What do you think?
Rate this book
Detective Lavender Mysteries #6
The Willow Marsh Murder
Cambridgeshire, September 1813: Detective Stephen Lavender and Constable Ned Woods are lured to an isolated estate in the deadly marshland surrounding Ely, to investigate a murder. But nothing is as it seems at the mysterious Willow Marsh Manor. They soon realise they’ve come across this feuding family before – in the direst of circumstances. With no dead body and no sign of the woman who summoned them, Woods fears someone has planned a murderous revenge. Meanwhile, Lavender dreads the disclosure of his greatest secret. A secret that, if revealed, will destroy both his career – and his relationship with Woods.Haunted by ghosts from the past, Lavender and Woods must tread a careful path through this watery and dangerous terrain in order to solve one of the most perplexing mysteries of their career.
383 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 1, 2020
877 people are currently reading
369 people want to read
About the author
Karen Charlton
27 books470 followersKaren Charlton is an international best-selling author of historical crime fiction.
Her Detective Lavender Mysteries are based on the fictional adventures of Stephen Lavender, a real-life detective with the Bow Street Police Office in London.
Her brand new series, The York Ladies' Detective Agency Mysteries, feature a couple of enterprising young women, Jemma and Bobbie, who launch a private inquiry agency in York during WW2.
Her standalone, debut novel Catching the Eagle is the true story of her notorious ancestor, Jamie Charlton, who was convicted of Northumberland's biggest robbery.
Find out more about Karen's work at http://www.karencharlton.com
Her Detective Lavender Mysteries are based on the fictional adventures of Stephen Lavender, a real-life detective with the Bow Street Police Office in London.
Her brand new series, The York Ladies' Detective Agency Mysteries, feature a couple of enterprising young women, Jemma and Bobbie, who launch a private inquiry agency in York during WW2.
Her standalone, debut novel Catching the Eagle is the true story of her notorious ancestor, Jamie Charlton, who was convicted of Northumberland's biggest robbery.
Find out more about Karen's work at http://www.karencharlton.com
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 149 reviews
November 26, 2025
This very exciting book is the 6th volume of the superb "Detective Lavender Mystery" series, from the formidable author, Karen Charlton.
As usual you can find at the back of the book the historical details concerning this great mystery, and once again these are wonderfully implemented.
Story-telling from this author has once more been of an outstanding quality, the story is again very well structured and executed, while all characters come vividly to life within this trilling mystery, and not to forget the atmosphere of Regency England comes splendidly off the pages.
The main mystery is set in September, in the year AD 1813, with important parts which are situated in the years, AD 1793 and AD 1803.
During the main mystery two threads will play a decisive part, the first being a silver snuff box with connections to the years AD 1793 and AD 1803, because Detective Lavender used this snuff box as evidence and executioner for Major Frederick Delamere, in an attempt to him convicted, while the second being the practise of smuggling and Constable Woods and Detective Lavender will encounter once more their old nemesis ( known also from the book Plague Pits & River Bones), Nidar, as the ruthless leader of this gang of smugglers.
What is to come is an intriguing mystery, when after being tricked to Willow Marsh Manor in Ely, Cambridgeshire, after the death of grandfather, Lawrence Delamere, Detective Lavender is haunted by that same snuff box while staying there, and so he's reminded of his actions from the past by a member of the Delamere family, and so the time has come for Detective Lavender and his friend, Constable Ned Woods, to do their utmost to reveal the secrets of this Delamere family, while at the same time attempting to unravel and capture this gang of smugglers, and all these actions will cost lives from different kind of sources.
Very much recommended, for this is the best volume in this series so far, its action-packed and its brought to us with great skill and accuracy, and so making this mystery a real joy to read, and that's why I want call this episode: "A Terrific Mysterious Detective Act"!
As usual you can find at the back of the book the historical details concerning this great mystery, and once again these are wonderfully implemented.
Story-telling from this author has once more been of an outstanding quality, the story is again very well structured and executed, while all characters come vividly to life within this trilling mystery, and not to forget the atmosphere of Regency England comes splendidly off the pages.
The main mystery is set in September, in the year AD 1813, with important parts which are situated in the years, AD 1793 and AD 1803.
During the main mystery two threads will play a decisive part, the first being a silver snuff box with connections to the years AD 1793 and AD 1803, because Detective Lavender used this snuff box as evidence and executioner for Major Frederick Delamere, in an attempt to him convicted, while the second being the practise of smuggling and Constable Woods and Detective Lavender will encounter once more their old nemesis ( known also from the book Plague Pits & River Bones), Nidar, as the ruthless leader of this gang of smugglers.
What is to come is an intriguing mystery, when after being tricked to Willow Marsh Manor in Ely, Cambridgeshire, after the death of grandfather, Lawrence Delamere, Detective Lavender is haunted by that same snuff box while staying there, and so he's reminded of his actions from the past by a member of the Delamere family, and so the time has come for Detective Lavender and his friend, Constable Ned Woods, to do their utmost to reveal the secrets of this Delamere family, while at the same time attempting to unravel and capture this gang of smugglers, and all these actions will cost lives from different kind of sources.
Very much recommended, for this is the best volume in this series so far, its action-packed and its brought to us with great skill and accuracy, and so making this mystery a real joy to read, and that's why I want call this episode: "A Terrific Mysterious Detective Act"!
February 7, 2020
British author Karen Charlton began this Regency Bow Street mystery series in 2012 with THE HEIRESS OF LINN HAGH. This new one is the sixth novel in the series, and, for me, they have all been better-than-average historical mysteries and keep getting better.
The two main protagonists are Bow Street Officer Stephen Lavender and his side-kick Constable Ned Woods. As an interesting aside, it should be noted that there actually was a relatively well-known Bow Street detective named Stephen Lavender, but Charlton's Lavender character is only loosely based upon him. And the author has used some of his actual cases found in archives and fleshed them out imaginatively in her books.
