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Detective Anna McArthur #2
Murder in a Cottage
Please note this book was originally published as Squealer
Meet Detective Anna McArthur. Back at work after being stabbed in the line of duty. And solving serious crimes in West Norfolk.
Everyone says the victim was loved. Someone’s lying.
When church volunteer Yvonne Garrington is found dead in her cottage kitchen, her throat slashed and the scene awash with blood, DC Anna McArthur is called in to investigate. Still rebuilding her career after injury and scandal, Anna knows this is a chance to prove herself. But the deeper she digs into Yvonne’s quiet life, the more contradictions she uncovers.
Yvonne’s neighbours are polite. The parish is welcoming. The church choir even goes on performing. But someone in this picture-perfect town is hiding something dark — and when an anonymous tip places Yvonne’s estranged ex-husband at the scene, Anna realises the truth may lie closer to home than anyone wants to admit.
As secrets surface and loyalties fracture, Anna must push past gossip, grief, and her own doubts to catch a killer who won’t hesitate to silence anyone who gets in their way.
Meet Detective Anna McArthur. Back at work after being stabbed in the line of duty. And solving serious crimes in West Norfolk.
Everyone says the victim was loved. Someone’s lying.
When church volunteer Yvonne Garrington is found dead in her cottage kitchen, her throat slashed and the scene awash with blood, DC Anna McArthur is called in to investigate. Still rebuilding her career after injury and scandal, Anna knows this is a chance to prove herself. But the deeper she digs into Yvonne’s quiet life, the more contradictions she uncovers.
Yvonne’s neighbours are polite. The parish is welcoming. The church choir even goes on performing. But someone in this picture-perfect town is hiding something dark — and when an anonymous tip places Yvonne’s estranged ex-husband at the scene, Anna realises the truth may lie closer to home than anyone wants to admit.
As secrets surface and loyalties fracture, Anna must push past gossip, grief, and her own doubts to catch a killer who won’t hesitate to silence anyone who gets in their way.
214 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 2, 2024
557 people are currently reading
44 people want to read
About the author
Sadie Norman
3 books12 followersSadie lives in West Norfolk with her husband, two children, and demanding cat named Random. She works in education, but her real passion is for writing stories with a gripping mystery, attractive setting and a host of characters to love, hate, laugh with and root for. She has a strong love for her local area, as well as keen interest in history, and aims to make her small corner of the world come alive through her work.
When not writing, Sadie can be found with her nose in a book or daydreaming, thinking up crimes for new stories.
When not writing, Sadie can be found with her nose in a book or daydreaming, thinking up crimes for new stories.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
July 1, 2025
The story:
Detective Constable Anna McArthur (or ‘Crazy McArthur’ as she is not-so-affectionately known by her colleagues) is determined to prove herself now she is a permanent part of the Serious Crimes team in Norfolk. But when a seemingly well-liked woman is brutally murdered in her own kitchen, Anna and her colleagues are plunged into a difficult investigation. At first the only possible suspect seems to be the woman’s ex-husband, but Anna is convinced there’s something more going on in the murdered woman’s outwardly close-knit community. But will she be able to bring the truth to light without further cementing her ‘crazy’ reputation?
My thoughts:
“Murder in a Cottage” (originally published as “Squealer”) by Sadie Norman, is the second book in the Detective Anna McArthur series, following “Murder in Norfolk” and picks up pretty much immediately where that story ended.
DC Anna McArthur is now a fully-fledged member of the Serious Crime team, but still has a lot to prove with her colleagues, particularly her immediate boss, DI Chris Hamill. Anna has a reputation for attracting trouble, and her enthusiasm for following her instincts to solve a crime sometimes leads her to disregard orders, leading to her ‘Crazy McArthur’ nickname. So she is determined, at the start of this new case, not to do anything to perpetuate this. However, despite her best efforts, Anna does seem to end up in some tricky situations! And in this case, her instincts aren’t wrong when she suspects there’s more to the story than the murder victim’s tight-knit community is telling. Added to this, Anna has a complicated personal life, with her growing relationship with head of the team, Detective Chief Inspector Aaron Burns.
