Marchfield Square

Audrey and Lewis #1

by Nicola Whyte

Als im vornehmen Marchfield Square die Leiche von Richard Glead gefunden wird, sind dessen Nachbarn nur mäßig erschüttert, war das Opfer zu Lebzeiten doch alles andere als beliebt. Allein die Vermieterin des eleganten Wohngebäudes ist besorgt und möchte das Verbrechen lieber heute als morgen aufgeklärt wissen. Da sie der Polizei nicht allzu viel zutraut, beauftragt sie zwei Mieter mit diskreten ihre temperamentvolle Putzfrau Audrey und den introvertierten Schriftsteller Lewis. Gemeinsam begibt sich das ungleiche Duo auf Spurensuche in der illustren Nachbarschaft und stellt schon bald In Marchfield Square gibt es jede Menge pikanter Geheimnisse - und noch mehr Verdächtige ...

Genres: Mystery, Cozy Mystery, Fiction, Audiobook, Cozy, Crime, Thriller

464 pages, Paperback

First published April 1, 2025

About the author

Nicola Whyte has loved books for as long as she can remember. She writes novels and short stories for both adults and children. Her work has been listed for the Comedy Women in Print Prize, the Cheshire Novel Prize, the Daily Mail First Novel Competition, the BPA First Novel Award, and the Times Chicken House Children’s Fiction Competition. She lives near Stonehenge in Wiltshire with her family, a ridiculous spaniel, and two demanding tabby cats.

Reviews

[Jannelies · Rating 3 out of 5]

Marchfield Square looks like a lovely and safe place to live. In the city but behind walls and security gates, wealthy Celeste van Duren built her small community. She’s made one mistake though: she didn’t count on having a tenant with a criminal past – and a criminal live. When he’s found murdered and the police isn’t very fast with finding clues, she asks two other tenants to solve this mystery. Audrey, who loves cleaning and taking care of others, and Lewis, who hates his job and people in general, but loves crime writing. The two set out in a somewhat reluctant way but when the story evolves they learn to work well together.

What I like about this story is the interaction between Audrey and Lewis, and several other characters – not to forget that Marchfield Square itself plays a big role. And although there are developments we don’t expect, and some real surprises, the story failed to keep my interest at places. There was just too much talking and not enough action. It was a nice book and I would like to read more of this author to whether other works by her may get four stars instead of three.

Thanks to Bloomsbury Publishing and Netgalley for this review copy.

[K.J. Charles]

Murder mystery which for me hit just the wrong note, in that the tone and byplay and setting are all signalling cosy while the story is about domestic abuse, gangs, stalking, trauma and professional killers. Possibly detective novels were always thus and I'm just more irritable than I used to be. Still, I can't help comparing to say the Gabriel Ward mysteries, which have charm and heart but never lose sight of the human cost and horror of, you know, violent crime and death.

[Megan · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. youtube video: https://youtu.be/ZYAZl56lv9Q

a perfectly enjoyable cosy murder mystery with a satisfying pay-off, but I never truly got attached to the characters enough to be invested

[Sian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nicola is a lovely friend of mine and she's written a book! And it's a cozy crime! Loved the setting and sense of place and Audrey and Lewis's relationship.

[Jennifer (Jaye) (trying to catch up, challenging time) · Rating 3 out of 5]

*Promising*

Initially, this book started off slowly but gradually improved. It’s a debut novel by Nicola Whyte and I can already picture it on television. I’d describe it as a cosy crime drama. It’s the first book in the ‘Audrey and Lewis’ series, with more to come.

The story is set in Marchfield Square, a set of exclusive gated apartments in London. It’s owned by a wealthy widow named Celeste Van Duren, who employs a man servant. Celeste has worked hard to ensure her tenants’ happiness and safety. While the square isn’t particularly large, most neighbours know each other and the majority are older, with a few exceptions.

