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The Secret Garden Murders
Not yet published
Expected 20 Oct 26A murder in a locked garden. A village full of secrets. Can DCI Oldroyd find a killer who has vanished into thin air?
When elderly Clarissa Morden is found strangled in the locked garden of historic Bishop Hewick Hall in Yorkshire, DCI Jim Oldroyd needs to solve a seemingly impossible murder. The only door was bolted from the inside, the kitchen garden walls are too high to climb, and there is no sign of how the killer escaped. If no one could enter or leave, how did the killer commit the crime and escape?
But as Oldroyd and his team uncover more evidence, they discover Clarissa wasn't the kindly neighbour she appeared; a blackmailer, she was keeping coded records of the villagers’ darkest secrets. Suddenly it seems as if half the village has a motive for murder.
In this puzzling case, Oldroyd must unravel not only how the culprit vanished from a locked garden, but also which of Clarissa's blackmail victims was driven to stop her. The tranquil beauty of Bishop Hewick conceals deadly secrets—and someone is willing to kill again to keep theirs hidden…
When elderly Clarissa Morden is found strangled in the locked garden of historic Bishop Hewick Hall in Yorkshire, DCI Jim Oldroyd needs to solve a seemingly impossible murder. The only door was bolted from the inside, the kitchen garden walls are too high to climb, and there is no sign of how the killer escaped. If no one could enter or leave, how did the killer commit the crime and escape?
But as Oldroyd and his team uncover more evidence, they discover Clarissa wasn't the kindly neighbour she appeared; a blackmailer, she was keeping coded records of the villagers’ darkest secrets. Suddenly it seems as if half the village has a motive for murder.
In this puzzling case, Oldroyd must unravel not only how the culprit vanished from a locked garden, but also which of Clarissa's blackmail victims was driven to stop her. The tranquil beauty of Bishop Hewick conceals deadly secrets—and someone is willing to kill again to keep theirs hidden…
277 pages, Kindle Edition
Expected publication October 20, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
Review of advance copy
The Secret Garden Murders is a wonderfully atmospheric mystery that captures everything readers love about classic British crime fiction. J. R. Ellis brings the Yorkshire Dales to life with vivid descriptions, making the setting feel as important to the story as the characters themselves. The secret garden at the heart of the novel adds an intriguing layer to the investigation, while the historical elements blend seamlessly with the modern-day mystery.
Detective Chief Inspector Oldroyd once again proves to be an engaging lead. His calm, thoughtful approach to solving crimes is refreshing, and his deep connection to Yorkshire gives the investigation an authenticity that makes the story even more compelling. The supporting cast also adds warmth and depth throughout the novel.
The pacing is well balanced, beginning with a strong hook before gradually building tension toward a satisfying conclusion. There were plenty of twists and red herrings that kept our reading group discussing different possibilities without ever feeling overly complicated.
One of the book's greatest strengths is its atmosphere. Ellis creates a vivid sense of place, and the Yorkshire landscape, together with the beautifully described garden, makes it easy to become completely immersed in the story.
The only minor observation from our discussion was that readers new to the series might have appreciated a slightly fuller reintroduction to some recurring characters, as this is the thirteenth instalment. A few moments of dialogue also felt slightly formal, though this suits the tone and setting of the novel.
Overall, The Secret Garden Murders is an engaging, intelligently plotted mystery with memorable characters, a rich sense of place, and a satisfying conclusion. We would happily recommend it to readers who enjoy traditional British detective fiction with strong atmosphere and thoughtful storytelling.
Recommended for: Fans of British crime fiction, police procedurals, cosy mysteries with depth, and readers who enjoy richly developed settings.
Detective Chief Inspector Oldroyd once again proves to be an engaging lead. His calm, thoughtful approach to solving crimes is refreshing, and his deep connection to Yorkshire gives the investigation an authenticity that makes the story even more compelling. The supporting cast also adds warmth and depth throughout the novel.
The pacing is well balanced, beginning with a strong hook before gradually building tension toward a satisfying conclusion. There were plenty of twists and red herrings that kept our reading group discussing different possibilities without ever feeling overly complicated.
One of the book's greatest strengths is its atmosphere. Ellis creates a vivid sense of place, and the Yorkshire landscape, together with the beautifully described garden, makes it easy to become completely immersed in the story.
The only minor observation from our discussion was that readers new to the series might have appreciated a slightly fuller reintroduction to some recurring characters, as this is the thirteenth instalment. A few moments of dialogue also felt slightly formal, though this suits the tone and setting of the novel.
Overall, The Secret Garden Murders is an engaging, intelligently plotted mystery with memorable characters, a rich sense of place, and a satisfying conclusion. We would happily recommend it to readers who enjoy traditional British detective fiction with strong atmosphere and thoughtful storytelling.
Recommended for: Fans of British crime fiction, police procedurals, cosy mysteries with depth, and readers who enjoy richly developed settings.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
The Secret Garden Murders is a wonderfully engaging cosy‑crime mystery with all the elements that make this genre so satisfying: a picturesque Yorkshire village, a locked‑room puzzle, and a community brimming with secrets. From the moment Clarissa Morden is found strangled inside a garden no one could enter or leave, the story hooks you with its impossible setup and keeps you guessing right alongside DCI Jim Oldroyd.
The locked‑garden premise is especially fun — the bolted door, the high walls, the eerie stillness of the scene — and it sets the tone for a mystery that feels clever without ever becoming convoluted. As Oldroyd and his team dig into Clarissa’s past, the layers peel back to reveal a woman far more complicated than her kindly reputation suggested. The discovery of her coded blackmail records adds a delicious twist, suddenly giving half the village a motive and turning this quiet corner of Yorkshire into a hotbed of suspicion.
The atmosphere is charming yet tense, with the historic Bishop Hewick Hall providing a perfect backdrop for secrets to simmer. And when a second body appears in the river, the stakes rise just enough to remind you that even the most tranquil villages can hide darkness.
Oldroyd’s steady, thoughtful approach to the investigation makes him a pleasure to follow, and the supporting cast adds colour without overshadowing the mystery. It’s a classic whodunit with modern warmth — the kind of book you settle into with a cup of tea and happily lose an afternoon to.
Clever, cosy, and thoroughly enjoyable. A great addition to the series and a treat for fans of traditional British mysteries.
With thanks to JR Ellis, the publisher and netgalley for the ARC
The locked‑garden premise is especially fun — the bolted door, the high walls, the eerie stillness of the scene — and it sets the tone for a mystery that feels clever without ever becoming convoluted. As Oldroyd and his team dig into Clarissa’s past, the layers peel back to reveal a woman far more complicated than her kindly reputation suggested. The discovery of her coded blackmail records adds a delicious twist, suddenly giving half the village a motive and turning this quiet corner of Yorkshire into a hotbed of suspicion.
The atmosphere is charming yet tense, with the historic Bishop Hewick Hall providing a perfect backdrop for secrets to simmer. And when a second body appears in the river, the stakes rise just enough to remind you that even the most tranquil villages can hide darkness.
Oldroyd’s steady, thoughtful approach to the investigation makes him a pleasure to follow, and the supporting cast adds colour without overshadowing the mystery. It’s a classic whodunit with modern warmth — the kind of book you settle into with a cup of tea and happily lose an afternoon to.
Clever, cosy, and thoroughly enjoyable. A great addition to the series and a treat for fans of traditional British mysteries.
With thanks to JR Ellis, the publisher and netgalley for the ARC
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
One of a series of cosy crime novels based in Yorkshire. It starts with an elderly woman being killed in a walled garden of a stately home, with the entrance to the garden locked from the inside and no other visible exit.
On the plus side, the book has a reasonably good plot. This is in places improbable, but no more so than most crime novels. Unfortunately the writing lets the book down. The style and narration and conversational exchanges are rather leaden and plodding; some things are said more than once, sometimes in almost the same words (for instance, do we really need to have two explanations of what a cold frame is?); the characterisation is simplistic; and in places the obvious is unnecessarily spelt out instead of the reader being trusted to understand things. Chapters mostly open with a description of another garden: this is not relevant to the story, and I found it an irritating distraction.
Editing could have removed many or all of these weaknesses. This felt like an early draft of a novel that needed substantial improvement.
With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for letting me have a review copy in exchange for an honest review.
On the plus side, the book has a reasonably good plot. This is in places improbable, but no more so than most crime novels. Unfortunately the writing lets the book down. The style and narration and conversational exchanges are rather leaden and plodding; some things are said more than once, sometimes in almost the same words (for instance, do we really need to have two explanations of what a cold frame is?); the characterisation is simplistic; and in places the obvious is unnecessarily spelt out instead of the reader being trusted to understand things. Chapters mostly open with a description of another garden: this is not relevant to the story, and I found it an irritating distraction.
