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Murder at Bramhurst Chapel
When your dream life unearths a nightmare...
Ellie Blix thought that converting a crumbling village chapel into a home would be the perfect fresh start.
But while her detective inspector husband is off solving crimes, Ellie’s knee-deep in dust, dodgy builders, and mounting regret. Did she really trade in her cleaning business - and her amateur sleuthing - for this chaos?
Then her cockerpoo trots in with an old work boot in his mouth. And a bone. A human one...
Suddenly, Ellie’s project becomes a crime scene. She knows she shouldn’t investigate - but how can she not?
Her former sleuthing partners are busy reinventing their own lives. Will they rally once more, or is Ellie on her own this time? And what will her husband say when he finds out his wife is back on the case?
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This is book 1 in the Canterbury Murders. These books can be read as standalones. They are intended as light-hearted reads.
Ellie Blix thought that converting a crumbling village chapel into a home would be the perfect fresh start.
But while her detective inspector husband is off solving crimes, Ellie’s knee-deep in dust, dodgy builders, and mounting regret. Did she really trade in her cleaning business - and her amateur sleuthing - for this chaos?
Then her cockerpoo trots in with an old work boot in his mouth. And a bone. A human one...
Suddenly, Ellie’s project becomes a crime scene. She knows she shouldn’t investigate - but how can she not?
Her former sleuthing partners are busy reinventing their own lives. Will they rally once more, or is Ellie on her own this time? And what will her husband say when he finds out his wife is back on the case?
-----
This is book 1 in the Canterbury Murders. These books can be read as standalones. They are intended as light-hearted reads.
- GenresMystery
421 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 26, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
February 22, 2026
Usually I judge a books enjoyment within the first couple of chapters. Hasn’t caught my attention by then I usually put it down. However, because of the end enjoyment I got from the other two books by this author thought I’d read I continued reading. I’m glad I did within the next few chapters as it caught my attention and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I was so pleased to give the 4* I’d give her other two books. A good offer I have another book lined up.
October 28, 2025
I loved this book. so good to be back with the Blix's and a good crime to solve. Looking forward to further books in this new series.
April 4, 2026
The 'cosy crime' genre has become massive, particularly thanks to books where a small gang of amateurs somehow beats the professionals to the solution (think The Thursday Murder Club and The Marlow Murder Club). Generally, this approach has one huge flaw which is that I can't imagine any police force (even grudgingly) accepting help from amateurs. Izzie Harper arguably gets around this effectively as her amateur sleuths are the wife, mother and daughter of a DCI.
Central character Ellie (the wife) and DCI Dave have just bought a thirteenth century building once the private chapel of a manor house to convert it to a house. (The cover illustrator - or perhaps AI as this seems to be self-published) clearly has no clue what private chapels look like, giving us an impressive church with spire.) To be honest, this purchase suggests to me that Ellie and Dave are incredibly naive and perhaps not suited to the detecting game. They buy a nearly 800-year-old building without a survey, are surprised that a building that would have no damp proof course is damp and apparently haven't even bothered to look at the village it's in, as the place is a complete revelation to Ellie when she ventures out into the terrible sink estate it is.
No, of course it isn't. It's a picture perfect English village which, despite being a village can somehow manage to sustain every artisanal shop you can imagine. Meanwhile, human remains turn up in the chapel garden. The plot mostly revolves around the cold case of uncovering who the 1950s female remains belong to and how she ended up dead. But there are plenty of strange goings on in the present day, ending with some drastic outcomes.
Getting to the bottom of all this is quite a nice intrigue, with good use of inaccurate evidence, and had it been limited to the cold case, I think it could have worked well. But the sinister present day activities seem totally out of proportion to the reason behind them. It just didn't feel plausible.
Not badly written, and good for a few hours gentle reading, but ultimately it all feels highly unlikely.
