The Hawkshead Hostage: The must-read English cozy crime series

Lake District #5

by Rebecca Tope

Summer has come to the Lake District town of Windermere, where Persimmon 'Simmy' Brown runs her own florist shop. But there's no time for her to stop and smell the roses with the shop struggling for money, so a contract to provide floral displays for a hotel in Hawkshead couldn't have arrived at a better moment. However, Simmy's association with the hotel soon turns sinister when she finds a body in the lake.To make matters worse, her friend, Ben Harkness - responsible for calling and alerting her of the discovered body - is now missing and thought to be kidnapped. Caught up in both a murder and kidnapping investigation, Simmy begins chasing clues left by the missing Ben.With many suspicious characters bustling in and out of the hotel, while simultaneously trying to cope with her father's encroaching dementia, solving the puzzle seems a grueling challenge, but Simmy is compelled to uncover the truth...

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Detective, Crime

301 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 19, 2016

About the author

Rebecca Tope is best known as the author of over twenty crime novels. She has also recently produced the e-book entitled 'The Indifference of Tumbleweed'. She has every intention of continuing with the murder stories, as well as a variety of other kinds of fiction.

She has experienced many different kinds of work in her time - running antenatal classes, counselling troubled couples and being an office girl for an undertaker, for example. There were also several years monitoring the output of dairy cows, as well as every sort of task associated with book publishing. In 1992, she founded Praxis Books, a small British press.

She lives surrounded by trees she has planted herself, tending her own sheep.

Reviews

[Laurie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like this series by Rebecca Tope. Interesting characters and setting. The stories are set in the lake district in England with its share of beauty and dark and mysterious woods, hills and higher peaks. All add to the dark side of the murders that occur in the story. There are very good mysteries in these reads.

[Kim · Rating 1 out of 5]

I really wanted to enjoy this book but unfortunately I didn't. I really enjoyed reading about Hawkshead and the places in it because it matched up to how I recall when I used to holiday there however once the nostalgia had worn off this book seriously had its flaws.

I understand that this is technically part of a series of books which are set in different places in the Lake District and with recurring characters. However it quickly got annoying when the book would reference something or someone or a past event without giving any details. I found it really jarring and difficult to get into the story (like halfway through the book it is casually dropped in that one of the characters has a glass eye - no idea why or how it was relevant but really jarring).

We then have the characters - I really didn't care for any of them. They didn't seem like any of them really cared for the missing boy, they were just concerned with themselves and moping around. Ok yes you might be a bit sad but I don't want 300 pages of every character always being sad, I want some action!

We then have the story....oh great. The plot was extremely slow, none of the characters really seemed to want to actively do anything regarding the disappearance of their 'friend', there was only one character who did go and search for them (coincidentally my favourite of all the characters just purely because she did something) and contributed to the plot at all. There were talks of a game which didn't really seem to amount to anything. The police were pretty much useless (which I think is highly unlikely given the circumstances but ok).

Overall I wouldn't recommend this book, the writing is jarring, the characters are 2D and dull and the ending makes absolutely no sense and nothing is really explained. Unless you are a big fan of the series then I would say give this one a miss

[Karen · Rating 1 out of 5]

Really struggled with this book but I bought it a while ago and wanted to read it. However the plot was thin and the characters not very likeable. It’s part of a series so maybe it doesn’t read well in isolation although if it was well written that shouldn’t matter. I have read books by this author before, which were uninspiring, so I think it’s time to admit they are not for me.

[Facemaker01 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quite a bit of this book is told from Bonnie's POV which is a bit jarring, but certainly a way of getting to see the younger characters interact and what their feelings and attitudes are concerning Simmy.
There was a bit of a discrepency relating to DI Nolan Moxon.... In a previous book, Simmy learns that Moxon is married to Sue and actually has two sons. This book, Simmy doesn't know whether Moxon has any children or not.....
Someone mentioned about Simmy's deceased baby Edith being mentioned constantly. I guess that these books cover a period of about 10 months, so it would be understandable to mention it at the most once in each book.
I have literally been reading all of these books over the past week, in order to catch up. I find them enjoyable for the most part, but get heartedly annoyed with Simmy's attitude and how she speaks to people. It's interesting that she forms relationships with the younger group, but only seems to have limited friendships with Julie the hairdresser and other residents.
She gets annoyed at DI Moxon appearing during the murder enquiries, but never seems to see him any other time, so I am not sure what that's all about. The relationship with Ninian Tripp doesn't seem like Simmy either. However I will continue to read

[Cliff · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another in Ms Tope's alliteratively named mysteries set in the Lake District. Mildly diverting for a couple of pre bank holiday days, but even while I was reading it I was trying to come up with further alliterative titles. The Kendal Killing is fairly obvious, The Grasmere Ghouls and The Bassenthwaite Bludgeonings perhaps not so suitable. In the meantime, the story tells of a murder on the edge of Esthwaite Water near a hotel that Persimmon has been asked to provide with flower arrangements. Ben, the 17 year old Einstein, goes missing, believed kidnapped and DI Moxon blunders his way round, leaving 6 stone anorexic Bonnie to finally sus out the case. The reason for mayhem in quiet Hawkshead is, in the final analysis, so unlikely and silly. 3* is generous.

