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DS Ava Merry and DI Jim Neal #6
Murderous Secrets
Detective Ava Merry goes to a forties-themed dance at Northfields Farm on Valentine’s Day.
A young couple, Nick and Samantha, are found murdered. Nick is found in a wartime ambulance and Sam is found stabbed multiple times in the glamping tent they were staying in.
DS Ava Merry is confronted by a man fleeing the tent. Who is he and is he really innocent?
Then another frenzied murder ups the stakes still further.
Can DS Ava Merry and DI Jim Neal expose the killer when no one is who they seem?
A young couple, Nick and Samantha, are found murdered. Nick is found in a wartime ambulance and Sam is found stabbed multiple times in the glamping tent they were staying in.
DS Ava Merry is confronted by a man fleeing the tent. Who is he and is he really innocent?
Then another frenzied murder ups the stakes still further.
Can DS Ava Merry and DI Jim Neal expose the killer when no one is who they seem?
240 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 14, 2019
467 people are currently reading
197 people want to read
About the author
Janice Frost
15 books158 followersJanice was born and grew up in West Lothian, Scotland. Her love of writing began when she was given a notebook by a primary school teacher and told to write ‘Just Imagine,’ on the cover. She enjoyed writing stories in the notebook so much that she decided she'd like to be an author. Due to life, work and children, It took a little longer than she imagined.
After a ten-year stint of working in London, Janice moved to Lincolnshire where she still lives. She now writes full-time. In her free time she enjoys walking, and reading in coffee shops.
Janice is the author of six books in the bestselling Merry & Neal series, four books in the Warwick & Bell series, and one standalone mystery, The Woman on the Cliff.
All of Janice’s books are published by Joffe Books.
The Merry & Neal series
1 Dead Secret
2 Dark Secret
3 Her Husband’s Secret
4. Fatal Secrets
5 Dirty Secrets
6 Murderous Secrets
Warwick & Bell series
1 Murder Among Friends
2 Murder Across The Lines
3 Murder Against The Odds
4 Murder On A Country Walk
Standalone novel
The Woman on the Cliff
After a ten-year stint of working in London, Janice moved to Lincolnshire where she still lives. She now writes full-time. In her free time she enjoys walking, and reading in coffee shops.
Janice is the author of six books in the bestselling Merry & Neal series, four books in the Warwick & Bell series, and one standalone mystery, The Woman on the Cliff.
All of Janice’s books are published by Joffe Books.
The Merry & Neal series
1 Dead Secret
2 Dark Secret
3 Her Husband’s Secret
4. Fatal Secrets
5 Dirty Secrets
6 Murderous Secrets
Warwick & Bell series
1 Murder Among Friends
2 Murder Across The Lines
3 Murder Against The Odds
4 Murder On A Country Walk
Standalone novel
The Woman on the Cliff
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 54 reviews
November 14, 2019
It's Valentine's Day evening and DS Ava Merry attends a 40's themed barn dance. Taking a break for a bit of fresh air, she sees someone running out of the barn. Upon investigating, she finds a body in the old wartime ambulance parked there. The man's girlfriend is later found also dead in the tent in which they were staying.
Both victims were stabbed multiple times. They aren't the only bodies that will fall.
Merry and Neal have plenty of suspects ... but no outstanding motives. Who would want these people dead and why?
This is a fast paced mystery with lots of suspects to watch for. Most have secrets they want to keep out of the bright light of day. Engaging from start to finish.
Many thanks to the author / Joffe Books / Books n All Book Promotions / Netgalley for the digital copy of this crime fiction. Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
Both victims were stabbed multiple times. They aren't the only bodies that will fall.
Merry and Neal have plenty of suspects ... but no outstanding motives. Who would want these people dead and why?
This is a fast paced mystery with lots of suspects to watch for. Most have secrets they want to keep out of the bright light of day. Engaging from start to finish.
Many thanks to the author / Joffe Books / Books n All Book Promotions / Netgalley for the digital copy of this crime fiction. Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
November 14, 2019
DA Ava Merry and DI Jim Neal #6
DS Ava Merry and DC PJ Jenkins are going to a 1940's themed barn dance that's being held at Northfields Farm. Its Valentines night. Just as they start to e joy themselves, a double murder has taken place. The young couple had been glamping near the property.
Ava and her partner DI Jim Neal are investigating the young couples deaths when another body turns up. They were all brutally murdered. When the police dig into the background of the family, the case becomes a little more complex. There is a fee twists in this fast paced read. This is a really good police series. This book can be read as a standalone but it's always best to read a series from the beginning.