Charlton's Lavender is a clever and insightful detective but is not exactly a people person. Personal interactions are better left to Constable Ned Woods, his friendly, loyal, and brave cohort. They make an excellent team, working efficiently together and their affection for each other shines through.
The first book of the series took place in 1809. This one in 1813. A lot has happened since the first entry. Various crimes and mysteries but also personal events in the main characters' lives. Ned has been a happily-married family man since the beginning, but Lavender met and married his love during the course of the series and is now the proud father of a new baby girl and the stepfather of an adolescent boy.
You can step into the lives of these characters at any one of the books since each one has a self-contained mystery, but it's probably more satisfying to begin at the beginning to see the evolution of the characters and how several of the mysteries have affected them personally and professionally.
For example, this new story has ties to the past. One an event in 1793 and one in 1803. It's now 1813 and Lavender and Woods are called to Willow Marsh Manor in the marshlands of Cambridgeshire to investigate a murder. They arrive to find that no murder has been committed and no one admits to writing the letter which summoned them. The family is so dysfunctional and mysterious that Lavender feels nothing good is in store. Not to mention that he begins to see that he has a connection to this family through his involvement in catching and convicting as murderer one of their family members in 1803.
Many family members have gathered at the manor because of the recent natural death of the family grandfather. There are convoluted relationships, feuding members, kissing cousins, siblings or half siblings, some possibly illegitimate members, puzzling servants...and then add to the mix some smuggling going on in the area. There will be murder, attempted murder, strange happenings, and enough red herrings that I was kept guessing almost to the end.
And, since our two Bow Street Runners were far from home , there was no time wasted on personal family life, which I appreciated. Although I dearly love Ned and his family, it is taking me some time to warm up to Lavender's wife. Maybe some day. At least Lavender loves her. That's what matters, right?
(The writing is good but I am puzzled by one expression the author used at least twice in this story. She had a female or two "dangling" from the knees or lap of her lover. All I could picture from this was some kind of Cirque du Soleil maneuver. )
The two main protagonists are Bow Street Officer Stephen Lavender and his side-kick Constable Ned Woods. As an interesting aside, it should be noted that there actually was a relatively well-known Bow Street detective named Stephen Lavender, but Charlton's Lavender character is only loosely based upon him. And the author has used some of his actual cases found in archives and fleshed them out imaginatively in her books.
Charlton's Lavender is a clever and insightful detective but is not exactly a people person. Personal interactions are better left to Constable Ned Woods, his friendly, loyal, and brave cohort. They make an excellent team, working efficiently together and their affection for each other shines through.
The first book of the series took place in 1809. This one in 1813. A lot has happened since the first entry. Various crimes and mysteries but also personal events in the main characters' lives. Ned has been a happily-married family man since the beginning, but Lavender met and married his love during the course of the series and is now the proud father of a new baby girl and the stepfather of an adolescent boy.
You can step into the lives of these characters at any one of the books since each one has a self-contained mystery, but it's probably more satisfying to begin at the beginning to see the evolution of the characters and how several of the mysteries have affected them personally and professionally.
For example, this new story has ties to the past. One an event in 1793 and one in 1803. It's now 1813 and Lavender and Woods are called to Willow Marsh Manor in the marshlands of Cambridgeshire to investigate a murder. They arrive to find that no murder has been committed and no one admits to writing the letter which summoned them. The family is so dysfunctional and mysterious that Lavender feels nothing good is in store. Not to mention that he begins to see that he has a connection to this family through his involvement in catching and convicting as murderer one of their family members in 1803.
Many family members have gathered at the manor because of the recent natural death of the family grandfather. There are convoluted relationships, feuding members, kissing cousins, siblings or half siblings, some possibly illegitimate members, puzzling servants...and then add to the mix some smuggling going on in the area. There will be murder, attempted murder, strange happenings, and enough red herrings that I was kept guessing almost to the end.
And, since our two Bow Street Runners were far from home , there was no time wasted on personal family life, which I appreciated. Although I dearly love Ned and his family, it is taking me some time to warm up to Lavender's wife. Maybe some day. At least Lavender loves her. That's what matters, right?
(The writing is good but I am puzzled by one expression the author used at least twice in this story. She had a female or two "dangling" from the knees or lap of her lover. All I could picture from this was some kind of Cirque du Soleil maneuver. )
July 24, 2021
Flashback: 20 years ago, Southwark, London, October, 1793. Karen Charlton’s final mystery of the Detective Lavender Mystery Series (#6) The Willow Marsh Murder begins the horrific attack of ‘Irish Nell’ who worked for Ma Forster at her lodging house “ the largest building in the vicinity” and a respectable lodging house too. Then in June 1803 ‘ newly promoted’ Detective Stephen Lavender and Constable Ned Woods, who had been working together for 4 years, were standing near The George Inn, Hampstead Road, London, when they happen to see two men using butcher hooks to pull “ the blackened remains of a young woman out of the well” , and laid her remains beside the well. What monster would commit such a savage crime against any ‘young woman’? Cambridgeshire, September 1813. Detective Lavender and Constable Woods have been sent by their magistrate to Willow Marsh Manor near Ely, all a part of the fens, ‘deadly marshland’. Willow Marsh Manor is owned by Lawrence Delamere who is near death.
Delamere! Detective Lavender and Constable Woods know that name, but from where and when? The reason is beyond evil. The author does an excellent job tying all the loose ends together, but the narrative is a bit too long for this reader. Thus, the rating is 4.5 stars. PS: Just remember it all started in 1793!
Delamere! Detective Lavender and Constable Woods know that name, but from where and when? The reason is beyond evil. The author does an excellent job tying all the loose ends together, but the narrative is a bit too long for this reader. Thus, the rating is 4.5 stars. PS: Just remember it all started in 1793!
