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Charleton House Mysteries #1
Death by Dark Roast
The annual Charleton House Food Festival is about to begin. But the first item on the menu is murder…
Nestled in the idyllic setting of Derbyshire’s rolling hills, the ancestral home of the Fitzwilliam-Scott family seems an unlikely location for murder. But when a young man is bludgeoned to death with the portafilter of a coffee machine, recent thefts from local stately homes are put in the shade, and caffeine-loving café manager Sophie Lockwood finds her interest piqued by a pair of unusual cases.
Who would want to brutally murder a gentle giant of a man? And why would a thief, with an endless treasure trove to choose from, make off with a bowl from Charleton House that only has sentimental value?
Enlisting the help of her charismatic and eccentric colleagues, including quick-witted tour guide Mark, Sophie sets off to extract inside information from Detective Constable Joe Greene in return for a generous supply of chocolate croissants. But just as Sophie finds her suspicions falling on a likely suspect, a trail of coffee beans leads to a shocking revelation that turns her caffeine-fuelled investigation on its head.
Fans of T E Kinsey and M C Beaton will love Death By Dark Roast. Join Sophie and the Charleton House team for a festival of coffee, cake and crime.
Nestled in the idyllic setting of Derbyshire’s rolling hills, the ancestral home of the Fitzwilliam-Scott family seems an unlikely location for murder. But when a young man is bludgeoned to death with the portafilter of a coffee machine, recent thefts from local stately homes are put in the shade, and caffeine-loving café manager Sophie Lockwood finds her interest piqued by a pair of unusual cases.
Who would want to brutally murder a gentle giant of a man? And why would a thief, with an endless treasure trove to choose from, make off with a bowl from Charleton House that only has sentimental value?
Enlisting the help of her charismatic and eccentric colleagues, including quick-witted tour guide Mark, Sophie sets off to extract inside information from Detective Constable Joe Greene in return for a generous supply of chocolate croissants. But just as Sophie finds her suspicions falling on a likely suspect, a trail of coffee beans leads to a shocking revelation that turns her caffeine-fuelled investigation on its head.
Fans of T E Kinsey and M C Beaton will love Death By Dark Roast. Join Sophie and the Charleton House team for a festival of coffee, cake and crime.
184 pages, Paperback
Published April 12, 2020
937 people are currently reading
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 163 reviews
December 8, 2024
The annual Charleton House Food Festival was in full swing, and Sophie Lockwood, manager of three cafes in the grounds and in charge of much more for the Duchess & Duke, was a coffee addict. The festival housed two different coffee carts this year, and Sophie loved the taste of the vibrant red bus coffees, run by two sisters. She wasn't too keen on the Silver Bullet coffee though, and didn't think much of the guys running it either. But when, early the second morning, a body was discovered, and DC Joe Greene - a friend of Sophie's - arrived at the scene, it was immediately obvious it was murder. Sophie was determined to discover who the murderer was, as well as uncover the person who stole a bowl of great sentimental value. Joe was against her investigating, but of course that didn't stop Sophie. But would she uncover the answers they all needed?
Death by Dark Roast is the 1st in the Charleton House Mysteries by Kate P. Adams and I quite enjoyed it. Fun and entertaining, the characters were lively and amusing, especially Sophie and her cat Pumpkin. I'd happily read the next in the series, and recommend this one to fans of cozy mysteries.
Death by Dark Roast is the 1st in the Charleton House Mysteries by Kate P. Adams and I quite enjoyed it. Fun and entertaining, the characters were lively and amusing, especially Sophie and her cat Pumpkin. I'd happily read the next in the series, and recommend this one to fans of cozy mysteries.
May 25, 2023
Actually 2.5 stars
I was expecting something more from this cozy mystery.
As soon as I read the plot I was immediately tempted to read it thanks to its fantastic setting:
the ancestral home of an aristocratic family, in Derbyshire, used as a tourist site, with guided tours, costumed figures, splendid gardens and 3 cafés created inside a library and 2 other historical places in the mansion.
Having worked for a few years as a travel agent selling tours to historical places I was fascinated by this and I couldn't wait to read a captivating mystery set in a beautiful place where I myself wanted to work.
Unfortunately I was disappointed by the mystery : not engaging at all.
I really loved the setting, so well described and I loved the insertion, by the author, of a couple of historical characters who really existed (one of whom was Italian like me) and of some small, but interesting, notions on the subject (which of course I then deepened on my own as is my habit). This small insertion of history and culture adds an extra value to the book and that's the reason why I've rounded my 2.5 star rating down to 3 and not 2.
