Murder At the Lighthouse

Exham on Sea Mysteries #1

by Frances Evesham

Have you ever found a body on the beach?Recently widowed Libby Forest arrives in the small coastal town of Exham on Sea, keen to start a new life baking cakes and designing chocolates.Walking on the beach one stormy autumn day, Libby and excitable Springer Spaniel ‘Shipley’ discover a dead body under the lighthouse. Convinced the death was no accident, Libby teams up with Max Ramshore, an attractive local resident, and Bear, a huge sheepdog, to confront indifference from the community and unmask the killer.Murder at the Lighthouse is the first in a series of Exham-on-Sea Murder Mysteries set at the small English seaside town full of quirky characters, sea air and gossip.If you love Agatha Christie-style mysteries, cosy crime, clever dogs and cake, then you'll love these intriguing whodunnits.Here's what readers are saying about the is a perfect short, cosy mystery.''It makes you wonder if English country villages are safe places to live. But I certainly would given half a chance.''Frances Evesham has invented an array of lively village personalities to get in Libby's way from her Goth teenage lodger to the pompous chair of the women's group or the rude but kindly garage proprietor."'With every book, I grow more fond of Libby and Exham.''If you like Miss Marple this amateur sleuth will enthral you.'

Genres: Mystery, Cozy Mystery, Crime, Fiction, Cozy, Audiobook, Amazon

ebook

First published September 23, 2015

Reviews

[Tulay · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good and short cosy mystery.

Needed to read a cozy mystery, after the last book I read. This was perfect gateway for me. Two murders in small town. Libby just moved and she was the only one interested finding out who was behind the murders. Warning, you might find yourself hungry and snacking while reading. Wish I was eating all those delicious stuff Libby was cooking.

[Anita Byler · Rating 2 out of 5]

There are way too many leaps in the logic in this book. At least three times I got the distinct feeling that some particular thing needed to be the next step, therefore it was. There was no real evidence ever given that the second death was a murder. The author needed it to be that so the main character decided it was. But it certainly was not a logical conclusion. Then the book where the dead lady wrote everything down and the very clever interfering main character charges into a house and grabs stuff just before the police arrive. And then sees the entry about rubbish. But nothing that she saw in that book actually was clear enough to point to murder. And just how was the murderer supposed to have known to go back and kill the 2nd victim? Mind you, the victim's dog seemed to have been poisoned but no one at all- not the police, not our clever heroine- seem to think one thing about that. The second murder happened because it had to in order to make the story go a certain direction. But we need a whole lot more details for it to make sense.
I'm glad this was a freebie off of Amazon. It seemed like this could have been an excellent very engaging story but it felt rushed and full of holes.

[Adrian · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great "cosy" mystery. Review to follow after Hols 😀

[Les · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fast paced mystery that cleverly doesn't waste a lot of time introducing characters but gets right to the story. When a woman walking her dog finds a dead body on the beach she thinks this isn't the best way to get to know her new community. Libby Forrest is recently widowed, a newly minted baker and actually enjoying her solitude. The body is a former local, turned famous rock star. The police think it was accidental. Libby thinks otherwise. With the help of Max, father of one a policeman, Mandy, a teen goth baker's helper and her own determination they will uncover the truth.

This not overly long book is chock full of plot and sharply honed characters. The ending is rather sudden and the reveal a big surprise, at least to me.

[Herb Evans · Rating 1 out of 5]

I think Frances should stick to baking brownies. This is the kind of book that is often written by Baker’s think their cookies and cakes somehow translate into the ability to plot a novel. They don’t. This book has the aroma of a series just beginning

Please cease and desist Your main character is poorly defined and not credible The surrounding characters in Exham by the Sea are poorly developed as well. We are introduced to an entire cast of characters from town drunk to secret service agent. Gimme a break.

Go back to baking

[John Hennessy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really do love a good little mystery, and I am reading more and more of this 'cosy' genre of late. Murder at the Lighthouse is immediately intriguing, I love the title and was going to read this anyway, as it is not my first read of this author's work.