[Patrick Carroll · Rating 3 out of 5]

The murder "magnet" that is Simmy Brown continues in what is probably a "guilty pleasure" genre like Murder in Paradise on the tellebox. However Persimmon takes a bit of a background role in this book with her "new" assistant Bonnie being developed as a character though bearing in mind time scales I'm not sure how many more murders can happen around Windeermere without it becoming the Midsomer of the North? Pleasant murder mystery book but a bit rushed at the end and the underlying "criminal" plot was somewhat sketchy. I'll probably read book 6, if only to see if Simmy perks up a bit?

[JenniferB · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quite enjoyable book in the series. More development of the characters and their relationships. Plot a little bit difficult to follow, and a bit unbelievable.

[Keith Edwards · Rating 1 out of 5]

Little substance, poorly written, don’t know why I persevered with it!

[Claire · Rating 4 out of 5]

This author has become addictive for me. I am already clutching the bowness bequest in my hands ready to go. The stories are slow burn, the characters of Simmy, her parents, her ex employee Melanie, Ben and Bonnie have grown to much on me. They seem real, get grumpy, irritated, dont talk to each other and enjoy simple moments. The storyline on this one was a little odd. The murdered person got little attention or investigation as Simmy was focussed on getting Ben back from being kidnapped, if he was? So many red herrings and meanderings. I cant figure out how come I am so hooked, it has to be the characters that have engaged me as they continue to develop. Maybe also the hints at the underlying stories ,Melanie desperate to escape her family home with a mother who constantly takes in rescue dogs and then wants rid of them, Bonnie with anorexia and a sad past, Simmy still mourning her dead baby and hoping for a new relationship and her dad who has declined so rapidly. Perhaps the realness of these people stories are the hook. I wouldn’t read these books for the gripping detective story but more for the gentle pace of life and realism.

[Leeanne McHarg · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another great mystery set in the beautiful Lake District! It was wonderful to continue following the lives of Simmy and her sidekicks as they find themselves caught up in yet another murder.

However, I found Simmy even more frustrating this time around—her stubborn refusal to believe that anything bad could happen really tested my patience. Despite there being so much at stake, she seemed hesitant to get involved, and her inability (or unwillingness) to assist DI Moxon had me practically screaming at the pages!

Thankfully, Bonnie truly shone as the hero of this story, and the ending wrapped things up perfectly. I closed the book feeling completely satisfied and ready to dive straight into the next Lake District mystery in the series!

[Hilary Tesh · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was more Bonnie’s story than Simmy’s who seems overwhelmed when she is inadvertently involved in another murderous situation at the hotel where Melanie is now working. What’s worse, Simmy giving Ben a lift has resulted in him being kidnapped - but Bonnie is determined to find him despite the police refusing to listen to her. It’s a pretty thin story - and what’s worse, it reveals that the rather good bookshop in Hawkshead has been closed for sometime! However it was a light read that filled a few hours whilst we are in C-19 lockdown and took me mentally back to the beautiful Lake District. On our next visit, we must try and visit the Colthouse Quaker Meeting House.

[Barry Thomas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another good story but it’s amazing how Simmy attracts trouble like a magnet attracts iron filings. Having said that the stories are well constructed and I’m enjoying them BUT I wish the author would stop making repeated references (in all the books) to the baby Simmy had lost before the series began. This book contained the reference at least 6 times in the first 1/2 of the book. Things like “I haven’t been this upset since losing my baby” etc etc.

There is no need to keep bringing this up time and time again and I’m now starting to wait for yet another reoccurrence. You can’t even say it’s scene setting. It’s just really irritating.

[John Curtis · Rating 5 out of 5]

This series of The Lake District by Rebecca Tope gets better by each book,and this one “The Hawkshead Hostage” has been the best I’ve read so far,and this only book 5 and at the moment there are 15 in total.
The setting around Windermere,Ambleside,Bowness-on-Windermere and of course Hawkshead it’s self makes for a great read,if you know the area all the better,but at the front of these books is a map of the whole area.
To date I find this story line the best and had me on the edge of my seat,waiting for the next chapter after ending the last chapter with a must read the next one.
Enjoy

[Wendy Duncalfe · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed the book as I love anything to do with the Lake District. The story kept me wondering what had happened to Ben, although got a be fed up with Simmy at times, as she dithered about making decisions. I gave it 3 stars because I was disappointed with how the book ends, what happened to all the criminals? The book went from being in the thick of catching them to a sedate conversation between Ben and Bonnie and then nothing!

[Catherine Henderson · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is the first I have read of this series so was new to the characters. I do admit that I bought it mainly due to the setting in the lake district and I like mystery novels. Though I liked the central character well enough I preferred Bonnie and other periphery characters but assuming this is due to not being familier with the series. But it was a decent enough escapist read. Enough to go look for earlier books in the series

[Rob Cook · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Lake District Mysteries takes an even more serious turn with the abduction of one of the main characters in this book, the fifth in the series.
This mystery also makes a change from previous entries by not focussing entirely on Simmy with several chapters featuring her assistant Bonnie as the lead, the result is refreshing but also means some of the regular secondary characters don't feature as much.
Overall this is a return to form and my favourite of the series since the first one.

[Helen Birkbeck · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's so unlikely that all these murders would happen in such a small area and involve the same few people, but somehow that just doesn't matter in these stories (as in Midsomer!). The reason for the murder is rather fantastical, but the way the regulars deal with it is interesting and helps us get to know them much better. I really want to go back to Hawkshead now, as the scenic descriptions are so appealing.

[Mary Pimbblet · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was probably the strongest book of this series so far. There's a crime and the characters actually use some deductive reasoning to solve it. Also we get some chapters where Persimmon, the worst person at running a small business ever and completely ineffectual at helping solve any of these crimes, is replaced by Bonnie, who actually uses her initiative to try and do things.
The outcome of the plot is so stupid and poorly explained that it's almost funny.

[Lynda · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was a little wordy and vague. I'm still not sure what the illegal part that was the reason that they killed the man. Nor am I sure why they kidnapped the kid. A lot of minutiae about the main characters that I'm not sure we needed. I guess they were trying to fill in the characters but it was an awful lot of detail.

[Daniela · Rating 2 out of 5]

Found this quite odd in that the normal central character didn’t really seem to want to be in the book at all!
However Bonnie did come to life so maybe this is a transition book.
Will continue on with the series though as I love the Lakes and do love the characters with all their complexities

[Peter Moyes · Rating 3 out of 5]

Running a Florist in Windermere seems to be fraught with involvement in murder. Throw in a kidnapping, possibly, and things certainly stretch friendships and Simmy Brown's capabilities as an amateur sleuth.

[Susan Rogers · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoy Rebecca Tope's books. I only wish that they were longer. If only we could have a debrief at the end of the crime. There are so many questions I want answered. What happened to each of the characters. I know there will be another book to follow but that will be another story.

[Gail Smith · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sometimes you just want a comfort crime read & this fitted the bill - not as good as the Cotswold series & some dodgy plot issues but lovely scenery descriptions to accompany the confusion & characters of a nice murder

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

7/10. I like the setting the plot feels secondary to the characters. As with the last book I feel less sympathetic to Simmy than I did initially, but the other characters are enjoyable. I missed Ben (as he was kidnapped) but Boonie made up for it. I’ve ordered the next one in the series.

[Sandy McKenna · Rating 5 out of 5]

A murder and an abduction keep Simmy and her friends busy with very little assistance from the police. A good story taking the reader through towns and villages in the Lakes District.
I can recommend this and all of Rebeccca Tope's novels.

[Adele · Rating 3 out of 5]

Holiday 2017 read.
Ideal holiday fodder, not too taxing and with the added interest to a frequent visitor to the Lake District with Hawkshead as the backdrop to the drama

[Nikki · Rating 5 out of 5]

The 5th book in Rebecca Tope's Lake District mysteries.

Simmy, Ben, Bonnie and DI Moxon are drawn into another murder, this time though one of them is in grave danger and goes missing, and is up to the rest of them to try and find the mossing person.

Simmy is providing flowers to the hotel where get former assistant Melanie now works but something is awry at the hitel, and when a murder takes place in the grounds of the hotel and one of Simmy's friends goes missing, she feels is up to them to try and find the missing person.

This book is now involved than the others and I found it really good to read. I prefer to read books in order if they're part of a series, whilst each book is standalone in the mystery side the people relationships change so in my opinion its worth reading these books in order.

[Mr Richard Sant · Rating 2 out of 5]

Boring.loved the other books in this series, but this one is boring

[Liz · Rating 1 out of 5]

I bought this because we holidayed near Hawkshead last year and the places were familiar. Sadly the writing and editing were poor and the plot worse. I won't be reading any more by this author.

[C. Rose · Rating 1 out of 5]

Unbelievable plot and daft characters.