The dialogues were nice enough and this helped me to go on reading, but since there are several protagonist characters, in addition to the main character, the description was not deep enough to empathize with any of them.
By reading about the author and seeing her picture I was able to understand that she put herself as the main character. Everything coincides: the physical description, her job in some of England's finest buildings and her obsession with coffee and gin-tonic.
These two things might look funny and engaging but actually I was annoyed by her mention about gin-tonic in every two or three pages of the book.
OK, a little mania can be nice, but whether it's gin-tonic or candy or perfume or whatever... well... if it's repeated over and over it's tiring and irritating (or at least it is to me ).
The mystery and investigation were very weak, the book had good potential, but in my opinion the author could have worked more on clues and investigation and better explored the characters and their personalities.
I don't know how to explain it, but she failed to be really engaging.
I will try to read a second book in the future...but I don't have great expectations about it, I have to admit it.
( Please forgive me any English error, I'm an old Italian girl writing in a foreign language )
I was expecting something more from this cozy mystery.
As soon as I read the plot I was immediately tempted to read it thanks to its fantastic setting:
the ancestral home of an aristocratic family, in Derbyshire, used as a tourist site, with guided tours, costumed figures, splendid gardens and 3 cafés created inside a library and 2 other historical places in the mansion.
Having worked for a few years as a travel agent selling tours to historical places I was fascinated by this and I couldn't wait to read a captivating mystery set in a beautiful place where I myself wanted to work.
Unfortunately I was disappointed by the mystery : not engaging at all.
I really loved the setting, so well described and I loved the insertion, by the author, of a couple of historical characters who really existed (one of whom was Italian like me) and of some small, but interesting, notions on the subject (which of course I then deepened on my own as is my habit). This small insertion of history and culture adds an extra value to the book and that's the reason why I've rounded my 2.5 star rating down to 3 and not 2.
The dialogues were nice enough and this helped me to go on reading, but since there are several protagonist characters, in addition to the main character, the description was not deep enough to empathize with any of them.
By reading about the author and seeing her picture I was able to understand that she put herself as the main character. Everything coincides: the physical description, her job in some of England's finest buildings and her obsession with coffee and gin-tonic.
These two things might look funny and engaging but actually I was annoyed by her mention about gin-tonic in every two or three pages of the book.
OK, a little mania can be nice, but whether it's gin-tonic or candy or perfume or whatever... well... if it's repeated over and over it's tiring and irritating (or at least it is to me ).
The mystery and investigation were very weak, the book had good potential, but in my opinion the author could have worked more on clues and investigation and better explored the characters and their personalities.
I don't know how to explain it, but she failed to be really engaging.
I will try to read a second book in the future...but I don't have great expectations about it, I have to admit it.
( Please forgive me any English error, I'm an old Italian girl writing in a foreign language )
April 16, 2020
Charleton House is preparing for the Annual Food Festival. The vendors are busy setting up their stalls and there are two vendors selling coffee. Kathy and Lucy Wright own Signal Box Coffee, while Guy Glover and his associates, Kyle and Ben, run Silver Bullet Coffee out of their Airstream Trailer. While walking through a room in the Manor, Sophie Lockwood notices that a bowl is missing from a display. Then Sophie learns that another theft occurred recently at Berwick Hall.
While talking with Mark and Lucy the next morning, they are interrupted by a frantic call - Help, He's Dead. When delivering bin bags, Robin found the body of Ben in the Airstream trailer. Detective Joe Greene was working on the thefts, but is pulled off to investigate Ben's murder. A few people were seen arguing with Ben prior to his murder, but were any of them sufficient to drive a person to murder? Obviously, there are plenty of suspects.
Who killed Ben? Why was he killed? Who stole the bowl from Charleton House? Are the two crimes connected? What about the theft at Berwick Hall? Can Sophie untangle the mysteries?
Kate Adams has a good start to this series with great characters and realistic situations. There is some English history and customs thrown in to make it even more enjoyable. There are plenty of twists, turns, and red herrings to keep the reader guessing clear to the end.
While talking with Mark and Lucy the next morning, they are interrupted by a frantic call - Help, He's Dead. When delivering bin bags, Robin found the body of Ben in the Airstream trailer. Detective Joe Greene was working on the thefts, but is pulled off to investigate Ben's murder. A few people were seen arguing with Ben prior to his murder, but were any of them sufficient to drive a person to murder? Obviously, there are plenty of suspects.
Who killed Ben? Why was he killed? Who stole the bowl from Charleton House? Are the two crimes connected? What about the theft at Berwick Hall? Can Sophie untangle the mysteries?