Our two main characters are Audrey Brooks and Lewis McLennan. Audrey is a people person who cleans most of the properties. Lewis, on the other hand, despises his job and spends his spare time writing. He’s struggling to carve out a career as a crime writer but isn’t a people person and prefers to keep to himself.

When a murder occurs, the residents are understandably uneasy since the square is supposed to be safe. No one heard a thing.

The victim was a nasty piece of work. His long-suffering wife Linda seems like the prime suspect, but Celeste isn’t convinced. She devises a plan to get Lewis and Audrey to team up as amateur detectives. Celeste insists she will need their help for a month and promises generous payment. Well, what could possibly go wrong? This is the first time Audrey and Lewis have met, and they’re quite different.

We follow them as they try to solve the case. There are some comedic moments and they also get into trouble, but will they find the culprit? We discover the real killer, and it’s someone unexpected.

[sclx.archives · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating: 3.5/5

Big thanks to NetGalley and Bloomsbury Publishing for the ARC!

If *Only Murders in the Building* had a slightly British twist and way more conversations over cups of tea, you'd get *10 Marchfield Square*. It’s a cozy murder mystery with just the right touch of amateur sleuthing and eccentric neighbors, all wrapped up in a charming (but secretly shady) apartment complex.

Celeste Van Duran, the estate’s owner, recruits two unlikely detectives—Audrey the cleaner and Lewis the crime writer—to dig into a suspicious tenant murder when she loses faith in the police’s enthusiasm.

Their odd-couple dynamic is genuinely the highlight of the book. Audrey’s down-to-earth sensibility paired with Lewis’s self-serious crime brain gives the whole thing a fun, offbeat rhythm.

That said, it *is* a slow burn. There’s a lot of talking, a lot of speculating, and at times it feels like the plot is meandering around in circles. It doesn't help that there’s a sizable cast of quirky characters to keep track of—keeping a notebook on hand wouldn’t hurt.

Still, there are some solid twists, a nice “gotcha!” ending, and it’s cozy in the best sense of the word. If you're into murder mysteries that are more tea than terror, give this one a go.

[Jeanne Adamek · Rating 5 out of 5]

!!!!!!

[Kendra Mae · Rating 5 out of 5]

I genuinely love everything about this book! Only Murders in the Building meets The Paris Apartment!
A couple of murders happen in a small block of flats in modern day London. The elderly landlady recruits 2 of the square’s residents—her cleaner and a mystery novelist—to investigate, after police are quick to rule it a murder suicide. The unlikely pair discover anyone in the square could be a suspect and everyone has something to hide.

I want to move into this square and investigate alongside Audrey and Lewis! This was such a fun read! I like how the different perspectives kept the story moving in an exciting and balanced manner. Sequel, please?

Thank you to Dreamscape Media for providing an arc!

[Lulu McDermott · Rating 2 out of 5]

Honestly if I hadn’t been reading this book club, I would have for sure DNFed it. The plot was kinda interesting but I didn’t care about the characters at all. At one point I was hoping that Lewis would be the next victim just to add a little something interesting

[mira · Rating 4 out of 5]

A solid 4-star mystery. I loved the characters, I was supposed to love, and hated those who I was supposed to. Now whe I look back I feel like this puzzle is pretty solvable for the reader if they want to, but I just enjoyed the ride this audiobook took me on. The mystery didn't feel isolated from the rest of the world even though the most of the action took place in the Marchfield Square

Thanks to NetGalley, the author, the audiobook narrator and the publisher for providing me with the audio arc

[Brooke Delage · Rating 3 out of 5]

If I wasn’t reading this for book club I probably would have stopped half way through lol… but overall, decent!

[Maria · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very clever cozy murder mystery. Loved the book!

The characters are all unique and multidimensional making this book amusing, intriguing and a joy to read. Short chapters about the different characters of this building complex makes the story gripping and smooth. I simply adore the pairing of Audrey and Lewis, so much potential.