This is a fast-paced book, and a great continuation of Anna’s story. The mystery kept me guessing, and I was genuinely surprised when the culprit was brought to light. As we leave the team, there is a potentially even bigger problem on the horizon within a dirty cop in their midst. I look forward to seeing how this plays out in the next instalment!
Detective Constable Anna McArthur (or ‘Crazy McArthur’ as she is not-so-affectionately known by her colleagues) is determined to prove herself now she is a permanent part of the Serious Crimes team in Norfolk. But when a seemingly well-liked woman is brutally murdered in her own kitchen, Anna and her colleagues are plunged into a difficult investigation. At first the only possible suspect seems to be the woman’s ex-husband, but Anna is convinced there’s something more going on in the murdered woman’s outwardly close-knit community. But will she be able to bring the truth to light without further cementing her ‘crazy’ reputation?
My thoughts:
“Murder in a Cottage” (originally published as “Squealer”) by Sadie Norman, is the second book in the Detective Anna McArthur series, following “Murder in Norfolk” and picks up pretty much immediately where that story ended.
DC Anna McArthur is now a fully-fledged member of the Serious Crime team, but still has a lot to prove with her colleagues, particularly her immediate boss, DI Chris Hamill. Anna has a reputation for attracting trouble, and her enthusiasm for following her instincts to solve a crime sometimes leads her to disregard orders, leading to her ‘Crazy McArthur’ nickname. So she is determined, at the start of this new case, not to do anything to perpetuate this. However, despite her best efforts, Anna does seem to end up in some tricky situations! And in this case, her instincts aren’t wrong when she suspects there’s more to the story than the murder victim’s tight-knit community is telling. Added to this, Anna has a complicated personal life, with her growing relationship with head of the team, Detective Chief Inspector Aaron Burns.
This is a fast-paced book, and a great continuation of Anna’s story. The mystery kept me guessing, and I was genuinely surprised when the culprit was brought to light. As we leave the team, there is a potentially even bigger problem on the horizon within a dirty cop in their midst. I look forward to seeing how this plays out in the next instalment!
December 29, 2025
Sadie Norman knows how to write a good novel and keep you intrigued! Anna McArthur returned to work sometime ago after having a long time off to get over being stabbed. She is now a Detective Constable working for the very small crime squad in King's Lynn, or if it's not in King's Lynn it's somewhere down Downham Market way. I am tired! They are called out to the body of a woman in a 2 up 2 down cottage and it was a frenzied knife attack. The victim Yvonne Garrington was a regular church goer but the leading light of the church Helena Brandon, a vile woman really and she calls herself a christian, is not keen to help with the investigation at all, there is a distinct impression that she hated the woman or indeed anyone who got in her way and the vicar isn't strong enough to put her in her place, as it were. The trouble is that there is a lack of evidence to charge anyone especially as everyone says Yvonne had no friends outside the church, and of them there were precious few. My money is on Helena Brandon!!!
The book does move along at a fair pace but there are no real clues as to who killed Yvonne in such a violent manner or where her errant husband is, until he is found dead, and with the extreme shortage of potential baddies the book tends to slow down a bit here, but picks up pace very quickly when nearing the end of the investigation as they now have the killer in their sights. I did like this storyline and it did hold my interest all the way through, and I do like all of the small team they have!!
The book does move along at a fair pace but there are no real clues as to who killed Yvonne in such a violent manner or where her errant husband is, until he is found dead, and with the extreme shortage of potential baddies the book tends to slow down a bit here, but picks up pace very quickly when nearing the end of the investigation as they now have the killer in their sights. I did like this storyline and it did hold my interest all the way through, and I do like all of the small team they have!!
July 6, 2025
Anna McArthur is back - and trying very hard not to live up to her chaotic nickname.
Now officially part of the Serious Crime team, Anna’s determined to play by the rules. Her colleagues are still wary of her... enthusiasm, especially DI Chris Hamill, who’s keeping a close eye on her every move. But even with the best intentions, Anna being Anna, she somehow finds herself in yet another tangled case - one where the victim’s seemingly close-knit community isn’t as squeaky clean as it seems.