Kate Adams has a good start to this series with great characters and realistic situations. There is some English history and customs thrown in to make it even more enjoyable. There are plenty of twists, turns, and red herrings to keep the reader guessing clear to the end.
December 29, 2021
Book 1 Sophie is a coffee fanatic. She has been giving a job in the Charlotte House of The Dutch and Duchess FitzWilliam and Scott. She has worked there for 12 months already and loved it. There was a Good Festival going on. They wanted to find another coffee supp!ier. Two sisters were selling coffee (Shophie likes theirs the best) and 3 men were the other one ( Sophie thought theirs were not that wonderful) one of the men got killed from the coffee Airspace. There was some shady goings on with them. This is an ok book. I might read book2
September 8, 2025
A coffee van merchant is found dead in the van. Did the estates usual coffee supplier do it? The other vender, or was it the husband of the woman he used to date? A good mystery with an interesting setting.
March 4, 2025
Cozy hallmark movie mystery in the best way I really liked this. Let’s go indie authors !
April 14, 2020
I enjoyed this even more than A Stately Murder. The mystery was more involved (not surprising when this is a full length book, rather than a novella), and it was lovely to return to Charleton House and the characters that work there.
The plot was interesting, and appeared to have several separate strands initially. I enjoyed getting to know Joe, Sophie, Joyce and Mark more - I’d really love to see more of their characters and backgrounds being revealed in future books. It’s nice to see a cozy crime book where the main character who, whilst obviously going off and investigating on their own, actually keeps the police informed on what they’ve found out. Pumpkin provides some amusing interludes.
In conclusion, an interesting and enjoyable cozy crime. The only thing I felt was missing, was getting to know the characters in more depth. Hopefully this will happen in later books in the series.
I was given a free copy of this book. My opinions are my own.
The plot was interesting, and appeared to have several separate strands initially. I enjoyed getting to know Joe, Sophie, Joyce and Mark more - I’d really love to see more of their characters and backgrounds being revealed in future books. It’s nice to see a cozy crime book where the main character who, whilst obviously going off and investigating on their own, actually keeps the police informed on what they’ve found out. Pumpkin provides some amusing interludes.
In conclusion, an interesting and enjoyable cozy crime. The only thing I felt was missing, was getting to know the characters in more depth. Hopefully this will happen in later books in the series.
I was given a free copy of this book. My opinions are my own.
August 26, 2021
I liked the premise of the book...a fair at an estate...one of the vendors is killed....and coffee for everyone. However, I was under the false pretense that this was book 1 in the series. Imagine my surprise as I started the book...no character development. Who are these people? Why are they referring to things that happened in what I would have thought was book 1.
Well, that's because there was a prequel. All the character development went into that, and book 1 obviously picks up where the prequel left off. So for me, it took a lot to get into the book, and at the end, I still don't get the relationships. So the only way to continue the series is to go back and read the prequel.
Otherwise, the mystery of why the vendor was murdered was interesting.
Well, that's because there was a prequel. All the character development went into that, and book 1 obviously picks up where the prequel left off. So for me, it took a lot to get into the book, and at the end, I still don't get the relationships. So the only way to continue the series is to go back and read the prequel.
Otherwise, the mystery of why the vendor was murdered was interesting.
August 11, 2020
Death by Dark Roast is a very suspenseful drama mystery crime story that has you involved in this town people. Everyone knows everyone and everyone knows who did thus but everybody is guilty! The cooky characters in this story you will begin to know one by one and it's up to them to find out who killed one of their own.. This is the first book in this soon to come series which I will be following.. You have a mixture of the old and new in this story where it gives you a little bit of historical background. This is a fantastic crime mystery story you just don't want to pass you by!
September 2, 2021
Acquired Kindle edition when offered free on Amazon.
Not bad, just boring. I didn't care who the killer was because the author never made me care about any of the characters. W is clean but lacklustre.
Not bad, just boring. I didn't care who the killer was because the author never made me care about any of the characters. W is clean but lacklustre.
April 15, 2020
Death by Dark Roast by Kate P. Adams
Sophie is back in the first official Charleton mystery and it doesn't disappoint. If you had the good luck to receive 'A Stately Murder', which you can only get free by joining Kate P Adams' email list, then you already know Sophie. If not, she and all her colleagues: her work husband Mark (who has a husband of his own at home), Joyce who runs the retail for the stately house and her hard-working staff from the 3 cafes she manages on the grounds will be a new delight for you. This time, however, we get to learn a little bit more about the Duke and Duchess who own Charleton House.
There are several things happening in this busy summer weekend. There was a theft at a nearby home, Berwick, which is also opened to the public; another theft takes place at Charleton House of a bowl that belonged to the Duke's mother which wasn't worth much in money but had great sentimental value for him; and the local artisans were setting up for the weekend long Charleton House Food Festival, an event close to the hearts of both Mark and Sophie because they do enjoy their food! But when opening day comes and the opening is held up because a dead body is found in one of the coffee vans it appears that the Food Festival is not a hit with everyone.
Sophie will have to satisfy her curiosity about not only the deaths but the thefts as well. She just can't leave them alone despite the fact that Joe Greene, Marks brother-in-law and a newly promoted Detective Constable with the local police force, tells her time and again to stop meddling and let the police do their job. But Sophie just can't. The facts keep running around in her head and she has to gather all the information she can to make everything make sense.
This is a very clever mystery with a lot of twists to it but a wonderful conclusion that snuck up on me. I was delighted with the conclusion as Sophie solves each and every question that has been bothering her, even though she has some mistakes along the way. She is a great character who amazes me with her ability to ask friends and strangers alike embarrassing questions, always probing to find the answers. If she wasn't so happy in her job I would expect her to join the police!
This is another good mystery from Kate P. Adams and I. For one, hopes she keeps turning them out. I hope you like this book as much as I did. The copy of the book was gifted to me by the author but the review is all honestly mine, Enjoy!
Sophie is back in the first official Charleton mystery and it doesn't disappoint. If you had the good luck to receive 'A Stately Murder', which you can only get free by joining Kate P Adams' email list, then you already know Sophie. If not, she and all her colleagues: her work husband Mark (who has a husband of his own at home), Joyce who runs the retail for the stately house and her hard-working staff from the 3 cafes she manages on the grounds will be a new delight for you. This time, however, we get to learn a little bit more about the Duke and Duchess who own Charleton House.
There are several things happening in this busy summer weekend. There was a theft at a nearby home, Berwick, which is also opened to the public; another theft takes place at Charleton House of a bowl that belonged to the Duke's mother which wasn't worth much in money but had great sentimental value for him; and the local artisans were setting up for the weekend long Charleton House Food Festival, an event close to the hearts of both Mark and Sophie because they do enjoy their food! But when opening day comes and the opening is held up because a dead body is found in one of the coffee vans it appears that the Food Festival is not a hit with everyone.
Sophie will have to satisfy her curiosity about not only the deaths but the thefts as well. She just can't leave them alone despite the fact that Joe Greene, Marks brother-in-law and a newly promoted Detective Constable with the local police force, tells her time and again to stop meddling and let the police do their job. But Sophie just can't. The facts keep running around in her head and she has to gather all the information she can to make everything make sense.
This is a very clever mystery with a lot of twists to it but a wonderful conclusion that snuck up on me. I was delighted with the conclusion as Sophie solves each and every question that has been bothering her, even though she has some mistakes along the way. She is a great character who amazes me with her ability to ask friends and strangers alike embarrassing questions, always probing to find the answers. If she wasn't so happy in her job I would expect her to join the police!
This is another good mystery from Kate P. Adams and I. For one, hopes she keeps turning them out. I hope you like this book as much as I did. The copy of the book was gifted to me by the author but the review is all honestly mine, Enjoy!
November 25, 2024
I... I fell in love with this. Any chance I had, I was wanting more and more. First book by Kate Adams was amazing. You lost a star because you make me want to come back for more and spend my money when I am on a book buying ban.
Sophie's relationships with everyone —her coworkers, vendors, and customers— are crafted to be special. Kate portrays Sophie as having the kind of amiable charm that makes people divulge all sorts of information, both new and old. Reading about Mark and Joe's dynamics with her, sometimes supportive and sometimes oppositional, was delightful. Mark's enthusiasm for Sophie and Joe's potential romance was evident. However, Mark's husband might need to keep a closer eye on him. Discovering that Ben's own partners were his murderers was somewhat jarring, given the swift pace at which the plot unfolded and Sophie's rapid progress in the investigation.
Personal Opinion on this.
~~ If it was a little more drawn out and a little more parallel with the theme of the mystery setting, it would have been even more thrilling. I did like how Kate had Sophie still doing her normal activities and had her be her own little detective on the side. But I felt as though Kate should have had Sophie do less "side" business and do more of the detective and mystery element.
Sophie's relationships with everyone —her coworkers, vendors, and customers— are crafted to be special. Kate portrays Sophie as having the kind of amiable charm that makes people divulge all sorts of information, both new and old. Reading about Mark and Joe's dynamics with her, sometimes supportive and sometimes oppositional, was delightful. Mark's enthusiasm for Sophie and Joe's potential romance was evident. However, Mark's husband might need to keep a closer eye on him. Discovering that Ben's own partners were his murderers was somewhat jarring, given the swift pace at which the plot unfolded and Sophie's rapid progress in the investigation.