I would like to thank NetGalley, Joffe Books and the author Janice Frost for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
DS Ava Merry and DC PJ Jenkins are going to a 1940's themed barn dance that's being held at Northfields Farm. Its Valentines night. Just as they start to e joy themselves, a double murder has taken place. The young couple had been glamping near the property.
Ava and her partner DI Jim Neal are investigating the young couples deaths when another body turns up. They were all brutally murdered. When the police dig into the background of the family, the case becomes a little more complex. There is a fee twists in this fast paced read. This is a really good police series. This book can be read as a standalone but it's always best to read a series from the beginning.
I would like to thank NetGalley, Joffe Books and the author Janice Frost for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
November 14, 2021
This is a 3.5 star read.
An enjoyable read, but I don't think that the duo of Merry and Neal are really clicking with me. Neal's such a repressed British anal fuddy-duddy!
An enjoyable read, but I don't think that the duo of Merry and Neal are really clicking with me. Neal's such a repressed British anal fuddy-duddy!
November 15, 2019
Murderous Secret. And yes there certainly are! I think that the title for this book couldn't be more apt and I love the cover! It has an eerie look about it and although I read the ebook, this cover is typical of one which would catch my eye and make me want to pick it up and read it.
Northfields Farm, not far from Summerthorpe village, is holding a 1940's themed dance, organised by a local charity to help raise some money for a local hospice. What could possibly go wrong?!
From the outset, this well thought out storyline had me gripped and we don't have to wait long for any action.
DS Ava Merry and DC PollyJane aka PJ, were (fortunately) supporting the charity and hoping for an enjoyable evening when their evening was scuppered following the discovery of a body ...then the victims mount up ...
I felt excited as I read - the amount of suspects were also building up - but what were the motives for the killings and were they connected? Was it the work of the same killer or were there more?and why were there so many secrets? I honestly had no idea! The owners of Northfields Farm, Aubrey and Bea Stratford, along with their grown up children: Monty and Blue, had moved from Brighton to set up a new life for themselves on the farm, from which they ran a 'glampsite' and made their own beer. I loved Aubrey, he was a humorous character and although a little eccentric he seemed harmless enough and enjoyed nothing more than 1940's memorabilia and 'tinkering' in one of his garages on one of his many projects with his old pal Charles who lived close by and also shared Aubrey's passion of WW2 memorabilia. I think that the author has created the characters to be very believable but are they who they say they are? I love, love, loved Soren Hunter, and wanted to find out more of his background. I was also looking forward to seeing who would cop it next as I was hoping to find some clue, but no, it really is so cleverly written. I liked that we don't hear the killer/s point of view and that had me guessing even harder! Although I felt excited and couldn't wait for all the pieces to slot into place and solve the 'puzzle' so to speak, I also felt a sadness as I knew that some of the characters hadn't had it easy in their lives and two characters inparticular, oh how I wish that they'd cop it 😂 This is the 6th book in the Merry/Neal series - my first and definitely not my last - but I would recommend that they be read in order. A very enjoyable read that I highly recommend! Thank you.
Northfields Farm, not far from Summerthorpe village, is holding a 1940's themed dance, organised by a local charity to help raise some money for a local hospice. What could possibly go wrong?!
From the outset, this well thought out storyline had me gripped and we don't have to wait long for any action.
DS Ava Merry and DC PollyJane aka PJ, were (fortunately) supporting the charity and hoping for an enjoyable evening when their evening was scuppered following the discovery of a body ...then the victims mount up ...
I felt excited as I read - the amount of suspects were also building up - but what were the motives for the killings and were they connected? Was it the work of the same killer or were there more?and why were there so many secrets? I honestly had no idea! The owners of Northfields Farm, Aubrey and Bea Stratford, along with their grown up children: Monty and Blue, had moved from Brighton to set up a new life for themselves on the farm, from which they ran a 'glampsite' and made their own beer. I loved Aubrey, he was a humorous character and although a little eccentric he seemed harmless enough and enjoyed nothing more than 1940's memorabilia and 'tinkering' in one of his garages on one of his many projects with his old pal Charles who lived close by and also shared Aubrey's passion of WW2 memorabilia. I think that the author has created the characters to be very believable but are they who they say they are? I love, love, loved Soren Hunter, and wanted to find out more of his background. I was also looking forward to seeing who would cop it next as I was hoping to find some clue, but no, it really is so cleverly written. I liked that we don't hear the killer/s point of view and that had me guessing even harder! Although I felt excited and couldn't wait for all the pieces to slot into place and solve the 'puzzle' so to speak, I also felt a sadness as I knew that some of the characters hadn't had it easy in their lives and two characters inparticular, oh how I wish that they'd cop it 😂 This is the 6th book in the Merry/Neal series - my first and definitely not my last - but I would recommend that they be read in order. A very enjoyable read that I highly recommend! Thank you.
November 14, 2019
Absolutely love this book
Ava and PJ go to a Barn Dance at a remote retreat. Everyone is having a great time. Ava goes outside for some fresh air and spots some lads messing about she moves closer to investigate expecting nothing more that to have to reprimand the boys for drinking or smoking. What they discover in the barn will haunt all of them for some time to come. And that is not the worst crime scene.
As the investigation begins the team are wading through treacle tying to uncover the secrets that everyone seems to be hiding but do these secrets have anything to do with the murders? That is the question everyone would like answers to.
It is an intriguing story with a lot of twists and turns and events from the past impacting on the future the team has its work cut out unravelling the lies and secrets.
This is book 6 in the 'Secrets' series but it does work very well as stand alone. The author makes a first class job of filling in the blanks without it being repetitive for the readers who have read the back list.
Jim Neal is a single parent but has had help from his sister in caring for his young son but Maggie has got married and is now on honeymoon in Australia. Handling a complex double murder while juggling parental commitments and handling the day to day chores that Maggie used to do is putting him under a lot of pressure with nobody to lean on. He is a private person but an excellent detective and a caring boss to his dedicated team.
Ava Merry is looking after her younger brother so can relate to the problems Neal is facing. She is falling for her boss which is making things complicated and struggling with her emotions while trying to work her way through the case is putting her under a lot of pressure.
As the story progresses we find several likely suspects each with their own axe to grind and I can honestly say I didn't have a clue who the murderer was until the very end.
I love Janice Frost's book but she has really hit the ball out of the park with this one. Adrenaline pumping suspense, intrigue and red herrings are all interwoven with the nitty gritty of detective work. This is one of the best books I have read for a long time and well worth the 5 stars.
Ava and PJ go to a Barn Dance at a remote retreat. Everyone is having a great time. Ava goes outside for some fresh air and spots some lads messing about she moves closer to investigate expecting nothing more that to have to reprimand the boys for drinking or smoking. What they discover in the barn will haunt all of them for some time to come. And that is not the worst crime scene.
As the investigation begins the team are wading through treacle tying to uncover the secrets that everyone seems to be hiding but do these secrets have anything to do with the murders? That is the question everyone would like answers to.
It is an intriguing story with a lot of twists and turns and events from the past impacting on the future the team has its work cut out unravelling the lies and secrets.
This is book 6 in the 'Secrets' series but it does work very well as stand alone. The author makes a first class job of filling in the blanks without it being repetitive for the readers who have read the back list.
Jim Neal is a single parent but has had help from his sister in caring for his young son but Maggie has got married and is now on honeymoon in Australia. Handling a complex double murder while juggling parental commitments and handling the day to day chores that Maggie used to do is putting him under a lot of pressure with nobody to lean on. He is a private person but an excellent detective and a caring boss to his dedicated team.
Ava Merry is looking after her younger brother so can relate to the problems Neal is facing. She is falling for her boss which is making things complicated and struggling with her emotions while trying to work her way through the case is putting her under a lot of pressure.
As the story progresses we find several likely suspects each with their own axe to grind and I can honestly say I didn't have a clue who the murderer was until the very end.
I love Janice Frost's book but she has really hit the ball out of the park with this one. Adrenaline pumping suspense, intrigue and red herrings are all interwoven with the nitty gritty of detective work. This is one of the best books I have read for a long time and well worth the 5 stars.
