False Relation

Abbot Agency #19

by Veronica Heley

Bea Abbot discovers that secrets are never safe in a small village . . .

Julian Marston-Lang calls Bea Abbot in a panic – his glamorous step-cousin Mona has been murdered!
Mona’s body was discovered in the garden of the house where she was living with her husband, Marcus. Once a billionaire businessman, Marcus’s reversal of fortunes and inability to maintain his wife’s lavish lifestyle was the source of heated rows. Did they reach breaking point?

While it seems an open-and-shut case, Marcus has mysteriously vanished. And Bea is sure there’s something Julian isn’t telling her . . . As she travels down to Marston Hall, Bea is determined to solve the mystery. But she’s about to discover that there’s more to Mona’s death than meets the eye . . .

Genres: Cozy Mystery

268 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 31, 2026

About the author

Veronica Heley has published more than fifty books, including crime fiction, historical, and children's titles. She is currently involved in the Ellie Quicke series of crime stories and a variety of other projects. A full-time writer, she has been married to a London probation officer since 1964, and has one musician daughter.

AKA Veronica Thorne

Reviews

[P]

Wow! What a ride through this series!
Absolutely remarkable finish!
Incredible characters, incredible situations, and such intuition.
If this is the final book I’m gutted. It does wrap up Bea’s journey, but seems to be saying goodbye to a respected & admired heroine’s series.
Huge kudos to the author for creating, developing & building such an entertaining journey!
Wish I could give this 10 stars!

[John Hardy]

Abbott Agency #19. It's usually a mistake to start a series so late. I hated the characters and pretty soon had to put this down. In service to other library users I'll get this back quickly.
I don't want to read any more of these.
No rating.

[Mrs Moya]

What a pickle!

Never a dull moment as people struggle with their and others strengths and weaknesses. Kindness and relationships, it's all here.

[Dogsandbooks]

Charming