Murder at Castle Vyne

by Louise Marley

More than a decade ago, the body of eighteen-year-old Sarah Grove was found floating among the water lilies in the pond at Castle Vyne. The case was never solved. Now her sister Natalie is determined to finally uncover the truth.

But when Natalie appears publicly to discuss Sarah's murder, she never expects it to unleash a deadly chain of events. Within hours, bodies start turning up in the nearby village of Calahurst… it seems someone will do anything to keep the past buried. As Natalie delves deeper into her family's history – with the help of mysterious castle gardener Bryn Llewellyn – she finds that nothing is truly what it seems. Behind the charming castle walls and chocolate-box cottages, the respectable villagers of Calahurst are hiding some very deadly secrets indeed.

When another young woman is found dead in the very same lily pond where Sarah died, Natalie realises the killer has returned to finish what they started. But in a village where everyone has something to hide, who can she trust? And will she become the next victim of Castle Vyne's deadly legacy?

Set in the world of Raven’s Edge, this standalone gothic cosy mystery will have you up all night! Perfect for fans of Clare Chase, Fiona Leitch and Agatha Christie.

Note: This is a standalone story featuring DCI Doug Cameron as the investigating officer and is set BEFORE the events of Murder at Raven’s Edge. Ben, Harriet and Milla do NOT appear.

Genres: Mystery

312 pages, Paperback

First published July 15, 2025

About the author

Most of my stories are set in small villages filled with quirky characters. These are partly inspired by the places I’ve lived in over the years, although the characters are straight out of my imagination! I currently live in Wales, close to a famous library and two ruined castles. My husband thinks we moved here by accident.

My first published novel was Smoke Gets in Your Eyes, which was a finalist in Poolbeg’s Write a Bestseller competition. As well as nine novels, I’ve written short stories for women’s magazines such as Take a Break and My Weekly. Before becoming a full-time writer, I worked as an administrative officer for the police.

When I’m not writing, I enjoy visiting big old houses, which I use as inspiration for the houses in my novels, and reading other people’s books when I ought to be writing my own…

Check out the Raven's Edge website here: https://ravens-edge.co.uk/

You can also find me on:

Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/louisemarley...

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LouiseMarley...

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/louisemarle...

** Be careful, there is another author with exactly the same name!**

Reviews

[Phrynne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fourteen years ago Natalie Grove found her older sister, Sarah, dead in a lily pond at Castle Vyne. She has never really managed to get past her memories and is now an author of mystery novels which she uses to recall the past and try to work through what occurred.

On the occasion of a new book launch Natalie chooses to discuss a few clues and unnamed suspects both in the book and at public events. Obviously the unknown murderer is concerned by this and it leads to more deaths and near misses. There is a lot of action and plenty of red herrings. The ending is totally unexpected and impossible to predict. It made for very interesting reading. Four stars.

My thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.

[Claire · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow what an absolute whirlwind!!

The twists and turns just keep on coming and they are so masterfully weaved into this story that you will be blindsided by them!!

On the cover it’s described as ‘a cozy murder mystery you won’t be able to put down’ and isn’t that the truth! I devoured this within a few hours, unable to resist the next chapter.

Fourteen years ago Natalie discovered the body of her sister, floating in a pond. No justice was ever found for the murder and it continues to haunt Natalie to this day. But when Natalie appears on television, promoting her fictional book, that somehow seems quite familiar to real events, things start to happen. Could this mystery finally be laid to rest all these years later?

With great scene description and character development, you will feel like a fly on the wall to everything happening. Once or twice you may think you have worked something out, but don’t let yourself be fooled, another twist is just a chapter away.

Absolute credit to this author for building in so many twists, right up until the last page, all of which you will not see coming.

So my advice? Read it! But make sure you clear your diary, hide from your partner and kids, take a day off work, because trust me when I say you won’t want to put it down!! Such a clever piece of fiction!!

[Jen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another superb book from Louise Marley that is set in and round Castle Vyne and Raven’s Edge. This has a dual timeline which flows really well. 14 years on from when Sarah Grove is found murdered her sister, best selling author Natalie is still looking for answers. When her new book is published it looks very much like it’s based on events surrounding Sarah murder and leads for previously hidden secrets to be uncovered. This had me totally hooked from the first page and I struggled to put it down. Twists, turns, at times atmospheric and with some intriguing characters I thought this was brilliant!

[Steph Warren · Rating 5 out of 5]

While this book is set in the same world as the author’s Raven’s Edge series, it stands alone perfectly well, occurring before the events in the series and with (mostly!) different characters.

The story alternates between main character Natalie’s adulthood attempts to finally flush out the person who murdered her sister a decade earlier, and glimpses into the earlier timeline of teenage Natalie when the traumatic event actually occurred. And it was definitely traumatic – adult Natalie is clearly suffering from PTSD along with an unhealthy obsession in uncovering the truth, which is preventing her from living any kind of life of her own.

It only took a few pages for me to be completely swept up in Natalie’s story (past and present) and I found myself as obsessed as she was in working out what happened. In other words, I stayed up all night to finish this story all in one go because I couldn’t find a reasonable place to stop! It’s not just about who killed Sarah either: what happened to Geraint? Why did Natalie’s dad have his car accident, and could really be faking his injuries? Why has her mum cut her off? There are so many interesting mysteries, all interlinking and sparking further questions as you read.

Not everything is wrapped up in a neat bow at the end either. While the big mysteries are clearly solved, the motivations for some of the character’s actions kept me pondering and mulling over long after I read the final page (to the further detriment of my sleep schedule… seriously, only start this book if you’re happy to disappear into it with no regard for frivolities such as eating or sleeping!)

I thought it was the characters and setting of Raven’s Edge that kept me eagerly coming back to those mysteries, but this book proves that Louise Marley has me thoroughly hooked and I will read as many of these stories as she can write, regardless of which village she sets them in!

[Janet · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fourteen years ago, the body of eighteen-year-old Sarah Grove was found floating among the water lilies in the pond at Castle Vyne. The case was never solved. Now her younger sister Natalie is determined to finally uncover the truth. Natalie is now a successful author & when she appears publicly to discuss Sarah's murder, she never expects it to unleash a deadly chain of events. Within hours, bodies start turning up in the nearby village of Calahurst. As Natalie delves deeper into her family's history she finds that nothing is truly what it seems.
WOW talk about twists & turns! Just when I thought I was making headway in guessing who the villain was, the author sent me back to square one with another twist. Wonderful characters, a well paced story & (I’ll say it again) those twists & turns had me glued to my kindle. I took a little while to like Natalie but the more I read the more I liked her. I must admit I definitely felt like was there as the descriptions were so good. Whilst this is the fourth book in the series it doesn’t feature any of the characters from the previous books & is connected just by the location of Castle Vyne, which is in the same region as the other books.
I voluntarily read and reviewed a special copy of this book; all thoughts and opinions are my own

[Kathleen Riggs · Rating 5 out of 5]

An Enticing Whodunit with a Hint of Old-World Charm
Murder at Castle Vine delivers a satisfying blend of mystery, atmosphere, and classic sleuthing. Set against the backdrop of an imposing country estate surrounded by secrets, the novel follows a gripping investigation that gradually peels back layers of deceit. The cast is engaging, the clues are cleverly planted, and the setting adds a delicious gothic undertone to the suspense. Fans of traditional murder mysteries will find plenty to enjoy it is a page turner that keeps you guessing until the very end. Thanks to NetGalley and to the publishers of this book for giving me a free advance copy of the book to preview and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Patti · Rating 3 out of 5]

While reading Murder at Castle Vyne, I found out that it’s set in a universe the author created for other books she’s written, but it is not part of a series. It stands on its own very well, and I commend Louise Marley for being able to take the universe she created and writing a story that stands well on its own.

Natalie Grove is a famous mystery author who still lives in Calahurst, the town she grew up in. Fourteen years ago, she found her sister Sarah’s body floating in a garden pond at Castle Vyne, where their father worked. The suspected killer disappeared and was never found. Trying to gain some closure, Natalie has written her most recent novel in secret, based on her sister’s murder, hoping to draw someone out and find some closure.

However, Natalie gets more than she bargained for. Her talk about finding her sister’s diary has alarmed a few people, even though the diary doesn’t actually exist, and she’s using the idea of it as bait.

As the story goes on, it’s revealed that Henry Vyne, who was Lord Henry Vyne once upon a time and a great artist, had a predilection for young girls. He used them as models and painted and drew them in provocative ways. What else went on isn’t detailed, but living in a world with the Epstein files should give readers a hint. Yes, as a wealthy man, he got away with the worst thing a person can be accused of. Apparently, Sarah was one of his “models” whom he favored quite a bit until her death.

Natalie has suppressed some of the memories from back then, but as the fallout from her book starts setting things in motion, there are bits and pieces that come back to her. This also puts her in danger from a number of different people.

To read my complete review, please go to Murder at Castle Vyne by Louise Marley – Riveting Murder Mystery with Flaws

[Judy · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a wild ride this book was! Just when you think you know who killed 18-year-old Sarah Grove fourteen years ago, here comes a plot twist! You will not regret picking up this book to read, or the previous three in the series. You can read them all as standalones, but personally I like reading them in order so I know the characters.

Natalie Grove has never had justice for the murder of her sister Sarah, who was two years older than her when she died. Poor Natalie discovered Sarah’s body in a lily pond and life has never been the same for her. She has decided to write a book loosely based on her sister’s story hoping to draw out the killer, even though it could put her in the crosshairs of a killer.

Things get complicated when there is another murder in the same manner as her sister and Natalie once again finds the body. There are lots of twists and turns in this book and when you get to the end, the killer will stun you. The families in this book are highly dysfunctional and it is hard to believe how Natalie’s mom has turned her back on her and created a new life that does not include Natalie at all. When her mom says, “… it always has to be about you,” can you blame Natalie? She has lived in Sarah’s shadow her whole life, and even in death.

I was sad not to find Ben, Milla, and Harriet in this book, but you know that at the beginning that it is a book with DCI Doug Cameron and takes place prior to Murder at Raven’s Edge. Hopefully, we will get more books with Ben, Milla and Harriet.

Thank you NetGalley and Storm Publishing for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Kirsty (BookBlogger) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Murder at Castle Vyne by Louise Marley

I received an advance review copy for free thanks to Rachel's Random Resources and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Blurb

More than a decade ago, the body of eighteen-year-old Sarah Grove was found floating among the water lilies in the pond at Castle Vyne. The case was never solved. Now her sister Natalie is determined to finally uncover the truth.

But when Natalie appears publicly to discuss Sarah's murder, she never expects it to unleash a deadly chain of events. Within hours, bodies start turning up in the nearby village of Calahurst… it seems someone will do anything to keep the past buried. As Natalie delves deeper into her family's history – with the help of mysterious castle gardener Bryn Llewellyn – she finds that nothing is truly what it seems. Behind the charming castle walls and chocolate-box cottages, the respectable villagers of Calahurst are hiding some very deadly secrets indeed.

When another young woman is found dead in the very same lily pond where Sarah died, Natalie realises the killer has returned to finish what they started. But in a village where everyone has something to hide, who can she trust? And will she become the next victim of Castle Vyne's deadly legacy?

My Opinion

Whilst Murder at Castle Vyne is part of the An English Village Mystery series, it can easily be read as a standalone as it set before the earlier books in the series. Within pages, I was hooked and I really enjoyed being able to follow Natalie’s story in both the past and present. Louise Marley has a lovely writing style making it easy to return to this series.

Rating 4/5

[Tracy Wood · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fourteen years ago, author Natalie Grove's life changed forever when her eighteen-year-old sister Sarah was killed. Her fourteen-year-old self was devastated, and the intervening years have done little to change that. Her latest thriller, although not specifically advertised as such, is a fictional retelling of that fateful event, and Natalie is determined to finally solve the cold case and move on with her life. Some secrets, however, have grown used to being hidden, and before she’s even unpacked from her latest book tour, she finds herself in no end of trouble.

Knowing she can't stop now and with the unexpected help of an acquaintance from her past, Natalie grabs the clues she finds with both hands but the past, it seems, hasn't finished with her yet! After some devastating incidents, the unwanted attention and advice from the police, and a shock admission, Natalie knows she's getting closer but, as everything starts to fall into place, can the crucial pieces of evidence even begin to prepare her for what is about to be revealed?