Audrey Brooks got a new series and I am purchasing the next installment as soon as it comes out. Somebody was complaining in the reviews that it not have enough action people, this is a cozy mystery not a thriller, you simply do not see Poirot, Marple or Wimsey chasing villains and giving karate chops to all the badies (thank god because they will lose), they use their grey cells and that involves discussion and interviews. This is a stellar cozy. The pace picks up big time at the end with a surprising finale.

[Kathrin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ein klassischer Cozy Crime mit einem schönen Setting – die Atmosphäre im Haus und die vielen kleinen Geheimnisse haben mir gut gefallen. Das Buch lässt sich angenehm und durch die kurzen Kapitel flott lesen.

Spannungsmäßig war es für mich eher auf der ruhigen Seite. Manche Entwicklungen konnten mich nicht ganz mitreißen, sodass der große „Ich-muss-jetzt-unbedingt-wissen-wie-es-ausgeht“-Moment ein bisschen gefehlt hat.

Trotzdem insgesamt ein unterhaltsamer Krimi für zwischendurch, den ich gern gelesen habe – vor allem wegen der Atmosphäre. (:

[Rylee Jones · Rating 2 out of 5]

uhmm that was the longest audio book of my life. And so very mid. I feel like it was soo stagnant the whole entire book, nothing caught my eye as I was reading, so made it VERY hard to finish. Lol at finishing this so late !

[Cam Dugard · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was underwhelmed...

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this cosy mystery featuring two slightly reluctant amateur sleuths.
I highly recommend the audio book, its brilliantly narrated.
I've pre-ordered the next book and can't wait!

[Leona · Rating 3 out of 5]

3,5 ⭐️
War ganz nett für zwischendurch :)

[Ally · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an absolutely PERFECT cozy murder mystery. It has a variety of interesting and well-rounded characters and enough information to keep you constantly coming up with new theories, but not so much that it becomes horribly convoluted. The twists were surprising but subtle enough to be believable. I loved the interaction between the main duo and really hope this is a first in a series!

The narrator in the audiobook did an Incredible job of bringing the characters to life! Tricky dialogues were very easy to follow.

Thank you NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for providing me with an ARC for my honest review!

[Janae McNally · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story is an absolute delight! Marchfield Square is a close-knit, safe community—until one of its residents is found dead. The eccentric landlady, Celeste, recruits the personable cleaner Audrey and the introverted writer Lewis to solve the murder, and the result is a fast-paced whodunit brimming with charisma and charm. The dynamic between Audrey and Lewis is a perfect blend of contrasting personalities, bringing both humor and heart to the story, making them an unlikely yet irresistible detective duo. The square itself feels almost like a character, with its quirky residents and picturesque setting adding to the mystery’s allure. The twists and turns keep you guessing until the very end, and just when you think you’ve figured it out, there’s another surprise. With a satisfying conclusion, this book is a wonderful read that balances suspense with endearing moments. If you're a fan of cozy mysteries, this one is definitely worth picking up!

Thank you to NetGalley and Union Square & Co. for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

[Lauren Molyneux · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐️
this was really fun! i would like to be celeste van duren when i grow up. go on nicola, give us a sequel, please!!

[Liz · Rating 2 out of 5]

An ok cosy crime, though I found both of the amateur detectives very annoying.

[Miranda Blomberg · Rating 4 out of 5]

Aaaa mysdeckare i mitt hjärta

[Amelie · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐️ Cozy Mystery mit einem Setting, das mir echt gut gefallen hat :) trotzdem hat mir ab und zu die Spannung ein bisschen gefehlt? Irgendwie hat mich der Plot an manchen Stellen nicht so abgeholt, deswegen hatte ich auch kein krasses Bedürfnis danach zu wissen, wie die Story ausgeht. Habe auch die beiden Hauptcharaktere als eher unnahbar empfunden. Alles in allem hat mir das Buch aber trotzdem gefallen und man konnte es schnell lesen.