April 25, 2023
I like this book for the fact that it left Magdalena at home and Lavender and Woods were out in the marshes, hunting criminals without any one from home stealing attention from the mystery, for once.
This book felt more "Holmes and Watson" than ever, in a way, and for me personally, that works best in terms of keeping the mystery in focus. The private lives of the detective and constable might be interesting in their own ways, but the diminished cast of main characters was a good thing. For once, the mystery managed to fully take front and centre stage.
The entire set up with a very recluse and wealthy family, full of dirty secrets, things falling off roof tops and other attempted murders was very "Midsomer Murders" to me.
I felt like I had heard and seen most of it before - all the way down to the unpleasant old lady in the wheelchair. The only thing keeping things sort of fresh and new was the marsh itself.
Eventually Lavender's nemesis, Nidar, made a most unwanted (if you ask me) comeback, but at least he wasn't as comically over-the-top crazy this time around. I still don't really get why a lot of criminals out there would follow him and do his bidding though.
By now I choose to simply not think about it and move on.
Sort of like I've, by now, actively chosen not to think too much about how every character's inner self and worth has been fused with the character's appearance in the last four or so books.
The fat ones are unpleasant. The plain sister is the evil one. And so on.
The stereotypes have only gotten worse and worse through out the series. I'm not really a fan of this, but at the same time... It gets the work done so lets leave it at that.
The ending left the series wide open for a 7th book - perhaps taking place in Spain with Lavender and Magdalena spending time away from England and Woods.
This could be a nice change of pace. Perhaps.
I will certainly miss Woods, but I will nevertheless return if a seventh book appears.
This book felt more "Holmes and Watson" than ever, in a way, and for me personally, that works best in terms of keeping the mystery in focus. The private lives of the detective and constable might be interesting in their own ways, but the diminished cast of main characters was a good thing. For once, the mystery managed to fully take front and centre stage.
The entire set up with a very recluse and wealthy family, full of dirty secrets, things falling off roof tops and other attempted murders was very "Midsomer Murders" to me.
I felt like I had heard and seen most of it before - all the way down to the unpleasant old lady in the wheelchair. The only thing keeping things sort of fresh and new was the marsh itself.
Eventually Lavender's nemesis, Nidar, made a most unwanted (if you ask me) comeback, but at least he wasn't as comically over-the-top crazy this time around. I still don't really get why a lot of criminals out there would follow him and do his bidding though.
By now I choose to simply not think about it and move on.
Sort of like I've, by now, actively chosen not to think too much about how every character's inner self and worth has been fused with the character's appearance in the last four or so books.
The fat ones are unpleasant. The plain sister is the evil one. And so on.
The stereotypes have only gotten worse and worse through out the series. I'm not really a fan of this, but at the same time... It gets the work done so lets leave it at that.
The ending left the series wide open for a 7th book - perhaps taking place in Spain with Lavender and Magdalena spending time away from England and Woods.
This could be a nice change of pace. Perhaps.
I will certainly miss Woods, but I will nevertheless return if a seventh book appears.
January 9, 2024
Karen Charlton's skill as an author continues to develop by leaps and bounds. I enjoyed her latest Stephen Lavender mystery a great deal. It was tremendously complicated, and I almost needed a family tree form to keep track of the connections between the members of the family at the bottom of this story.
August 13, 2020
An enjoyable addition to the series. As many twists and turns as anyone could wish for. Nice to see Lavender isn't 100% perfect.
February 2, 2020
I liked this installment in the Detective Lavender Series. It was great to be back in Stephen Lavender's world and to have he and Ned investigating together again. I did miss having Lavender's wife and family as central characters in the book. I very recently read the novella that precedes this book, and that made for a little too much repetition as I started this one.
As always, Stephen and Ned were great characters, and the storyline kept me interested.
As always, Stephen and Ned were great characters, and the storyline kept me interested.
February 4, 2020
Avid Reader
Another winner! I read the novella, "The Death of Irish Nell" and was thoroughly intrigued as to how the situations between Lavender and Woods would play out. The Delamere family had serious issues! Lavender barely escaped with his life!
Another winner! I read the novella, "The Death of Irish Nell" and was thoroughly intrigued as to how the situations between Lavender and Woods would play out. The Delamere family had serious issues! Lavender barely escaped with his life!
March 6, 2021
A secluded mansion mystery
Our trusty protagonists meet a new and convoluted mystery head on in the creepy marshes. A change of scene for this novel as Lavender and Woods are out of London once again.
Our trusty protagonists meet a new and convoluted mystery head on in the creepy marshes. A change of scene for this novel as Lavender and Woods are out of London once again.
September 24, 2022
Entertaining enough, with some really nice prose writing. Some of the descriptions of the marsh are very evocative. And the huge creepy old Gothic manor house with all its secret passages and hidey holes becomes a character in itself.
This is the only book in this series I have read. So it was very slow starting for me, to the point that it teetered on the edge of becoming dnf. Part of that was probably not having previous acquaintance with the detective characters. So after awhile I did get into it. But I never felt fully engaged with it, like I was eager to get back to it. The detectives are fully fleshed out, complex characters. Everyone else, not as much. They are mostly just stereotypes and their role as a piece on the board.
I had some questions about the language. The book is set in England in the early 1800's. But the language didn't really take me there. I kept wondering would they really say that/ do that back then? Besides being liberally strewn with expletives like God's teeth, God's eyes, 'Strewth (God's truth) most of the language/ dialogue could have been anywhere/ anywhen. And some things felt distinctly modern, like the reliance on doctors. Fetch the doctor! A big point has been made about how remote the manor house is and mostly openly accessible by a treacherous boat trip through the marsh. Seems unlikely that a doctor would be available and accessible in time to do any good. And the main remedies doctors had available were alcohol and opium. I'm not sure if they were still doing blood letting.
This is the only book in this series I have read. So it was very slow starting for me, to the point that it teetered on the edge of becoming dnf. Part of that was probably not having previous acquaintance with the detective characters. So after awhile I did get into it. But I never felt fully engaged with it, like I was eager to get back to it. The detectives are fully fleshed out, complex characters. Everyone else, not as much. They are mostly just stereotypes and their role as a piece on the board.
I had some questions about the language. The book is set in England in the early 1800's. But the language didn't really take me there. I kept wondering would they really say that/ do that back then? Besides being liberally strewn with expletives like God's teeth, God's eyes, 'Strewth (God's truth) most of the language/ dialogue could have been anywhere/ anywhen. And some things felt distinctly modern, like the reliance on doctors. Fetch the doctor! A big point has been made about how remote the manor house is and mostly openly accessible by a treacherous boat trip through the marsh. Seems unlikely that a doctor would be available and accessible in time to do any good. And the main remedies doctors had available were alcohol and opium. I'm not sure if they were still doing blood letting.
January 25, 2020
This is the next book in a great series, a previous novella ‘Death of Irish Nell’ set it in context BUT you can definitely read this as a stand alone.
Lavender and Woods - famous Bow Street Runners are in flooded Ely, secret passage, family rivalries and smugglers.
As always it’s fast moving, well told.
Lavender and Woods - famous Bow Street Runners are in flooded Ely, secret passage, family rivalries and smugglers.
As always it’s fast moving, well told.
December 23, 2024
another in the Lavender/Woods series
I ‘ve followed this series from the start. Our duo remain brave, funny and intelligent. In this one there is a significant involvement from years before which changes our own view of Stephen Lavender. This gives him a depth , a vulnerability not previously seen and causes problems between him and Woods.
That earlier mystery ties in to a current attempted murder at a remote house on the fens .
Plenty of twists and turns to keep you reading on to the end. I think the author too has honed her craft with each book . The setting is well described, allowing the reader to visualise the house and its environs.
Looking forward to the next one.
I ‘ve followed this series from the start. Our duo remain brave, funny and intelligent. In this one there is a significant involvement from years before which changes our own view of Stephen Lavender. This gives him a depth , a vulnerability not previously seen and causes problems between him and Woods.
That earlier mystery ties in to a current attempted murder at a remote house on the fens .
Plenty of twists and turns to keep you reading on to the end. I think the author too has honed her craft with each book . The setting is well described, allowing the reader to visualise the house and its environs.
Looking forward to the next one.
April 19, 2022
Thoroughly enjoyed this book.
January 21, 2020
Series: Detective Lavender Mysteries #6
Publication Date: 2/1/2020
Number of Pages: 354
It is official, Detective Stephen Lavender, along with Constable Ned Woods, can out sleuth Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson! What a pair. Lavender is smart, intuitive, logical, as well as well-spoken and well-dressed, while Constable Woods is more like a bull in a china shop – until it comes to dealing with people – especially the common people. Woods is a comforting, pleasant soul with the servants and they just love to talk with him. He can wheedle the best secrets out of them. Poor Lavender, despite all of his smarts, is often a bit more taciturn and abrasive – probably because he’s already five steps ahead of the rest of them.
If you read this author’s short story, The Death of Irish Nell, you’ll already know the background for this book. If you haven’t read the short story, there is plenty of background provided in this book for you to know what happened previously – and what lead, in part, to this story. In the short story, we learned that Detective Lavender did something we never thought we’d see him do – and it has been his secret and his burden to bear for the last ten years. Now, it might have come back to haunt him.
Lavender and Woods are tired. They’ve been on the road working case after case for weeks and they just want to go home to London. However, that isn’t to be because Magistrate Read of Bow Street has just sent them off to another case in the city of Ely. A woman named Mrs. Olivia Quinn has specifically asked for Lavender and Woods to come to Willow Marsh Manor to investigate a murder. As they rattle along in the coach, one of the passengers recognizes that they are Bow Street Runners. Since the man is from Ely, they begin to ask him questions about Willow Marsh Manner and its inhabitants. What they learn is a surprise – the mistress of Willow Marsh Manner is named Delamere – not Quinn. Has someone pulled a joke on Bow Street? But – that name – Delamere – sounds familiar to Lavender, but since he’s handled so many cases over the years, he can’t place it – yet.
It has been raining and flooding in the area for weeks and there is no way to reach the manor other than by boat. The manor is virtually cut off from the world – surrounded by bogs, marshes, and flooded impassable roads. When they finally manage to reach the manor it is to find that the patriarch of the most dysfunctional family you’ll ever meet has just died – of natural causes. There hasn’t been a murder – so why are they there? Ned is ready to head back to London, but Lavender thinks there is something more to the story. When Miranda Delamere tells Lavender she’d like them to investigate the attempted murder of her niece, Susanna. Lavender’s spidey senses are working overtime and he senses currents and undercurrents aplenty among this family.
There are schemes within schemes, old enemies, new enemies, old secrets and only a finite group of suspects. Can Lavender sort it all out before someone dies? Is someone targeting Lavender? Then, the body of one of the servants is found. Why was he in that location? The death was brutal, who would murder such a well-respected man so brutally?
You’ll love watching Lavender sort it all out, uncover everybody’s secrets and identify the bad buys. Can they capture them? Will some or all of them manage to escape? You’ll just have to read this excellently written, fast-paced, well-plotted, and exciting adventure to find out.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Publication Date: 2/1/2020
Number of Pages: 354
It is official, Detective Stephen Lavender, along with Constable Ned Woods, can out sleuth Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson! What a pair. Lavender is smart, intuitive, logical, as well as well-spoken and well-dressed, while Constable Woods is more like a bull in a china shop – until it comes to dealing with people – especially the common people. Woods is a comforting, pleasant soul with the servants and they just love to talk with him. He can wheedle the best secrets out of them. Poor Lavender, despite all of his smarts, is often a bit more taciturn and abrasive – probably because he’s already five steps ahead of the rest of them.