November 20, 2019
This book is the sixth and latest in the hugely successful series featuring Detective Inspector Jim Neal and Detective Sergeant Ava Merry and the rest of the team based in Stromfordshire. While Jim is at the wedding of his best friend Jock up in Scotland, Ava and Detective Constable PJ (Polly-Jane) Jenkins go to a 1940's theme charity dance being held at Northfields Farm on Valentine's night. The farm is home to retired engineer Aubrey and wife Bea Stratford who run a glamping business at the farm, together with their grown up children Blue and Monty who also run a micro brewery. Help at the farm comes from a mysterious individual called Soren Hunter, someone who wishes to keep his past hidden. During the dance three young boys are mooching about in one of the garages and discover the body of glamper Nick Winter brutally stabbed to death and left in an old wartime ambulance. Ava is first on the scene and despite being off duty takes charge until help arrives. Ava and Sroren Hunter later discover Nick's girlfriend Samantha Benrose in their yurt having met the same grisly end. A suspect flees the tent as they arrive but no one is quick enough to catch him. Could he be the killer and what motive could there be for the slaying of the young couple miles from their home where supposedly no one knew them? Jim Neal arrives back from Edinburgh and takes up the double murder case, but despite unhappy home lives neither one of the young couple seems to have been a target for murder. Just as the team think they may have found their man, another terrible murder occurs and the case seems to turn on its head. Will Ava and Jim ever discover the truth? There were lots of secrets rooted firmly in the past coming back to haunt several of the individuals involved in the Northfields farm business of glamping lets and micro brewery, and as each one came to light the list of suspects grew longer, and the focus moved from one to another as the story progressed. I was mostly able to guess who was responsible for the killings and why, but it was still great fun to be proved right! The story is so well told that it moved along at an almost effortless pace and I could have easily read the whole thing in one sitting (sadly work and sleep get in the way!!). Although the book is part of a series, it still works absolutely fine as a standalone but I think it's nice to know the history between the main detectives and their home lives, particularly as they are such a great bunch of characters. I very much enjoyed it and am already looking forward to more in this series. 5*
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November 9, 2019Book six. Set in stromfordshire. D.S. Ava Merry with D.C. P.J Polly Jane were both heading out to a 1940s dance in a barn Northfield Farm in the village of Lanby. When a dead body is discovered by three lads in an old ambulance. The victim named Nick Winter had his throat cut, and after discovering his partner Samantha Benrose also found dead, this is a double murder so who is the killer? The party is over and Northfield Farm will never be the same again. This book has so many twists and turns keeping you guessing who is the killer, the author writes and pleases her reader's, so fast pace, gripping and will certainly push all your buttons. It's a fabulous who dunnit I really enjoyed reading it.
November 24, 2019
I have been a fan of Janice's work for quite a while now. In fact I have been a fan since I had the good fortune to pick up one of the earlier books in the series featuring Detectives Neal and Merry. Since then I have read the rest of the series in order and from the beginning, whilst (im)patiently waiting for Janice to release the next book in the series. The wait is temporarily over because the latest book in the series is called 'Murderous Secrets' and it was released on 14th November 2019. It really is a cracking addition to the series and I thoroughly enjoyed reading 'Murderous Secrets' but more about that in a bit.
What can I say about Detectives Merry and Neal? They are determined detectives with many years experience between them. They have a close working relationship and I get the impression that before long they will be close in other ways too if you get my drift. Neal isn't sure about having a relationship with Merry because of the implications that could have for their professional lives. They are loyal to each other and each has the other's back. They both work well as part of a team but they also work equally well on their own. I get the impression that Merry can occasionally be a bit rash and rush into situations without thinking about the potential risks. Both of the detectives are determined, tenacious, serious, driven but they are also kind, gentle, sensitive and compassionate. Will Merry and Neal and the other members of the team solve this latest case? Well for the answer to that question and so much more you are just going to have to read the book for yourselves to find out because I am not going to tell you.
Oh my goodness me, 'Murderous Secrets' is one hell of a fantastic addition to the Merry & Neal series. I was completely under the book's spell from the moment I opened the front cover until the moment I read the last word on the last page. Reading this book became a serious addiction. If I had to put the book to one side for any reason, then I would use every excuse I could find to enable me to get back to the book. The book wasn't exactly glued to my hand but it might as well have been because it travelled everywhere with me. I didn't want to miss a single second of the story or miss some vital clue in the case. I had my suspicions as to what was going to happen and how the story was going to conclude so I had to keep reading to see if I was on the right path or if I had the wrong end of the stick. I managed to binge read the book over the course of a couple of days which is pretty good going for me. I was disappointed to finish the book because I was enjoying the author's writing style, the characters and the storylines so much that I just wanted the book to continue.
'Murderous Secrets' is superbly written but then I wouldn't expect anything else from Janice Frost. She has a writing style that is easy to get used to and easy to get along with. Janice starts this book in such a memorable way- I honestly cannot think of any other book that starts with a 1940s nostalgia night and ends up with two dead bodies, one of which is in the back of a 1940s ambulance. Janice compels you to keep reading and I mean that in the nicest possible way. Janice uses such vivid and realistic descriptions that I really did feel as though I was part of the story myself and another member of Detectives Neal and Merry's team.
Reading 'Murderous Secrets' was much like being on a scary and unpredictable rollercoaster ride with more twists and turns than you would find on a 'Snakes & Ladders' board. Just when you think that you can reclaim your stomach, take a breather and let your nerves settle down then off the action would go again.
In short, 'Murderous Secrets' is another fantastic book from Janice Frost. The series featuring Detectives Merry and Neal just goes from strength to strength and gets better and better. I would definitely recommend Janice and her books to other readers. I look forward to reading more of Janice's work in the future. The score on the Ginger Book Geek board is a very well deserved 5* out of 5*.
What can I say about Detectives Merry and Neal? They are determined detectives with many years experience between them. They have a close working relationship and I get the impression that before long they will be close in other ways too if you get my drift. Neal isn't sure about having a relationship with Merry because of the implications that could have for their professional lives. They are loyal to each other and each has the other's back. They both work well as part of a team but they also work equally well on their own. I get the impression that Merry can occasionally be a bit rash and rush into situations without thinking about the potential risks. Both of the detectives are determined, tenacious, serious, driven but they are also kind, gentle, sensitive and compassionate. Will Merry and Neal and the other members of the team solve this latest case? Well for the answer to that question and so much more you are just going to have to read the book for yourselves to find out because I am not going to tell you.
Oh my goodness me, 'Murderous Secrets' is one hell of a fantastic addition to the Merry & Neal series. I was completely under the book's spell from the moment I opened the front cover until the moment I read the last word on the last page. Reading this book became a serious addiction. If I had to put the book to one side for any reason, then I would use every excuse I could find to enable me to get back to the book. The book wasn't exactly glued to my hand but it might as well have been because it travelled everywhere with me. I didn't want to miss a single second of the story or miss some vital clue in the case. I had my suspicions as to what was going to happen and how the story was going to conclude so I had to keep reading to see if I was on the right path or if I had the wrong end of the stick. I managed to binge read the book over the course of a couple of days which is pretty good going for me. I was disappointed to finish the book because I was enjoying the author's writing style, the characters and the storylines so much that I just wanted the book to continue.
'Murderous Secrets' is superbly written but then I wouldn't expect anything else from Janice Frost. She has a writing style that is easy to get used to and easy to get along with. Janice starts this book in such a memorable way- I honestly cannot think of any other book that starts with a 1940s nostalgia night and ends up with two dead bodies, one of which is in the back of a 1940s ambulance. Janice compels you to keep reading and I mean that in the nicest possible way. Janice uses such vivid and realistic descriptions that I really did feel as though I was part of the story myself and another member of Detectives Neal and Merry's team.
Reading 'Murderous Secrets' was much like being on a scary and unpredictable rollercoaster ride with more twists and turns than you would find on a 'Snakes & Ladders' board. Just when you think that you can reclaim your stomach, take a breather and let your nerves settle down then off the action would go again.
In short, 'Murderous Secrets' is another fantastic book from Janice Frost. The series featuring Detectives Merry and Neal just goes from strength to strength and gets better and better. I would definitely recommend Janice and her books to other readers. I look forward to reading more of Janice's work in the future. The score on the Ginger Book Geek board is a very well deserved 5* out of 5*.
November 10, 2019
I would like to thank Netgalley and Joffe Books for an advance copy of Murderous Secrets, the sixth novel to feature DI Jim Neal and DS Ava Merry, set in the fictional Midlands town of Stromford.
Ava and her friend PJ’s evening at a 40s themed dance at Northfields Farm ends early when a body is discovered in an old ambulance stored on the property. When they investigate the yurt where the victim was staying they find another body and miss catching the killer who knocks Ava over while fleeing. A few days later another body deepens the mystery but it all seems to revolve around secrets.
I thoroughly enjoyed Murderous Secrets which is a lively tale of murder and countless secrets. It revolves around who would want to kill Nick and Samantha, a young couple on holiday. Further investigation suggests that they have secrets, as do the inhabitants of Northfields Farm, both the family and their assistant, the enigmatic Soren Hunter. The novel is told from various points of view, mostly Ava Merry’s but fortunately not my pet hate, the perpetrator’s. This gives the reader a broader perspective of the characters, their motivations and why they are keeping secrets but crucially still allows the reader to investigate alongside the detectives. Not that it did me much good as I had a slight inkling but no definition and absolutely no idea about motive. This latter is extremely well done throughout the novel with secrets gradually unfolding but with no hint to relevance. It had me gripped from start to finish. If I have one criticism it’s that the novel is a little light on procedure. I found it frustrating that there were several steps they didn’t take but, on the other hand, it would have revealed too much too soon.
Murderous Secrets is a good read that I have no hesitation in recommending.
Ava and her friend PJ’s evening at a 40s themed dance at Northfields Farm ends early when a body is discovered in an old ambulance stored on the property. When they investigate the yurt where the victim was staying they find another body and miss catching the killer who knocks Ava over while fleeing. A few days later another body deepens the mystery but it all seems to revolve around secrets.
I thoroughly enjoyed Murderous Secrets which is a lively tale of murder and countless secrets. It revolves around who would want to kill Nick and Samantha, a young couple on holiday. Further investigation suggests that they have secrets, as do the inhabitants of Northfields Farm, both the family and their assistant, the enigmatic Soren Hunter. The novel is told from various points of view, mostly Ava Merry’s but fortunately not my pet hate, the perpetrator’s. This gives the reader a broader perspective of the characters, their motivations and why they are keeping secrets but crucially still allows the reader to investigate alongside the detectives. Not that it did me much good as I had a slight inkling but no definition and absolutely no idea about motive. This latter is extremely well done throughout the novel with secrets gradually unfolding but with no hint to relevance. It had me gripped from start to finish. If I have one criticism it’s that the novel is a little light on procedure. I found it frustrating that there were several steps they didn’t take but, on the other hand, it would have revealed too much too soon.
Murderous Secrets is a good read that I have no hesitation in recommending.
November 18, 2019
The title of this book says it all! A charity 1940's barn dance is in full swing and, luckily has DS Ava Merry and DC Polly Jane (PJ for short), in attendance! Their idea of lovely evening cut short by the discovery of a body, and it's not the last! As the bidues mount up, so do the suspects. Nobody knows if these deaths are the work of one killer or even how they connect.
I was gripped till the very end, trying to work it out, but, nope, I couldn't! Really enjoyable book that's number 6 in the series and well worth starting from the beginning as Janice has developed her characters so much. I for one, will be reading em all!
I was gripped till the very end, trying to work it out, but, nope, I couldn't! Really enjoyable book that's number 6 in the series and well worth starting from the beginning as Janice has developed her characters so much. I for one, will be reading em all!
June 23, 2020
These little lies by Gretta Mulrooney.
This is the first book for detective inspector Siv Drummond.
When theres a detective you know theres murder. I do love my murder mysteries. Great story. 4*.
This is the first book for detective inspector Siv Drummond.
When theres a detective you know theres murder. I do love my murder mysteries. Great story. 4*.
January 5, 2020
Another great story
Another great story featuring detectives Merry and Neal and the rest of the team. Well written with lots of twists and turns and an ending that I had guessed at near the end. More please.
Another great story featuring detectives Merry and Neal and the rest of the team. Well written with lots of twists and turns and an ending that I had guessed at near the end. More please.
November 15, 2019
DS Ava Merry and her friend DC PJ Jenkins have bought tickets to a 40`s themed barn dance to be held at Northfields Farm.
The farm runs a glamping business as well as a micro brewery on site.
They only have one yurt occupied on the night of the dance, a young couple on a romantic valentines weekend.
Some young boys set about investigating the farm buildings and there in the barn they discover a body in the back of an old ambulance, that is in the process of being restored.
Ava is first on the scene, it is quickly established that the victim is the young man who is staying in the yurt. After calling for back up Ava and Soren Hunter the property owners assistant go in search of the girlfriend.
Only to discover her body in the yurt, she has been stabbed multiple times in a frenzied attack.
As the investigation progresses it becomes apparent that there are a lot of things being kept quiet, what are the secrets they are keeping?
When the property owners own son is then brutally murdered Neal and Merry are determined to discover the truth behind the secrets.
This is a great series and this 6th book is an excellent addition.
Its fast paced, with plenty of suspects for the reader to choose between, the trick is to find the motive, which will keep you guessing until the very end.
This could be read as a standalone but read the whole series you wont be disappointed.
Thanks to Joffe books for the chance to read this as an ARC in return for my honest review.
The farm runs a glamping business as well as a micro brewery on site.
They only have one yurt occupied on the night of the dance, a young couple on a romantic valentines weekend.
Some young boys set about investigating the farm buildings and there in the barn they discover a body in the back of an old ambulance, that is in the process of being restored.
Ava is first on the scene, it is quickly established that the victim is the young man who is staying in the yurt. After calling for back up Ava and Soren Hunter the property owners assistant go in search of the girlfriend.
Only to discover her body in the yurt, she has been stabbed multiple times in a frenzied attack.
