Murder in Mind

Ellie Quicke #13

by Veronica Heley

How far will Ellie’s daughter Diana go to snag the man of her dreams?

When Diana drops the bombshell that she is pregnant — by Evan Hooper, the swindling estate agent! — Ellie is devastated. The neighbours don’t call him ‘the Great White Shark’ for nothing . . .

To Ellie, he doesn’t seem like marriage material at all, but Diana’s determined to get him to the aisle.

If only he didn’t have so many dependents already. Two ex-wives and four children don’t come cheap, and Diana is worried there will be nothing left for her and her new baby once he’s footed the bill.

Then disaster strikes. Two of the Shark’s beloved children are found dead within days of each other.

One death in the family is tragic. But two is suspicious . . .

There are plenty of people who could be in the frame — Ellie just hopes the culprit doesn’t turn out to be her only daughter.

Genres: Mystery, Mystery Thriller

302 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 1, 2012

About the author

Veronica Heley has published more than fifty books, including crime fiction, historical, and children's titles. She is currently involved in the Ellie Quicke series of crime stories and a variety of other projects. A full-time writer, she has been married to a London probation officer since 1964, and has one musician daughter.

AKA Veronica Thorne

Reviews

[Ivonne Rovira · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rapacious, selfish Diana Quicke has gotten herself into yet another quandary. Early in the Ellie Quicke mystery series, Diana dumped her dependable, honest husband Stewart in order to create liaisons with ambitious, equally selfish men; each relationship was an amalgam of get-rich-quick business scheme and lust, and each time the affairs ended badly. (The last time was with the murderous Denis in Murder by Mistake.)

Now Diana has hitched her wagon to Evan Hooper, who was introduced in Murder My Neighbour. Pregnant by Hooper with a much-desired son, Diana is determined to become the fourth Mrs. Hooper, come hell or high water. Neither Diana nor Hooper, an older unscrupulous man nicknamed the Great White Shark, seem deterred by Hooper’s still being married to his third wife, Angelika, who remains very much in residence at his home.

So when Hooper’s daughters from his second and third marriages and the second Mrs. Hooper each die in supposed accidents, Diana’s saintly, but perspicacious mother Ellie fears the worst. Could Diana be behind these “accidents”? Perish the thought! So does it then mean that the remaining Hoopers — and Diana, as well — are in extreme danger?

Number 13’s supposedly unlucky, but Murder in Mind, Veronica Heley’s 13th novel in the Ellie Quicke series, proved a four-star gem. I especially enjoyed Diana’s attempt to transform herself into a matron after years of monochromatic black on her svelte frame and the situating Vera and Mikey as permanent members of the already-eclectic Quicke household. The over-the-top denouement involving a cardboard villain, however, spoiled the book enough to keep it from rating five stars.

I’m absolutely addicted to this cozy mystery series! Just as chain smokers light the next cigarette off of their current one, I begin the next entry in the Ellie Quicke series as soon as I finish the previous novel. So I’ve already started No. 14, Murder with Mercy.

[Lynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

If appears that someone is targeting the Hooper family. One of the daughters is found dead in their home exercise room. Another dies soon after when she eats a cookie with peanuts that was handed to her by a clown. The police are quick to say death by accident but Ellie Quicke is suspicious of what is going on. Her daughter Diana has her cap set for the rich married real estate patriarch the Hooper family. She says she is pregnant with a male child.

This series is a go to series for me. I read it to relax and always know that I will enjoy the books. I have read thirteen books now. The books are a lot like real life in regards to acquaintances and changes in ones life. The first book started out with Ellie recently widowed, living in a different neighborhood with friends from that neighborhood. Now in the thirteen book she has remarried, lives in a different house, has had character growth and many new friends have stayed or gone through out the thirteen books. That is good because her life is not static but always changing, growing and adapting to whatever comes her way. One thing doesn't change is dreadful Diana her daughter. I know she is in the series to stay but I wouldn't miss her if she moved far away. It is hard to see how such a nice caring person as Ellie can have a daughter like Diana. Will be reading the next book in the series soon. I should mention that the series is an English cozy and the setting is a suburb in London. It feels like a small town location though.

[Damaskcat · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ellie Quicke is trying to decide the best way to accommodate husband Thomas's relatives when they visit from Canada. Time is short and she needs to rearrange several rooms in her large old house and source some more furniture as well as doing some last minute decorating. Meanwhile the rest of her life must go on - being a director of her charitable trust, making decisions about a project to convert the old house next door into a hotel, fending off attempts by daughter Diana, to get her hands on more money and worrying about housekeeper, Rose, who is really getting too frail to cope with the job.

Then Diana's business partner and prospective husband suffers the death of one of his children, followed closely by the death of another one and that of one of his ex-wives. Are these deaths unfortunate accidents or is there more to them than that? Ellie's curiosity is aroused and unofficially the police would like her to take an interest. How is she going to fit everything into her busy life and not let anyone down?