Whilst other books I have read of hers had fewer characters, this book is choc-full of them. But the clever writing, fast narrative and sharp dialogue mean you know who is who. You never get lost. In fact, I think the considerable cast is there to deflect our attention, as to who killed who.

I loved the whole seaside town setting. You really feel you are there, and yet, in many English tales...a beautiful seaside town doesn't exactly prevent a murder from happening. In fact, there's more than one in this book. Readers who fancy themselves as amateur Sherlocks will delight in unpicking its secrets.

There's an obligatory pet thrown in, which seems to be a characteristic of these cosy thrillers. That's okay. I liked Fuzzy!

This really is a great book for any time of the year, but I liked reading it outside in the garden on a Sunday afternoon. There's also more in the series to come, so if you enjoy this kind of genre,you'll love this. Just avoid the seaside.....

[Barbara Rogers · Rating 4 out of 5]

Barbara’s Rating: 4 of 5 Stars
Series: Exham on Sea Mysteries #1
Publication Date: 9/23/15
Period: Contemporary Somerset, UK
Number of Pages: 186

I have been reading more and more cozy and historical mysteries of late, so I am always on the lookout for a new series to love. I believe I have found both an excellent author and series. I am really not a fan of those female sleuths who are just Nosey-Nellies. The ones that are in-you-face and expect anybody and everybody to answer their much too personal questions, while thumbing their noses at the inept police at the same time. I was so very happy to see this book didn’t follow that format. The writing is excellent, the mystery is well-plotted and excellently paced, and the characters are well-developed and very likable. I will definitely be reading more books in this series.

After the death of her misanthropic husband (who she does not mourn), Libby Forest decides to leave London and move to the small Somerset village of Exham On Sea. In Exham she can have a job, write her cookbook, open a patisserie, and all of those many other things she wasn’t allowed to do while her husband, Trevor was alive. She’s loving her small cottage, her wonderfully re-done cook’s kitchen, and the new friends she has made in the village. All is right with her world – until she takes her neighbor’s dog for a walk on the beach and discovers a body …

The victim is a former villager who had prospered in America. Nobody had seen her in over twenty years – why was she back now? Why did no one know she was here? When Detective Sergeant Joe Ramshore immediately decides it was an accident, Libby just can’t believe it. Something just isn’t right about all of it. The murder is the talk of the village and as Libby learns more about the woman who died, she wants to know even more. As she learns more, she’s convinced it was murder and begins to investigate even more. Then, there is a second death and again, Ramshore decides it was an accident. Given the circumstances, Libby is sure it wasn’t.

During the investigation, we meet a lovely cast of characters. There is the handsome, mysterious Max Ramshore – estranged father of Detective Sergeant Ramshore. There is Fuzzy, the irascible marmalade cat who delights in NOT showing Libby any affection. Bear is a huge, lovable, usually good-natured Carpathian Sheepdog you’ll want to adopt. Of course, there is Frank the baker (and Libby’s boss), and Mandy the teenage Goth waitress at the bakery, and many others in the town. They are a delightful bunch and you’ll enjoy meeting them all.

It was fun watching Libby unraveling the clues and solving a murder that had roots twenty years in the past. You can even feel a bit of sympathy for the perpetrator – at least for the first murder – and we are left to just assume that the same person committed both murders. I will definitely be reading other books in this series.

[John Lee · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is the first of a series that my wife found and added to our library . From the precis on Goodreads, it looked just right for my next read - a local (ish) village who-done-it.

Unfortunately, it failed to deliver for me on many fronts. I dislike the new word 'Lite' but it feels right to describe this one. It lacks depth or calories that would have made a much more satisfying read. Perhaps that is also why, it also lacks the usual length.

As for the heroine of the story, Libby Forest, I found it difficult to get a clear picture in my mind of her and I was constantly having to update the one I had, as another bit of information about her , came in.

I am afraid that I also had a problem with the plot but will have to leave my thoughts unwritten to prevent further spoiling it for others.

I finished the book, which was a tick, but even though Libby's explanation of the plot provided a few moments of heightened interest, by that time I wasnt really bothered who the killer was.
Even after reading through the denouement, I wasnt sure what the clues were that I should have spotted.

Sorry, but I wont be following Libby's adventures any further.

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

I give this 3.5 stars.

I'm coming across more and more of these "cosy" mysteries that seem head and shoulders above the standard in quality, and this book certainly meets that criteria.
An interesting plot woven with an intriguing background and wonderful characters make this a quick, entertaining read. I'd love to read more in the series.

[Joe Arieno · Rating 1 out of 5]

Not my cup of tea. Main character, Libby, not believable as sleuth and there were holes in progress of story.

[Diana · Rating 2 out of 5]

Classified as a cozy mystery, "Murder at the Lighthouse" is a light walk through a small town where everyone knows everyone else's background and business - maybe. The protaganist, Libby, is fairly new to town where she has landed after the death of her husband. She should be filling her days developing and testing new recipes for the cookbook she has promised her publisher, but events get in her way when she discovers the body of Suzie Bennett, who group up in Exham on Sea but made it big as a pop singer in the U.S.

The language is light-hearted for a mystery, in keeping with the cozy theme - no brooding Adam Dagleish here - and the story hangs together fairly well. Some of the conclusions require a leap of faith or inspiration to be acceptable. Libby, Mandy (a local teenager with a bad home life and a Goth facade), and the dog Bear are reasonably well-drawn characters, but most of the other characters are pretty two-dimensional. My assumption is the intent is that some of them will be filled out in subsequent books.

This is easy reading, requiring not much more from the reader than a willingness to suspend a certain level of reality and an interest in food. Sounds like a perfect Hallmark Movie channel property to me.

[Jackie Watts · Rating 1 out of 5]

To suggest that this is an "Agatha-Christie style" murder mystery is pushing it! The whodunnit itself is not exactly intriguing, the characters are unconvincing (especially the main protagonist, who can't hold a simple conversation without undergoing a dramatic mood-swing) and the setting is nondescript - apart from the weather, which changes nearly as often as the heroine's emotional state.

On the plus side, it's short. And the name of one of the characters changes between chapters, which is kind of fun to spot.

[Jan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked it. More of a novella length which made the task of fitting everything in quite a task for the author. She finds a body and the detective brushes her off when she suggests murder. Then the Medical Examiner weighs in. Not deathless prose but a nice cozy to keep me company while doing household tasks.
Jennifer M. Dixon seemed to be an interested narrator but with allergies making her voice a bit nasal and my midwestern self needed to listen at 1.2 speed (not a complaint).

[Jane Withers · Rating 3 out of 5]

A bit of light hearted fun... plenty of holes in the plot .. but it was quite sweet , sweet usually irritates me but for some reason this didn’t .. it might be because the dog and cat got on .. a modern day Miss Marple without the hat and pursed lips.

[Sonia Cristina · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have a strange fascination by lighthouses so when I came across this title it got my attention. The Murder word was a bonus.
This is a short book and it had my interest the entire time. It was so easy to like Libby, the main character and the venue of Exham on Sea.

The plot was simple enough but very interesting and entertaining. The final reveals were unexpected and it all wrapped up nicely.

I had some trouble keeping in mind all the characters because there were a lot, or so it seemed, and because I was reading another book at the same time.

I will definetely read book 2 and will try to read it soon.

[Cathy Ryan · Rating 4 out of 5]

When dog walker Libby Forest takes her charge, Shipley, on the beach one cold and blustery day, she discovers a body under the lighthouse.

The police determine it’s that of a once local woman, Susie Bennet, who left Exham on Sea years ago to become a rock star in America. Exham’s Detective Inspector, the patronising Joe Ramshore labels the death a suicide but Libby isn’t so sure.