I really enjoyed this second outing. It’s fast-paced, layered with tension, and the mystery kept me guessing until the reveal (which genuinely surprised me!). Anna is still the same impulsive, gutsy detective - but with more pressure to prove she belongs on the team. There’s also the added complexity of her growing relationship with DCI Aaron Burns, which simmers nicely in the background without overpowering the case.
And just when you think things have settled, a juicy twist lands in the final pages - a corrupt cop lurking in their midst? !
Now officially part of the Serious Crime team, Anna’s determined to play by the rules. Her colleagues are still wary of her... enthusiasm, especially DI Chris Hamill, who’s keeping a close eye on her every move. But even with the best intentions, Anna being Anna, she somehow finds herself in yet another tangled case - one where the victim’s seemingly close-knit community isn’t as squeaky clean as it seems.
I really enjoyed this second outing. It’s fast-paced, layered with tension, and the mystery kept me guessing until the reveal (which genuinely surprised me!). Anna is still the same impulsive, gutsy detective - but with more pressure to prove she belongs on the team. There’s also the added complexity of her growing relationship with DCI Aaron Burns, which simmers nicely in the background without overpowering the case.
And just when you think things have settled, a juicy twist lands in the final pages - a corrupt cop lurking in their midst? !
October 16, 2025
exciting
This is the second book I’ve read written by Sadie Norman , and I found it to be an exciting read with a good twist at the end . So if you want a book that’s an exciting read with a good twist at the end try Murder In A Cottage . As for me it’s off to book 3 as it’s already written there’s no waiting about
This is the second book I’ve read written by Sadie Norman , and I found it to be an exciting read with a good twist at the end . So if you want a book that’s an exciting read with a good twist at the end try Murder In A Cottage . As for me it’s off to book 3 as it’s already written there’s no waiting about
June 23, 2025
excellent page turner
This book was excellent if you pass by odd bits of bad grammar (note proof reader). The story was addictive enough to put Anna’s progress before housework . The characters in the team worked very well together. I really enjoyed it
This book was excellent if you pass by odd bits of bad grammar (note proof reader). The story was addictive enough to put Anna’s progress before housework . The characters in the team worked very well together. I really enjoyed it
October 28, 2025
Another thoroughly enjoyable novel
I have thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and look forward to reading more of her work.I shall be recommending this author to members of my book club.
I have thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and look forward to reading more of her work.I shall be recommending this author to members of my book club.
July 16, 2025
A great read that will keep you turning the pages. If you enjoy police procedure you will enjoy this book with a romantic sub plot.
August 11, 2025
Another very good read, I live in the area so it’s familiar
January 10, 2026
Good book
A good book although it seemed to drag on for too long with an ending that felt rushed. I did enjoy it though.
A good book although it seemed to drag on for too long with an ending that felt rushed. I did enjoy it though.
January 25, 2026
another gripping story
Second in the series and still good storylines. Bring on number 3. Looking forward to seeing how these characters develop
Second in the series and still good storylines. Bring on number 3. Looking forward to seeing how these characters develop
July 22, 2025
As I said in my review of Book One I was born and raised in King's Lynn a long long time ago so it was a bit of a must read. As before the 100% accuracy of the places e.g. towns, villages, churches and hospitals was quite something for an author. I almost felt it was a biography. Again as i said before, the author is no Elly Griffiths, whose heroine Dr. Ruth Galloway is also in King's Lynn based.
The story revolves around DC Anna Mcarthur, known to her colleagues as "Crazy Mcarthur" who seems to always be in the wrong place at the wrong time. She is keen to remain in the Serious Crimes Unit and contributes greatly to solving the crimes but again her methodology means no real rewards for her courageous and good work. It's a good story and a short book. Easily readable in one decent session.
The story revolves around DC Anna Mcarthur, known to her colleagues as "Crazy Mcarthur" who seems to always be in the wrong place at the wrong time. She is keen to remain in the Serious Crimes Unit and contributes greatly to solving the crimes but again her methodology means no real rewards for her courageous and good work. It's a good story and a short book. Easily readable in one decent session.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews