The Ambleside Alibi

Persimmon Brown #2

by Rebecca Tope

Simmy has been adjusting to life in Windermere running her florist shop integrating into the community and trying to put her tragic past behind her But just when Simmy thinks her life is quietly coming together it starts to unravel at the seams She delivers a bouquet of flowers with a mysterious message attached to an elderly lady and sinister secrets come creeping into the light And when another old woman is found murdered in her own home Persimmon knows her peaceful life in Windermere is about to be shaken once again Simmy is inexorably drawn into the center of the murder investigation as the prime suspect names her as an alibi Trying to rebuild her own life Simmy must untangle the murky lives others and uncover the motive behind the murder before another one is committed

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Crime, Detective, Cozy Mystery, British Literature, Audiobook

352 pages, Paperback

First published August 26, 2013

About the author

Rebecca Tope is best known as the author of over twenty crime novels. She has also recently produced the e-book entitled 'The Indifference of Tumbleweed'. She has every intention of continuing with the murder stories, as well as a variety of other kinds of fiction.

She has experienced many different kinds of work in her time - running antenatal classes, counselling troubled couples and being an office girl for an undertaker, for example. There were also several years monitoring the output of dairy cows, as well as every sort of task associated with book publishing. In 1992, she founded Praxis Books, a small British press.

She lives surrounded by trees she has planted herself, tending her own sheep.

Reviews

[Alayne Emmett · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a slow burner read but I loved it. Having read the first in this series I knew the characters which made it easier. It wasn’t fast paced but was a gentle story just the job.

[Rebecca Morgan · Rating 2 out of 5]

A disappointing read. Nothing really happens and what does happen is unnecessarily convoluted. I enjoyed the location details but the characters were one-dimensional and never really developed. I was waiting for the big reveal but by the end, I just wanted to finish the book. Wouldn’t convince me to read another sadly.

[Beverley Lombardi · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was good until chapter 23. Then the story became implausible.

[David]

Another first for me and intriguing enough to make me want to look up some more. Persimmon Brown is an unconventional figure, in many ways adorable, and also subject to almost James Bond level violence against her in the role of sleuth. It was definitely a page-turner for me, a bit surprising for one I picked up at random at a used book sale.

[Mrs Hazel Rounthwaite · Rating 2 out of 5]

Found it really hard to stay interested which is a shame as I really wanted to enjoy this book. I found it very slow and far to descriptive and information on bits that just didn't matter to the story. 5 chapters around hospital visits could have been just 1 or 2. The murder was just discussion between characters, youd get more investigation in a famous five book. I persevered as i hate giving up but the ending was implausible and disappointing. Sadly despite buying more in the series I'm not sure I'll be reading them.

[Catharine · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this one better than the first one. I thought it flowed better, or maybe just a little more interesting. I like Simmy a bit more now, but I still love Thea Osborne!

[Linsey Sweet · Rating 4 out of 5]

Characters are great and nice their stories carry on but the plot for this one was not as good

[Amelia · Rating 2 out of 5]

I’m sorry I kind of feel bad, but the writing style wasn’t for me !! and the mystery was a bit meh. I still don’t understand why the killer killed??? I kept reading and wanted to finish it tho… 2.5 starz

[Deborah · Rating 3 out of 5]

A “cosy” murder mystery in the Lake District

[Cliff · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ms Tope appears to enjoy writing books where the main character is a single woman and set in a small part of England, all described in the title. I have read a number of her Cotswold novels where the protagonist is a widow who sits houses in the Cotswolds while the owner is away. Inevitably, murder occurs why she is there and she becomes involved in the investigation one way or another. This is the first of her Lake District novels I have read where the protagonist is a recently divorced woman who has set up a flower shop in Ambleside which appears to be a flourishing little business. In this book she is asked to prepare and deliver a bouquet to an elderly lady on her birthday with the message 'from a granddaughter you never knew you had'. A murder of another elderly lady takes place at about the same time as Persimmon (for that is the florist's unlikely name) is delivering the bouquet and she is asked later to provide an alibi for a suspect. Matters go on from there with some sleuthing by Persimmon, her assistant and a teenage boy. Much is made of the complicated family relationships in the small area involved - I for one could have done with a family tree, but that have given things away. My wife and I discussed whether this could be called 'cosy crime', bearing in mind the nasty things do happen to our heroin during the course of the book. Perhaps we need a genre midway between cosy crime and down to earth thrillers. While this is well plotted and the dialogue is realistic, I can't see the book being worth more than 2* when compared with the masters of police procedurals and thrillers

[Hailstones · Rating 3 out of 5]

After picking this book up from the charity shop bargain bucket (20p bargain!) when lockdown restrictions were slightly relaxed into tiers, I bundled it with the other carrier bag of goody books to read in readiness for the next self-isloation period.
This lovely, endearing book is one of a series which covers amateur sleuthing in the Lake District. There are other series in other areas that I shall now look out for.
The silliness of 'Midsomer Murders' comes into it as one asks, how can a lovely lady like Simmy get so unlucky to be involved in so many murders in such a beautiful location. However, it's not as silly as said TV series as the main character, Persimmon (Simmy for short) is so likeable. She is not an airhead, has had sad and tragic experiences, is self-deprecating and as an only child, has a great relationship with her funny parents who own a B&B in the same area. One where you can smoke and take smelly dogs with you; I want to stay there!
The group of friends that she has accumulated since moving to the Lake District to get away from sad memories and to be near her parents are funny, odd and clever all at the same time. I completely empathised with the localness of the conversations, the ability of everyone to know everyone else's business and history, who is dating, divorcing etc. All this helps when trying to solve murders of course.
It has also made me desperately want to visit the Lake District again as it has been too long and the description of the scenery, the weather and characters has reminded me how special it is in spite of all the walkers. I just hope I can find a B&B like Simmy's parents'...

[Meg · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book leapt out at me from the library shelf – it’s got Ambleside in the title and nostalgia demanded that I borrowed it.
In this story, the main character, Persimmon or ‘Simmy’ for short, is a florist trying to build her business following relocation to The Lakes following the breakdown of her marriage. Her shop is in Windermere, and her parents have guest house just down the road. She is given an order for some flowers to be delivered to an elderly lady for her birthday, which leads to a murder and an attempt to murder Simmy.
The story itself wasn’t bad; the solution came because of the blatant behaviour of the murderer followed by a confession rather than any nifty detecting. This is the second book in the series, and is a standalone book, apart from the random throw in of a character having an artificial eye – maybe this is explained in the first book, but a couple of explanatory lines would have been good – or not mentioned at it, it seems to have no bearing on the character, their abilities or the plot.
I do wonder at how well the author knows the area; I doubt many Windermere locals would go to Keswick for shopping, even at Christmas. The times taken for some of the deliveries also seem a bit hopeful.

[LeAnne · Rating 5 out of 5]

A better story than I thought it would be. The story takes place in England's Lake District in an area of little towns. Towns where everyone knows everyone else and they are likely related in some way to almost everyone living in the area. When an old woman is killed, the trail is long and buried among all those relatives. The main character in the story is Simmy, who moved to the area after an unhappy time in her life to start over by running a florist shop. She makes an odd delivery to another old woman and that's when the mystery begins. Sometimes I thought Simmy was a little slow to comprehend things, even though she appears to have been involved in solving a murder in a previous book. Evidently, she didn't learn much because she continued to do some really dumb things in this book, too. The writing is good....the people are interesting....the time period is in the present - cell phones and up to date. I've enjoyed reading several of the stories from this series.

[Dale Harcombe · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the first book I have read by this author. I initially picked it up because I liked the cover. This is what is termed a cosy mystery set in the Lakes District of England. Persimmon Brown (usually known as Simmy) has opened a florist shop in the town of Windermere. I particularly liked the way the setting was described and Persimmon (strange name!) was a likeable character. Simmy is looking to put tragic events from her past behind her. But the delivery of a bouquet of flowers to an elderly lady set in motion a train of events that sees Simmy mixed up in a murder case.
This is an easy to read mystery without any explicit sex, language or graphic crime details. Yes, I admit to picking the murderer, but that is par for the course for me, which is why I only ever read the occasional murder mystery. An enjoyable read that should please readers of cosy mysteries.

[Mary Pimbblet · Rating 2 out of 5]

The main draw for this series of books is the location, you read for a story set around a familiar, real landscape. Rebecca Tope has done her research finding locations and roads around the area, but she has a strange obsession with snow, as if there's loads of it every winter in the lakes, and not just mainly up on the fells.
The plot is just bizarre, a friendly policemen just give details of crimes to people without any thought. The crime is finally solved without any need for actual detective work, couldn't have been solved with the clues that are give in the plot, and the reasoning behind it is completely unlikely. The last few chapters are just so unbelievable it becomes almost funny.
I've still got quite a few of these books, and I hate to give books away unread, so I'll continue with the series. I'm just not sure where the plot can go from here.

[Judas Machina · Rating 1 out of 5]

SPOILERS!
But! the solution came because of the blatant behaviour of the murderer followed by a confession rather than any nifty detecting. So I don't feel bad about what I did.
I did something I almost never do.
I made a deal with myself for this little novel. I bet that if I figured out who the killer was in the first 100 pages, based on the perceived politics of the author, I would skip to the end to see if I was right. If wrong, I would read every word. If right, I would not read any further.
I won, or lost, depending on your viewpoint. The fact remains that I did NOT read every word or page in this book.
So here is the spoiler: Christians are bad, lesbians are good, George Bernard Shaw wrote a funny play called Androcles.
Here is the second spoiler; lesbians only commit murder because men have been awful and IVF.
Sorry.
The premise is; a secret granddaughter sends flowers to her grandmother.
Basically, one character is a lesbian because her father was abusive. Okay, sure. I've been told it's something you're born with, but this is made up so I'll roll with it. She's incredibly insecure about the fact that she donated her eggs and has a biological child out in the world somewhere. This could be an issue because of inheritance...or something.
Since the author went out of their way to make a few remarks of religious people, and lesbians don't have granddaughters (right? Never happens), I figured that was the probable solutions.
I was right.
The characters seem bloated, although I'm sure others would view this as the author having "keen insight" into what makes people work. The pace is slow, and since Simmy doesn't even solve anything or do any real detective work, you as the reader are just along for the ride. ANd this ride takes you all over for flower deliveries.

I didn't like it, but you might, Dear Reader.

[John Curtis · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Ambleside Alibi by Rebecca Tope.
This story is a slow burner but when it gets going it’s non stop action,if like me you have read the first book in this series of The Lake District and this is book two,then you know the main character’s which I found helpful.
My book had a map of the Lake District in the front page,which for me helped to know the area talked about in this story.
As it’s set before Christmas and I’m read this book in early January 2026 where it’s cold with snow helps to understand the story line.
With just over 300 pages it was easy for me to read over 3 sitting/days but to be fair,I couldn’t put it down. I know there are quite a few more in this series from this author and if they stay at this level of reading then I will be happy to read.
I got myself the complete set of this series for Christmas 2025 as a gift to me from my late Daughter Charlotte who passed away in 2007,but I will never forget her so she gives me gift on my birthday and at Christmas every year, and that way she always gets me what I want…..funny that.
Enjoy

[Leeanne McHarg · Rating 3 out of 5]

First and foremost, why do they change narrators in a book series by the same author? It makes it difficult to reconnect with the characters, as you feel like you have to get to know them all over again!

That said, I enjoyed this second book in the Lakes District Mysteries. It’s full of intrigue, with plenty of possible suspects but no clear way of uncovering the real killer. Simmy, assisted by her loyal friends Melanie and Ben, once again finds herself drawn into danger—this time, the mystery hits much closer to home.

There were moments where the story felt a little unrealistic, with too many coincidences that wrapped things up a bit too neatly. Still, the tension was well maintained—you could sense something was coming, but never quite what!

Overall, The Ambleside Alibi was an engaging read, and I’m looking forward to following more of Persimmon Brown’s adventures in the Lakes District.

[Mark · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good cosy crime read, transporting me to the beautiful Lake District. I enjoyed this book more than the previous instalment - perhaps because I knew the characters and didn’t have to spend the time having them built up.

Instead, the vivid descriptions of a wintery Troutbeck and the icy cold waters of Lake Windermere ramped up my excitement of visiting the area in a few weeks time!

I found the plot more page-turning this time around too, perhaps spurred on by the threat to Simmy’s life too - the characters felt much more part of the action than just looking on like they did previously.

Some parts were slow, without much happening to propel the plot forwards, but this can be forgiven as it was a nice improvement following my last disappointing read!

[Lucia · Rating 2 out of 5]

Very weak on the mistery side of the plot, as the murder is hardly at the centre of the story.
I kept reading only in the hope to be amazed by a final plot-twist that didn't really happen. Also, the action is moved by choices of the characters that do not seem too belivable in real life, or the disastrous consequences were far too predictable not to be calculated in first place by the character itself.

One point is, though, for the description of the countryside area: a place that is dear to me and I enojoyed absorbing myself into. Tope was brilliant in describing the Christmas atmosphere in the Cotswolds.

[Helen Ennis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another in the Lake District series which starts innocently enough in December close to Christmas with a mystery bouquet order. Persimmon quickly becomes embroiled in family sagas, with someone very keen to keep a family secret to the point of murder and then attacking her. Her shop assistant, Melanie, proves very useful and Ben, whilst busy with preparation for a role in the school play, is also there to help with the investigation. We meet Ninian Tripp, the potter, who will doubtless reappear in other books. An enjoyable enough read with some moments of excitement but also confusion for me trying to remember all the different family connections!

[Delegra · Rating 2 out of 5]

Well at least I can say I finished it. I agree with some others who felt there were too many characters to follow easily they way they were presented, and since I hadn't read the first in the series, this was my introduction to them. I'd have to say Ben and Moxon were my favorite characters. Ben has sparkle and a sense of humor, and I found Moxon a caring sincere and basically likable person. Simmy seemed as though she had never "grown up." She was more like the teenagers she befriended than someone who was 38-48.

Basically, the story rambles on, and more than once I found myself saying, "Get to the point."

[Nikki · Rating 5 out of 5]

Simmy runs a florists in the Lake District, she's tasked with delivering a bunch of flowers which leads to a mystery needing sorting out.

Along the way there's a murder of an elderly lady, is the murder and the flowers delivered to another elderly lady connected?

DI Moxon is involved again as are Melanie (Simmy's assistant) and Ben (geeky schoolboy very intelligent and good at solving murders).

This book is darker than the 1st, will everyone involved come out alive?

Another enjoyable read in this series by Rebecca Tope.

[Helen Natasha Moore · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this book at a bus stop library and nabbed it as I had a holiday booked in Ambleside. I saved it to read while I was there.

This was thrilling from the first page as the intrigue started on Peggy Hill, where we had rented a cottage! And I made a point of reading more over a coffee in the beautiful Giggling Goose Café by Stock Ghyll, where the action continues.

The story line and characters were fun. But the ending?

[Kirsty Darbyshire · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read the first in this series and while back and remembered it as being quite decent. This one bored me in the beginning but got better as it warmed up. Nothing special, some good characters, some not so good ones. I suspect it's one of those series I'll probably pick up again and find enjoyable, I'm certainly willing to try another one even if I'm not sounding hugely enthusiastic about it!

[Masha Esa · Rating 1 out of 5]

Couldn’t get past the fifth chapter. Shocked I even allowed myself to read that far. It reads as though it’s a translated version of a foreign book. Grammar off, very simple adjectives and language. You need to have an extremely low IQ to enjoy this. I am frustrated I let my vanity get the better of me and chose it solely from the blurb and cover.

[Miss J. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have read a lot of the Lake District series and so it was great to fill in gaps in Persimmon’s story. It was interesting to see how RT was developing the characters. Comparing these initial characterisations to the more developed ones was challenging as they appear quite different in the later books but perhaps that’s true of all humans.

[Richard · Rating 4 out of 5]

A better read than the first in the series, perhaps because the characters are more established. Also the story was a journey, whereas the first seemed to go round in hazy circles. The big plus is the sense of place, the descriptions of the Lake District are brilliant.

[Patrick Carroll · Rating 3 out of 5]

Better than the first one of the series and she ramps up the tension especially in the second half of the book. If I have a complaint iris that the twist isn’t telegraphed well so you might feel short changed with the finale.

[Tiffany Howard · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was OK, it made a good accompaniment to my holiday in Ambleside. I do think it needed a bit of editing though - the protagonist's role is very passive and there are parts where her internal monologue and her experiences took away from the plot rather than enhancing it.