As the investigation progresses it becomes apparent that there are a lot of things being kept quiet, what are the secrets they are keeping?
When the property owners own son is then brutally murdered Neal and Merry are determined to discover the truth behind the secrets.
This is a great series and this 6th book is an excellent addition.
Its fast paced, with plenty of suspects for the reader to choose between, the trick is to find the motive, which will keep you guessing until the very end.
This could be read as a standalone but read the whole series you wont be disappointed.
Thanks to Joffe books for the chance to read this as an ARC in return for my honest review.
December 28, 2019
Murderous Secrets by Janice Frost is the sixth book in the DS Ava Merry and DI Jim Neal series. This is the first book I have read from this author and I loved the way she wrote this book.
This book was excellent and I will be reading more from this author in the future. So glad I've found a new author and enjoy more of her books.
Big Thank you to NetGalley, Joffe Books and the author Janice Frost for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This book was excellent and I will be reading more from this author in the future. So glad I've found a new author and enjoy more of her books.
Big Thank you to NetGalley, Joffe Books and the author Janice Frost for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
November 8, 2019
DS Ava Merry and her colleague DC Jenkins have the weekend off and are attending a 40s themed charity evening at a remote farm when a man’s body is discovered in the back of a vintage army ambulance. The victim, Nick Winter, was spending Valentine’s weekend in a yurt on the farm with his girlfriends Samantha. When Ava and a farm worker go to the yurt to inform Samantha they find her brutally murdered as well. As the investigation continues DS Merry and her superior DI Neal find themselves wondering about the farm worker Soren Hunter who seems to have a knack of being in the right place at the right time to help people... but is he their killer? No one involved seems to have a motive for lining the couple and the police have to take a closer look at the owners of the farm.
Really enjoyed this book, it kept me gripped from the get go. Part of a series by Janice Frost but it works well as a stand-alone.
Thanks to Joffe Books and Janice Frost for the ARC of this book in return for an honest review.
Really enjoyed this book, it kept me gripped from the get go. Part of a series by Janice Frost but it works well as a stand-alone.
Thanks to Joffe Books and Janice Frost for the ARC of this book in return for an honest review.
November 10, 2019
Sixth in the series featuring DS Merry and DI Neal though it can be easily read as a standalone. Whilst attending a Valentine's 1940's theme dance at a local farm, not only one but two bodies are found... both brutally murdered. Although not on duty Ava Merry takes charge until the police can get there and even after all her years on the force, struggles with the ferocity of the crimes. We are introduced to the family which runs the farm more as a holiday retreat and micro brewery. As the police dig deeper into their history, the case becomes more complex.
Lots of interesting characters and a good plot with twists and turns to keep the reader turning the pages.
Thanks to Joffe Books for the ARC to review.
Lots of interesting characters and a good plot with twists and turns to keep the reader turning the pages.
Thanks to Joffe Books for the ARC to review.
November 8, 2019
This author is, and always has been, in my top 20 authors to read. I was delighted to be offered the ARC by Joffe Publishers as Janice always writes a good tale with a strong storyline. There’s not a lot of police politics in her books either, this team are left, mostly to get on with their job without the “upstairs” interference.
I thought the storyline was quite different, with seemingly unrelated murders set in the back of beyond, it was a really good read. I liked the characters, who I was sure held some sinister secrets!!
I just wish Neal and Ava would get together and become a couple!
My thanks to Joffe and Janice for the ARC.
I thought the storyline was quite different, with seemingly unrelated murders set in the back of beyond, it was a really good read. I liked the characters, who I was sure held some sinister secrets!!
I just wish Neal and Ava would get together and become a couple!
My thanks to Joffe and Janice for the ARC.
November 8, 2019
Thank you NetGalley and Joffe Books for the eARC.
DS Ava Merry is at a 1940's themed barn dance when the brutally slaughtered bodies of a young couple are found. They had rented a 'glamping' tent on the property for a romantic Valentine's getaway. Ava and DI Neal are busy with the case when there's another savage murder. I
always enjoy the books in this series and this was no exception. I do wish, however, that DI Neal would either totally forget about his feelings for Ava or do something about them. Enough already!
But the story is, as usual, a good one and I heartily recommend this book.
DS Ava Merry is at a 1940's themed barn dance when the brutally slaughtered bodies of a young couple are found. They had rented a 'glamping' tent on the property for a romantic Valentine's getaway. Ava and DI Neal are busy with the case when there's another savage murder. I
always enjoy the books in this series and this was no exception. I do wish, however, that DI Neal would either totally forget about his feelings for Ava or do something about them. Enough already!
But the story is, as usual, a good one and I heartily recommend this book.
November 15, 2019
So glad to have another Neal and Merry book. This felt like visiting old friends that you had missed. As always with this series the characters are real people with faults and strengths. The setting and plot are well written and Janice Frost gives you just enough clues that you become fully engaged trying to solve the crime. Really enjoyed reading all of the books in this series.
November 7, 2019
DS Ava Merry and DC PJ Jenkins are off to a forties-themed dance held at Northfields Farm on Valentine’s Day. Their evening of fun does not go to plan when two bodies, brutally murdered, are discovered. Will they be the only two, and secrets can be deadly.
DI Jim Neal and his team investigate.
I enjoyed this well-written mystery, though I am not sure that I care much for any of the police characters.
Received an ARC from the publisher
DI Jim Neal and his team investigate.
I enjoyed this well-written mystery, though I am not sure that I care much for any of the police characters.
Received an ARC from the publisher
November 6, 2019
Janice Frost is an amazing writer. I found this story totally absorbing. A 1940s themed dance, attended by DS Avq Merry and her colleague and friend PJ, becomes the backdrop to some gruesome murders. The usual twisting and turning of both innocent and guilty keep you on edge throughout.
Loved it.
I read an advance review copy. This review is voluntary, honest and my own opinion.
Loved it.
I read an advance review copy. This review is voluntary, honest and my own opinion.
January 3, 2020
Attending a dance party on an old farm, two bodies are discovered brutally murdered. Good thing DS Ava is there and helps set up the crime scene. A lot of characters and twists and turns, leading up to a revenge murder that was decades in the making. Interesting to also view the insides of British crime scene detectives. At times though, a lot going on, and had to reread a few areas to stay caught up on who is who. Otherwise, highly recommend this book. First I've read in the series, but wasn't lost.
February 12, 2020
Great read. I cared about the main characters and that's important to me.
November 19, 2019
Another great read byj frost
I love this author and like d I neal Ava merry and p j and Tom make a really good team it is a book you have to read in one go not able to put it down
I love this author and like d I neal Ava merry and p j and Tom make a really good team it is a book you have to read in one go not able to put it down
November 26, 2019
Murderous Secrets is the 6th book in this series but the first I have read. I found the mystery very interesting and I didn't guess right away the killer. I loved the setting at a rural farm turned glam yurts. We start off with a Valentine Dance in the barn with the theme being 1940's. PJ and Ava are off duty and attending this party. As they find out they are never really off duty. Everything that happens in this mystery is so well set out in front of you but not so you guess right away. This being the first book I have read in this series I did once or twice wonder about a past reference but it was not a problem. I will be reading more in this series as I enjoyed the characters. I loved the cover to the book. It caught my eye right away. Thank you Netgalley and Joffe Books for and ARC and the opportunity to leave an honest review.
November 30, 2019
I enjoyed this book . Well written and a good plot . I haven't read any of the series so didn't know the characters (the detectives) , but that is my own fault . Nice twists to the tale and totally believable . I liked that you got into the crime scene quite quickly and that the thinking behind who did it was explained and logical .
I will be reading more from this author . I received a copy of this book from Net Galley in echange for an impartial review
I will be reading more from this author . I received a copy of this book from Net Galley in echange for an impartial review
November 30, 2019
Murderous Secrets...while I think the title could use some creative work, it aptly describes the book. I have never read another book from this series, however it did not hinder my experience. It was an entertaining detective murder mystery. There were enough parts that seemed to drag, or be drastically detailed & over-explained, that it brought it back a star. Thank you Netgalley for allowing me a free copy of this novel in exchange for my honest opinion.
November 29, 2019
Very good
This book had everything that a reader could want. I felt it had a touch of the old fashioned detective about it. Like the proper whodunit. I think that's a testament to the author. Really enjoyed this book. 🚒🚑
This book had everything that a reader could want. I felt it had a touch of the old fashioned detective about it. Like the proper whodunit. I think that's a testament to the author. Really enjoyed this book. 🚒🚑
January 1, 2020
I love these characters and look forward to learning more about each one as I read the series. I have not had the opportunity to read the first one so some references are unclear but not so necessary to the plot to be frustrating. I look forward to reading more of them. I love mysteries of the modern English countryside. I began to be suspicious of the guilty parties more than half way through. Very well written, female characters strong, male characters human. A very good read.
January 8, 2021
Loved this series. I'd like to read more!
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