Death at Castle Wolf

by Anna Penrose

A weekend escape. A body in the water. And nowhere to run when the storm closes in.

Mal Peck's peaceful bridge weekend at an idyllic Cornish island hotel takes a deadly turn when the young bride of a fellow guest is found drowned. Her plans shattered, Mal is pulled into a spiralling puzzle, one that turns darker still when another body surfaces.

As a savage storm cuts the island off from the mainland, Mal teams up with her friend Jacques Pellofey to hunt a killer. But Jacques's strange, evasive behaviour gnaws at her trust. Is he helping her… or hiding something?

In a web of smuggling, grudges, and dangerous secrets, Mal's search for the truth becomes a razor's edge walk between survival and disaster. When the hunter becomes the hunted, she must outwit a killer before the tide - and time - swallows her whole.

For lovers of atmospheric settings, unforgettable characters, and devilishly clever mysteries, prepare to lose yourself where the waves hide more than they reveal.

Genres: Audiobook, Crime

286 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 7, 2025

Reviews

[Catriona · Rating 3 out of 5]

Death at Castle Wolf is the third instalment in the Golden Murder series by Anna Penrose, a pseudonym for Liz Hurley. This entry sits comfortably within the cozy mystery genre. As the author notes, the story was inspired by an Agatha Christie classic where a group is trapped in a remote location with a murderer in their midst.

The Story:
Mal, our sixty-something protagonist, is a former investment banker turned philanthropic thief who now runs a bookshop in the village of Golden. Her life takes a turn when she is invited to a high-stakes bridge weekend at the secluded Castle Wolf. What begins as a potential date with Jack quickly devolves into a locked-room mystery. Mal discovers an undercover investigator and a fresh corpse just as a violent storm cuts the castle off from the mainland. With the body count at risk of rising and Jack acting increasingly secretive, Mal must uncover the truth before the killer strikes again.

My Thoughts:
If you enjoy a slow-burn romance, this series delivers. The tension between Jack and Mal has been simmering for two books now, adding an extra layer of intrigue to the investigation. While the plot follows a familiar formula seen in the previous novels, the atmospheric setting and high-stakes motives kept me engaged.
The predictable nature of the plot development didn't detract from my enjoyment. Instead, it made for a perfect, easy-to-follow read while I was cleaning, playing Animal Crossing, or at the gym. Mal remains a refreshing protagonist because she defies the typical age and background tropes of the genre. If you are looking for a fun and accessible cozy mystery series, this is definitely worth a try.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

My big thanks to Anna for having the opportunity to be part of the early review team for this book.

What do you get if you mix a statuesque castle, a pack of Bridge players, a wild hens weekend, reports of smuggling, an island cut off from help and...Malachite Peck?

A smash hit of course! I expect no less than that with Malachite around, especially when in the opening scene, our heroine is in perilous danger!

You know when Mal is around that you will be in for a treat with the comical banter and conversations, and also the great sense of living in a small but vibrant community. This third installment however, sees Mal on a short stay out of Golden and on a Bridge playing weekend with her friend Jacques. Once there we get to meet a whole new cast of characters including the rich, the flamboyant, the fake, the plastic, the shady, the greedy, the grieving, the loyal, the pregnant, the criminal and the killers!

I normally love the community that surrounds Mal but this book is proof that wherever she goes, you are sure to find adventure and a host of intrigue. I loved that we got to hear the viewpoints of other characters in this book and the twist in the ending is a doozy that I did not see coming.

Always a boss lady, particularly in the scene at the end... you'll definitely want to pick up this book to see what Mal can get up to on a cut off island in the middle of the sea.

(*Is it a pack of Bridge players? or would a deck of Bridge players sound better?) ;)

[Ruth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to Anna for allowing me to be part of her initial review team in exchange for my honest opinions and review.

Mal gets invited to a bridge weekend where Mal overhears a conversation about being investigated and then the fin begins!

After reading Liz Hurley's other books (and loving them so much I was sad they ended) I was excited to be asked to read this book under Liz Hurleys pen name Anna Penrose.

This is book 3 however you would not know this when reading it and this book makes a great stand alone. I have not read book 1 and didn't feel I had missed anything. Something I think this author has got down to a fine art.

This book is a great cosy mystery read. Although their are some emotional subjects included in this book such as imprisonment, death, investigations and family feuds amongst other things. These are written about with such thought and care. Really showing us that we can change our lives around but not loose the real us!

I love that even when you think you know "Whodidit" you don't!

[Maureen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Death at Castle Wolf by Anna Penrose is book 3 in the Golden Murder Mysteries series. It is set in Cornwall on a fictional island. This is another great series I love reading. Malachite Peck, or Mal as she calls herself, is a disgraced City trader, an ex-convict and now owns a bookshop in Golden. She is invited to accompany her friend Jacques to a bridge weekend at Castle Wolf, where she is surrounded by luxury. A ferocious storm hits the area and they are cut off from the mainland. Apart from the bridge party, there is a group of ladies for a hen’s party and there is also a wildlife group on the island. When a body is found, Mal is immediately caught up in the mystery. She is impetuous and determined and won’t take any nonsense, usually putting herself in danger. This is just the way she is. I found the descriptions evoked memories of Cornwall, which I loved. There were some wonderful characters, some very colourful ones, from various levels of society. These great characters and such a great story made for an engrossing read and as usual I found it hard to put down.

[Carrie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Malachite Peck...the new detective on the block


Picked this book up any spare time I had in order to finish it. Loved it.

I have read the previous 2 books by Anna Penrose, which are great by the way! In this 3rd book in the series I think Malachite truly comes into her own as a character. I love her intelligent wit and humour. Shes the friend we all want to sit with on a night out just to hear the escapades she'd got her self into and laugh uproariously at it.
The book opens with a dramatic scene where we are wondering about the fate of our heroine, it is quick paced and has a number of obligatory suspects along the way without the story ever becoming trite.
Who knew Bridge could be so dangerous 😂
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and really hope that Malachite Peck has a lot more adventures to come for us to enjoy.

[Cecillie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another audiobook that I've listened to while out on my walks. I will admit that I made a bit of an oopsy with this one. I was about 30 minutes into the book, when I discovered that it's actually book 3 in a series. Luckily, it's one of those series where you can read the books independently, even if there's still some references to previous books, and characters that's been introduced before the beginning of this book.
Anyway, this book! It was a nice short read. The author mentions Agatha Christie in her acknowledgements, and I can see the inspiration in the book without it leaning too heavily into it. It was also nice to read about some Mature Adult characters.
Based on this book I'm definitely going to read the two previous books in the series. I'm sure they'll make for just as good audiobooks for my walks.

[Kath Middleton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jacques takes Mal on a bridge weekend at the exclusive island resort of Castle Wolf. The bridge players share the castle with a hen party, one of whom is found dead the morning after arriving. The mystery unwinds during the most ferocious storm which cuts them off from the mainland. This is almost like a locked-room mystery as the inhabitants of the hotel and the wildlife centre can't escape. Mal even has her doubts about Jacques. The tension ratchets up as the weekend progresses and Mal herself is in danger. Anna Penrose is such a good writer and her believable characters bring the story to life. I love this series.

[Rebeca Mendez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this story. First book from this author, realised about 1/3 in that it was a series… sure it’s a stand alone but would benefit to get to know Malachite background before you start. Loved that the characters were older, that it’s set in Cornwall and that I could not solve the mystery until the end. Will definitely read the rest of the series. It may need a little editing with regards to clothing but overall a great read… slow and steady

[SkyeWake · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another enjoyable and entertaining mystery in the Malachite Peck series. This one is set away from Golden on an island off the Cornish coast, where a fundraising bridge tournament in a luxurious castle hotel awaits Mal and Jacques. Things soon take a deadly turn and Mal finds herself questioning everything and whether everyone is what they seem. Danger lurks around the corner for Mal. Can she avoid becoming a victim herself?

[Marcie Whitecotton-Carroll · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mal is back and off for a weekend of fun and Bridge playing with Jacques, but murder gets in the way!

With twists in the tale, murder, brides, jewels and luxury hotel/castle, and red herrings, Mal's daring keeps the reader entranced.

Less cozy than the previous books, but still a very enjoyable read, Death at Castle Wolf is a great addition to the series!

[Christine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mayhem Abounds with Murder Close Behind

5 stars. From the moment they step on the island, there is never a dull moment. Plenty of twists and turns all the way to the very end. I'm not one for spoilers. Everyone is allowed their own reading experience. I do hope that this series continues as I look forward to more of Mal.

[Sally · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like the reader. I like the audio version because I’m listening, but I would never be able to read the book. Mal is way too irritating. She jumps to conclusions without getting facts. Why would she distrust poor Jacques after all the time they’ve spent together? Why does she not use common sense when there’s a murderer loose? She always has to be rescued. Good story though. Love Cornwall.

[Peggy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed this installment in the golden murder series. Kept me entertained, and guessing just a bit. Glad to see some of the character development that went on. Enjoying the series more as it progresses.

[Mrs L Cox · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nice cosy murder mystery with interesting main character. Minor characters are a bit thin .

[Emily Michel · Rating 4 out of 5]

First book by this author. Really enjoyed the Christie vibes and the mystery kept me guessing. Great work by the narrator - pretty close on the Texas accents.

[Valerie · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 What a fun series! I hope book #4 is coming soon!

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this little mystery series I just love the characters so much they are so well written.