I was able to read an advanced copy of this thanks to NetGalley and the publishers, Storm Publishing, but the opinions expressed are my own. Louise Marley is an author I would have missed without NetGalley, thank goodness I didn't because she is an exciting, seriously talented author, and I love her English Village Mystery Series so was excited to read this. I wasn't in any way disappointed and read it in just over a day. I happily recommend this.

[Carol Evans · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fourteen years ago Natalie Grove found her older sister, Sarah, dead in a lily pond at Castle Vyne. The murderer was never caught and now Natalie, a best-selling author, has written a book based on the mystery. She wants to find the truth about what happened to Sarah. If you’ve read and enjoyed Marley’s other English Village Mysteries, this one, while it takes place in the same area, happens before the other book and features different characters. I thought I might find that disappointing, but I thoroughly enjoyed this one. The new characters are fully developed, if not all that likeable, and the setting still feels like a claustrophobic small town.

Natalie has certainly stirred a hornet’s nest by redrawing attention to her sister’s death. There are so many twists here. The town, her friends, her family are all holding on to major secrets, and just when you have some idea of what’s going on, there’s another surprise. It kept me engrossed and rooting for/worried about Natalie. The clues were well-placed and so were the red herrings. The story moves along at a good pace. The flashbacks chapters fit in well and help us see how the past and the present are connected. There were a lot of people and relationships to keep track of, but I only had to backtrack once to remind myself.

Overall, this was a good standalone mystery. The atmosphere, characters, plot and subplots all worked together well. I’m hoping we get to visit Raven’s Edge again soon.

[Vintagebooklvr · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was pack full of surprises that kept me guessing until the very end. Natalie Grove, a mystery writer, has a real life unsolved mystery in her background. Years ago, her sister was found murdered floating in a pond of lilies. Now, she hopes with her latest novel drawing heavily upon the circumstances of her sister's murder she may finally find answers. Within hours of her tv appearance discussing the novel bodies begin to appear. Someone doesn't seem to want Natalie to find her answers.

With a dual storyline of present day and one at the time of Sarah's murder, secrets are revealed that will keep you glued to the book until the last page. I am rarely surprised as many times as in this book and it doesn't feel like the secrets are artificially used for the shock value. It is well written and the characters are well developed. Oh, and there is plenty of action and some romance too.

This is part of a series (which I have never read) but seems to be a bit of a prequel with the main characters of the series not appearing in this book. This stands alone without there being any feeling you have missed something.

I look forward to reading more of this writer if any of her books are like this: a very enjoyable page turner with lots of surprises and action.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for an ARC in exchange for an honest opinion.

[Meg Pearson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Ten years ago, Natalie Grove’s sister Sarah was found dead in the lily pond at Castle Vyne. The case was never solved. Now a successful crime writer, Natalie returns to Calahurst determined to uncover the truth—but her search for answers stirs up more than just memories. Within hours of going public about her sister’s murder, new bodies begin to surface, and it’s clear someone will do anything to keep the past buried.

I loved how Louise Marley wove together past and present through a dual timeline, letting us see both the night of Sarah’s murder and Natalie’s present-day investigation. The atmosphere is pitch-perfect: the stately, almost gothic Castle Vyne set against the chocolate-box charm of Calahurst hides a nest of secrets, lies, and betrayals. Everyone seems suspicious, and the steady drip of clues and red herrings kept me hooked until the very end.

Natalie is a compelling protagonist—resilient, vulnerable, and determined—and her partnership with enigmatic gardener Bryn added both warmth and intrigue. This book has all the hallmarks of a great cozy mystery: a layered puzzle, a vivid setting, and a satisfying, twisty resolution.

Highly recommended for fans of classic whodunits and village mysteries with a darker edge.

[Mary Polzella · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ten years ago, Sarah Grove was found floating in a pond at Castle Vyne. When her sister Natalie appears publicly to discuss Sarah's murder, bodies start turning up in the nearby village. Natalie digs into her family's history with the help of the castle's gardener Bryn Llewellyn, but nothing is truly what it seems and the villagers are hiding some deadly secrets. When another young woman is found dead in the same pond where Sarah died, Natalie suspects the killer has returned to finish what they started. Will Natalie become the next victim?

This is a standalone story featuring DCI Cameron, set before Murder at Raven’s Edge. Ben, Harriet and Milla do NOT appear.

This atmospheric mystery has quirky characters, dysfunctional families and a well-paced, layered plot. The story effectively uses a number of flashbacks to connect the past and present. While Natalie is a difficult character to empathize with initially, she emerges as a strong young woman determined to find the truth despite her unhelpful family drama. There's a lovely, warm dynamic between Bryn and Natalie over the course of the story and the author leaves subtly clever clues along the way and enough red getting to keep you on your toes right till the end.

Thank you @netgalley and @stormbooks_co for the opportunity to read and review this book.

[Ellie Sinyard-Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

Natalie Grove is a best selling author of murder mysteries but her latest book is about to cause ripples across her life that she may not have envisaged. Ten years after the death of her sister, Sarah, Natalie has written a story which is likely to bring back memories and stir up trouble, which is just what Natalie wants as it is, she believes, the only way to finally solve the mystery of Sarah’s death in the ornamental pond of Castle Vyne. What follows from Natalie’s first PR outing for the book is more than Natalie could have predicted. She finds herself in a turmoil of events including a number of dead bodies. As she delves even further into her family history, accompanied by the enigmatic gardener Bryn Llewellyn, Natalie finds out more than she ever thought she would, but would it resolve her need for closure.
In Murder at Castle Vyne, Louise Marley weaves a plot that is complicated and sophisticated. At times it seems that there are more threads than can ever be unravelled, and yet Marley successfully knits them all together. By the end of the final scene the reader is left satisfied and, in the case of this reader, hoping there will be more stories from a writer who brings to mind the greats of the genre such as Christie and Sayers. 5/5

Thank you to netgalley for a chance to read this eARC

[booksofallkinds · Rating 5 out of 5]

*I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book from Netgalley.

If you're a fan of thought-provoking murder mysteries, then MURDER AT CASTLE VYNE by Louise Marley is definitely the book for you.

When a young Natalie watched her sister Sarah sneak out, she had no way of knowing then that that would be the last time she would see Sarah alive. Now, ten years later, Natalie is no longer willing to sit on the sidelines while her sister's murderer roams free. Natalie is determined to uncover the killer, but it isn't long before the charming village of Calahurst becomes the scene of more murders. As Natalie delves deeper into her family history, the village, and the legacy of Castle Vyne where Sarah's body was found, she soon realises that dark secrets lie waiting, but will she survive long enough to expose the truth?

Compelling characters, a great mystery plot, and a fantastic setting all combine to make MURDER AT CASTLE VYNE a wonderful read from beginning to end. With plenty of twists and turns, there is ample opportunity for you to don your Agatha Christie hat and try to piece together the truth, all while enjoying the quirky characters of Calahurst. I thoroughly enjoyed this story and I look forward to reading more from Louise Marley.

[Christine LaBatt · Rating 4 out of 5]

18 years ago, Natalie's sister Sarah was murdered, and the killer was assumed to be a fair worker who escaped and hasn't been found since. Natalie has become a writer and never shied away from talking about her sister's death. Her newest novel is bait to try to lure her sister's killer out once and for good.

This was a fast-paced, easy to read mystery! The pacing was perfect to keep me wanting to know what happened next, and there were a few surprising twists! I do think the main whodunnit was a little obvious, albeit the motive was not what I was expecting. And then there was a twist after that made up for it a little for me! The other thing was there were a few times where the info/writing was inconsistent - like a character said something that didn't make sense and I'd flip back and forth. A few times it was explained, but there were a few others that were just out of place. Maybe this was just in the arc though! Either way, this is a really good mystery, especially for someone looking for something quick and easy to read!

I received my copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Elaine - Splashes Into Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

Natalie saw her sister, sneaking out one day
Fourteen years later, for her murder no one has had to pay.
Natalie is a writer, determined the killer to reveal,
Something the killer is determined to conceal!

With her latest book release, Natalie takes a chance
And uses the publicity her desires to advance.
She suggests a diary could hold the missing clues
Will the killer take the bait, or will it be secrecy he'll choose?

Natalie never thought her actions would bring danger
Or connect her to someone who is a stranger.
Who can she trust to help her to search for what is true?
Someone she's known for years - or maybe someone new?

Lies, secrets, deceit and more
Should the warnings Natalie ignore?
Family dramas and things from the past
Maybe revealed at long last.

A fascinating story, brilliantly told
A page turner read as the events unfold.
Linking the past with what happens now
Can the truth be uncovered somehow?

For my copy of this book I say thank you
As I share with you this, my honest review.

[John · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I saw the title of this book I had assumed it was a historical mystery, but in spite of it being contemporary fiction, it quickly grabbed my interest with the 14-year-old cold case which the main character Natalie is trying to solve: who killed her older sister Sarah? Until about half-way through, it was a fairly typical story-line, but then the pace picked up dramatically with more murders. Then I couldn't put the book down!

I like the author's writing style - it's never dull or too wordy. The occasional flashback chapters aren't overused. There were quite a few people/relationships to keep track of, but she handled it OK with various reminders. I was really surprised at the unveiling of the various mysteries, and some of the latter scenes were quite suspenseful. And the heroine Natalie is very smart and likable.

Highly recommended!!

I obtained an advance copy of this book via NetGalley.

[Paloma · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sarah Grove was murdered and her body was found in a lily pond at Castle Vyne. Fourteen years later, her sister Natalie Grove is an author, and while doing press for her book, she lets some old secrets put in regards to her sister's death. Mainly, Sarah left a diary, and in it, she exposed men who had a relationship with her while she was a minor, allegedly.

Natalie is such a strong, resilient character. She is chastised for wanting to find her sister's murdered, while her father is carrying out his own personal agenda. Her mother is of no help, and her cruel behavior towards Natalie saddened me. Overall, most of the people in this story are very unkind to Natalie, and only one acquaintance from the past seems to believe her and want to help her. Loved the story, the complex characters, and the main character.

Thank you, Netgalley and Storm Publishing, for this ARC. All opinions are entirely my own.

[Jane Hunt · Rating 5 out of 5]

'Murder At Castle Vyne' is an evocative, menacing and twisty murder mystery set in the gothic world of Raven's Edge. Natalie is forever haunted by the discovery of her sister's body. Fourteen years later, she is a successful crime writer but cannot shake her need to bring her sister's killer to justice. It defines her life, and in the present day, she has written a controversial fictional book to provoke the killer. Past occurrences inform the present events, as the reader gradually learns what happened and why Natalie feels as she does. There is an increasing sense of danger for Natalie and others involved, and the suspense increases as the story reveals its secrets. There is a satisfying balance of action and introspection, and unexpected twists that keep you reading. I like the characterisation, the intrigue and solving the dark mystery, which has a gothic ethos.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher.

[Nikki B. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Murder at Castle Vyne is a thrilling about a young woman named Natalie. 14 yrs ago, Natalie saw her sister Sarah sneak out at night to meet a mysterious man. While she couldn't see the mans' face, she did see Sarah and even called out to he before she ran off into the darkness hand in hand with the man. But the next morning, when Sarah hasn't yet returned, Natalie knows something is wrong. Natalie ends up being the one to find her sisters body, floating in a pond. Thus begins her search to find out who too her sisters life. Natalie refuses to give up, even when everyone else has. She even lays out a plan and sets herself up as bait to try to lure the murderer in.
The story is fast paced and intriguing. It does flip back and forth from the past to the present, but it's not confusing at all. I recommend this if you're looking for a little murder mystery.

[Deanna Loves to Read!!:) · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is an outlier review!!!

Natalie Grove found her sister, Sarah, dead in a pond by her home 14 years ago. She is now an author that writes mysteries, and is trying to discover what happened to her sister. She discovers a lot of information about her family and the people in the town.

This began interesting, but soon unraveled into family drama that read like a tv drama series of dysfunctional families. There are many side plots introduced, but they came to nothing. The actual mystery, and the twists were good- but I had to struggle to keep my eye on that with everything else going on in the book.

Please read other reviews, because I am an outlier- most are 4 to 5 star ratings, so I think this just wasn't for me.
Thank you to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for the ARC. This is my honest and voluntary review.

[Desiree · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I started reading this book I thought it would be the next instalment in the Raven’s Edge series. It turned out to be a stand-alone however, but set in the same neighbourhood.
The story is about Natalie Grove who found her sister Sarah's body, floating in a pond 14 years ago. In the present Natalie is a thriller author who uses elements from her sisters death in her latest novel. Of-course this leads to Sarahs murderer getting very worried and is the start of a couple of deaths and even Natalies life is in danger. A couple of times you think you know who the culprit is, but there are a lot of red herrings in this book that makes you want to keep reading until the very end without putting it down.