Personal Opinion on this.
~~ If it was a little more drawn out and a little more parallel with the theme of the mystery setting, it would have been even more thrilling. I did like how Kate had Sophie still doing her normal activities and had her be her own little detective on the side. But I felt as though Kate should have had Sophie do less "side" business and do more of the detective and mystery element.
April 16, 2020
Sophie has a dream job working at Charleton House. She manages the cafes on the property. It's a perfect combination of her two favorite loves - food and history. She gets more than she expects with the theft of the Duke's cherished momento and the murder of a coffee vendor. I liked that she has a healthy curiosity and the ability to get answers. Her friends are an immense help. It's great to see people working together. I liked the characters and this interesting and complex story. I felt as if I were part of the group as they followed the clues. The dialogue was humorous and relatable. I especially enjoyed the running comments on Sophie and her coffee habit. Charleton House and the gardens were the perfect background for murder. Kate P. Adams made sure that there were plenty of suspects to keep me guessing. I wondered who committed the murder and if it was connected with the thefts. Death by Dark Roast was a pleasant read. I can't wait to see Sophie and her cohorts in action again.
April 14, 2020
Do you enjoy a good cozy mystery? Do you like coffee? Well, this book is for you. Just a bit of warning don't read this when you are hungry. Kate P. Adams does an amazing job of describing the smell of coffee and the taste of pastries. You are going to want to have some while you enjoy the story. Set in England's Derbyshire’s rolling hills the story is a great read. I am looking forward to more in this fun series "A Charleton House Mystery". I was given an ARC copy but this review is my own opinion.
July 12, 2020
Great setting!!
I love Charleton House! Getting an insider view makes every detail interesting. We also get so many great characters with Sophie, Mark, Joyce and Joe. I like the relationship between Joe and Sophie, slow and steady. The murder was surrounded by several other mysteries, but they all tied together nicely. This is a great start to a series.
I love Charleton House! Getting an insider view makes every detail interesting. We also get so many great characters with Sophie, Mark, Joyce and Joe. I like the relationship between Joe and Sophie, slow and steady. The murder was surrounded by several other mysteries, but they all tied together nicely. This is a great start to a series.
August 29, 2021
This is the first official Charleton House mystery, as there is a prequel called 'A Stately Murder'. It brings back Cafe manager Sophie Lockwood. This one follows a food festival on the grounds of Charelton house, were one of the vendors is murdered. Resident sleuth Sophie decides to look into it.
April 14, 2020
This is a fun mystery to read! The setting is quaint and charming. The mystery itself was quite unique and very involved. I enjoyed experiencing the solving of the mystery along with Sophie, she is quite the character! I look forward to more of her mysteries! I loved it.
December 14, 2020
Coffee, Gin & Tonic, a cat? All are huge parts of Sophie Lockwood's life. As cafe manager of Charleton House's several cafes, she's one busy lady, but not too busy to investigate the appearance of a dead body in the midst of a festival on the grounds of the stately home.
I'm a mystery fiend, and this mystery is right up my alley for three reasons--it includes a cat, a a bit of history, and witty dialogue. #1 A plump cat named Pumpkin lives with Sophie. #2 A costumed actor gave a talk as Samuel Pepys and provides interesting tidbits I'd not heard before. #3 The entire book is filled with witty banter.
I'll be back for more!
I'm a mystery fiend, and this mystery is right up my alley for three reasons--it includes a cat, a a bit of history, and witty dialogue. #1 A plump cat named Pumpkin lives with Sophie. #2 A costumed actor gave a talk as Samuel Pepys and provides interesting tidbits I'd not heard before. #3 The entire book is filled with witty banter.
I'll be back for more!
July 8, 2021
This is a quick, cute cozy mystery. It starts off a bit slow but gradually picks up the pace. This is something I would go to if I wanted a light read that doesn't require much focus.
March 9, 2024
Not the most interesting
September 13, 2020
I enjoyed this cozy mystery. It has several things I enjoy and was a fun, entertaining read.
First off, I love coffee, so Sophie's mania for it as well is an easy get for a component of this series that will connect for me. I enjoyed the discussions about coffee, how to make good coffee, etc.
Second, I love historic homes, and since I've never been to England, I get to enjoy a British historic home vicariously, as well as getting to go "behind the scenes" on how such a home is run for tourists, which I enjoyed a great deal.
Sophie is a busy-body, but she's a likable busy-body, so she makes a good protagonist in this book. The supporting characters are also likable, fun characters, and I enjoy getting to know Sophie's band of helpers as she solves murders.
This is a series I will look for more books in, and continue reading about Sophie's adventures at Charleton House!
First off, I love coffee, so Sophie's mania for it as well is an easy get for a component of this series that will connect for me. I enjoyed the discussions about coffee, how to make good coffee, etc.
Second, I love historic homes, and since I've never been to England, I get to enjoy a British historic home vicariously, as well as getting to go "behind the scenes" on how such a home is run for tourists, which I enjoyed a great deal.
Sophie is a busy-body, but she's a likable busy-body, so she makes a good protagonist in this book. The supporting characters are also likable, fun characters, and I enjoy getting to know Sophie's band of helpers as she solves murders.
This is a series I will look for more books in, and continue reading about Sophie's adventures at Charleton House!
July 20, 2020
Excellent mystery! I love the setting and the characters, and I'm looking forward to continuing with the series.
October 31, 2024
An interesting mystery.
Thanks to the author for the digital copy.
Thanks to the author for the digital copy.
November 6, 2022
Charleton House, a stately house in Derbyshire, is preparing for its Annual Food Festival. As the stallholders are busy setting up, two separate events occur: the theft of a sentimental but not very valuable ceramic bowl, and the murder of one of the vendors.
Café manager Sophie Lockwood has her dream job, combining her love of food & history. I liked that Sophie has a healthy curiosity and uses her unique job role to help her get answers from people who may not otherwise talk. As she ponders the facts things start to make sense – but will an unexpected scattering of coffee beans change the course of her investigation?
I enjoyed getting to know Sophie and the other varied and appealing characters, from the down to earth Duke & Duchess, to good friend Mark, flamboyant retail manager Joyce and DC Joe who has rather an appetite for cake! I particularly liked that the police were not portrayed as incompetent, and that everyone worked together to solve the mystery. Too often the police are portrayed as incompetent buffoons whilst the amateurs have unrealistic access to information – here, the police are busy but engaged and the amateur involvement feels very realistic.
The storyline was interesting, unusual and suitable complex with just enough twists and surprises. The ending works well and all the ends were tied up well.
As I read the book, I could totally picture Charleton House – I have *very* strong suspicions that it is heavily modelled on a very well known Derbyshire stately home that I have visited numerous times and that just brought it to life more for me! It is apparent that the author has first-hand knowledge of the inner-workings of such a location which makes it both “real” and brings it to life.
What didn’t quite work for me
For all the positive points, and the very familiar feeling about the setting, one thing really jarred for me was a singe word - NOBODY in Derbyshire would eat a Sausage Barm, that’s a phrase from the North West. In Derbyshire they’d have had a Sausage Cob! I wonder why the author chose that very unusual & regionally specific phrase when everything else was so accurate & detailed ...
Recommendation
This book will appeal to lovers of cosy mysteries, if those readers also enjoy stately homes then it will be an added bonus!
This is the first book in the series, and I have not yet read the prequel “A Stately Murder” but I’m off to find it now as it might give a little bit more background to the characters.
Café manager Sophie Lockwood has her dream job, combining her love of food & history. I liked that Sophie has a healthy curiosity and uses her unique job role to help her get answers from people who may not otherwise talk. As she ponders the facts things start to make sense – but will an unexpected scattering of coffee beans change the course of her investigation?
I enjoyed getting to know Sophie and the other varied and appealing characters, from the down to earth Duke & Duchess, to good friend Mark, flamboyant retail manager Joyce and DC Joe who has rather an appetite for cake! I particularly liked that the police were not portrayed as incompetent, and that everyone worked together to solve the mystery. Too often the police are portrayed as incompetent buffoons whilst the amateurs have unrealistic access to information – here, the police are busy but engaged and the amateur involvement feels very realistic.
The storyline was interesting, unusual and suitable complex with just enough twists and surprises. The ending works well and all the ends were tied up well.
As I read the book, I could totally picture Charleton House – I have *very* strong suspicions that it is heavily modelled on a very well known Derbyshire stately home that I have visited numerous times and that just brought it to life more for me! It is apparent that the author has first-hand knowledge of the inner-workings of such a location which makes it both “real” and brings it to life.
What didn’t quite work for me
For all the positive points, and the very familiar feeling about the setting, one thing really jarred for me was a singe word - NOBODY in Derbyshire would eat a Sausage Barm, that’s a phrase from the North West. In Derbyshire they’d have had a Sausage Cob! I wonder why the author chose that very unusual & regionally specific phrase when everything else was so accurate & detailed ...
Recommendation
This book will appeal to lovers of cosy mysteries, if those readers also enjoy stately homes then it will be an added bonus!
This is the first book in the series, and I have not yet read the prequel “A Stately Murder” but I’m off to find it now as it might give a little bit more background to the characters.
June 12, 2025
I enjoyed this book. With so many cosy mysteries out there this one was a nice change. I seem to be getting fed up with the cosy mysteries love drama that they all seem to need but this book focused on the mystery and the main character actually doing her job. It was also nice to have book set in England, I have no idea of the stately home is actually a real place but it was so easy to imagine the setting that I think it could be easy to stumble across it one of these days. The look into running a stately home was interesting and I had no idea of the scale of the operation but it gives the author a lot of scope and characters to play with. Speaking of characters I really liked them too, Sophie is a great main character and leads her band of merry staff by example. It's going to be a lot of fun getting know the characters better. The mystery was good and bad a number of angles going on which kept me not only guessing but also reading. Look forward to starting The next book.
The Charleton House Food Festival is about to get under way and for Sophie and her staff it means a quieter time in the cafes, as the tourist visit the food vendors set up in the stately grounds. This doesn't mean Sophie gets the weekend off work, as The Duke and Duchess still need things done. One of those is the Food Festival drinks reception, where a sentimental bowl belonging to The Dukes late mother is stolen. The missing bowl is soon put on the back burner for the police when a body is discovered in one of the vendors trucks. Sophie unable to stop thinking about the two occurrences starts her own investigation. With access to the vendors on the grounds and being a coffee connoisseur herself, she is in the perfect position to piece all the clues together and find not only a thief but a killer. Can she though?
The Charleton House Food Festival is about to get under way and for Sophie and her staff it means a quieter time in the cafes, as the tourist visit the food vendors set up in the stately grounds. This doesn't mean Sophie gets the weekend off work, as The Duke and Duchess still need things done. One of those is the Food Festival drinks reception, where a sentimental bowl belonging to The Dukes late mother is stolen. The missing bowl is soon put on the back burner for the police when a body is discovered in one of the vendors trucks. Sophie unable to stop thinking about the two occurrences starts her own investigation. With access to the vendors on the grounds and being a coffee connoisseur herself, she is in the perfect position to piece all the clues together and find not only a thief but a killer. Can she though?
April 14, 2020
The descriptions of the Charleton House is amazing as are the food descriptions, but the best part is Sophie Lockwood, the manager of the three restaurants at the property. The family graciously, (the present Duke and Duchess) have opened their house and grounds to the public. It is the time of the Charleton House Food Festival with many different booths to eat and drink your way through! And the vendors love it because they get their name known and can sell their goods. When at the special cocktail party hosted by the Duke and Duchess one of the Duke's sentimental pieces of pottery goes missing, the house is shut down. Then when one of the vendor's helpers is brutally murdered, Sophie along with the house tour guide and her good friend, Mark set out to discover what happened, why and who killed the man. With so many wrong turns, twists and red-herrings and missteps Sophie sets out to find out what happened to the Duke's sentimental bowl that was stolen and who murdered Ben. Mixed up in all this she stumples upon a major fraud with one of her coffee vendors she uses for her restaurants. Is the fraud, the stolen bowl and the murder connected? There is so many clues that lead you down the garden path, you just can't put this book down! Can't wait for the next book. I received and ARC from the author but the opinions expressed here are strictly my own.
May 24, 2021
It was entertaining with a very good mystery that was hard to figure out. It dragged a little in some sections but the descriptions help overcome the slow parts!
I will read the next one to see if I want to continue the series.
Amazon synopsis:
Nestled in the idyllic setting of Derbyshire’s rolling hills, the ancestral home of the Fitzwilliam-Scott family seems an unlikely location for murder. But when a young man is killed with a part from a coffee machine, recent thefts from local stately homes are put in the shade, and caffeine-loving café manager Sophie Lockwood finds her interest piqued by a pair of unusual cases.
Who would want to brutally murder a gentle giant of a man? And why would a thief, with an endless treasure trove to choose from, make off with a bowl from Charleton House that only has sentimental value?
Enlisting the help of her charismatic and eccentric colleagues, including quick-witted tour guide Mark, Sophie sets off to extract inside information from Detective Constable Joe Greene in return for a generous supply of chocolate croissants. But just as Sophie finds her suspicions falling on a likely suspect, a trail of coffee beans leads to a shocking revelation that turns her caffeine-fuelled investigation on its head.
I will read the next one to see if I want to continue the series.