Libby and her cat, Fuzzy, moved to Exham on Sea to start a new life after the end of her terrible marriage. She works part-time at Wolf the Bread’s Bakery while developing cake recipes and writing a cookery book. After an episode caused inadvertently by Fuzzy and a huge Carpathian Sheepdog, Libby’s car lost the battle with a lamp-post and she meets the mysterious Max Ramshore, father of Joe, who knew Susie well. And when an elderly lady who Libby spoke to about Susie is found dead in suspicious circumstances, Libby finds it too much of a coincidence. She and Max decide to begin their own investigation.

Reading Murder At The Lighthouse was very enjoyable, as was meeting the characters who inhabit the seaside town. Like all small communities, mostly everyone knows each other, gossip thrives and secrets are plentiful. Libby has resolved to be more self-reliant and confident after the misery of her marriage and controlling husband. Now she has the house and kitchen of her dreams, she plans to enjoy and make the most of them, and her new life.

Max was very friendly with Susie when she lived in Exham on Sea and kept in touch after she left for America. He looked after a bank account he set up for Susie, although he didn’t know why she wanted it. Libby couldn’t help wondering what Max did for a living that would allow him to make a spur of the moment trip to the US. He planned on some undercover work to see if any clues came to light with a little digging into Susie’s life and relationships.

I really like Mandy, the teenage Goth, who works with Libby at the bakery. The girl’s eyes, black with layers of kohl and mascara, were enormous in the white painted face. Two silver rings decorated one nostril, above purple lips. Mandy’s home life is disrupted by a bully of a father, prone to violence.

A short and entertaining read, with great characters who I think have lots of potential for future stories. I’m familiar with the area, and had no trouble picturing the setting.

[Damaskcat · Rating 3 out of 5]

Libby works at a bakery and is writing a cookery book. She is walking a friend's dog along the beach when she discovers a woman's body. Was it accident, suicide or murder? Libby is naturally curious especially when she discovers that the dead woman grew up in Exham and left to make her fortune in the US. But the police don't want amateurs interfering in their investigation and Libby is warned about asking too many questions.

Sometimes the first book in a series is too busy scene setting for the rest of the series so that the murder almost takes second place in the story and I think this is the case with this one. It is not a long book and yet there is rather too much information packed into its pages. There is the mystery itself, another murder, the charismatic Max, a new lodger for Libby not to speak of her backstory and her current projects.

My disappointing experience with this first book in the series has not completely put me off the series but it will be a while before I shall be reading the second book. If you like cosy mysteries you may well enjoy it but I suspect that this is a series where it is better to start with a later episode rather than the first one.

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

First read of this author and the first of the series. I chose it as it comes under the heading of a 'cosy mystery. and I wanted a little light relief. Its is not a bad little tale. Recently widowed Libby Forrest comes to live in the (fictional) town of Exham-On-Sea and is soon embroiled in a murder of a former resident who has become a well known singer. Libby discovers the body on the beach and the tale takes off from there.
The story is well written though there were one or two things happening which were a bit far fetched. It is only a short story really - just 161 pages - but there are a lot of characters who are involved in the story and it becomes a little difficult to keep track of them all. Not a bad mystery and I hadn't worked out the killer by the end.
The main character is quite engaging and there are several others who it seems will be regulars.
Will try another one of the series in a while and see how it progresses.

[Radhika Sheshashayee · Rating 3 out of 5]

Murder at the Lighthouse

Recently widowed Libby Forest arrives in the small coastal town of Exham-on-Sea, keen to start a new life baking cakes and designing chocolates.

With a beginning like that I didn't hesitate to grab hold of Frances Evesham's Murder at the Lighthouse. I picked the audio book though.

This is the first of an Exham-on-Sea series, set in the UK.

The book is slow paced and didn't really hold my interest - but mainly because of the narrator's voice.

As a first book, the characters are still being introduced, so one has to wait and see.

I was looking forward to seeing some recipes included, but that was missing as well.

Regardless, I will try a couple of books more in the series before I decide if they are for me or not.

