoid mentioning the protag's age. Only the word "retired" suggests a figure, and that could be easily missed. No wonder I was taken aback to hear a narrator sounding like a grandma.
Aaaanyway---this is a quaint and enjoyable narrative. There's not much tension or sense of danger. Sarah and Daphne had so much fun sleuthing it came off like a lark. Hamish and Tinker Bell stole their scenes to the point that I didn't much mind when we suddenly switched to Hamish's point of view. I wasn't sure what to think about Charles at first, especially as a potential love interest, but he grew on me.
Overall, if you like cozy English mysteries and don't mind if the characters arent thirty-somethings, you'll love this book.
June 26, 2024
Who ever thought retirement would be boring, never moved to Merstairs
This is my first read of this author. I didn’t know what to expect. At the start we meet recent widow, Dr. Sarah Vane, retired. She has moved to the village of Merstairs near her childhood friend, Daphne. Sarah doesn’t have a lot of room in her new home and Daphne offers to store Sarah’s husband’s things in her beach hut until Sarah is ready to let them go.
As the story progresses we learn of the history between Daphne and Sarah (they are a bit of an odd couple), Sarah and her late husband (married for many years with two children), and of course the victim (pub owner). Charles, the antique store owner, and the seller of the beach hut to Daphne. He is also, a suspect. There are many characters and many motives. Hamish, Sarah’s dog and Daphne, keep the story light.
The treatment of some heavy themes is handled very well. I like how Sarah is adjusting to her new life, embracing her grief (it has not been very long since her husband’s death), and learning her new strength.
As the mystery progresses, we learn about the town, the people - many are related to each other - and of course, the secrets.
The murder resolution most likely will cause a moment of pause and reflection. If you were perpetrator, would you do the same thing? Does the reason justify the murder?
I can’t wait to see what’s next for Sarah in her new home in Merstairs.
Thank you to #NetGalley for the opportunity to do an early read and share my thoughts on the story.
Happy Reading!
This is my first read of this author. I didn’t know what to expect. At the start we meet recent widow, Dr. Sarah Vane, retired. She has moved to the village of Merstairs near her childhood friend, Daphne. Sarah doesn’t have a lot of room in her new home and Daphne offers to store Sarah’s husband’s things in her beach hut until Sarah is ready to let them go.
As the story progresses we learn of the history between Daphne and Sarah (they are a bit of an odd couple), Sarah and her late husband (married for many years with two children), and of course the victim (pub owner). Charles, the antique store owner, and the seller of the beach hut to Daphne. He is also, a suspect. There are many characters and many motives. Hamish, Sarah’s dog and Daphne, keep the story light.
The treatment of some heavy themes is handled very well. I like how Sarah is adjusting to her new life, embracing her grief (it has not been very long since her husband’s death), and learning her new strength.
As the mystery progresses, we learn about the town, the people - many are related to each other - and of course, the secrets.
The murder resolution most likely will cause a moment of pause and reflection. If you were perpetrator, would you do the same thing? Does the reason justify the murder?
I can’t wait to see what’s next for Sarah in her new home in Merstairs.
Thank you to #NetGalley for the opportunity to do an early read and share my thoughts on the story.
Happy Reading!
July 19, 2024
First, in a new series, and from a new-to-me author. I really liked Sarah as a character. She was intelligent and brave, while still being somewhat restrained and cautious, which made sense. I always appreciate seeing older characters in books, and Sarah‘s position as a retired physician and a new widow, finding her way in a new town, added extra interest to the book. Although I did have to suspend disbelief in order to buy her determination to solve the crime, I thought the mystery itself was pretty well done. They were plenty of suspicious characters and red herrings to keep the mystery going.
There were a few things that affected my enjoyment and my rating. Best friend Daphne was so grating. She seemed more like a caricature than a well-developed character—the goofy, careless, faux-mystic in mismatched colors and scarves—coming off as just dim, slovenly, and constantly eating. There were a few rapid-fire POV changes in the second half, including (weirdly) the dog’s POV, and that took me out of the story. Lastly, I didn’t feel the setting was well developed. I wasn’t able to form a clear picture of Sarah’s home, for example. The town was reduced to a sliver of beach, a couple bars, two dusty stores, and a couple indistinguishable cafés. Other than the interior of one bar, I didn’t feel like anything was given much description. When I’m reading a small town cozy mystery, I think I look for that.
All in all, I think this was a promising start to a series, and I do plan to continue.
I do feel this was a promising start to the series, and I plan to continue.
There were a few things that affected my enjoyment and my rating. Best friend Daphne was so grating. She seemed more like a caricature than a well-developed character—the goofy, careless, faux-mystic in mismatched colors and scarves—coming off as just dim, slovenly, and constantly eating. There were a few rapid-fire POV changes in the second half, including (weirdly) the dog’s POV, and that took me out of the story. Lastly, I didn’t feel the setting was well developed. I wasn’t able to form a clear picture of Sarah’s home, for example. The town was reduced to a sliver of beach, a couple bars, two dusty stores, and a couple indistinguishable cafés. Other than the interior of one bar, I didn’t feel like anything was given much description. When I’m reading a small town cozy mystery, I think I look for that.
All in all, I think this was a promising start to a series, and I do plan to continue.
I do feel this was a promising start to the series, and I plan to continue.
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