Editing could have removed many or all of these weaknesses. This felt like an early draft of a novel that needed substantial improvement.
With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for letting me have a review copy in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
4* Intrigue, murder and blackmail in the English countryside.
This has excellent could-be killers; a whole host of characters that turn out to be victims; some decent detecting; and tea, cake and biscuits, making it very English.
For someone so seemingly innocuous to be exposed for what they were, and to drag 'innocents' into their web, was pretty well done. We didn't get to find out a lot about the 'spider's past and motivations - not necessarily financial - which was a tad irritating, but they got what they deserved. How does someone so hateful live with themselves?
Some of the 'filler' aspects of the tale, such as the repeated praise of a certain female detective; the mumsy/dadsy stuff with the baby; the talk of diets and all the open-garden build-up was a bit boring and could've been edited out. Still, overall it was a decent enough murder-mystery that spawned organic parts, adding to the intrigue.
ARC courtesy of NetGalley and Thomas and Mercer for my reading pleasure.
This has excellent could-be killers; a whole host of characters that turn out to be victims; some decent detecting; and tea, cake and biscuits, making it very English.
For someone so seemingly innocuous to be exposed for what they were, and to drag 'innocents' into their web, was pretty well done. We didn't get to find out a lot about the 'spider's past and motivations - not necessarily financial - which was a tad irritating, but they got what they deserved. How does someone so hateful live with themselves?
Some of the 'filler' aspects of the tale, such as the repeated praise of a certain female detective; the mumsy/dadsy stuff with the baby; the talk of diets and all the open-garden build-up was a bit boring and could've been edited out. Still, overall it was a decent enough murder-mystery that spawned organic parts, adding to the intrigue.
ARC courtesy of NetGalley and Thomas and Mercer for my reading pleasure.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
J.R. Ellis’s Yorkshire Murder Mystery series is just a pure delight. Now, don’t take it that these are cheezie. Not in the least. The mysteries are always top notch and can hang with the biggest thrillers.
What makes this series stand out is the incredible characters and the heart with which they are written. The relationships are fun. The characters are people that you would really like to know. If for no other reason than they are so chaotic at times.
This is the old school locked room, um, locked garden mystery. The ending of the book was absolutely brilliant.
If you haven’t checked out this series, this is as good of place to start. You will not be disappointed.
I received this ARC from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an unbiased review.
What makes this series stand out is the incredible characters and the heart with which they are written. The relationships are fun. The characters are people that you would really like to know. If for no other reason than they are so chaotic at times.
This is the old school locked room, um, locked garden mystery. The ending of the book was absolutely brilliant.
If you haven’t checked out this series, this is as good of place to start. You will not be disappointed.
I received this ARC from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an unbiased review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This is the latest installment of the Yorkshire Murder Mysteries which is a series I've read and enjoyed before.
The newest book does not disappoint. It's twisty, with lots of interesting characters and potential killers, and an intriguing denouement.
I love the setting behind a fictional heritage garden. It brought in some recognisable elements from RHS gardens and was just fun.
Due to be published on 20 October. Thanks to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for the ARC
The newest book does not disappoint. It's twisty, with lots of interesting characters and potential killers, and an intriguing denouement.
I love the setting behind a fictional heritage garden. It brought in some recognisable elements from RHS gardens and was just fun.
Due to be published on 20 October. Thanks to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for the ARC
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I picked this up because I'd loved The Secret Garden as a kid, and it turned out to be a wonderful nod to old school mysteries in the vein of Agatha Christie and Murder, She Wrote. The pacing is deliberately slow, giving you room to sit with each new character and dig into their background to see who might have had a motive. That's what I enjoyed most: getting to know the town where the murders took place and piecing together the clues right alongside the detectives.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Although the overarching storyline is compelling, the narrative currently functions as a series of disconnected snapshots rather than a fluid progression. Furthermore, the protagonist lacks authenticity; the officers appear overly passive, and the dialogue lacks the necessary depth to resonate with the audience.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I am enjoying this series. It has a great cast of characters and always keeps me guessing. I'm looking forward to the next book in the series.
Thanks for the ARC Netgalley.
Thanks for the ARC Netgalley.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews