Murder Untimely

Kat and Mouse Mysteries #4

by Anita Waller

Kat and Mouse are back! Early one morning, in the grounds of Chatsworth, a body is discovered by one of the estate groundsmen. DI Marsden and DS Granger battle through snow-covered roads to begin their investigation. Meanwhile, at the Connection Investigation Agency, Doris, Kat and Mouse are busy juggling their caseloads, while trying to show their new trainee receptionist the ropes. When the police learn that the body belongs to Nicola Armstrong, a resident of the nearby village of Baslow, it soon transpires that Nicola was the mother of a child who disappeared ten years prior to her murder. Soon, the Connection investigators are brought in to help but when a second body is found at Chatsworth, the case takes a disturbing turn. Can the police and the female sleuths get to the truth before more life is lost? Or is the fate of those involved already sealed?

Also available in the bestselling Kat and Mouse Murder mystery
Murder Undeniable
Murder Unexpected
Murder Unearthed
Murder Unjoyful

Anita Waller is the bestselling author of multiple thrillers including 34 Days, Malignant and Captor. Murder Untimely is a gripping cozy mystery which can be read as part of the bestselling series or as an unmissable stand-alone. It will appeal to fans of authors like Faith Martin, Agatha Christie, LJ Ross and Betty Rowlands.

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Ebooks, Crime, Audiobook, Cozy Mystery, Family

274 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 14, 2019

About the author

I live in Sheffield, UK. I am retired and have recently fulfilled my lifelong ambition of becoming a published author with Bloodhound Books.
I am married (almost 50 years to Dave) with three children and seven grandchildren.
I am a patchwork and quilting tutor as well as a writer.
My first book was Beautiful and my second, a sequel to Beautiful, is called Angel.

Reviews

[Linda Strong · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kat and Mouse (Kat and Beth) are making some changes in their investigation agency, Connection. Mouse's grandmother has joined the firm, as well as a new receptionist who has ideas for his own future.

DI Marsden and DS Granger are also back for another crime solving adventure when the body of a woman is found on the grounds of the Chatsworth estate. Once identified, police learn that she was the mother of a young boy who disappeared 10 years earlier and never seen or heard from again. Suspicion has always been on the father, who also disappeared at the same time.

Coincidence?

It's only when a second body is found that the police draw in Kat and Mouse for their help.

Can the police and the female sleuths get to the truth before more life is lost? Or is the fate of those involved already sealed?

This is a cozy mystery with interesting characters who get involved in mysterious crimes. The story line is well paced and maintains one's undivided attention. For those who love cozies, this is the perfect series.

Although 4th in the series, this is easily read as a stand alone, but I highly recommend starting at the beginning to catch all those nuggets that make the series what it is.

Many thanks to the author / Bloodhound Books for the digital copy of this mystery/cozy. Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.

[Julie Lacey · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first book I’ve read in the Kat and Mouse series and I really enjoyed it.
Kat, Mouse and Doris run Connection, a private detective agency and advertise for a trainee/receptionist.
Luke gets the job and is not at all phased by working with a group of women as he comes from a family where he’s the only man.
A body is discovered in the grounds of Chatsworth and is soon identified as a local woman. Within a few days another body is found in the grounds so Hannah and Tessa set up the incident room at Chatsworth.
Kat and Mouse have a good relationship with Tessa and Hannah and soon the cases they’re all working in overlap.
I loved the way Luke was taken under Doris’ wing and they formed a great team.
It’s a shame this is the last in the series, but I have the others to read so will catch up on them at some point.
This is a great cosy crime book that had a good build up to the identity of the killer at the end.
Thanks to Anita Waller for sending me a copy to read.

[Mark Tilbury · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the fourth and final Kat and Mouse story and it was a great read.
A missing (some think dead,) father and son and a double murder at Chatsworth House, give both Connection and the police plenty of work to do. As always they manage to work around each other and help each other where they can.

The cases involved were really interesting and brought to light the issue of domestic violence against men. Anita covered the topic very well and with sensitivity. I was hoping that the cases wouldn't end the way they did, but with everything that happened, and what was said, I guess it was inevitable.

I shall miss this series, especially Mouses's Nan, Doris - what a personality she is!
An excellent end to a great series.

[Vintage · Rating 3 out of 5]

Obviously I am muling through these books via audio. I'm doing one of the Conqueror's Challenges and listen as I walk our two stupid dogs.
https://www.theconqueror.events

Anita Waller is pulling her punches less and less with her mysteries. Two women are found strangled and the three women unravel the mystery. More poignant and still excellent narration.

[Patricia Dixon · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fabulous wintry murder mystery.


Murder Untimely is the latest by Anita Waller and in this wintry murder mystery, we are transported to snowy Derbyshire for another helping of intrigue and revenge.
I feel like the characters of Kat, Mouse and Doris have become family now and from the first page I’m hooked - not just on the story but their lives too. Along with the investigative storyline involving the police, there is a cracking sub-plot to solve and, if that wasn’t enough to keep us entertained, we get an insight into what makes the detectives tick. Then there’s a brand new character, Luke. Absolutely loved him and his friendship with the inimitable Doris. I just hope we hear more from these two in the future because they are a wonderful double act. Well done Anita, you’ve given us another classic !!

[Laura Jones · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love this series ❤️

[Lauren Footman · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don’t want this series to end 😫

[Lou · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved this one. Had it figured out before the end but really enjoy these stories. I will have to re-read them. I don’t often laugh out loud but these characters are fabulous.

[Alyson Read · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my absolute favourite crime solving combinations are back in their fourth story! And it is bitter sweet as it may be the last adventure for the winning team of Kat, Mouse and Doris. We find the girls all the most settled they have been, Kat happy in her relationship with detective Carl, Doris (Nan) loving her new cottage and Mouse developing a lovely relationship with Joel. The only thing missing is a little help at the Connection Investigation Agency as Doris is being made a partner, and they find it in the loveable addition of young Luke - it truly is amazing what you can pick up in the Co-op these days! A perfect addition to the agency, his character is as wonderful as the rest and he fits in beautifully with the ladies, another reason why there should be more stories in this series as it would be such a waste to see Luke in only one book!! The main story features the ground of beautiful Chatsworth House where a snow covered corpse is discovered early one morning by a grounds man. DI Tessa Marsden and DS Hannah Granger battle through snow-covered roads to begin their investigation. The police learn that the body belongs to Nicola Armstrong, a resident of the nearby village of Baslow and it soon transpires that Nicola was the mother of a child who disappeared ten years prior to her murder. Suspicion still hangs over her and maybe that could provide the police with a motive and possible suspects. The Connection investigators find themselves being brought in to help but then a second body is found at Chatsworth and the case takes a quite a different turn. As in previous cases DI Marsden and her loyal DS pick the brains of Kat, Mouse and Doris since the case is so baffling, and together they make a great job of pooling their resources and information in an effort to reach the truth before any more lives are lost. There is also a lovely little side investigation where an old face returns and the newest recruit gets a chance to shine, once again demonstrating the author's talent for injecting a wonderful sense of humour into the proceedings. I quite often find myself chuckling away as I am reading the witty and caring dialogue between all the characters. Wonderful stuff!! I wonder, if I order a lorry load of Ferrero Rocher might it be enough to entice back the inimitable Doris for another story?

[Diane · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book four is a fabulous addition to the Kat and Mouse series. What those ladies and their investigation agency get involved in is remarkable and makes excellent reading. Luke is a great new character to the series and he is so sweet I could adopt him. He teams up well with dear old (but extremely fit and agile) Doris and together they tackle a smaller yet sensitive case as well as being involved in a major missing person(s) case from ten years ago that the team have taken on. The investigation seems to be linked to a recent murder. But then one murder soon becomes two and both the team and the police are mystified. What could possibly be the motive? There are a lot of who, where and why's in the story and it keeps you guessing throughout. Mystery, great detective work, lovable characters and a little gentle humour make this a terrific and enjoyable read.

[Leanne Fisher · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is book 4 in the wonderful Kat and Mouse series. I have been eagerly awaiting publication of this book and it did not disappoint. The characters are as wonderful as ever and I love the new team member, Luke.

The storyline was equally as enjoyable and kept me guessing until the end.

I highly recommend this series of books. I am however disappointed to read at the end that this was the final book in the Kat and Mouse series. I hope this will be reconsidered as there is plenty of mileage left for these ladies and Luke, their newest young member of the team.

[Bobbi Wagner · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is my first book by this author, I enjoyed the suspense and mystery. I was pulled in by this story right from the beginning. The characters made the story realistic and kept me engaged. The twist and turns kept me turning pages which had me reading it in one sitting. This is a who done it type of story that I highly recommend. This author has brought the suspense for sure and I cant wait to see what she has next for us.

[Marnie · Rating 5 out of 5]

For their latest adventure, we see Kat, Mouse and Doris with the help of newly employed receptionist Luke, become embroiled in the latest murder, when the relative of the deceased enlists their help in finding the victims son and husband who vanished from their lives years prior. As in most cases, it doesn’t take the team long before their case becomes entangled in the police investigation and both work together to solve the crime.

In previous reviews I always have spoken about my love for Kat, Mouse and Doris and the amazing connection they have together. As this hasn’t changed, I am going to concentrate on Tessa, Hannah and Luke. I really enjoyed Tessa’s character this time round as the local DI and how she is open to the other ladies feedback and input without pulling rank. This time we see her in a different light as she experiences a new relationship which shows a more relaxed side to her which made her more personable. I really enjoyed seeing this side of her.

DS Hannah Granger had more of a role this time around when Tessa is sidelined after becoming ill and it was nice to get to read more with her character as she stepped up taking over the investigation. Luke was an absolute delight. I loved his character as he learned the ropes from “his ladies” but especially from Doris. I loved the connection they had with each other as she took him under her wing. All three of these characters as with the other players have all been brought to life beautifully throughout the pages.

I love Anita’s writing style. She excels in capturing the readers attention right from the opening sentence right through to the final one. It is fluid, engaging, humorous when required and is just effortless. Her descriptions of the characters and the towns are so well written you feel that you know these people and are part of the town. This would actually make a great TV series. Something to think about there Anita…..Murder Untimely is a highly enjoyable read and (just let me get my tissues) a great ending to this remarkable series. (Sniff!)

It’s a bitter sweet moment for me writing this review and one I really did not want to write as it just cements that there will be no more books in this wonderful series. I had hopes that there could be more, but when I read in the acknowledgements from Anita that she will miss Kat, Mouse and Doris it really hit home that this is really the last book. I was just not and am still not ready to say goodbye to Kat, Mouse and my favourite Doris. I still live in hope that Anita may be persuaded to write a couple more though in the future, but if this is the last I am very happy with how it has been wrapped up.

In saying that, after I got over the initial sadness that it was over and really thought about it, I changed my mindset from sadness to gratefulness that this series which was meant to be a trilogy, but changed into a quadrilogy due to its popularity, was even written and how fortunate and lucky I was to not only having the pleasure of reading these books but also being a character in one of them. I would not have even thought that would have been possible let alone to be a part of a series that I adore. I will be forever thankful to Anita for that and also for the amazing surprise of mentioning my character a couple of times in this last instalment which just made it even more special.

I also just want to say thank-you to you Anita for bringing this wonderful series and these amazing loveable characters into my life. It’s not often that a series gets under my skin as much as this series has. It has been a great ride over the four books but our journey of reader and author is not over (thank goodness) and I am very much looking forward to what you come up with next and I will be impatiently waiting for your next book. Xx

Thank-you to Heather Fitt for inviting me to join in the publication day celebrations for Murder Untimely and for the copy of the ebook which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily

[Lynda · Rating 5 out of 5]

The fourth book in the Kat and Mouse series of cosy mysteries. Set in Eyam, Derbyshire the detective agency, Connections, is going from strength to strength.
For anyone who hasn’t read the previous books this will stand alone but if you read it you will want to read the others.
This time Doris has become a partner in the detective business and they take on a new ‘receptionist ‘ in the form of Luke. He quickly shows how keen he is to be part of the detective work.
The main case in this book is a murder, soon to become two, which takes place on the Chatsworth estate. Alongside their contacts and friends, in the police force, the ladies, and Luke, set about trying to find who committed the murders. Alongside this Luke and Doris form a special friendship whilst investigating a potential husband for a wealthy client.
No spoilers here so you’ll need to find out how the investigations go. As always this was a very enjoyable book and I hope that the author chooses to continue writing about the ladies. We will have to wait and see.

[Misfits farm · Rating 5 out of 5]

As ever this is another brilliant, entertaining read from Anita. There are the loveable characters (Doris especially) and now also Luke. A fantastic plot line which kept me guessing right the way through and there's also that special certain something that Anita has the talent for putting into her books. Its a bit like a row of cakes, they may all look the same at first glance but one catches your eye and tastes divine- its the same with Anita's books- theres a sparkle and something you perhaps cant quite put your finger on but reading this left me with a smile. Although its the end to the Kat and Mouse series its been peft open enough.. maybe, hopefully?? A brilliant, wonderfully entertaining read.

[Grace Lauren · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐
I keep enjoying this series a lot!
In this one, the author deals with a theme that it's not much talked about and I found the whole story a little darker than the others, but I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Although it lessened Mouse's participation in this book, I really liked the addition of Luke and his immediate connection with Doris and their easy relationship.
These books can be read as standalones, but I recommend doing it in order so you follow how the relationship between these women starts and develops.
This was supposed to be the last book, but fortunately there is another one. On to #5!

[BRT · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have been enjoying this cozy-ish mystery series about three traumatized women who form their own detective agency. The police are searching for the murderer of an abusive woman and the detective agency is searching for the missing husband and child she abused. Nothing is ever as it appears to be. The agency takes on a new partner and a new receptionist. For good or for ill, most things seem to come easy to these characters, love, housing, friends, excepting, of course, their initial trauma.

[Sarah A · Rating 4 out of 5]

The fourth book in the Kat and Mouse Mystery series.
This time the PIs must investigate murders on the local estate of Chatsworth whilst juggling the baby and their increasingly complicated personal lives.

Mystery, darker still now!

I did really enjoy this book. I appreciated the local knowledge the author added in about the Chatsworth estate and the family who own it. I appreciated the details of the village life and the people - so very real and wonderful characters.
I wasn't as keen on how dark the series is going.

[Claudia · Rating 2 out of 5]

I read this whole series of books and found that there were many threads left hanging, unfinished. Too many plots. The books are easy to read but not very well written. There is a Christian bias on the author and she appears quite judgemental at times. The main characters seem to be very poor judges of character as their clients seem to fool them. One of their clients is a cold blooded killer who got away with murder and they are still helping her and oblivious to this fact.

[Carol · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed the continuing adventures of Kat and Mouse - and Doris and the new kid, Luke. In several scenes, their favorite police officers drp by their office for cookies and to talk through their interrelated cases. I'm pretty sure that's not a realistic scenario in the real world, but i enjoyed the commeraderie and cooperation, and it was a clever way to move the plot along, so I will overlook it, and continue to enjoy their future adventures.

[Abbi Beattie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved revisiting this series.

Thoroughly enjoyed this addition to the series titles.
Gripping, compulsive, exhausting, satisfying.
New team member Luke is a delight.
Each existing character continues to develop and entertain.
Great settings, tangled webs of lies and intrigue with complex
twists and unravellings.
Treat yourself.

[Sally Sutton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another extremely unlikely case which sees a PI company working with the police, however it is easy listening, not completely obvious as to who the murderer is, although in many ways they are not as villainous as other characters. This is reputedly the final instalment in the series which is rather a shame

[Natalie Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve thoroughly enjoyed this series & the introduction of Luke. The bond between the characters are very strong and the way they work together and solve the crimes are well written. I’m going to be sad when this series finishes. It’s a series I could listen to forever & see how the characters grow. The narrator is amazing and easy to listen.

[Kirsten · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cozy mystery #4 in the series. Each installment is better than the previous. This read moves along quickly with a double murder and a cold case mystery. The growing detective agency of Kat and Beth, now officially includes Doris, and welcomes intern Luke. DI Marsden and DS Granger feature nicely here making a nice balance between detective and police procedural.

[Dee Howard · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm so sad. This is said to be the final book in the Kat and Mouse series by Anita Waller. I feel I know the characters so well now and would love to read about their further adventures in private eyeing, as they are so exciting. Hopefully she will change her mind as I will really miss them.

[Ronna Gangluff · Rating 5 out of 5]

murder and mayhem in England

I love this series. So fresh and clean. You might guess who did it, but maybe not. The adventure to get there is certainly entertaining. The three lady’s in their PI business do get into some scraps sometimes!

[Peter AvillEng · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a real pleasure to read.

I have enjoyed all four of these books .I will definitely recommend this author to friends and members of my book club.

[Maureen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This series is so good and just gets better with each book. Only 1 more to go so will be sad when that is read.

[Maggie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoying series and characters would recommend

[Melissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting developments between characters.
This series was great to listen to with one ear in the studio. Smart but not so complicated that I had to pay serious attention.