Are you a cozy mystery reader? Where the story is usually set in a small village, and there's a killing or two. Or do you like something more heart pounding with murders by the dozen and a crazed serial killer?

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Yesterday I read Frances Eyesham's Murder at the Lighthouse. This is a English based cozy mystery and it is currently a free one at time of posting this review on Amazon. My friend Lisa recommended it to me knowing how much I love cozy mysteries and Lighthouses. This is a great setting and I loved the opening chapter of the book. I found main character Libby really easy to relate too, her chance at a new life and a new start somewhere small and picturesque is really appealing. Learning more about her backstory as the chapters go on, it is really easy to root for her. I like the realistic twist in her story and the mystery she helps to unfold. This was a lovely read and a series I would absolutely continue to read.

[Lori · Rating 2 out of 5]

Short and simple. An easy cozy mystery read with a likable protagonist in Libby Forest. Set in beautiful Somerset, Murder at the Lighthouse finds Libby, a baker and cookbook writer, discovering a woman’s body under one of Exham’s three remaining lighthouses. Libby won’t accept the police conclusion of accidental death and decides to investigate the victim’s past and character along with Max, one of the victim’s past friends to see if she was, in fact, murdered and, if so, by whom. What follows is a relatively straightforward plot with minimal red herrings and complex motives. Nothing wrong, really, with this little book but it’s storyline is simplistic and only mildly engaging.

[Tony Hisgett · Rating 3 out of 5]

This wasn’t a bad little mystery and Libby may well prove to be an interesting heroine. However, there a few problems with the story, Libby uncovers the murderer, but how she got there was a bit of a mystery, there were definitely gaps in the logic.
Nevertheless I quite liked Libby and the addition of Mandy and Bear were enough to make up for her not being particularly ‘different’.
At the moment I willing to give the book the benefit of the doubt and will read the next one, but I hope there will be an improvement in the plots.

[Kirsty Darbyshire · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wanted to like this but found it decidedly ordinary. I was in a mood for a short, cozy mystery and this had all the right ingredients but it just didn't cook up any excitement. The seaside setting should have been just my thing but it didn't come alive; the characters had potential but they didn't fulfil it. Perhaps it was just one of those series where starting with the first book is a bad idea. Sometimes you are better off starting a few books in when the author and the characters have hit their stride. I'm not sure that I'll try another of these again though.

[Mary Cokenour · Rating 5 out of 5]

The main character, Libby, is someone I can identify with, in so many ways; so liking her immediately was easy. As to the other characters, they were also detailed out well. The mystery concept was not new, but what is nowadays with writers putting out novels like there's no tomorrow? Figuring out the who and why were a mystery, in themselves, to the end. Looking forward to the next in the series!

[Laura (Kyahgirl) · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a pretty light weight cozy mystery which I enjoyed for the most part. I have a few nits with the plot and characters but it was still a good story. However, I don’t think I’ll listen to any more in this series because this narrator was hard to take. She sounded like a person with a bad head cold and the squishy, clogged up sounds really put me off after a while.

[Ninna · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked this because I saw it on a bargain e-book list and I really just love stories with lighthouses. Also, because I wanted something short after reading It. I was surprised to find quite a fun cozy mystery. I love the small seaside town setting and the townspeople but also like that our sleuth is a newer resident to add a different perspective. I have already looked for book 2 to continue this series.

[Catherine Pinkett · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this. Rather twee and unbelievable in parts though

[Vintagebooklvr · Rating 4 out of 5]

3 1/2 stars. A very good start to a new series. This is a solid mystery filled with good, strong characters in a small, but realistic English village. Not everyone is each others best friend. There are petty jealousies, secrets, busybodies as well as people who actually do help their neighbors. The main character is not perfect but is determined. She comes to some wrong conclusions. Believable and a good read.

[Ivana Richards · Rating 3 out of 5]

A rather enjoyable and short book that will appeal to Agatha Christie fans.

[Betty · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this story surprisingly well-written. Good plot, excellent description and conversation that flowed nicely without being stilted. I'll definitely read more in the series.