Amazon synopsis:
Nestled in the idyllic setting of Derbyshire’s rolling hills, the ancestral home of the Fitzwilliam-Scott family seems an unlikely location for murder. But when a young man is killed with a part from a coffee machine, recent thefts from local stately homes are put in the shade, and caffeine-loving café manager Sophie Lockwood finds her interest piqued by a pair of unusual cases.
Who would want to brutally murder a gentle giant of a man? And why would a thief, with an endless treasure trove to choose from, make off with a bowl from Charleton House that only has sentimental value?
Enlisting the help of her charismatic and eccentric colleagues, including quick-witted tour guide Mark, Sophie sets off to extract inside information from Detective Constable Joe Greene in return for a generous supply of chocolate croissants. But just as Sophie finds her suspicions falling on a likely suspect, a trail of coffee beans leads to a shocking revelation that turns her caffeine-fuelled investigation on its head.
April 15, 2020
The first in the Charleton House Mystery series is the novella A Stately Murder, available free for email newsletter signup. It impressed me enough to happily opt in to read the ARC for this title, the first full length in the series. Kate Adams has spent many years working in some of England’s finest buildings and her knowledge of what goes into running such a site as a tourist destination is clearly demonstrated in her writing. My appreciation of that is probably heightened by the fact that I worked as a consultant historian in the heritage sector for some twenty years, but any mystery reader would appreciate the interesting background and setting provided in this series. Together with the well-developed, appealing and interesting characters, the plot is sufficiently twisty to keep the most discerning mystery reader pondering the possibilities. I am looking forward to the next in the series.
My only complaint would be that there was, often enough to notice, one sentence more than necessary to explain something, and a little too much repetition of Sophie’s need for a coffee fix. Oftentimes less is more. Which is where I need to stop.
My only complaint would be that there was, often enough to notice, one sentence more than necessary to explain something, and a little too much repetition of Sophie’s need for a coffee fix. Oftentimes less is more. Which is where I need to stop.
April 17, 2020
How could I not read a book about a murder mystery, dark roast coffee, and which includes a lovable cat?
Not possible!
This is the first entry in the series Charleton House Mystery series and I will not miss one of them.
A great cozy mystery series featuring Sophie and friends Mark, Joe, and Joyce.
It’s the weekend of a food festival at the manor and, before the festivities begin, a worker at one of the coffee vendors is murdered.
Of course, our heroine Sophie begins immediately investigating - sometimes to the chagrin of the police.
With the help of Joe the policeman, Mark the
in-character tour guide et al Sophie is on the case while running the estates coffee houses, arranging private catered affairs, and being second in command at home to Pumpkin the cat.
Enjoy the mystery. I’d prefer not to give too many details, but I doubt you’ll figure it out before the end. There are a number of interesting twists and turns.
With all of us suffering isolation, this book couldn’t have come at a better time.
However, had Death by Dark Roast been available in pre-pandemic times, I would have read it with the same interest and in the same amount of time.
It is THAT good
April 20, 2020
A cozy mystery delight for the most discerning coffeenista!
Any author who can juxtapose macarons and haggis on the opening page of their book and make the latter sound palatable enough to make me interested in sampling this er...'delicacy' can consider me hooked. Further reading confirmed that this cozy mystery was indeed a worthy candidate for my neglecting of all other tasks in order to make reading it a priority. The setting rings with authenticity, down to the tiniest detail, a tribute to the author's extensive experience working in some of England's finest buildings, rich in history and tales of unique characters, as well as her clearly impeccable research. Set against the venerable Charleton House... A stately home dating back to Tudor times are characters who bring a sense of freshness and modern life to the story. This book is the perfect read for fans who enjoy their cozy mysteries served with a patina of history, a bounty of culinary delights, a bottomless cup of perfectly brewed coffee and a cat...because there has to be a cat!
Any author who can juxtapose macarons and haggis on the opening page of their book and make the latter sound palatable enough to make me interested in sampling this er...'delicacy' can consider me hooked. Further reading confirmed that this cozy mystery was indeed a worthy candidate for my neglecting of all other tasks in order to make reading it a priority. The setting rings with authenticity, down to the tiniest detail, a tribute to the author's extensive experience working in some of England's finest buildings, rich in history and tales of unique characters, as well as her clearly impeccable research. Set against the venerable Charleton House... A stately home dating back to Tudor times are characters who bring a sense of freshness and modern life to the story. This book is the perfect read for fans who enjoy their cozy mysteries served with a patina of history, a bounty of culinary delights, a bottomless cup of perfectly brewed coffee and a cat...because there has to be a cat!
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