[Sabrina Gebauer · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ich habe eine lange Zeit gebraucht, um in die Story einzutauchen. Da Krimis generell nicht zu meinem Lieblingsgenre zählen, habe ich mich stellenweise durchs Buch gequält. Die zwei Hauptprotagonisten Audrey und Lewis sind mir mit der Zeit immer sympathischer geworden.
Ich habe das E-Book gelesen. Was sehr nervig war, war, dass ich die Textnachrichten am rechten Rand gar nicht lesen konnte, weil die mehr als die Hälfte abgeschnitten wurde. Hätte ich das vorher gewusst, hätte ich mir das E-Book nie gekauft.

[Hannah Zabran · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book dragged sooo much. I didn’t mind the characters but it really felt like it was trying to be Thursday Murder Club or Marlow Murders but just wasn’t. Also I guessed the end end “plot twist” within the first 50 pages.

[Kovaxka · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nem volt rossz, de olvastam már érdekesebbet is ebben a műfajban. Celeste lett a kedvenc szereplőm, Audreyt és Lewist kicsit halványabbnak találtam, bár sok szellemes riposzt kapcsolódik hozzájuk. 70-80 oldallal nyugodtan lehetett volna rövidebb, mert az első felében alig jutottunk előbbre. A végén okozott meglepetést, és a folytatás lehetősége is megvan benne – majd meglátjuk.

[Scarlett · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.7 ⭐️


For what it's worth, 10 Marchfield Square is a cozy, murder mystery. It is a slow burn and could be too slow for some.

I enjoyed the amateur sleuthing done by Audrey and Lewis. They were an unlikely pair to find this mystery out. I enjoyed their banter. These two had never spoken a word to each other until Celeste gave them an offer they couldn't refuse. I too would take time off work if someone offered to pay my month's worth of salary to find out whodunnit.

Audrey is a cleaner with a keen eye. However, around the end, she did slightly annoy me by believing the red herrings. She did have PTSD, so I can't blame her too much.

Lewis was kind of a mood. A crime writer who had a failed last book and was stuck in almost writer's block. He goes to work, comes home, and attempts to write. A reclusive man who doesn't socialize enough with his neighbors. I'd do the same tbh.

I liked this book, but not as much as I would have hoped. It is slow and there is a lot of talking. Not that many scenes that make you feel the thrill of investigating. The surprise at the end wasn't too surprising for me. I had a feeling from the beginning of the book, because why else would they have been watching?

[Julia · Rating 4 out of 5]

10 Marchfield Square is a haven for the carefully selected people living there. Naturally, when one neighbour is found murdered the morning after Bonfire Night the community is shocked. When a second murder happens and the police don't take it seriously the owner and landlord of the small community engages two of her tenants, Lewis and Audrey, to find out what happened. Audrey and Lewis don't get along at first. They are too much polar opposites, but the cleaner and the author of crime novels (currently suffering from writer's block) complement each other well enough to pick up threads the police hasn't noticed.

I liked the many quirky characters. As is the custom with a large cast of characters, each one has something to hide that makes them suspicious, but is there someone among the inhabitants of the square who actually did it?

Cosy mystery that had me guessing a few times. With the way it ended I'm hoping Audrey and Lewis get the chance to investigate another crime.

[Wondrously Bookish Cristina · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a cosy murder mystery with an amateur detective duo who beats the police to the punch.

When the first body turns up dead in the building at 10 Marchfield Square, wealthy neighbour Celeste feels the police are bumbling about and not likely to find the culprit. When the second body turns up and they suspect a suicide, the conclusion is confirmed. She proceeds to secure a better duo of detectives inasmuch as at least they seem interested to discover the truth and are unwilling to leave any stone unturned.

Quite the caper.

Thank you Nicola Whyte and Netgalley for this ALC.

[Preeti · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

I dont remember ever liking a cozy mystery with 2 Young Amature Sleuths. Maybe because this kinda book generally has a romance subplot. But, this one was definitely an exception. I ended up enjoying it more than I expected and definitely gonna continue the series.