Central character Ellie (the wife) and DCI Dave have just bought a thirteenth century building once the private chapel of a manor house to convert it to a house. (The cover illustrator - or perhaps AI as this seems to be self-published) clearly has no clue what private chapels look like, giving us an impressive church with spire.) To be honest, this purchase suggests to me that Ellie and Dave are incredibly naive and perhaps not suited to the detecting game. They buy a nearly 800-year-old building without a survey, are surprised that a building that would have no damp proof course is damp and apparently haven't even bothered to look at the village it's in, as the place is a complete revelation to Ellie when she ventures out into the terrible sink estate it is.
No, of course it isn't. It's a picture perfect English village which, despite being a village can somehow manage to sustain every artisanal shop you can imagine. Meanwhile, human remains turn up in the chapel garden. The plot mostly revolves around the cold case of uncovering who the 1950s female remains belong to and how she ended up dead. But there are plenty of strange goings on in the present day, ending with some drastic outcomes.
Getting to the bottom of all this is quite a nice intrigue, with good use of inaccurate evidence, and had it been limited to the cold case, I think it could have worked well. But the sinister present day activities seem totally out of proportion to the reason behind them. It just didn't feel plausible.
Not badly written, and good for a few hours gentle reading, but ultimately it all feels highly unlikely.
October 30, 2025
Fabulous new series from the wonderful Izzie Harper
I loved the previous series with the Blinx ladies and the first book in the new series didn't disappoint! I love Izzie's way of describing places and people I certainly have a vision of the Chapel and the village. The story line was good, I thought I knew who the culprit was but I was so wrong! Izzie's books have inspired me to visit North Kent next year to visit some of the places mentioned in her books.
Looking forward to the next book!!
I loved the previous series with the Blinx ladies and the first book in the new series didn't disappoint! I love Izzie's way of describing places and people I certainly have a vision of the Chapel and the village. The story line was good, I thought I knew who the culprit was but I was so wrong! Izzie's books have inspired me to visit North Kent next year to visit some of the places mentioned in her books.
Looking forward to the next book!!
November 3, 2025
Good book
Ellie and Dave buy a chapel. Ellie was going to renovate it with the help of a builder and crew. First came the problem with the damp and then the builders found a crypt. As the builders were explaining the problems, Ellie's dog shows her a bone he has found. A human bone!
Ellie and Dave buy a chapel. Ellie was going to renovate it with the help of a builder and crew. First came the problem with the damp and then the builders found a crypt. As the builders were explaining the problems, Ellie's dog shows her a bone he has found. A human bone!
January 13, 2026
Genuinely really enjoyed this story. Tense in the right areas, some laugh out loud moments too. Was nice to find a mystery set in Kent, I have family in Kent. I enjoyed the history aspects of the book too.
March 21, 2026
Murder at Branhurst Chapel
Great book with a good storyline. I'm glad Ellie and Dave are together. This book dragged a little before they came to who the killer was. It had a lot going! Still can't wait for the next!!
Great book with a good storyline. I'm glad Ellie and Dave are together. This book dragged a little before they came to who the killer was. It had a lot going! Still can't wait for the next!!
October 29, 2025
The chapel garden reveals it's secrets
Brilliant book loved it as the characters stayed same the flows from last series would highly recommend this book to read
Brilliant book loved it as the characters stayed same the flows from last series would highly recommend this book to read
November 5, 2025
Another great read
never disappoints, believable characters and great plot
Can't wait for the next instalment of Murder at the Christmas Panto
Please keep writing
never disappoints, believable characters and great plot
Can't wait for the next instalment of Murder at the Christmas Panto
Please keep writing
June 21, 2026
Brilliant. Moving straight on with the next two in the series. I put these off for a while because I so enjoyed the Windmill books I was afraid these might not be as good as I have found with some other series but Izzie has maintained the quality with the crime solving, the dogs, the historic home and the family life. As I said I can't wait to read the next two in my library. I love them!!!!
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews