Murder at the Palace

Exham on Sea Mysteries #9

by Frances Evesham

Frances Evesham is BACK with her ALL-NEW thrilling and atmopsheric Exham-on-Sea Murder Mysteries set in the small English seaside town full of quirky characters, sea air, and gossip. Have you missed super-sleuths Max and Libby? This time they are in the beautiful historic cathedral city of Wells in Somerset solving their latest whodunnit.

If you love Agatha Christie-style mysteries, cosy crime, clever dogs and cake, then you'll love these intriguing whodunnits.

Here's what readers are saying about the

'This is a perfect short, cosy mystery.'

'It makes you wonder if English country villages are safe places to live. But I certainly would given half a chance.'

'With every book, I grow more fond of Libby and Exham.'

'If you like Miss Marple this amateur sleuth will enthral you.'

THE EXHAM-ON-SEA MURDER
1. Murder at the Lighthouse
2. Murder on the Levels
3. Murder on the Tor
4. Murder at the Cathedral
5. Murder at the Bridge
6. Murder at the Castle
7. Murder at the Gorge
8. Murder at the Abbey

Books in the Ham Hill Murder Mystery series by Frances Evesham

A Village Murder A Racing Murder A Harvest Murder

245 pages, Kindle Edition

Expected publication June 19, 2026

Reviews

[Leanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Murder at the Palace brings Max and Libby back with the ease of slipping into a favourite jumper. There’s something so inviting about their dynamic — steady, affectionate, quietly competent — and dropping them into the cathedral city of Wells gives this instalment a lovely shift in atmosphere. The cobbled streets, the ancient stone, the hum of local gossip… it all settles around the mystery like a soft fog.

The accidental gatecrashing of the Priory Manor house‑warming is exactly the kind of gentle chaos that makes this series shine. The guest list is a wonderfully odd assortment of personalities, each one carrying their own little pocket of secrets. And when a partygoer turns up dead at one of Somerset’s most beautiful spots, Libby’s instincts prickle in that familiar, irresistible way. You can almost feel her leaning forward, piecing together the threads while Max quietly steadies the edges.

What I loved is how the book balances its intrigue with its charm. The mystery is layered enough to keep you guessing, but never so heavy that it loses the cosy heartbeat of the series. There’s gossip, there’s cake, there’s a clever dog or two, and beneath it all, that comforting sense that justice — however small‑town and slightly eccentric — will prevail.

A warm, atmospheric return to Exham‑on‑Sea’s world of seaside secrets and gentle sleuthing. Perfect for readers who crave a classic Christie‑style puzzle wrapped in charm, companionship, and the soft murmur of English countryside life.

With thanks to Frances Evesham, the publisher and netgalley for the ARC

[Jenny · Rating 5 out of 5]

Murder in the Palace is book nine in the Exham by the Sea series by Frances Evesham. Libby Forest and her husband, Max, were on the way to the theatre when they had an accident, and had to gate-crash a party at the Priory Manor, the Somerset home of Major Chalfont-Smythe and his wife Dawn. At the party, Libby told Dawn about the beautiful town of Wells, and we should all go for the day and visit. However, the outing did not turn out as Dawn or Libby had expected; one of the group died. Libby and Max decided to investigate in case it was murder after the police believed the killer was the care nurse Janet Tucker. Readers of Murder in the Palace will continue to follow Libby and Max to discover what happens.

Murder in the Palace is an excellent cozy mystery from an author whose books I should read more of. I learnt about the beautiful town of Wells in Somerset through the way Frances Evesham described it. I understood the dangers of greed and privilege on a person and how that can affect families and communities.

I love the way Frances Evesham portrayed her characters and their interaction throughout this book. Murder in the Palace is well written and well researched by Frances Evesham. I engaged with the book due to the way Frances Evesham described her sittings, which made me feel part of the book’s plot.

Thank you to NetGalley and the author for my AR copy in exchange for an honest review. I recommend this book.

[Meg Pearson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Firstly, thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

Frances Evesham is back with another charming installment in the Exham-on-Sea Murder Mysteries, and this time Libby and Max find themselves surrounded by secrets in the beautiful cathedral city of Wells, Somerset. The setting was absolutely delightful and gave the story such a classic English cozy mystery atmosphere.

What I continue to love most about this series is the characters. Libby and Max are such a wonderful duo, and the supporting cast is full of lively, whimsical personalities that make the story so entertaining to read. There’s a warmth and charm to the writing that immediately brings to mind Agatha Christie-style mysteries.

The mystery itself was engaging and fun to follow, with plenty of small-town gossip, hidden motives, and long-buried secrets. I especially enjoyed the descriptions of the countryside and the cozy village life woven throughout the story. It’s the kind of book that feels comforting while still delivering an intriguing whodunnit.

Overall, Murder at the Palace is another very entertaining addition to the series and a perfect read for fans of classic cozy mysteries filled with charm, clever sleuthing, and memorable characters.

[Lorraine · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a pleasure to get back to this series. Libby is a great character, and her marriage to Max is a good one. They are travelling to a play on an early Fall night when the rain is pouring down very heavily. They have a small bump with a Ferrari and meet the people in the car. Mindy is a beautiful woman and takes Libby to her parents house to dry up. They happen to have a party there and some of Libby's neighbours are attending. A group intends a visit to the Palace in Wells (a place Libby has investigated before) including an elderly Colonel and his carer. On that day, the Colonel is found dead in a pool of water. When the autopsy shows he was poisoned, it's declared to be murder. Libby and Max are asked to help investigate. What they find is bigger than they expected.

Many thanks to NetGalley and to Boldwood Books for an advance copy of this book. I hope there will be more!

[J. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoy this series and Murder at the Palace is a great addition. Libby and Max end up at a party after a fender bender involving a Ferrari. They meet the new couple who are their hosts, their daughters (one is the ‘practical one’ and the other is an influencer), and many of their neighbors. Included is an old friend of the owner, a retired Colonel. An outing is arranged and they meet at the Palace for a tour, going off in small groups to see the town. A member of the party is found dead and the death is soon ruled a homicide.
Libby and Max help the police in their investigations and dig up motives and dark secrets, some from years ago. The mystery is well-done and you really feel like you know the characters. This is a fun, cozy read as Libby approaches her 60th birthday and wonders if she needs to slow down a bit.
Thanks to Boldwood Books and NetGalley for the ARC.

[Kacey/Kris · Rating 5 out of 5]

France’s Evesham is back with another installment of The Exham -On-Sea murder mysteries. Now the characters find themselves at a cathedral in Somerset. Her characters are so lively and whimsical. The story brings a sense of Agatha Christie to the book. A very entertaining series.