Murder in Belgrave Square

Tommy & Evelyn Christie #4

by Catherine Coles

Tommy & Evelyn Christie were hoping for a break from solving murders when they agreed to host Aunt Victoria and her daughters, Madeleine and Elise at their London home in Belgrave Square.

Recently widowed Victoria has returned from France for the London Season and to mend bridges with her estranged family.

None of them were prepared for the doubly shocking sight of a newborn baby and a dead body on the back doorstep of their imposing London residence.

Tommy & Evelyn face a race against time to solve the murder and the mystery of the abandoned baby before cousin Madeleine's London Season is ruined.

Genres: Cozy Mystery, Mystery, Romance, Fiction, Historical, Historical Fiction, London

154 pages, Paperback

Published May 21, 2021

About the author

The daughter of a military father, Catherine was born in Germany and lived most of the first 14 years of her life abroad. She spent her school years devouring everything her school library had to offer!

Her favourites were romance and mysteries. Her love for the Nancy Drew books led Catherine to check out every mystery story she could find. She soon found Agatha Christie who quickly became Catherine's favourite author.

Catherine writes cosy mysteries that take place in the English countryside. Her extremely popular Tommy & Evelyn Christie mysteries are set in 1920s North Yorkshire. Her new series, the Martha Miller cosy mysteries, are set in the years following the Second World War in Berkshire.

Catherine lives in northeast England with her two spoiled dogs who have no idea they are not human!

You can connect with Catherine on her website - www.catherinecoles.com

Reviews

[Amina (ⴰⵎⵉⵏⴰ) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fourth installment in this series, that is, by the way, becoming a favorite of mine, where our two amateur detectives go to London to have some time away from murder, and, what a joke, they find death au rendez-vous at their door step.
Like the precedent books, there are too many suspects and each and everyone has a good motive to kill. As always, I liked how the author manages to mingle crime solving and everyday life and matters to come up with a witty delightful mystery.
5th book, I'm on my way!

[Judi Christopherson · Rating 1 out of 5]

Where’s the rest of the book??

The style and character development were beginning to be interesting when the book suddenly stopped after what appeared to be the first few chapters setting up the murder and the start of an investigation. Then there’s a note from the author thanking the reader for reading her book! Obviously she doesn’t know what a mess Kindle made of it.

[Nancy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Finally obtained the full copy of this book. I enjoyed it very much, per usual. This is an excellent series.

[Cooper · Rating 3 out of 5]

Although 4th in the series, this is my first experience with Tommy and Evelyn Christie. It's a very sweet read with an innocence of the 1920s. A 'Downtown Abbey' meets Agatha Christie mystery feel to it. Although set in London, the story and characters never stray too far from the luxurious home in Belgrave. The author introduces all the characters quickly and establishes the roles in which they play. Once the murder takes place, it's up to Tommy and Evelyn to uncover family secrets that will lead them to the killer and motive.

I did enjoy the story as a whole. It's a quick and fun read for when you want to read something that will leave you with a smile. That said, there were three things about the writing and storyline that left me a little frustrated.

Immediately we are introduced to a lot of characters and as I continued to read, I found myself having to go back to the beginning to figure out who was who. Add in the maids, butler, and cocktail server (which personally I would love to have), and there's just a lot of characters to keep track of. The subplot of Evelyn's obsession with wanting a child was annoying. And her whining about it truly got on my last nerve. And finally, in one line we're told who the killer is. It was rather anti-climatic. Basically, "blah blah blah is the killer." OK, well that is certainly efficient.

But as I said, I did like the book as a whole and look forward to reading the series.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Linda McArthur · Rating 1 out of 5]

Not all there

Book only goes to chapter 4 and then just stops. I don't think the entire thing got loaded. Please fix.

[marita lazarus · Rating 4 out of 5]

this author and this series is quickly becoming a favorite. Short reads that you can devour. First, before I get into the series and this book.... let me tell you why I like this author (and this is from her bio)...... she devours anything Agatha Christie.... I find she loves the same shows as I do, so reading something by an author that shares your likes, should in essence make anything she writes enjoyable to you and in your cozy wheelhouse. Right? In this case, yes.

This is book 4, and as each no book comes out, you realize the depth and maturity of the characters as each new book unfolds. The mysteries are fun and the characters enjoyable. I also love, how the other characters become part of the story lines, so you always feel like you are visiting old friends. Murder in Belgrave Square was very short, but none the less, well written. We have a murdered young man, a baby and some very posh, uppity suspects. It's a nice who dunnit. This is a cozy. If you love Cozies, this is a nice series that you can read quickly. I can't wait to continue reading book 5 and 6 and anything else the author throws my way.

[Connie · Rating 1 out of 5]

Help. I didn't receive the full download of this novel. This was disappointing as I was looking forward to a bit of an escape from ploughing through heavier material (such as Umberto Eco, "The name of the Rose") and dealing with the ever worsening news of the pandemic, its new variants and the "third wave." Does anyone know what to do in such a case? My download just stopped as the book was getting interesting.

[TERESA HARRINGTON · Rating 1 out of 5]

So disappointed

I have read the whole series and had just settled down to read Murder in Belgrave Square - what happened to the end -only 51 pages and totally unsatisfactory this is so so annoying hence my review

[Marilyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

A nice afternoon read before getting to work for company this weekend. I look forward to #5

[Sally Norman · Rating 1 out of 5]

Good story so far but!

Book ended before story was complete, have I missed something !! Was enjoying it very much but now disappointed .

[Mrs D Nastri · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed the book but there was only 4 chapters. Should there have been more

[Rochina C. Davis · Rating 1 out of 5]

Missing book?

This book was only 51 pages, only a couple of chapters. Either there is a problem with the Kindle download or this was a joke.

[Claire Wilkowski · Rating 1 out of 5]

Book that arrived in my kindle does not appear to be complete. Very disappointed as there is no conclusion but stops with the detective saying “find the letter opener and you find the murderer”

[Jeannine L Grimm · Rating 1 out of 5]

I would like to read the rest of the book. We only received the first 4 chapters of the book after buying the book. Where is the rest of the book

[Elaine Dickinson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Did I miss something?

This book seemed to end halfway through.
The murder weapon has just been found ,no culprit and then the book finished.

[Vintagebooklvr · Rating 4 out of 5]

3 3/4 stars. I really like the chemistry between Tommy & Evelyn. It proves that married couples don't have to be boring. A solid mystery too.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I do enjoy this series! Tommy & Evelyn are wonderful characters as are the supporting cast - particularly Aunt Em. Murder does seem to follow them around, regardless of whether they're in Hessleham or London, but they always manage to figure out the mystery. Wonderful historical cozy series that is well worth reading, and I hope the series continues for many more entries.

And a special thank you to the author who was able to help me get the complete book when I had trouble with the partial file!

[Barun Ghosh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another classic from Catherine Coles. A lot of fun to read as one wonders what will happen next plus the quintessential English humour is divine.

[Judith Azzopardi · Rating 4 out of 5]

What happened

Where is the rest of the story? I was so disappointed when I reached page 51 and the story finished.

[caroline · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book ended at page 51, just as the murder weapon was found. So I can't give a review on an incomplete book.

[Katia Maier · Rating 3 out of 5]

Personagens:
Evelyn: ex policial, esposa de tommy
Tommy: lord northmoor, ex policial, lutou na guerra
Aunt em: tia avó de tommy
Victoria: tia de tommy, nao se casou com Fred pois ambos eram pobres, mas mantiveram um caso
Elise: neta de victoria, apaixonada por hugh
Madeleine: neta de victoria, apaixonada por Georges, teve uma filha com ele
Fred: Lord chesten, assassino
Sarah: esposa de fred, mãe de Alexander e david
Alexander: seu pai estava arranjando para se casar com Madeleine, tinha uma queda por elise, explosivo
David: advogado, tinha uma queda por madeleine
Hugh: amigo da escola de David e Alexander, apaixonado por elise, sua família está pobre por causa da jogatina do seu pai,sofreu tentativa de assassinato
Georges: francês, pobre, namorado de Madeleine e pai de Josephine, assassinado

Resumo:
Tommy e Evelyn recebem sua tia Victoria e família e Fred e família em sua casa do Londres com tia Em. No mesmo dia Georges chega e é assassinado a noite, e é encontrado um bebê em seus braços. Tommy e Evelyn investigam e descobrem que Georges e Madeleine estavam namorando, mas o relacionamento não era bem visto por Victoria. Madeleine deu a luz a josephine em segredo, Georges ia a levar para seu hotel e no dia seguinte iam fugir. Descobriram também o caso entre Elise e Hugh, que também não era bem visto por questões monetárias, Alex fica enciumado e explosivo. Victoria e Fred tinham um caso há mais de 20 anos, e queriam arranjar Alexander e Madeleine, então ambos tinham motivos para querer matar Georges. Hugh foi empurrado da escada, mas sofreu leves ferimentos. Tommy e Evelyn bolaram um plano com a polícia e pegaram Fred tentando assassinar Hugh. Ele queria que um de seus filhos casasse com uma das filhas de Victoria, então matou Georges, mas agora a reputação de Madeleine estava manchada por causa do bebê bastardo, então achou que matando Hugh, Alexander e elise tinham uma chance. Fred foi preso e tudo acabou bem. Tommy e Evelyn se tornaram padrinhos de Josephine, e convidaram Madeleine e ela para sua casa, assim como Elise e Hugh. Evelyn cuida de Josephine e fica triste pois ela ainda não engravidou. Tommy recebe uma carta de sua mãe expondo que ela vai se casar e quer usar a sua mansão para a recepção.

[Liz · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have really enjoyed this cozy English mystery series. Tommy and Evelyn Christie, the reluctant Lord and Lady Northmoor, have a wonderful chemistry together whether they're hosting a dinner party or solving a murder (and the frequency of each seems about the same!). This mystery involved finding the identity of a newborn baby AND a murderer. I think another chapter at either end of the book, both setting up the crime and the last step in actually solving it, would have taken my review to 5 stars. I just felt the beginning and ending were a bit too sudden for my taste.

One of the things I really liked about this series is the tender way Evelyn's yearning for a child progresses in each book. She grows from not being ready for parenthood, to resenting the pressure to produce "an heir and a spare," to tentative uncertainty, to actively yearning and trying for a child. I really like this part of the Christies' marriage - it seems very up to date for the 1920s. Tommy is so supportive and loving, and when Evelyn holds this darling abandoned newborn, the emotional stakes clearly go higher.

One thing I find a bit off-putting is the constant drinking of the Christies and their guests. They consume SO much liquor that I'm amazed they can have the snappy conversations they do! Extramarital affairs seem pretty common, too, and although they are implicit and not explicit, I find it distracting and disturbing.

This fourth book can be read as an exciting stand-alone mystery; there are plenty of explanatory remarks along the way to keep the characters and their histories straight. I am grateful for a few details in the last chapter that make it clear a fifth mystery is in the works - can't wait! I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Nadine Keels · Rating 3 out of 5]

As his recently widowed aunt is returning from France to London, Tommy Christie agrees to host his aunt, her two daughters, and other guests at his London home. Tommy and his wife, Evelyn, have come to the city in search of rest from solving murders in the country, but more trouble finds them in Murder in Belgrave Square by author Catherine Coles.

This fourth Tommy and Evelyn Christie 1920s mystery is the third one I've read. I appreciate that I can stroll through these novellas in a sitting or two, and the stories are entertaining without being flippant about the loss of human life.

Tommy and Evelyn are a down-to-earth, likable couple who love and respect each other, and the story's handful of interwoven faith elements are a natural fit for the couple's lives. I'm glad I didn't read the book blurb beforehand, as a particular aspect of this mystery made it all the more interesting for me, in light of a related trial in Tommy and Evelyn's married life.

Now, these novellas don't have the sharpest style for historical mysteries, and the writing doesn't have the most sophisticated grammar and general use of language. In this case, I correctly guessed the murderer's identity ahead of time, and the characters' ending method of revealing the culprit is clearly staged for the reader. Also, the theme of secret affairs and unhappy triangles became a little tiresome for me, though there aren't any bedroom scenes or crude details, of course.

Overall, this is easy, enjoyable reading for cozy mystery fans.
__________
I received an advance reading copy of this book via BookSirens for an honest review.

[Joan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this fourth book in the Tommy and Evelyn Christie Mystery series. While it builds on the previous novels in the series, it reads well on its own. It is set about a century ago in London, where Tommy and Evelyn are escaping all the aftermath of their solving murders at the estate. Even so, murder visits them when a man is found on their back doorstep stabbed to death.

Much of the plot centers around young women and how marriages are arranged for them. There is a good exploration of marrying for love rather than for financial support or place in society. There are also issues of family members not getting along and secrets from the past that have devastating consequences.

Another aspect of the plot deals with Tommy and Evelyn being childless. A newborn is found next to the murdered man and Evelyn gladly takes over her care. This is a touching part of the novel as we wonder how Evelyn will feel if the parents of the child will be identified and and the baby returned to their care.

I liked how the characters were drawn. Tommy is Lord Northmoor, having come into the title somewhat reluctantly and with a good sense of not using his entitlement to lord it over others. He and his wife investigate the unusual murder by listening to people and making good observations.

This is a good novella in the British cozy mystery genre.

I received a complimentary egalley of this book through Book Sirens. My comments are an independent and honest review.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tommy and Evelyn Christie find themselves embroiled in not one, but two mysteries this time with the murder of a young Frenchman and a newborn found next to his body. As secrets are revealed, the list of suspects grows, making this a great “who dunnit?” story.

The crime-fighting couple of Tommy and Evelyn have become one of my favorite couples. They each have different gifts, that together, they form a formidable pair of detectives. Even if someone thinks they have committed the perfect crime, they will not get away with it when they are involved.
With having read all of the books in the series this far, I am enjoying getting to know Tommy and Evelyn better. In this story we see Evelyn’s desire for a baby, so perhaps we will see baby booties being knitted in the near future or maybe an adoption? The supporting character of Aunt Em continues to provide unknown details, levity, and support to the Christies when most needed in solving these mysteries.

I listened to the audio version of this book and thoroughly enjoyed it. The narrator brings the characters to life and makes you feel as though you are watching the story on your big screen TV. I especially like Evelyn and Aunt Em’s portrayal and feel this is how I “hear” them when I read.

Thank you to the author for the audio version of Murder in Belgrave Square. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions are my own.

[Ceelee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Catherine Coles has done it again! She has written another intriguing and entertaining mystery in her Tommy and Evelyn Christie series. I think this is my favorite so far! I liked that they were away from their home in Yorkshire. I liked London as a change of scene. The story takes place in the course of two days and involved the murder of the one of the cousin's young men and a living baby found with the body. The "feel" of the story is very much like a country house mystery even though it is set in the city and reminds me a lot of one of Agatha Christie's novels. A lot of characters with a motive that made sense but the one who stood out the most was the one I suspected the because of the character's behavior. The author kept me guessing though so it wasn't clear until the end how, who and why the murder took

place. I liked all the family interaction. It certainly felt realistic! The dogs in the story make it fun, too! I felt sad for Evelyn who wanted a baby so much and had briefyly hoped she could keep the child but l know there will be a special bundle of joy coming her way someday. After all, there has to be an heir. 😊

Thank you to Book Sirens and author Catherine Coles for giving me a free review copy to voluntarily share my
honest review.

[Heather Russell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tommy and Evelyn Christie tend to have murder and mystery to follow them wherever they go. They always seem to be up to the task to put on their investigative hats and solve the mystery. They both know quite how to ask the right questions to get to the bottom of the mystery. While in London for the season, Murder in Belgrave Square proves no different.

I have enjoyed following the Christie family as they solve mysteries that come their way. This book was no different. Coles has a marvelous ability to keep the reader wondering who the culprit is. The reader feels as if they are right beside the two so they could solve the mystery as well.

Although the book can be read as a stand alone, it would be better read as a series in order to build upon the characters as well as their relationship and sleuthing abilities. Coles creates the book with enough background that one could be read easily alone though. I look forward to reading the final story in book 5.

I would really recommend this book. I received a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions are my own and I was not required to leave a positive review.

[Gee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tommy and Evelyn, Lord & Lady Northmoor, have gone to stay at their London home to recover after a particularly gruelling time at their estate in the North. Unfortunately it seems that murder and mayhem have followed them. When the body of a young man is found on their doorstep, it seems that one of their household must be responsible, especially as an unusual package is also found with the body.

Just what I enjoy reading, a good wholesome murder. The two sleuths are very convincing, and they make you feel as though they are more than capable of deducing who dunnit. Hard to believe that it is set almost one hundred years ago, in a completely different era and class system but with the same passions and intrigues. This is an easy style of writing to read, with no gory details or bad language. I particularly enjoyed the way the murderer was uncovered, it kept me guessing all the way. I hope the author will be able to keep up the high standard in the next book.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily

[Sandra Vdplaats · Rating 4 out of 5]

Delightful - ' and jolly good read' as Tommy Christie would have put it - :)

Evelyn Christie and her husband Tommy Christie are spending the Season in their London home, in the hope of finding some peace of mind, when one of their staff maids discovers a body and a newborn baby on their doorstep!
The married couple has to try again to catch a killer, and - how horrid - this time the killer may well be one of their own family members!

This delightful cozy crime testifies one last time the urge for prestige, grandeur, splendor and etiquette during the interwar period, during which marrying for money vs marrying for love were two whole different worlds!

The story is a mix between Downtown Abbey & Miss Marple, and is a quick read. I have grown very fond of Evelyn & Tommy Christie and are looking forward to the series' sequel.

I received an advanced review copy for free, for which I want to thank the author and Booksirens, and leave this review voluntarily.

[Mary Ryan · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the fourth book in the Tommy and Evelyn series and again, another enjoyable and gentle read.

Tommy and Evelyn are in their London home along with some relations in advance of the debut season. A young French man arrives unexpectedly and is found murdered early the next morning, alongside a newborn baby.

As usual, the couple can't leave things as is and set about investigating who would want to murder someone that most of the house inhabitants only met a few hours before.

I enjoy these books as a welcome break from the normal gritty and often violent books I usually read. This one is no exception and I am looking forward to the next one. The only thing that stopped me giving it 4 stars was the fact there are a lot of grammatical and spelling errors in the book. Normally this wouldn't bother me but there were quite a few on this occasion.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.