Murder in Hampstead: a classic whodunnit in a contemporary setting

by Sabina Manea

A sassy amateur sleuth investigates a seemingly impossible crime in this locked-room murder mystery...When lawyer-turned-interior designer Lucia Steer accepts a lucrative job renovating Beatrice Hall, a large house owned by a professor in a north London suburb, she has no idea of the impact it will have on her career.No, not a full page spread in Vanity Fair, but the repercussions of her employer dropping stone dead during an afternoon party.It is clear the victim was poisoned. But how? And by whom? Occurring pretty much in a closed room, anyone there could have been responsible for the murder.When clumsy detective David Carliss turns up to investigate, he is overwhelmed and out-gunned by the high profile people at the party. Any of whom might, apparently, want the professor dead.Lucia’s over-inquisitive nature and legal training leads her to offer Carliss a helping hand. And her eavesdropping and foray into amateur sleuthing will be invaluable. Especially as Lucia is used to getting her way and is even more driven when she doesn’t.MURDER IN HAMPSTEAD is the debut novel by Sabina Manea. It is the first standalone mystery in a gripping series.The full list of books is as MURDER IN HAMPSTEAD2. MURDER ON THE HEATH3. MURDER IN KENTISH TOWN4. MURDER IN PRIMROSE HILLAll these titles are FREE with Kindle Unlimited and available in paperback!If you like books by Verity Bright, Katie Gayle, Merryn Allingham and Traude Ailinger, you'll love these cozy mysteries.

Genres: Fiction, Mystery, Mystery Thriller, Crime

227 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 18, 2021

About the author

Sabina Manea spent years in corporate law before plucking up the courage to follow her childhood dream and write the kind of crime fiction she loves to read – fun, classic style whodunnits in contemporary settings.
She is currently working on the next instalment in a mystery series featuring ex-lawyer turned detective Lucia Steer, a very modern heroine with eagle eyes and a habit of overstepping the mark.
When she isn’t writing, Sabina keeps her hand in the law by sitting as a family court judge. She lives in rural Nottinghamshire with her husband, three sons and an ever changing assortment of animals.
Find Sabina on Facebook: www.facebook.com/sabina.manea.37

Reviews

[James Andrew · Rating 5 out of 5]

An elegant solution

Succintly written with a lot of precisely evoked descriptions. We are also introduced to a stylish modern Miss Marple. An ex lawyer turned interior decorator, she has a quick and curious brain and an imposing personality that sails through difficulties and situations. She also has a pet detective inspector and the best Belgravia connections. This is a twenty first century Golden Age mystery written with panache. The clever murder method is worthy of the great Agatha Christie herself.

[Claudia Moga · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed your remarkable feminine subtlety in creating the new detective type of Lucia Steer.
Lovely style and class.An intriguing plot,well realized environment.
Well done,your readers will not be disappointed !

[Kathy Garthwaite · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very enjoyable. Although Lucia is an interior designer, she manages to become embroiled into the thick of a great whodunnit. Her amateur sleuthing is in tandem with Detective Carliss of the Metropolitan Police. An unlikely pairing that is very entertaining. Nicely paced and well-written story line.

[Kacper Nedza · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was very enjoyable. The heroine is appealing, the writing is sharp and elegant, and there is an intriguing twisty mystery with engaging characters. I do think the way the police detective starts to collaborate with the amateur sleuth so quickly and so completely requires no small suspension of disbelief, and I did struggle a bit with it, but ultimately it didn't detract from my enjoyment of this very good novel.

[Erik Empson · Rating 5 out of 5]

An unlikely sleuth is Lucia Steer. Once a lawyer, now happier with a paint brush and a colour swatch, she accepts a job renovating a big London house only to have the owner and her employer, an enigmatic professor, drop dead during an afternoon party. So begins her first amateur sleuthing case acting as sidekick to the slightly hapless DCI Carliss.

Very much looking forward to the second book, MURDER ON THE HEATH.

[Kathy Wivell · Rating 2 out of 5]

Far fetched

I did not enjoy this story of an inept detective allowing a young woman or two to take over solving this case. The assumptions made by all were ridiculous and the plot was over convoluted. It was an effort to finish reading.

[S A W Steel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyable escapism

Well written, intelligent plot and engaging characters. It just seemed to run out of steam a bit towards the end but I would be pleased to read more adventures of the chief protagonists.

[Joyce Rigg · Rating 3 out of 5]

A great start to the story, an intriguing murder and a couple of likable characters. Unfortunately, for me, that's where it all started to go wrong. A DCI who seems to work alone and Lucia who, we are given the impression has it all worked out. The story became so long drawn out and convoluted that I lost interest and no longer cared who killed who or why. I finished the book but probably won't read the series. It has three stars because I liked the premise and the characters even if they were unbelievable.

[Rebecca Gregory-Chifos · Rating 2 out of 5]

I tried very hard to enjoy this book; I kept telling myself to give it another chance. But the whole plot just seemed preposterous. The idea that the detective would just allow this woman to essentially take over his investigation, while he just sort of went along for the ride (and then even let her drag another friend into the mix) was simply ridiculous.

Add to that the fact that I just didn't like the main character, thought the detective was a wimp, and liked her friend even less, and, well, this book definitely became a "delete from Kindle".

[Abbi Beattie · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting addition to a familiar genre.

Much as I enjoyed the characters, setting and plot the writing style seemed a little confused in some areas, thus a 4🌟
That aside, the events fairly galloped along.
Lucia is interesting, along with her friend, Nina.
The stage is set for a romance with the DCI, and further shared adventures.
The author is new to me. I shall read more of her work.

[Bob Hurley · Rating 3 out of 5]

What's poison for the goose!!

Quite an enjoyable read. Lucia Steer, the lawyer, come decorator, and erstwhile Detective has suspicions about the death of her employer. She meets DCI Carliss, who is investigating the death and they work together to establish the facts. What follows is a trail of intrigue and revenge. Quite an easy read, with some interesting characters. Obviously as this is book one then tales involving Lucia and DCI Carliss follow.

[Paul Morris · Rating 3 out of 5]

A reasonable read but too far fetched characters - an ex legal person who even though a normal citizen effectively takes over from an inept police detective and more or less solves the case with some help from friend also an ex legal person.

Sorry the leaps that occur were just too much for me

[Nicola Pithouse · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well done Sabina!! A well written book, I enjoyed it and look forward to reading g the next one soon.

[Lizabeth Tarr · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read

This was a new author and an unusual mystery; very interesting with we!l developed characters and room for growth in their relationship.

[Mary j. childers · Rating 4 out of 5]

Trade Staff

Murder. Spies. Lies. Hard to know who done what. Hard to follow the story line. Took me awhile to get through this book but only because I like to finish what I start.

[Mary Longo · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very interesting murder mystery and main character. I can't wait to read another book by this author.