I want to thank Netgalley and Storm Publishing for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

[K McKenzie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was the first book I had read of the author’s series set in the world of. Castle Vyne. I was able to follow the action without that background. It’s a twisty, engaging story with a plot centered on the murder of a teenager more than a decade before. The murdered girl’s sibling tries to make sense of what happened and brings all sorts of uncomfortable truths to light. It was an engaging read but became a little too much like a soap opera for my tastes, with lots of unpleasant relationship surprises and a multilayered ending. Again, not a bad book, just not entirely to my tastes. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy. All views are entirely my own and offered voluntarily.

[Katherine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Murder at Castle Vyne is book 4 in Louise Marley's English Village Mystery series and it was a compulsive read for me, I had a hard time putting it down.

It's important to note that although this is part of a series, the main characters from the previous books do not make an appearance in this book. I haven't read the full series, but I had read book two, so I was slightly disappointed by this, but for newcomers, you won't have to worry about missing anything because this book is a standalone and not related to those previous books.

The story is told from the point of view of Natalie Grove, an author who has returned to her home town to investigate the unsolved 14 year old murder of her older sister, Sarah. Soon after her arrival, and people start dying, and it soon becomes clear that she has stirred something up in the village.

This novel had some insane twists, and as Natalie tries to find the person who killed her sister, long held secrets are revealed. This was such a suspenseful read that even though I was disappointed in the beginning that it didn't feature some of the characters I was familiar with, I could not complain by the end.

This book was well worth the read, and I recommend it to any lover of mysteries or thrillers. This one definitely felt more like a thriller than a mystery to me.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Laurie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Natalie is determined to solve the mystery of who killed her sister Sarah years before. She writes a new book but this one is different than the rest of her books because this one is based on Sarah's murder. During an interview Natalie reveals that she found Sarah's diary and suddenly bodies start turning up. Her father reveals some truths before his nursing home is burned to the ground and she realizes she has made a big mistake.
I was totally involved in this book from the beginning and a few times thought I knew where it was going but then another twist would come. This is more than a cozy mystery, it's intense, I loved it. The title makes it sound Victorian but it is anything but. Thanks to Netgalley and Storm publishing for the chance to read this awesome story.

[Nadine-Sue Sargent · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lots of twists and turns with this. Natalie is a writer determined to find out what happened to her sister. The secrets keep coming with this and more than one person has a skeleton or two in their closet.

Natalie is a bit of a mess in a way as she's seemingly reaching the end of her tether with her sister's murder. I felt like it was a 'now or never' moment where she's baiting the killer in hope of putting it all to bed.

There's a lot to unravel with this and it's not a clear cut case to be solved, particularly as there a few unsavoury characters in this.

The murderer wasn't too much of a surprise as I'd picked up on red flags around the perpetrator anyway and I felt something was off with them. I still found it a good read and enjoyed the low burn as Natalie unearths it all.

[Nicola Richardson · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn't enjoy this book, although I am sure there are others who will. For me, it was confusing in parts with unlikeable characters. I think because the story began with the death of her sister, and subsequent attempt to find out who had killed her, we never really get to know any of the characters in any depth which made it difficult to care what happened to them. Even scenes where Natalie was in jeopardy just felt flat and predictable. I would have liked more layers to characters like Magda to find out why she was so standoffish, and although that is revealed later, it is almost as an aside. In parts, when the plot seemed to be going somewhere, it just seemed to veer off elsewhere.
I hope this book does find its audience.

[Kate · Rating 3 out of 5]

Natalie Grove has spent her entire adulthood trying to figure out who killed her sister, while also writing mystery novels. Her latest novel is a fictionalized account of the story of her sister's murder, and with it's publication, Natalie becomes embroiled in a number of fantastical plots perpetrated by different people in her community who are trying to keep their own secrets from coming out. The characters were interesting and resolution of this mystery was very satisifying, but at moments it became hard to follow all the side plots and schemes of those around Natalie who weren't involved in the actual murder plot.

Thank you to Netgalley and Storm Publishing for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.