If you read this author’s short story, The Death of Irish Nell, you’ll already know the background for this book. If you haven’t read the short story, there is plenty of background provided in this book for you to know what happened previously – and what lead, in part, to this story. In the short story, we learned that Detective Lavender did something we never thought we’d see him do – and it has been his secret and his burden to bear for the last ten years. Now, it might have come back to haunt him.
Lavender and Woods are tired. They’ve been on the road working case after case for weeks and they just want to go home to London. However, that isn’t to be because Magistrate Read of Bow Street has just sent them off to another case in the city of Ely. A woman named Mrs. Olivia Quinn has specifically asked for Lavender and Woods to come to Willow Marsh Manor to investigate a murder. As they rattle along in the coach, one of the passengers recognizes that they are Bow Street Runners. Since the man is from Ely, they begin to ask him questions about Willow Marsh Manner and its inhabitants. What they learn is a surprise – the mistress of Willow Marsh Manner is named Delamere – not Quinn. Has someone pulled a joke on Bow Street? But – that name – Delamere – sounds familiar to Lavender, but since he’s handled so many cases over the years, he can’t place it – yet.
It has been raining and flooding in the area for weeks and there is no way to reach the manor other than by boat. The manor is virtually cut off from the world – surrounded by bogs, marshes, and flooded impassable roads. When they finally manage to reach the manor it is to find that the patriarch of the most dysfunctional family you’ll ever meet has just died – of natural causes. There hasn’t been a murder – so why are they there? Ned is ready to head back to London, but Lavender thinks there is something more to the story. When Miranda Delamere tells Lavender she’d like them to investigate the attempted murder of her niece, Susanna. Lavender’s spidey senses are working overtime and he senses currents and undercurrents aplenty among this family.
There are schemes within schemes, old enemies, new enemies, old secrets and only a finite group of suspects. Can Lavender sort it all out before someone dies? Is someone targeting Lavender? Then, the body of one of the servants is found. Why was he in that location? The death was brutal, who would murder such a well-respected man so brutally?
You’ll love watching Lavender sort it all out, uncover everybody’s secrets and identify the bad buys. Can they capture them? Will some or all of them manage to escape? You’ll just have to read this excellently written, fast-paced, well-plotted, and exciting adventure to find out.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
May 17, 2020
Trigger warning: rape
This series is overall too dark to be called a "cozy" mystery series but this was the darkest one of them all. One of the major plot points is an old case involving a serial rapist. It was too graphic for me and I wish I had been aware of the content before I started it...
This series is overall too dark to be called a "cozy" mystery series but this was the darkest one of them all. One of the major plot points is an old case involving a serial rapist. It was too graphic for me and I wish I had been aware of the content before I started it...
March 29, 2025
MY RATING GUIDE: 5 Stars. WILLOW MARSH MURDER is a complicated murder mystery that reaches back into Lavender’s past. The details, intrigue and Gothic atmosphere kept my attention from beginning to end. I found it a very satisfying read.
1= dnf/What was that?; 2= Nope, not for me; 3= This was okay/fairly good; 3.5= I enjoyed it; 4= I liked it a lot; 5= I Loved this; it was great! (I SELDOM give 5 Stars).
Willow Marsh Manor, Ely, Cambridgeshire, September, 1813 ~
Bow Street Detective Stephen Lavender and his assistant, former Bow Street Horse Patrol, Constable Woods follow a request for assistance into the deep the marsh lands of Cambridgeshire. In this isolated wet area, secrets, smuggling, family betrayals and murder low lie. As Lavender and Woods seek answers, their lives are soon endangered by more than one deadly villain from their past.
1) WILLOW MARSH MURDER (1812) is bk6 in Karen Charlton’s Detective Lavender and Constable Woods Bow Street Runner Regency Mystery series. I prefer reading these books in order as the characters and relationships continue to develop as the series progresses but each book contains mysteries/cases which stand alone. (Novella THE DEATH OF IRISH KNELL, 5.5 leads into WILLOW MARSH but the author provided plenty of background information in WILLOW MARSH to allow it to be read alone). WMM touched upon upper class gentlemen with depraved and cruel tastes, beyond the leash of the law, whose victims find no Justice.
2) The Lavender - Woods series is set in 1810+ England and features 2 Bow Street runners. The slight Gothic tone, details and period differ from other mysteries I read providing a slightly new perspective of English history.
3) Charlton is a fairly new-to-me author. I purchased a number of books & audiobooks in her Lavender - Woods series and am reading my way through them. I read a digital copy this time but Michael Page is wonderful depicting the various earthy characters and the overall tone (in the audiobook version). The main character of Detective Lavender and his superior, Magistrate Read, are based on real historical individuals from this period. The author states many ideas for her stories originate from Lavender’s actual case work.
4) Karen Charlton ends each book with an author note providing clarification of certain aspects of the period, setting, particular cases researched for the book and additional historical characters.
5) The sad plight of the poor, women and the lower classes (including many Bow Street families, laborers, servants, immigrants, beggars, etc) comes through in this series as well as the widely prevalent unsanitary living conditions. This aspect is quite thought provoking. Dry (cynical?) Humor lightens the tone enough to prevent this from becoming an overly angst or depressing read. I often find myself reflecting over certain elements in the story.
6) I recommend Charlton’s mysteries to readers who enjoy:
> Character-driven series.
> Seasoned characters.
> Classic, Historical and British Mysteries.
> Regency, Victorian novels with interesting facts and details from those periods.
> History.
> Police Procedural novels.
