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Helen Lightholder #6
A Simple Country Deception
The violent death of a friend plunges Helen Lightholder into another case of danger and deceit as she struggles to unravel the truth behind the grisly killing. With her own past continuing to haunt her, Helen works to uncover the ultimate answer behind the mystery that has plagued her since the beginning.
Return to the quaint - and deadly - village of Brookminster a final time for the dramatic conclusion to Helen’s adventures.
160 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 25, 2019
321 people are currently reading
88 people want to read
About the author
Blythe Baker
117 books387 followersBlythe Baker is a thirty-something bottle redhead from the South Central part of the country. When she’s not slinging words and creating new worlds and characters, she’s acting as chauffeur to her children and head groomer to her household of beloved pets.
Blythe enjoys long walks with her dog on sweaty days, grubbing in her flower garden, cooking, and ruthlessly de-cluttering her overcrowded home. She also likes binge-watching mystery shows on TV and burying herself in books about murder.
Blythe enjoys long walks with her dog on sweaty days, grubbing in her flower garden, cooking, and ruthlessly de-cluttering her overcrowded home. She also likes binge-watching mystery shows on TV and burying herself in books about murder.
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
June 27, 2020
A Simple Country Deception earns 5/5 Secrets...Engaging Fun!
Blythe Baker is very talented at engaging cozy fans with clever mysteries, engaging characters, and through descriptive language depicting by-gone eras. This book is a perfect example. The murder of Helen’s friend makes it personal giving the investigation an emotional dynamic. Her own past continues to haunt her as it has through the series, so newbies keep that in mind, but I thoroughly enjoyed the drama. It is said to be the final adventure [insert a sad sigh], and although it’s hard to say goodbye, the Epilogue provides satisfying closure. But there is a hint, however small, that more could come.
Disclosure: I received an ARC from the author. My review is voluntary with honest insights and comments.
Blythe Baker is very talented at engaging cozy fans with clever mysteries, engaging characters, and through descriptive language depicting by-gone eras. This book is a perfect example. The murder of Helen’s friend makes it personal giving the investigation an emotional dynamic. Her own past continues to haunt her as it has through the series, so newbies keep that in mind, but I thoroughly enjoyed the drama. It is said to be the final adventure [insert a sad sigh], and although it’s hard to say goodbye, the Epilogue provides satisfying closure. But there is a hint, however small, that more could come.
Disclosure: I received an ARC from the author. My review is voluntary with honest insights and comments.
December 23, 2019
As always, fabulous and suspenseful. Helen gets involved solving a murder. Once I started, I was locked into the story. Love all of them.
June 21, 2020
The series should have ended with Book 5. I did not like the way she tried up loose ends at all. Very disappointing.
December 1, 2019
Things have been quiet in Brookminster and autumn is in the air. The leaves were changing color, people were getting winter clothes ready and Christmas presents were being made. Helen went to the store for groceries as soon as she closed her shop for the day. Upon leaving the store she happened upon Mr. & Mrs. Henrietta. While talking a bit with them Inspector Sam Graves walked up. When the Henriettas' left, Sam asked Helen if he could walk her home and took the grocery bags from her. When they arrived at her house he asked if she would go out to dinner with him. About that time Irene arrived and Sam left. Helen was sure the shadow she had seen was Roger and when she was in London she was told that Roger was still alive but she could not tell that to anyone. She would have to make Sam understand that they could only be friends. Then the unthinkable happened. A brutal murder. This time it was a friend of Helen's. Of course she was told to stay out of it. But she couldn't. How will she solve this one? Was this murder her fault? Was her life at risk? Will she get some answers to some of her questions? Well thought out and well written and edited. I recommend this series.
I voluntarily received a copy of this book from the author and I'm voluntarily posting a review. My opinion is entirely my own.
I voluntarily received a copy of this book from the author and I'm voluntarily posting a review. My opinion is entirely my own.
March 10, 2020
I thought the guilty party was rather obvious this time, even as Helen tied herself in knots thinking of unlikely scenarios. I was also rather dismayed at the murderer's death. Surely being knocked out would have been sufficient? This is the fourth time in this series that the killer has been summarily despatched before any arrest can be made, and it does make this quiet Cotswold village seem rather like the Wild West. This along with Sam's death took away from my pleasure in the optimistic ending. Still, the toll the last few months has taken on Helen's state of mind is well imagined and I was glad to see her have hope for the future. This has been a flawed but intriguing series.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 19, 2024
Keep the tissue box handy 😭
Well, I didn’t read the synopsis for this book before I dove in, and that decision came back to bite me in the butt not too long after the story began. To say I was shocked and upset would be an understatement. I won’t say any more in case I accidentally spoil it, but if I’d just read the darned synopsis I don’t think this murder would have hit me half as much.
Apart from that, I did like the mystery. I have become attached to these characters, and loosing one of them had me glued to my iPad until their case was solved. I have no idea where the series will go from here, but I’m itching to see how everything works out for Helen.
Well, I didn’t read the synopsis for this book before I dove in, and that decision came back to bite me in the butt not too long after the story began. To say I was shocked and upset would be an understatement. I won’t say any more in case I accidentally spoil it, but if I’d just read the darned synopsis I don’t think this murder would have hit me half as much.
Apart from that, I did like the mystery. I have become attached to these characters, and loosing one of them had me glued to my iPad until their case was solved. I have no idea where the series will go from here, but I’m itching to see how everything works out for Helen.
August 15, 2020
Great series
In book six which is the final book in the series a deep personal death rocks Helen and is she resolved to find the murderer. In the process of solving this case, Helen is confronted with deep doubts regarding her husband Roger is he alive or dead as reported afraid to tell Irene for her own good, Helen must grapple with this in her own. Wonderful storytelling. Sorry to see it end.
In book six which is the final book in the series a deep personal death rocks Helen and is she resolved to find the murderer. In the process of solving this case, Helen is confronted with deep doubts regarding her husband Roger is he alive or dead as reported afraid to tell Irene for her own good, Helen must grapple with this in her own. Wonderful storytelling. Sorry to see it end.
December 6, 2019
End of the series? Say it isn't so!
This time murder hits close to home. Can Helen solve it without getting herself killed? I'm going to miss Helen and all her friends and Brookminster. I hope Ms Baker will changed her mind and write more in this series. I have enjoyed every one of them!
I received an ARC. This is my honest review.
This time murder hits close to home. Can Helen solve it without getting herself killed? I'm going to miss Helen and all her friends and Brookminster. I hope Ms Baker will changed her mind and write more in this series. I have enjoyed every one of them!
I received an ARC. This is my honest review.
April 17, 2021
Sam is starting to have feelings for Helen, who is unsure if she should accept his affections because of doubts that Roger is really dead. Then Sam is found murdered. Helen is heartbroken, but she tries her best to find the murderer. Not having great success, Helen decided to take a leisure trip to a castle. Everything is revealed in this final "episode."
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 26, 2020
I love this character, this book was a good read, but left me wondering if this is how the author is leaving the series, as it seem to indicate such. I sincerely hope that if the series is wrapping up I’d like to see the conclusion a bit more concrete to her and Roger’s reunion.
May 23, 2020
Short entertaining mysteries
This whole series is easy and quick to read. The mysteries are simple and I found myself being drawn into the world inhabited by the perfectly imperfect characters.
This whole series is easy and quick to read. The mysteries are simple and I found myself being drawn into the world inhabited by the perfectly imperfect characters.
July 31, 2020
Slight. Anachronistic language. Grammatical errors. I and me used incorrectly.
Story slight. Not much character development. The ideas are good but shallow development. But, that said I read all the novels to see what happened. A little like Chinese food hungry later.
Story slight. Not much character development. The ideas are good but shallow development. But, that said I read all the novels to see what happened. A little like Chinese food hungry later.
May 31, 2022
The anachronisms annoy me, but cute story
September 4, 2024
Seriously? I thought through the entire book that the murder was the deception. I didn't believe this would happen. What a ridiculous way to end(?) this series.
July 18, 2020
I have enjoyed reading the Helen Lightholder series. My only quarrel with them is the 1st-person introspection that dominates the stories. I guess heavy introspection is not my cup of tea.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews