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Kitt Hartley Yorkshire Mysteries #7
Murder in a Mill Town
When a violent murder shatters the otherwise peaceful idyll of Andaby near Hebden Bridge, DS Charlotte Banks can't help but suspect that her brother Ewan - recently released from prison and now living in Calderdale - is behind it. Ewan claims he's innocent, and even has an alibi to prove it, but DS Banks isn't convinced. So much so that she turns to the only people who can help her in an investigation this Kitt Hartley and Grace Edwards, of Hartley and Edwards Investigations.
On the hunt for the killer, Kitt and Grace discover the victim was choked to death on her old school sash. From this lead, Kitt, Grace and DS Banks are drawn down a dark trail littered with decade-old grudges, schoolyard secrets, broken hearts and bullies, and struggle to get closer to the truth. When a second victim goes missing however, the clock starts ticking.
Can Kitt recover the missing woman before it's too late? And how do you catch a killer hiding in plain sight?
On the hunt for the killer, Kitt and Grace discover the victim was choked to death on her old school sash. From this lead, Kitt, Grace and DS Banks are drawn down a dark trail littered with decade-old grudges, schoolyard secrets, broken hearts and bullies, and struggle to get closer to the truth. When a second victim goes missing however, the clock starts ticking.
Can Kitt recover the missing woman before it's too late? And how do you catch a killer hiding in plain sight?
- GenresCrime
244 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2022
17 people are currently reading
176 people want to read
About the author
Helen Cox
54 books135 followersHelen Cox is a Yorkshire-born novelist and poet. After completing her MA in creative writing at the University of York St. John Helen wrote for a range of publications, edited her own independent film magazine for five years and penned three non-fiction books. Her first two novels were published by HarperCollins in 2016. She currently lives by the sea in Sunderland where she writes poetry, romance novellas, craft non-fiction and The Kitt Hartley series alongside hosting The Poetrygram podcast.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews
September 26, 2022
This seventh instalment in Helen Cox's series featuring Yorkshire psychologist-turned-private-investigator Kitt Hartley takes our heroine out of York, to the (fictional) Calderdale former mill town of Andaby (real life Dewsbury and Halifax spring to mind), to investigate the violent death of unpopular museum manager Siobhan Lange.
In this story, Detective Sergeant Charlotte "Charley" Banks, colleague of Kitt Hartley's partner DI Malcolm Halloran and fiancée of Kitt's best friend Evie, plays a co-starring role alongside the series lead character, while the rather irritating Grace Edwards - Kitt's colleague in her private investigation business - takes a back seat. Charley's interest in the murder of Siobhan Lange is more than professional - her older brother Ewan has recently been paroled after a long stint in prison for murder, and is living in Andaby. As a police detective, Charley is well aware that Ewan will attract the attention of the investigating detectives in the Lange case, and engages Kitt to conduct a discrete parallel investigation to uncover Ewan's involvement (if any) in the crime.
Kitt and Charley uncover many interesting leads in Andaby and elsewhere, revealing that the victim had made many enemies over her 38 years, a clue indicating a possible link with Siobhan's days as the local school's bullying "It Girl", and the recent suspicious disappearance of a woman connected to her past offences. All the while, Charley treads a fine line between the pursuit of justice and maintaining her duties as a serving police officer, whilst hiding her presence in the vicinity of another CID team's case from her superiors. After a relatively sedate first half, in which the story follows a police procedural pattern, the action ramps up in the second part of the book, as Kitt and Charley engage in a gripping chase on a replica steam train and later search a spooky ruined building, in their pursuit of the truth.
I found Charley Banks a difficult character to warm to and identify with, when compared to the more gregarious Kitt. She's a taciturn and rather emotionally undemonstrative woman, struggling under the burden of her conflicting feelings about her criminal elder brother and the effect his conviction and incarceration have had on herself and her family. The narrative is frequently punctuated with Charley's ruminations about Ewan, which I began to find a bit repetitive and an unwelcome distraction from the mystery storyline.