> and enjoy/can tolerate a certain amount of earthy humor. ;)
READER CAUTION ~ Sensitive readers please note the following:
PROFANITY - PG-13. Limited strong language is used with occasional off-color jokes & earthy humor.
VIOLENCE - PG. This is a murder mystery with past rape and brutality mentioned but not dwelt upon.
SEXUAL SITUATIONS - None. Illegitimate affairs and offspring are an aspect of the story.
1= dnf/What was that?; 2= Nope, not for me; 3= This was okay/fairly good; 3.5= I enjoyed it; 4= I liked it a lot; 5= I Loved this; it was great! (I SELDOM give 5 Stars).
Willow Marsh Manor, Ely, Cambridgeshire, September, 1813 ~
Bow Street Detective Stephen Lavender and his assistant, former Bow Street Horse Patrol, Constable Woods follow a request for assistance into the deep the marsh lands of Cambridgeshire. In this isolated wet area, secrets, smuggling, family betrayals and murder low lie. As Lavender and Woods seek answers, their lives are soon endangered by more than one deadly villain from their past.
1) WILLOW MARSH MURDER (1812) is bk6 in Karen Charlton’s Detective Lavender and Constable Woods Bow Street Runner Regency Mystery series. I prefer reading these books in order as the characters and relationships continue to develop as the series progresses but each book contains mysteries/cases which stand alone. (Novella THE DEATH OF IRISH KNELL, 5.5 leads into WILLOW MARSH but the author provided plenty of background information in WILLOW MARSH to allow it to be read alone). WMM touched upon upper class gentlemen with depraved and cruel tastes, beyond the leash of the law, whose victims find no Justice.
2) The Lavender - Woods series is set in 1810+ England and features 2 Bow Street runners. The slight Gothic tone, details and period differ from other mysteries I read providing a slightly new perspective of English history.
3) Charlton is a fairly new-to-me author. I purchased a number of books & audiobooks in her Lavender - Woods series and am reading my way through them. I read a digital copy this time but Michael Page is wonderful depicting the various earthy characters and the overall tone (in the audiobook version). The main character of Detective Lavender and his superior, Magistrate Read, are based on real historical individuals from this period. The author states many ideas for her stories originate from Lavender’s actual case work.
4) Karen Charlton ends each book with an author note providing clarification of certain aspects of the period, setting, particular cases researched for the book and additional historical characters.
5) The sad plight of the poor, women and the lower classes (including many Bow Street families, laborers, servants, immigrants, beggars, etc) comes through in this series as well as the widely prevalent unsanitary living conditions. This aspect is quite thought provoking. Dry (cynical?) Humor lightens the tone enough to prevent this from becoming an overly angst or depressing read. I often find myself reflecting over certain elements in the story.
6) I recommend Charlton’s mysteries to readers who enjoy:
> Character-driven series.
> Seasoned characters.
> Classic, Historical and British Mysteries.
> Regency, Victorian novels with interesting facts and details from those periods.
> History.
> Police Procedural novels.
> and enjoy/can tolerate a certain amount of earthy humor. ;)
READER CAUTION ~ Sensitive readers please note the following:
PROFANITY - PG-13. Limited strong language is used with occasional off-color jokes & earthy humor.
VIOLENCE - PG. This is a murder mystery with past rape and brutality mentioned but not dwelt upon.
SEXUAL SITUATIONS - None. Illegitimate affairs and offspring are an aspect of the story.
May 22, 2020
"The Willow Marsh Murder" is a mystery novel set in 1813 in England. It's the sixth book in a series. You don't need to read the previous books to understand this one. However, the short story "The Death of Irish Nell" is included in this story as a series of flashbacks, so there's no need to read both that story and this one.
It was a clue-based mystery, though more of a suspense than a murder mystery. Lavender was suspicious about why he was asked to protect the daughter of a man he had previously investigated. Someone seemed bent on revenge against the detective even as he worked to discover who was trying to kill the woman. He had to uncover and sort out the complicated, scandal ridden past of the family.
The detective was clever, and his assistant constable had skills that complemented the detective's. They asked good questions. I cared what happened to the main characters. They were engaging, interesting people and had realistic reactions to events. The vivid historical and setting details made the story feel unique to that time and place yet didn't slow the pacing down.
There was a fair amount of bad language. There were no sex scenes. Overall, I'd recommend this interesting novel.
It was a clue-based mystery, though more of a suspense than a murder mystery. Lavender was suspicious about why he was asked to protect the daughter of a man he had previously investigated. Someone seemed bent on revenge against the detective even as he worked to discover who was trying to kill the woman. He had to uncover and sort out the complicated, scandal ridden past of the family.
The detective was clever, and his assistant constable had skills that complemented the detective's. They asked good questions. I cared what happened to the main characters. They were engaging, interesting people and had realistic reactions to events. The vivid historical and setting details made the story feel unique to that time and place yet didn't slow the pacing down.
There was a fair amount of bad language. There were no sex scenes. Overall, I'd recommend this interesting novel.
August 11, 2020
Another excellent entry in the Detective Lavender series. This time the story is focused around a single isolated house in marshland near the Cambridgeshire city of Ely. We're treated to a story of smuggling, family feuding, and even tension between Lavender and his usually inseparable partner Ned Woods.
I only have one criticism, which involves a spoiler.
This isn't a big deal overall, mind you. I thoroughly enjoyed the book and look forward to the next, which might just take us to Spain, which would be fascinating.
I only have one criticism, which involves a spoiler.
This isn't a big deal overall, mind you. I thoroughly enjoyed the book and look forward to the next, which might just take us to Spain, which would be fascinating.
January 30, 2020
Set in Cambridgeshire, September 1813, two Bow Street Runners, Detective Stephen Lavender and Constable Ned Woods are lured to an isolated estate in the deadly marshland surrounding Ely, to investigate a murder where nothing is what it seems. They've come across the family who live at Willow Marsh before and this leads Woods to fear murderous revenge has been planned.
Meanwhile, Lavender dreads the disclosure of his greatest secret. A secret that, if revealed, will destroy both his career – and his relationship with Woods. Lavender is haunted by ghosts from the past, and both men must tread a careful path through this watery and dangerous terrain in order to solve one of the most perplexing mysteries of their career.
This is the first I've read in this series and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I loved the two main characters who reminded me a little of Holmes and Watson the way they played off each other.
This was well written and well plotted with plenty of secrets and mysteries that had me guessing and sent me on a great adventure to the end.
Meanwhile, Lavender dreads the disclosure of his greatest secret. A secret that, if revealed, will destroy both his career – and his relationship with Woods. Lavender is haunted by ghosts from the past, and both men must tread a careful path through this watery and dangerous terrain in order to solve one of the most perplexing mysteries of their career.
This is the first I've read in this series and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I loved the two main characters who reminded me a little of Holmes and Watson the way they played off each other.
This was well written and well plotted with plenty of secrets and mysteries that had me guessing and sent me on a great adventure to the end.
February 3, 2020
The sixth book in the Detective Stephen Lavender mystery series, this one set on the Fens in Ely. Detective Lavender receives a letter summoning him to Willow Marsh House to investigate a murder. When he and his trusty sidekick, Constable Ned Woods, arrive there they find no such occurrence. But, the next day events overtake themselves.....
I do enjoy country house murder mysteries and this is an excellent example of one. It has all the right elements - secret passages, strange noises, the odd dead body and a murky atmosphere with plenty of suspects. This story links to the novella, The Death of Irish Nell. Whilst there’s no need to have read this to enjoy The Willow Marsh Murder, it does give a good insight into the background of the case. I found it quite the page turner.
This is a fantastic murder mystery series and Lavender and Woods make a great duo. They are cleverly written, fast paced and entertaining. I can’t recommend them enough.
I do enjoy country house murder mysteries and this is an excellent example of one. It has all the right elements - secret passages, strange noises, the odd dead body and a murky atmosphere with plenty of suspects. This story links to the novella, The Death of Irish Nell. Whilst there’s no need to have read this to enjoy The Willow Marsh Murder, it does give a good insight into the background of the case. I found it quite the page turner.
This is a fantastic murder mystery series and Lavender and Woods make a great duo. They are cleverly written, fast paced and entertaining. I can’t recommend them enough.
December 2, 2021
The 6th book of the Det. Lavender Series takes us to Cambridgeshire, to a nearly secluded mansion/ estate when Lavender receives a note that a murder has taken place. Intrigued, Woods and him visit the estate on the day when the senior Lawrence Delamere had passed away due to age related complications. His family is is mourning, though the bickering starts a while later when the last will is read out.
Lavender realises that all the family members are aware of the role he and Woods played many years ago when they had successfully charged one Mr Frederick Delamere for rape, sodomy and similar charges.
Everybody in the family has secrets to hide and things become even more interesting when the murder of the family steward opens up the presence of smugglers in the Willow Marsh area.
An interesting read.
My rating - 3.5/5
Lavender realises that all the family members are aware of the role he and Woods played many years ago when they had successfully charged one Mr Frederick Delamere for rape, sodomy and similar charges.
Everybody in the family has secrets to hide and things become even more interesting when the murder of the family steward opens up the presence of smugglers in the Willow Marsh area.
An interesting read.
My rating - 3.5/5
October 25, 2022
Is this the final installment in the series? I hope not, but as of now there are only a few short stories that I haven't read yet. Sigh.
This installment was inspired by a murder investigated by the author's real-life ancestor Stephen Lavender, plus the author's childhood love of stories with secret passageways (me too!). It is set in 1813, with flashbacks to a related case in 1803.
A couple elements in this time capsule:
- "by-blow" - meaning illegitimate child
- "molly house" - a meeting place for gay men (in a time when homosexual relations were illegal, even capital crimes, and these places were raided and their guests subject to blackmail).
- Smuggling was a hanging offense.
- Many men had scars due to bayonettes in the Napoleonic wars, so scars weren't necessarily a unique identifying feature.
This installment was inspired by a murder investigated by the author's real-life ancestor Stephen Lavender, plus the author's childhood love of stories with secret passageways (me too!). It is set in 1813, with flashbacks to a related case in 1803.
A couple elements in this time capsule:
- "by-blow" - meaning illegitimate child
- "molly house" - a meeting place for gay men (in a time when homosexual relations were illegal, even capital crimes, and these places were raided and their guests subject to blackmail).
- Smuggling was a hanging offense.
- Many men had scars due to bayonettes in the Napoleonic wars, so scars weren't necessarily a unique identifying feature.
June 6, 2023
I've loved this series from the beginning, but I think this is the best book in it, so far.
I loved that we got to see a side of Lavender that we hadn't seen before, and having Ned surprising his partner by knowing that his partner wasn't 100% perfect. And, therefore, that he has kept an eye on him :P And although I understood Lavander's reasons to keep the secret I also understand Ned's sense of having been betrayed.
The mystery is very good: the family feud, the links to Lavander and Wood's past, the whole thing about contraband and smuggling as a way of life for a vast majority of the population... all of it makes this story very interesting and it's hard to pin who might be the culprit of the murders attempts... or even who is really the intended victim.
As always, fascinating.
I loved that we got to see a side of Lavender that we hadn't seen before, and having Ned surprising his partner by knowing that his partner wasn't 100% perfect. And, therefore, that he has kept an eye on him :P And although I understood Lavander's reasons to keep the secret I also understand Ned's sense of having been betrayed.
The mystery is very good: the family feud, the links to Lavander and Wood's past, the whole thing about contraband and smuggling as a way of life for a vast majority of the population... all of it makes this story very interesting and it's hard to pin who might be the culprit of the murders attempts... or even who is really the intended victim.
As always, fascinating.
February 19, 2020
I am a big fan of Detective Lavender and Constable Woods, and have read and enjoyed all their mysteries. The Willow Marsh Murder was no exception. It was, however, as much a gothic as a mystery. No London, no Magdalena, no Betsy, no Inspector Read. Well not much more then a mention. In truth the main character is Willow Marsh Manor, it dominates the story. Priest holes, hidden stairs, mysterious tunnels, a falling parapet, and smugglers. And of course, murder most foul. The addition of windmills was an interesting touch, adding to the gothic atmosphere. Lavender and Woods shine throughout; I really didn't figure it out till nearly the end.
If you like gothic mysteries with lots of twists and turns, you are going to love The Willow Marsh Murder. I highly recommend it.
If you like gothic mysteries with lots of twists and turns, you are going to love The Willow Marsh Murder. I highly recommend it.
September 23, 2021
I have been "reading" a lot of audio books lately and was becoming very disappointed with the quality and interest level I was getting from there. I was at the point of almost giving up on narrated books. There is, of course, a problem with the Kindle Fire narrations but I can usually overlook the mispronunciations. I just find it so handy to have the Kindle read to me when I am doing other things with my hands or can't sit and read. Turns out, it wasn't the Kindle Fire narrator after all, it was the BOOKS I was choosing. I seem to have had a list of mediocre ones lately. All that being said, this one kept my complete attention, I enjoyed it very much and kept me completely interested despite the Kindle robot voice. I really, though, would have not expected anything less. Karen Charlton is an excellent writer and her Detective Lavender series is one of my favorites. This one was very good with a sinister, dangerous landscape full of sinister, dangerous people and secrets, secrets, and scandals. Good stuff!
March 17, 2022
A pleasing enough story, and one of the better specimens of the Historical Fiction genre. The characters are pleasant and likeable enough, even though the main protagonist, Stephen Lavender, is a little dense at times and seems to miss the most obvious of clues. The plethora of Americanisms tended to ruin the immersiveness of the story, however. Staunch English Fenmen saying things like 'pocketbook' and 'out back' does tend to wrench one back to the here-and-now, and it did cause a wry smile when the author made a point of the one American character in the book calling an English estate, a 'plantation', as if this were the only such instance of American speech. The book was good for all that, and I would certainly recommend it.
September 23, 2022
Karen Charlton has another winner on her hands. I so enjoyed this one. I love the way she has taken the real Detective Lavender's life and woven it into this amazing work of fiction. In this episode, Lavender and his trusty Constable, Ned Woods are lured to an isolated estate to investigate a supposed murder. What they walk into instead is a family feud. Since there's no dead body, Lavender and Woods plan to leave and head home to London after a night's rest, but Lavender suddenly remembers he hand Ned have come across this family before. What ensues is revenge, lies, schemes, secrets and revelations. This was definitely a page turned. Lavender and Woods make a great team. Plenty of excitement, plot twists and action in this book. Fans of the series will love this one.
February 5, 2020
Outstanding Read!
I always give five stars but would double that of I could! I've read all your books and they are by far one of my favorite stories. I love the characters they are so relateable and at time witty. I have enjoyed the stories so much I have a hard time putting them down and usually read tell the book is finished. All the books have been wonderfully written with lots of surprises to enjoy and keep me interested from.start to finish. Thanks for sharing your talent with readers such as my self,, it has been truly an enjoyable journey each book I read and leaves me wanting more. So I will be patient tell the next comes out. Again thank you!
I always give five stars but would double that of I could! I've read all your books and they are by far one of my favorite stories. I love the characters they are so relateable and at time witty. I have enjoyed the stories so much I have a hard time putting them down and usually read tell the book is finished. All the books have been wonderfully written with lots of surprises to enjoy and keep me interested from.start to finish. Thanks for sharing your talent with readers such as my self,, it has been truly an enjoyable journey each book I read and leaves me wanting more. So I will be patient tell the next comes out. Again thank you!
February 8, 2020
The willow marsh murder by Karen Charlton.
1813 Detective Stephen Lavender and Constable Ned Woods are lured to willow marsh. They have been told about a murder and they have been called to solve it. But the person who wrote the letter is not there and there is no murder. Is it related to a murder that happened ten years ago? Will Lavender solve this or will more bodies turn up?
I really enjoyed enjoyed this book. I fell into it quickly. Couldn't put it down. Detective Stephen Lavender and Constable Ned Woods. Had no idea who the killer could be. Didn't expect that. I do hope there is more to come. 5*.
1813 Detective Stephen Lavender and Constable Ned Woods are lured to willow marsh. They have been told about a murder and they have been called to solve it. But the person who wrote the letter is not there and there is no murder. Is it related to a murder that happened ten years ago? Will Lavender solve this or will more bodies turn up?
I really enjoyed enjoyed this book. I fell into it quickly. Couldn't put it down. Detective Stephen Lavender and Constable Ned Woods. Had no idea who the killer could be. Didn't expect that. I do hope there is more to come. 5*.
July 20, 2020
You may have noticed a trend in my reading habits. During our self-imposed quarantine, I've found that well-written British mysteries are soothing and comfortable reads. This is the second or third book I've read in this series and, thus far, this is the best of the three (and I liked the others!) Set in Regency England (think Napoleon and George III), Detective Stephen Lavender, a real historical figure, and his Constable Ned Woods, solve challenging murders.
In this book, there are so many twists and turn that you need a GPS! It keeps you guessing and you'll be surprised how the story enfolds.
In this book, there are so many twists and turn that you need a GPS! It keeps you guessing and you'll be surprised how the story enfolds.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 149 reviews