Firmly based in day to day life this is a fascinating series with added depth and darker undercurrents. Even Ellie herself is not immune from irritability and bad temper as she tries to fit a quart into a pint pot. Gradually she is learning to delegate and be bossy when necessary instead of thinking she can do everything herself. Her rock solid relationship to husband Thomas is well drawn as is her constant battle with the daughter from hell - Diana. Ellie is also learning that there are some things money can buy her - the solutions to practical problems.

The book is well written and will appeal to anyone who likes their mystery stories to be that little bit different. The characters are well drawn and I like the way the series characters grow and develop through each book. Lessons are learned and relationships grow or fade just as they do in most people's lives. New characters appear in each book and I find it interesting to try and work out whether they will reappear in later books in the series. The books can be read out of order though character development is best seen through reading them in order. If you like Hazel Holt then you may well enjoy Veronica Heley

[Joanna Warrens · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this mystery series and this was a fine addition. Heley manages to write a book that is both cozy and spooky. Her books have sections where parts written from the point of view of the unknown murderer. This adds a dark bite to an otherwise straight forward cozy/traditional mystery. I love the main character Ellie and following her transition from an overwhelmed widow to a true leader has been wonderful. If these books sound interesting start at the beginning of series because character development is one of the best aspects of the series.

[Kimbie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Diana, Diana, Diana. How could such a beautiful woman give birth to such a demon child?

[Violet · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun, fast pace read; because Ellie is on the go, all the time. I really like Ms. Heley's Bea better but Ellie is okay. It's a nice touch that she is married to a long suffering spouse with a religious bent but then she also has a "snot" of a daughter ... makes it interesting. In this story, Diana plans on marrying a fella currently on his third wife (eye roll) and someone definitely does not like that family. I'm patting myself on the back tho, because I knew who it was about halfway thru the book and that usually does not happen. Entertaining.

[Sherry · Rating 2 out of 5]

I keep requesting this series from my library because they are busy withdrawing "older" books and I want to keep up with the characters - what on earth is going to happen to Diana, etc. I don't recommend reading this lightweight series out of order - as I don't think the reader would care what happens to Dear Rose, etc. Interesting in this one we discover Thomas has children who live in Canada. I wonder if they will be "dear" or evil - or perhaps human with good and bad characteristics. I guess I will have to request #14 to find out.

[Jean Hutchinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful series

I love these books, such a mixture of joy and heart ache. Heley's characters are very believable. Ellie teaches that we have choices in life, that choice is happiness or not, it is for us to create.

[Mark · Rating 3 out of 5]

Alright

More mayhem and deaths . Odd how some people have completely vanished from the series. The religion part is getting a bit annoying now , but that's probably just me . It's ok but I'm not desperate to read the next.

[aprilla · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoy this series, will continue

[Elliemae · Rating 3 out of 5]

audiobook

[Margaret Swanson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dramatic story

This author brings out the drama in her stories. Even with the intensity of the mystery she touches the heart and spirit of the characters.

[Sherry · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love this series. I'm doing a marathon.

[Anne Herbison · Rating 3 out of 5]

The usual mayhem features in this book, linking in characters from the previous books (although some disappear completely and you wonder where they've gone).

[Denise Bonham · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gripping

Great plot in this book.
Love Ellie and The way she helps people.
Has Ears the Detective for a name?
Very enjoyable and emotional.

[Barbara Galt · Rating 4 out of 5]

You MUST read these books in chronological order. The enjoyment comes from watching the characters develop and the relationships grow. The mysteries are almost secondary.

Usually by book 13 a series starts to get a bit shaky but not this one. I have not noticed plot holes and she has kept to "facts" from previous stories.

[Adrienne · Rating 3 out of 5]

“Murder in Mind”, the latest Ellie Quicke cozy mystery by Veronica Heley once again finds Ellie immersed in murder and mayhem. Someone is systematically killing the Hooper family and Ellie’s perpetually ungrateful daughter, Diana, is about to become the latest Mrs. Hooper and is pregnant with Hooper’s son and heir. Of course, endearing Ellie solves the mystery in time to prevent further murders, takes in a woman and her rambunctious son, redecorates the house, and sorts out spare rooms and furniture to accommodate her husband’s family’s upcoming visit.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wish i had her money ....

[Pat Gallagher · Rating 1 out of 5]

I didn't care for this, it was too hard to follow. Seemed to wander all over to me.

[Marilyn · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not my favorite - tedious and contrived. Maybe I'm getting tired of poor Ellie, who is just too dithery while being astute. Boring.

[Barbara · Rating 2 out of 5]

Predictable. Amateurish. Second-rate printing.