Mystery in May

Devonshire Mysteries #4

by Michael Campling

There are strangers in Embervale, a conflict brewing, and before long, there'll be a victim.

Dan finds himself drawn into a web of deceit, but he won’t give up until he’s uncovered the truth.

Join Dan and Alan in the search for clues.

Delve into the darker side of Dartmoor.

Genres: Mystery, Fiction

428 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 26, 2021

About the author

See also GoodReads Author's profile under Mikey Campling

Reviews

[Annemarie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dan and Alan are as different as chalk and cheese and I guess that's why they make such a great team. There are suspects and motives galore in Mystery in May and the twists and turns will keep you guessing. I, for one, could not guess who the guilty party was and was surprised when they were revealed.

I highly recommend The Devonshire Mysteries Series by Michael Campling. Happy reading. Annemarie

I received a copy of Mystery in May free from the author and have chosen to leave a review.

[Jacqueline · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun read

A pair of unlikely companions, Dan with a city business background, and Alan a writer from a small English village, two amateur investigators , manage to keep their readers entertained.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another good Devonshire Mystery from Michael Campling. This is one of the longer books in the series which gives us more twists and turns and red herrings, keeping us all guessing until the end. Although I found myself thinking along the same lines as Dan at times, always suspicious and questioning people's motives as I'm reading along.

[Saundra Wright · Rating 5 out of 5]

Embervale is a quiet country village with more than its fair share of murders. Thankfully it also has a couple of amateur sleuths to help solve them!
 
If you haven’t yet read any of these mysteries, you are missing out. With great characters and intricate plots, this series fills the niche of a modern-day Agatha Christie.
 
Dan has truly settled into village life and even, at the urging of his friend and neighbor, Alan, started a computer service business.
 
Still when a young chef is attacked Dan finds himself pulled into the investigation. Embervale is filled with mostly ordinary folks but has a few monied landowners as well.
 
Can the objection of one such landowner about unwanted campers have anything to do with the attack? Or is there something sinister on the land he’s hiding.
 
The police think it’s an open and shut case. Dan and Alan think it’s anything but. Can they uncover the real culprit before an innocent man is sent back to prison?

[Susan Barno · Rating 3 out of 5]

I definitely enjoy a well written book. Such an enjoyable read that felt like one was actually visiting Embervale. Great descriptions, and great characters with depth and personality. However, as the attempted murder is investigated Dan and Alan (the protagonists) dig deeper and deeper into a web of deceit that takes them farther and farther away from finding out who actually stabbed the victim. All these clues that took Dan and Alan down multiple paths seemed more the main plot than solving the who-dun-it. By the time all the avenues of inquiry were resolved it seemed like everything was wrapped up except who stabbed George! In fact as the story felt like it was winding down I kept thinking there's not many pages left and I'm still wondering... WHO stabbed George. This was followed up with a quick wrap up and then Alan and Dan were off for their pint of IPA. Story concluded and the plot conclusion felt a bit of a let down for such a well written story.

[BRT · Rating 3 out of 5]

The mysteries in this series appear to be straightforward but always turn out to be more complicated. Possibly because of my own reading choices but I continue to be confused by the age of Dan and Alan. They behave like two grumpy old men but they are likely in their 30’s or 40’s. Their dynamic, however, continues to grow and, like an old married couple, they spat & grumble but they are really good for each other.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book more characters to think about in a murder mystery. Alan has feelings for one and Dan being persistent sometimes gets in the way but they still are friends. Quite a turn when you think it's all wrapped up 🤠

[Mimi · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

[Lorraine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Devonshire mysteries

Alan and Dan were busy again! Another mystery was solved and this time the detective didn’t stay mad! I’ll be watching for their next adventure.

[Doreen Fernandes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dan Corrigan and his friend Alan are up against a cunning criminal. Will they be able to thwart his plans. An absorbing book.

[Donna Mcnab · Rating 4 out of 5]

These English mysteries are fun and relaxing to read. Try curling up with a box of chocolates and a glass of wine, and just enjoy the experience of a murder in Devon.

[Jillian · Rating 4 out of 5]

A few more hours spent relaxing with friends as they uncover crimes in their village. Campling is an excellent storyteller and is in full swing developing this community and exploring relationships and motivations. I’ve joined his club to obtain the extra short story in this series to tide me over until the next book is published. Bring it on!

[Virginia Tican · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Embervale May Fair attracted a lot of people including obvious residents Dan and Alan. Dan met Reg Stoddard, a master craftsman whose woodwork he was greatly admiring then Scott Benning and Harry, bigtime entrepreneurs who live at Ironbrand Farm were arguing with campers trespassing on Scott's woods... he also owned the Fair grounds. Dan interfered so the quarrel would not turn physical. After that, his stomach and nose led him to George Hepworth, a very enthusiastic and dedicated vegan chef. As for Alan, he saw Gemma Nickleton and like the maypole ribbons her students just held for their dance, he was wound around and bound. All of them as well as those not mentioned here would soon be entangled with the mystery of who stabbed George with his own sous knife at a party of investors hosted by the Bennings at the Farm where Dan and Alan were also guests and where Hepworth was the caterer. Given Dan's reputation firmly cemented by the events in Newquay in Murder Between The Tides as relayed by the Newquay Police to their counter~parts in Embervale like Detective Sergent Spiller, who was now encouraging Dan and Alan to cooperate re~ their investigations. Like the maypole ribbons... lots of layers and players to untangle here.