Murder at the Old Abbey

Havard & Lambert Mysteries #2

by Pippa McCathie

A suspicious death casts a dark cloud over a small community south of the Black Mountains…

White Monk Abbey is a local landmark and its resident patriarch, Caradoc Mansell, a foreboding presence. He runs his household and family as if he is still in the army. And he’s been known for rubbing people up the wrong way.

So, when he is found murdered, the challenge Chief Inspector Matt Lambert of the Newport police faces is that many people had a powerful grudge or good reason to want him dead.

And when it is discovered that Caradoc had children from dalliances in his youth, his family also fall under suspicion – their substantial inheritance having been put in doubt.

With so many suspects and little evidence, DCI Lambert finds it difficult to progress the investigation. The family go to ground, so he draws on the advice of his former boss, ex-detective Fabia Havard.

Knowing the family, Havard helps Lambert establish motive and opportunity. But will their fractious relationship, the result of repressed feelings for one another, get in the way of finding the killer?

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Crime, Audiobook, Cozy Mystery, Adult, Procedural

301 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 20, 2019

About the author

South Wales has played a big part in Pippa's life, two of her three sons were born in Swansea and she visits close friends near Newport as often as she can. Brought up in Mauritius, she's spent a lot of her life travelling, to Guernsey, London, South Africa, South Wales, Iran and back to Guernsey. She began writing in school exercise books to entertain her friends, which resulted in dubious exam results but much laughter. She's had many poems and short stories published and, once her boys had been packed off to school, started on the novels. For the last 17 years she's taught a creative writing class, and in her spare time she's worked as a volunteer with a national charity, helped run Guernsey's local Eisteddfod, and looked after a gorgeous husband and a cowardly cat. All these activities have helped her avoid time wasting activities such as housework and gardening. Murder in the Valleys, published by The Book Folks, is the first in a series featuring Fabia Havard and Matt Lambert, who are currently Pippa's best friends.

Reviews

[David Pearson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just finished reading this excellent book. The book is set in Wales, and once you get used to the rather odd old Welsh names, the story takes off and keeps you really very much engaged. The story is made compelling by the main character's back story - Fabia - who had been a senior police officer, but had been made to leave the force accused, wrongly, of wrong doing.

Fabia gets heavily involved with the investigation of 2 mysterious deaths, and finally establishes how and why the victims have been killed, and goes on to solve the case with her still-serving police man friend, Matt.

Hard to put down. Well written, and nicely crafted.

[Nadishka Aloysius · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was able to figure out the murderer too easily

[Cynthia Grove · Rating 3 out of 5]

A pleasant read with something of gothic undertones. I found the beginning unsettling but then the story improved (for me) as the characters and ambience became more 21st century. I didn't get a sense of a real environment behind the characters but that may well just be me. Perhaps some improbable elements in the story's progression but these serve to underlie the gothic elements. Yes, I suspected the murderer quite early on but only to question that later. Some interesting characters as well as some stereotypical ones. I think I may well look out for further books in this series.

[Sian Morant · Rating 2 out of 5]

Disappointing follow up as I really liked Murder in the Valleys. Rambling and not that interesting plot and a murderer I sussed out almost immediately. I do like the character of Fabia though so I may stick with the series.

[Valerie Campbell Ackroyd · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good cozy

I liked this fairly simple, straightforward crime book. It’s not exactly a thriller, it’s more in the line of Agatha Christie—crumbling stately home, family tensions over inheritance, mysterious relative written from the point of view of a youngish police superintendent. Some romance, some modern drug and gang references.

There is a Book 1 to this series which I haven’t read and I believe there is also a Book 3. I enjoyed this one enough to read the other two when I get down the pile of books I have right now. It’s not deep or difficult, it’s a bit like reading a TV script instead of watching the actual (good) crime series.

[Vanessa Powell · Rating 5 out of 5]

I felt like I was reading an Agatha Christie novel. Too many people with motives for a murder and a twist at the end. A hint of romance between the main characters. I enjoyed this book and looking forward to the next one,

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Owner of the White Monk Abbey, Carodoc Mansell has recently died and the doctor is suspicious. The family who are all awful have just found out that he has recently changed his will. And an illegitimate granddaughter has turned up.
Enjoyable mystery

[Eirlys · Rating 5 out of 5]

Real suspense and mystery.

Fabia and Matt get embroiled in another murder. Village politics weave around the case giving Fabia's input priceless. Vibrant characters provide lots of suspense and twists in the story.

[Megs · Rating 4 out of 5]

Solid four stars. Surprised me, because for a murder mystery it had character development and was relatively plausible.

[Monta · Rating 4 out of 5]

Man patīk detektīvi vecā labā angļu stilā.

[Caroline 'relaxing with my rescue dogs' · Rating 3 out of 5]

this was an interesting listen. I found the first book on audible plus and the second in sale. the series isn't captivating me enough to buy the third book but was a pleasant way to spend the time

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

Who could have murdered Caradoc Mansell, patriarch of the Welsh family living at White Monk Abbey? He didn't get along with some of his neighbors, true, but suspicion falls more on his family. Caradoc ruled the roost as he pleased, ignoring any objections from his grown son Roderick, who runs the property, and certainly ignoring any objections from Roderick's horse-mad wife or her extremely shady brother, who seems to have camped himself in one of the guest rooms. Also in the household are Caradoc's grown daughter, Meghan, and his deceased wife's sister, who acts as housekeeper. In the town, Garon, an illegitimate son, runs the local pub and suffers from a gambling addiction that's set to ruin him in one way or another. And just turned up is a granddaughter from Mauritius, whose mother was the product of a youthful love match that wasn't allowed to come to marriage--and after meeting the granddaughter, Caradoc decided to change his will. So DCI Lambert has no shortage of suspects, and ends up turning to his former boss, Fabia, who lives nearby and knows the Mansells, and is in fact hosting the granddaughter from Mauritius at the behest of Caradoc's solicitor (it's a long story).

This story is told mostly from Fabia and Matt (Lambert)'s POVs, and it was an interesting dynamic in terms of straddling the line between cozy mystery/private investigator and police procedural. Fabia is not a private investigator--she's now an artist--and she doesn't do much active investigation, but Matt calls on her expertise so she pretty much knows what he knows. There's also an element of organized crime and violence through the shady brother in law, which tarnishes the cozy gleam of a murder at a manor house, and which I could have done without, frankly, but I understand why it was there. I do think that there were a lot of loose ends left after the story finished--they didn't even solve a second murder for sure (though pretty sure), and a lot of other crime that was going on was not addressed or finished with, so no closure. Overall I did like this one and found it more intelligent than many, though I did pinpoint the killer long before I usually do, and knew exactly why (it seemed really obvious). The details were well done in that the world was well-built, but what I enjoyed most was listening to the audiobook reader's distinctive Welsh accent. It made me wonder if I've been mispronouncing the name Meredith (I use MER-e-dith rather than Meh-RED-ith)!

[M · Rating 3 out of 5]

This non-cozy police procedural works well as a stand-alone

This is a quick-read mystery that can be read as a stand-alone, because there’s enough backstory. Chief inspector Matt Lambert and his team out of Newport, Wales are investigating the murder of Caradoc Mansell, an irascible codger and tyrant who ruled the household living in his historic 17th century mansion.

A subplot about a newly-found Mansell family member was more satisfying, because newbie Anjali Kishtoo is a delightful character with an engaging backstory that piqued my interest. There are also several understated but charming romances, which do not interrupt the murder storyline.

This is a solid British/Welsh mystery with a definite old-fashioned feel—no matter the mobiles, laptops, tablets, memory sticks, etc. The main storyline has been done before, and the nuclear/extended family members are the usual murder mystery fodder. As I ticked boxes, I was able to guess the culprit, although I wanted to be sure about the culprit’s motives.

The author needs a good editor for punctuation problems.

3 stars, because I liked the book.

[Patiscynical · Rating 2 out of 5]

Improbable

I didn't read the first book, so I was unfamiliar with the characters. Fabia Havard was once a police detective, but is now an artist, after having apparently been forced out of the department but exonerated. So this book is mostly about her.
The Mansell's are an important family, living on a huge estate, but without the money to maintain the vast home and grounds.
The head of the family is murdered, and the entire family are suspects.
The story is somewhat rambling, the characters aren't particularly pleasant or interesting, and you had a pretty good idea of who the murderer was early on.
Results: this was supposed to be a Fabia Havard mystery, but she really didn't do much to solve it. Well, except for having a dream about who the killer was. I found it improbable and not very thrilling.

[Amy · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really wanted to like this book. The setting is wonderful, and several minor characters are likable and interesting. But I found the main character, Fabia, to be quite annoying - insecure, self-indulgent, and irrational. A mystery that is fairly easy to solve is a minor problem for me, but I can’t stand main characters I find obnoxious.

[Shazza Maddog · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gifted to me by a friend who knows my interest in Wales, this cozy mystery starts slow but picks up speed around a third of the way through.

Caradoc Mansell is the patriarch of the family residing at White Monk Abbey. He is known by all as being curt and somewhat cranky, as well as militant in his regards as to what should happen at his family home. Living under his roof are:
Nonna, his wife's sister, who keeps house,
Rodric, his son, known for being rather weak,
Megan, his daughter, a very emotional creature
Rodric's wife, Delma, interested in horses horses horses,
Delma's brother, Matt, far too interested in the antiques and sparklies of the household, and
David, a workman(?) around the house,
and outside of the house:
Garan, Caradoc's son out of wedlock and
Sylvia, Garan's wife (they own a public house in town).

We're introduced to everyone very quickly over dinner and the next morning, Caradoc is dead. Megan calls the police rather than an ambulance, alerting Matt (our male lead) to the happenings. However, Caradoc was spouting about changing his will and that is a problem, possibly.

Enter Fabia (our female lead), who was once Matt's supervisor and lost her job due to a cockup at the police department which took a lot of doing to get her name cleared. She's also dealing with PTSD from the previous mystery (this is second in a series).

Because the police are called prior to the ambulance, there is a cursory review done of Caradoc's body and there's enough of an issue to make the medical examiner want a deeper look - there's a hint of animal tranquilizer in his system and a strange bruise on his body with an injection site. And it does turn out he's been murdered...

But who would do that? While Caradoc isn't universally loved, he is respected. However, he was going to spring a surprise on his family - a granddaughter from his previous marriage of the heart when he was serving in the military. Anjali makes him happier than he's been in a very long time - and he's changed his will because of it.

I figured out the murderer about a third of the way through but this was still a fun read. I did like the characters quite a lot - Anjali and Fabia's friend, Cath, the vicar, are both lovely.

I would probably read more of this series if I could find it.

[Robert Crouch · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every now and again, a book comes along by an author you’ve never read before. It takes you on a joyous journey, introducing you to engaging characters, a tantalising mystery and an exciting ride that you don’t want to finish.

This was one of those books. It gripped me from the start and never let go. In a beautiful corner of Wales, a family is struggling to stay together and hold onto to its traditions and former glories. Caradoc Mansell, the seemingly uncompromising head of the family, dies from natural causes in his 80s. Only you know it’s not that simple.

Matt Lambert, the local chief inspector of police, helped by former superintendent, Fabia Havard, soon discover Caradoc’s death was suspicious. Suddenly, everyone living in the old house is under suspicion. One by one, their secrets are exposed, adding them to a growing list of suspects.

Then a distant relative that no one knew about, a product of Caradoc’s army days abroad, arrives to add more confusion and conflict to the strains pulling everyone apart.

While a second death racks up the tension and threatens further problems, Lambert and Havard have their own personal issues to address.

It all adds up to an absorbing and entertaining story that I loved from start to finish and would highly recommend.

I’ll now have to go back and read the first novel in the series before moving on to the rest.

[Cornerofmadness · Rating 4 out of 5]

I didn't get to read book one but there's plenty ways into this one so you don't miss that. It's setting is in Wales, a country I've been too a few times and love. Favia Havard was once a police detective who was framed for a crime. Matt Lambert (her former apprentice, now inspector) cleared her name but she turned to a second career as an artist. Matt still comes to her with cases as she knows everyone and definitely does in this case. Carandoc Mansell was the rather unlikeable head of a long important lineage who delighted, it seems in making sure his kids (grown adults) didn't inherit anything they wanted in his will (I had a relative like this). His death was no accident. We have his meek daughter (whose book Favia is ilustrating) , his son who married badly, his horse crazy wife and her racist thug of a brother, his pub keeping illegitimate son plus his newly found illegitimate Hindu granddaughter (whose grandmother might be the only person he ever loved)

There are plenty of red herrings. For me the will they won't they age gapped romance thing with Havard and Lambert got old quick but at least it seems to have ended. (I'm no fan of the trope) I did really like both Favia (and her friends) and Matt so I'd love to see more of this.

[Nancy]

A suspicious death casts a dark cloud over a small community south of the Black Mountains…

White Monk Abbey is a local landmark and its resident patriarch, Caradoc Mansell, a foreboding presence. He runs his household and family as if he is still in the army. And he’s been known for rubbing people up the wrong way.

So, when he is found murdered, the challenge Chief Inspector Matt Lambert of the Newport police faces is that many people had a powerful grudge or good reason to want him dead.

And when it is discovered that Caradoc had children from dalliances in his youth, his family also fall under suspicion – their substantial inheritance having been put in doubt.

With so many suspects and little evidence, DCI Lambert finds it difficult to progress the investigation. The family go to ground, so he draws on the advice of his former boss, ex-detective Fabia Havard.

Knowing the family, Havard helps Lambert establish motive and opportunity. But will their fractious relationship, the result of repressed feelings for one another, get in the way of finding the killer?

Very good.

[Sally · Rating 4 out of 5]

The second of the Havard and Lambert mysteries set in South Wales, and builds well upon the first one. In this one Caradoc Mansell, the patriarch of a Welsh family, is found murdered, and although it appears to be a stroke, he’s been killed by an injection of an animal tranquilizer. Shortly before his death it becomes clear that he had an affair overseas while serving in the army, and he has discovered a granddaughter that he didn’t know he had. That he tries to make things right for her family, leads to tragedy in his own. Fabia knows the daughter of Caradoc and is doing illustrations for her upcoming book. So she’s drawn into the family tragedy as Matt Lambert investigates. The tenuous relationship between Fabia and Matt comes to a sort of resolution, although there is tenseness within the family and between them. The solution lies in the understanding of what family means.

[Sam · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wasn't completely sure what to expect from this but I loved it. Not only was it a great story with plenty of twists and some great and believable characters, it wove the landscape and places of South Wales into the story brilliantly. So many times I was reading knowing almost exactly where events were taking place, making the whole story that much more real and believable. For me the only thing I wasn't so keen on was the romantic interplay between Lambert and Havard, I'm not entirely sure it is necessary or warranted and I found bits of it a little forced and awkward. I'm also not that sure I believed it all that much, but that could well be the cynic in me. That aside, I will certainly be looking out for the rest in the series.

[Rachel26621 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great author and great book

Pippa McCathie has become one of my favorite mystery/detective authors. She has created two leading characters that are likable and believable. The supporting characters are also well done to the point the reader feels as if he or she knows them. She is skilled at creating a mystery and guiding the reader through the solving process without giving away the solution, but yet giving enough clues so the reader can keep guessing. There are also lovely descriptions of Wales. I hope she continues to write many more books in this series with Fabia, Matt, Dilys, And Cath, the vicar!

[Bertie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this book. Set in Wales, centred around the Mansell family, who own a large estate, but are struggling with the upkeep. All is not well within the family with all the usual bickering that goes on...but then things take a turn for the worse when the head of the family is murdered.
Haven't actually read the first one - Murder in the Valleys, but I'm intrigued now to go back and order that one so I have the full story on Matt and Fabia who seem to rather like each other - that is DCI Matt Lambert and Fabia Havard (who used to be his boss at the police force). Entertaining.

[Neill Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Murder in the Mano4r

White Monk Abbey was the ancestral home of Caradoc Mansell and his family. When he was a military officer in Mauritius he had married a girl against her father’s wishes and he was sent back to Wales by his commanding officer. Many years later he was connected with his unknown grand daughter and invited her to Wales resulting in his decision to change his will. This was unknown to the rest of his family and their spouses, some of whom were trying to illicitly steal some of his resources. I enjoyed this book a lot and recommend it.

[Ria · Rating 5 out of 5]

Monk Abbey is sprawling yet run down estate, manned by the bad tempered Caradoc Mansell.
His family want to make improvements and he won’t hear of it.
So with a greedy family in the background, further complicated by the appearance of a long lost grand daughter, who Caradoc winds up dead
Suspicion falls firmly on the immediate family members who all have a stake in the estate.
Enter Fabia Harvard and Matt Lambert to investigate this tangled web of lie and deceit.
Another wonderful slice of village life style murder mysteries set in Wales. Totally loving this series.

[Elva Cartwright · Rating 5 out of 5]

Murder at The Old Abbey: (The Harvard and Lambert Mysteries Book 2)

I enjoyed this Book, the character’s came more to life and there were M or evil going on. It certainly was a Murder Mystery. I certainly didn’t expect the person who had done all the murders as she was a very uninteresting person in the book. All the murders centred around the Carradog family at the Abbey. The plot thickened as I read more into the tale. I can thoroughly recommend this book in the series. Couldn’t put it down at several points.

[Diane E]

Excellent

An old man is murdered (?) In south Wales. His life had been interesting when as a soldier in Mauritius he fell in love with a native girl . He was prevented from marrying her. Late in life he was in touch with her family . A touching story interrupted by a murderer . Great book . Great characters . I personally would read more of them, and of course this author .

[John Keeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Well Written Mystery

This is a well written mystery that is hard to put down.
It is well plotted and the characters are fully developed. One thing I really loved about it was that it wasn’t stretched out with unnecessary descriptions and filler passages. This book will definitely appeal to Christie fans. I strongly recommend it and definitely will be reading other mysteries written by this author.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm enjoying this series, set in Wales. "Cosy" mysteries with a bit of an edge, this has engaging main protagonists in ex-detective-turned-artist Fabia Havard and current DCI Matt Lambert. The minor characters are all well-drawn, and the sense of place is stronger with this second novel by McCathie. If you like Louise Penny and Elly Griffiths, you'll like these. Looking forward to more in this series (I hope!).

[Jean · Rating 4 out of 5]

Second in the series, it took me a few pages to get into with lots of names and nothing happening until the owner of the local Abbey dies of a suspicious death and all the family come under suspicion and Carodoc's granddaughter turns up from Mauritius where he was stationed during the war and none of the family know about her.
Lots of suspense keeps you reading and more of the relationship between ex superintendent Fabia and Matt Lambert who is on the case.
Great description of South Wales.