The setting, as always in this series, is well-imagined and fascinating. While the town of Andaby and its Industrial Museum, occupying a building that was once a bustling textiles mill, is fictional, Helen Cox has clearly drawn on a copious knowledge of similar towns and repurposed buildings that are sprinkled across West Yorkshire. She develops a real "feel" for the landscape and population of the area, and whets the appetite of armchair travellers with scenes set in real-life locations such as the spectacular Halifax Piece Hall.
I'd recommend Murder in a Mill Town (and the whole Kitt Hartley series) to any reader who enjoys police procedural mysteries in a traditional mould, with engaging female characters and great northern English settings.
My thanks to the author, Helen Cox, publisher Quercus Books, and NetGalley, for the opportunity to read and review this title.
In this story, Detective Sergeant Charlotte "Charley" Banks, colleague of Kitt Hartley's partner DI Malcolm Halloran and fiancée of Kitt's best friend Evie, plays a co-starring role alongside the series lead character, while the rather irritating Grace Edwards - Kitt's colleague in her private investigation business - takes a back seat. Charley's interest in the murder of Siobhan Lange is more than professional - her older brother Ewan has recently been paroled after a long stint in prison for murder, and is living in Andaby. As a police detective, Charley is well aware that Ewan will attract the attention of the investigating detectives in the Lange case, and engages Kitt to conduct a discrete parallel investigation to uncover Ewan's involvement (if any) in the crime.
Kitt and Charley uncover many interesting leads in Andaby and elsewhere, revealing that the victim had made many enemies over her 38 years, a clue indicating a possible link with Siobhan's days as the local school's bullying "It Girl", and the recent suspicious disappearance of a woman connected to her past offences. All the while, Charley treads a fine line between the pursuit of justice and maintaining her duties as a serving police officer, whilst hiding her presence in the vicinity of another CID team's case from her superiors. After a relatively sedate first half, in which the story follows a police procedural pattern, the action ramps up in the second part of the book, as Kitt and Charley engage in a gripping chase on a replica steam train and later search a spooky ruined building, in their pursuit of the truth.
I found Charley Banks a difficult character to warm to and identify with, when compared to the more gregarious Kitt. She's a taciturn and rather emotionally undemonstrative woman, struggling under the burden of her conflicting feelings about her criminal elder brother and the effect his conviction and incarceration have had on herself and her family. The narrative is frequently punctuated with Charley's ruminations about Ewan, which I began to find a bit repetitive and an unwelcome distraction from the mystery storyline.
The setting, as always in this series, is well-imagined and fascinating. While the town of Andaby and its Industrial Museum, occupying a building that was once a bustling textiles mill, is fictional, Helen Cox has clearly drawn on a copious knowledge of similar towns and repurposed buildings that are sprinkled across West Yorkshire. She develops a real "feel" for the landscape and population of the area, and whets the appetite of armchair travellers with scenes set in real-life locations such as the spectacular Halifax Piece Hall.
I'd recommend Murder in a Mill Town (and the whole Kitt Hartley series) to any reader who enjoys police procedural mysteries in a traditional mould, with engaging female characters and great northern English settings.
My thanks to the author, Helen Cox, publisher Quercus Books, and NetGalley, for the opportunity to read and review this title.
January 18, 2024
This is book 7 of the Kitt Hartley Yorkshire mysteries and the first I've read. It was easy to jump into and was a good cosy murder mystery with likeable characters.
I will definitely be looking out for the others in this series.
I will definitely be looking out for the others in this series.
March 22, 2024
Excellent book, showcasing how people change as they get older, and change. Brilliant writing, excellent description of Andaby, a fictional town in Yorkshire, based on Halifax or Dewsbury.
The whole concept of forgiveness and letting bygones be bygones
The whole concept of forgiveness and letting bygones be bygones
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 4, 2024
Another brilliant and easy to read book
July 1, 2025
The plot was ok but wasn't as good as some of the others
November 25, 2024
Banks is my favourite character of the whole series. I was really looking forward to her book and it didn't disappoint. Super twisty, had me every which way trying to work out who did the crime. Can't wait to read the next one.
October 19, 2022
Disappointed. This story was so repeative on its theme I became bored with it. Not the quality of the first two books in the series.
September 2, 2023
"Murder In A Mill Town" is book #7 in the "Kitt Hartley Yorkshire Mysteries" by Helen Cox.
"When a violent murder shatters the otherwise peaceful idyll of Andaby near Hebden Bridge, DS Charlotte Banks can't help but suspect that her brother Ewan - recently released from prison and now living in Calderdale - is behind it. Ewan claims he's innocent, and even has an alibi to prove it, but DS Banks isn't convinced. So much so that she turns to the only people who can help her in an investigation this Kitt Hartley and Grace Edwards, of Hartley and Edwards Investigations.
On the hunt for the killer, Kitt and Grace discover the victim was choked to death on her old school sash. From this lead, Kitt, Grace and DS Banks are drawn down a dark trail littered with decade-old grudges, schoolyard secrets, broken hearts and bullies, and struggle to get closer to the truth. When a second victim goes missing however, the clock starts ticking.
Can Kitt recover the missing woman before it's too late? And how do you catch a killer hiding in plain sight?"
My thoughts:
Unlike previous books in this series, this story is told mostly from Banks perspective. She is about to go on a three month leave in the lead up to her and Evie getting married and embarking on an extended honeymoon. As a civilian in this case, there is only so much she can do to further the case without jeopardizing her own career, so working with Kitt and Grace is the best way to get to the truth.
Banks and her brother have been estranged since he went to prison almost twenty years ago. She wants to believe he had nothing to do with the murder but the situation and evidence is complicated.
The victim was not well liked in her workplace and had been a bully in school. The sash used to kill the victim seems to point to someone from school days or was that just what the killer wanted them to think?
Conflicting stories cast doubt on who had alibis. Some of the "evidence" gathered seemed a bit to convenient to me, so really wasn't misled from sussing out the killer - though I was initially in doubt as to the identity. Devious plotting of the killer really did make for a challenging comeuppance.
The core characters that Ms. Cox has created are both believable and entertaining. They are flawed as all humans are but work towards making a better life for themselves and supporting each other no matter what. The story does get dark at times but this was still a very interesting read.
"When a violent murder shatters the otherwise peaceful idyll of Andaby near Hebden Bridge, DS Charlotte Banks can't help but suspect that her brother Ewan - recently released from prison and now living in Calderdale - is behind it. Ewan claims he's innocent, and even has an alibi to prove it, but DS Banks isn't convinced. So much so that she turns to the only people who can help her in an investigation this Kitt Hartley and Grace Edwards, of Hartley and Edwards Investigations.
On the hunt for the killer, Kitt and Grace discover the victim was choked to death on her old school sash. From this lead, Kitt, Grace and DS Banks are drawn down a dark trail littered with decade-old grudges, schoolyard secrets, broken hearts and bullies, and struggle to get closer to the truth. When a second victim goes missing however, the clock starts ticking.
Can Kitt recover the missing woman before it's too late? And how do you catch a killer hiding in plain sight?"
My thoughts:
Unlike previous books in this series, this story is told mostly from Banks perspective. She is about to go on a three month leave in the lead up to her and Evie getting married and embarking on an extended honeymoon. As a civilian in this case, there is only so much she can do to further the case without jeopardizing her own career, so working with Kitt and Grace is the best way to get to the truth.
Banks and her brother have been estranged since he went to prison almost twenty years ago. She wants to believe he had nothing to do with the murder but the situation and evidence is complicated.
The victim was not well liked in her workplace and had been a bully in school. The sash used to kill the victim seems to point to someone from school days or was that just what the killer wanted them to think?
Conflicting stories cast doubt on who had alibis. Some of the "evidence" gathered seemed a bit to convenient to me, so really wasn't misled from sussing out the killer - though I was initially in doubt as to the identity. Devious plotting of the killer really did make for a challenging comeuppance.
The core characters that Ms. Cox has created are both believable and entertaining. They are flawed as all humans are but work towards making a better life for themselves and supporting each other no matter what. The story does get dark at times but this was still a very interesting read.
August 29, 2022
Two and a half stars.
There is a bizarre murder at a museum in tourist village Andaby, near Hebden Bridge, Yorkshire. DS Charley Banks is officially on leave just prior to her forthcoming wedding, but the murder coincides rather uncomfortably with her older brother Ewan's release from prison for a murder he committed whilst in his early twenties. Obviously she can't be on the case but she can't stand not knowing so she turns to Kitt Hartley and Grace Edwards, of Hartley and Edwards Investigations for help. While the police investigate more recent reasons why the victim might have been murdered in such a violent way, Kitt, Charley, and Grace look further back in the past, spurred on by a fibre at the murder scene which looks suspiciously like the colour of the sash the victim' graduating class wore at school, over twenty years ago.
This is the seventh book in a series, as a mystery it can be read as a standalone very easily, however in terms of the characters and their relationships, this could leave you cold if (like me) this is your first encounter with the series. I didn't really connect with any of the characters, many of whom felt like they were stock characters included for their diversity or 'kooky' characteristics like the Scooby Doo gang or Buffy's team.
What rescued this was the crime and the criminal, but I had to wade through pages and pages of Charley's waffle about not trusting Ewan, and tedious navel gazing about relationships and marriage. I don't think I will be requesting any more books in this series.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in return for an honest review.
There is a bizarre murder at a museum in tourist village Andaby, near Hebden Bridge, Yorkshire. DS Charley Banks is officially on leave just prior to her forthcoming wedding, but the murder coincides rather uncomfortably with her older brother Ewan's release from prison for a murder he committed whilst in his early twenties. Obviously she can't be on the case but she can't stand not knowing so she turns to Kitt Hartley and Grace Edwards, of Hartley and Edwards Investigations for help. While the police investigate more recent reasons why the victim might have been murdered in such a violent way, Kitt, Charley, and Grace look further back in the past, spurred on by a fibre at the murder scene which looks suspiciously like the colour of the sash the victim' graduating class wore at school, over twenty years ago.
This is the seventh book in a series, as a mystery it can be read as a standalone very easily, however in terms of the characters and their relationships, this could leave you cold if (like me) this is your first encounter with the series. I didn't really connect with any of the characters, many of whom felt like they were stock characters included for their diversity or 'kooky' characteristics like the Scooby Doo gang or Buffy's team.
What rescued this was the crime and the criminal, but I had to wade through pages and pages of Charley's waffle about not trusting Ewan, and tedious navel gazing about relationships and marriage. I don't think I will be requesting any more books in this series.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in return for an honest review.
November 23, 2022
Murder in a Mill Town by Helen Cox
I received an advance review copy for free thanks to NetGalley and Quercus and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Blurb
When a violent murder shatters the otherwise peaceful idyll of Andaby near Hebden Bridge, DS Charlotte Banks can't help but suspect that her brother Ewan - recently released from prison and now living in Calderdale - is behind it. Ewan claims he's innocent, and even has an alibi to prove it, but DS Banks isn't convinced. So much so that she turns to the only people who can help her in an investigation this personal: Kitt Hartley and Grace Edwards, of Hartley and Edwards Investigations.
On the hunt for the killer, Kitt and Grace discover the victim was choked to death on her old school sash. From this lead, Kitt, Grace and DS Banks are drawn down a dark trail littered with decade-old grudges, schoolyard secrets, broken hearts and bullies, and struggle to get closer to the truth. When a second victim goes missing however, the clock starts ticking.
My Opinion
This is the first book I have read by Helen Cox, and whilst it is book 7 in the series I was able to follow along with the plot without feeling I was missing too much information. It was refreshing to read about some familiar places in this book and I was really able to picture the locations. This is a great mystery to read and should only take a few hours. There are quite a few twists and turns to make sure you are interested until the end.
Rating 4/5
I received an advance review copy for free thanks to NetGalley and Quercus and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Blurb
When a violent murder shatters the otherwise peaceful idyll of Andaby near Hebden Bridge, DS Charlotte Banks can't help but suspect that her brother Ewan - recently released from prison and now living in Calderdale - is behind it. Ewan claims he's innocent, and even has an alibi to prove it, but DS Banks isn't convinced. So much so that she turns to the only people who can help her in an investigation this personal: Kitt Hartley and Grace Edwards, of Hartley and Edwards Investigations.
On the hunt for the killer, Kitt and Grace discover the victim was choked to death on her old school sash. From this lead, Kitt, Grace and DS Banks are drawn down a dark trail littered with decade-old grudges, schoolyard secrets, broken hearts and bullies, and struggle to get closer to the truth. When a second victim goes missing however, the clock starts ticking.
My Opinion
This is the first book I have read by Helen Cox, and whilst it is book 7 in the series I was able to follow along with the plot without feeling I was missing too much information. It was refreshing to read about some familiar places in this book and I was really able to picture the locations. This is a great mystery to read and should only take a few hours. There are quite a few twists and turns to make sure you are interested until the end.
Rating 4/5
July 5, 2023
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book. I have chosen to write this honest review voluntarily and it reflects my personal opinion
I have not read the previous books in this series, although any important events were clarified so it can be read as a standalone. The descriptions were good, setting the scene within the area and making the characters realistic. The plotline was interesting, slowly leading the reader towards the final outcome.
I thought some things did not add up, for example DS Robinson 'knows I can get close to him and keep an eye on him' but Charley has barely seen him, either in prison or after his release so that's unlikely, and the guest house owner refuses to spend money heating the water all day but provides good wifi. Spellings became Americanised partway through, as this is set in England and written by a British author I find this irritating and out of place. Charley was supposed to be off duty but some of her behaviour in this case was leading (why was she interviewing suspects?) and she was frequently referred to as 'Banks' which would have been understandable within the organisation, but not by friends.
My opinion is that this is an average read, and it would not encourage me to read any more by this author, and definitely none in this series.
I have not read the previous books in this series, although any important events were clarified so it can be read as a standalone. The descriptions were good, setting the scene within the area and making the characters realistic. The plotline was interesting, slowly leading the reader towards the final outcome.
I thought some things did not add up, for example DS Robinson 'knows I can get close to him and keep an eye on him' but Charley has barely seen him, either in prison or after his release so that's unlikely, and the guest house owner refuses to spend money heating the water all day but provides good wifi. Spellings became Americanised partway through, as this is set in England and written by a British author I find this irritating and out of place. Charley was supposed to be off duty but some of her behaviour in this case was leading (why was she interviewing suspects?) and she was frequently referred to as 'Banks' which would have been understandable within the organisation, but not by friends.
My opinion is that this is an average read, and it would not encourage me to read any more by this author, and definitely none in this series.
September 1, 2022
When a violent murder shatters the otherwise peaceful idyll of Andaby near Hebden Bridge, DS Charlotte Banks can't help but suspect that her brother Ewan - recently released from prison and now living in Calderdale - is behind it. Ewan claims he's innocent, and even has an alibi to prove it, but DS Banks isn't convinced. So much so that she turns to the only people who can help her in an investigation this personal: Kitt Hartley and Grace Edwards, of Hartley and Edwards Investigations.
On the hunt for the killer, Kitt and Grace discover the victim was choked to death on her old school sash, which leads to decade-old grudges, schoolyard secrets, broken hearts and bullies. When a second victim goes missing however, the clock starts ticking.
This is the seventh book in this entertaining cosy mystery series. A well written book which could easily be read on its own but to fully appreciate it, as with most series, I’d recommend reading from the start as characters & relationships have developed & grown throughout the series. The pace was good & there were twists, turns & red herrings so I was kept guessing & turning the pages
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read
On the hunt for the killer, Kitt and Grace discover the victim was choked to death on her old school sash, which leads to decade-old grudges, schoolyard secrets, broken hearts and bullies. When a second victim goes missing however, the clock starts ticking.
This is the seventh book in this entertaining cosy mystery series. A well written book which could easily be read on its own but to fully appreciate it, as with most series, I’d recommend reading from the start as characters & relationships have developed & grown throughout the series. The pace was good & there were twists, turns & red herrings so I was kept guessing & turning the pages
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read
September 10, 2022
Another great instalment of cosy crime featuring the queen of the librarian detectives, Kitt Hartley.
This time Charley Banks took centre stage with Kitt. Banks is both Kitt’s best friend’s life partner (soon-to-be wife) and Kitt’s boyfriend’s police partner, so she’s featured in the earlier books too, but this time she asks Kitt to help her with an unofficial investigation into her brother’s potential involvement in a new murder, which has taken place in his brand new home town just weeks after he was released from prison after serving a long sentence … for murder.
The whodunnit aspect is a bit light but that barely matters - as usual the setting and the style of writing are to the fore.
I really enjoyed this book. If you’ve not read any of the others in the series I don’t think I’d recommend it as the first - you can understand and enjoy it without the earlier books, but it’s definitely *more* enjoyable when you know the main characters’ backstories. I think this is the first of the Kitt Hartley series of which I’d say that, though - so pretty much read *any* of the others before this one to get the most out of it.
Three word review: top cosy crime
This time Charley Banks took centre stage with Kitt. Banks is both Kitt’s best friend’s life partner (soon-to-be wife) and Kitt’s boyfriend’s police partner, so she’s featured in the earlier books too, but this time she asks Kitt to help her with an unofficial investigation into her brother’s potential involvement in a new murder, which has taken place in his brand new home town just weeks after he was released from prison after serving a long sentence … for murder.
The whodunnit aspect is a bit light but that barely matters - as usual the setting and the style of writing are to the fore.
I really enjoyed this book. If you’ve not read any of the others in the series I don’t think I’d recommend it as the first - you can understand and enjoy it without the earlier books, but it’s definitely *more* enjoyable when you know the main characters’ backstories. I think this is the first of the Kitt Hartley series of which I’d say that, though - so pretty much read *any* of the others before this one to get the most out of it.
Three word review: top cosy crime
June 27, 2025
Enjoyed reading this, kept your interest, good characters and a satisfactory ending
When a violent murder shatters the otherwise peaceful idyll of Andaby near Hebden Bridge, DS Charlotte Banks can't help but suspect that her brother Ewan - recently released from prison and now living in Calderdale - is behind it. Ewan claims he's innocent, and even has an alibi to prove it, but DS Banks isn't convinced. So much so that she turns to the only people who can help her in an investigation this personal: Kitt Hartley and Grace Edwards, of Hartley and Edwards Investigations.
On the hunt for the killer, Kitt and Grace discover the victim was choked to death on her old school sash. From this lead, Kitt, Grace and DS Banks are drawn down a dark trail littered with decade-old grudges, schoolyard secrets, broken hearts and bullies, and struggle to get closer to the truth. When a second victim goes missing however, the clock starts ticking.
Can Kitt recover the missing woman before it's too late?And how do you catch a killer hiding in plain sight?
When a violent murder shatters the otherwise peaceful idyll of Andaby near Hebden Bridge, DS Charlotte Banks can't help but suspect that her brother Ewan - recently released from prison and now living in Calderdale - is behind it. Ewan claims he's innocent, and even has an alibi to prove it, but DS Banks isn't convinced. So much so that she turns to the only people who can help her in an investigation this personal: Kitt Hartley and Grace Edwards, of Hartley and Edwards Investigations.
On the hunt for the killer, Kitt and Grace discover the victim was choked to death on her old school sash. From this lead, Kitt, Grace and DS Banks are drawn down a dark trail littered with decade-old grudges, schoolyard secrets, broken hearts and bullies, and struggle to get closer to the truth. When a second victim goes missing however, the clock starts ticking.
Can Kitt recover the missing woman before it's too late?And how do you catch a killer hiding in plain sight?
October 22, 2022
I've been reading Kitt Hartley mysteries since the first book and the characters became sort of friends you need to check from time to time and know that they are well.
The series is becoming more mystery and less cozy mystery but it's not losing it's appeal as this story is well plotted and gripping.
I love how Helen Cox makes you feel the places and visualising them. The industrial archeology, the museum are fascinating and I wish i could visit the places that inspired this story.
The mystery is solid, tightly knitted and fast paced. it kept me guessing and the solutions surprised me.
Can't wait to read the next one.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this arc, all opinions are mine
The series is becoming more mystery and less cozy mystery but it's not losing it's appeal as this story is well plotted and gripping.
I love how Helen Cox makes you feel the places and visualising them. The industrial archeology, the museum are fascinating and I wish i could visit the places that inspired this story.
The mystery is solid, tightly knitted and fast paced. it kept me guessing and the solutions surprised me.
Can't wait to read the next one.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this arc, all opinions are mine
August 8, 2022
This is book 7 in the Kitt Hartley mystery series, set in Yorkshire. It can be read, and enjoyed, as a stand alone. More of a cosy mystery than a crime thriller, it's well written with good characterisation and flows at a steady pace. DS Charlotte Banks is involved in a murder investigation and her brother, recently released from prison, could be a prime suspect. Not too many twists but it kept me engrossed until the end. This is a quick, easy read in the cosy mystery genre. Thanks to Net Galley for my ARC.
September 2, 2022
An enjoyable easy read.
Kitt is back for another investigation, she is hired by D.S Charlotte Banks to look in to a murder that has taken place in Andaby in Yorkshire.
Banks ‘ has a vested interest in the case due to her brotherEwan being released from prison after serving time for murder and relocating to Andaby.
Has Ewan committed a crime again or is it pure coincidence ?
I like the characters in the Kitt Hartley mysteries they are both amiable and engaging.
A satisfying and feel good read.
Thanks to NetGalley and Quercus books.
Kitt is back for another investigation, she is hired by D.S Charlotte Banks to look in to a murder that has taken place in Andaby in Yorkshire.
Banks ‘ has a vested interest in the case due to her brotherEwan being released from prison after serving time for murder and relocating to Andaby.
Has Ewan committed a crime again or is it pure coincidence ?
I like the characters in the Kitt Hartley mysteries they are both amiable and engaging.
A satisfying and feel good read.
Thanks to NetGalley and Quercus books.
September 20, 2022
This is the 7th book in the Kitt Hartley Yorkshire Mystery series. I have read all the previous 6 books. I really enjoyed this book. I like how each book is told from a different characters perspective, but the stories all contain the same characters, just use a different character voice. I think that this could be read as a stand alone book, but feel that it would be enhanced by reading the other books, as you understand the characters and their relationships more. I enjoyed the story, setting and plot, lots of twists and turns. I am looking forward to reading the next instalment.
November 7, 2022
I have previously read some of the books in this series and enjoyed them, so I checked this out from my local library.
It was what I expected - a pleasant cosy mystery. I relate to Kitt a lot, especially her tea drinking and book habits, which she jokes about at some point in this book. I noticed on this occasion, the story featured some different characters that I wasn't as familiar with, but I warmed to them. The story also had a heart-warming ending.
I've recommended these books to some friends.
It was what I expected - a pleasant cosy mystery. I relate to Kitt a lot, especially her tea drinking and book habits, which she jokes about at some point in this book. I noticed on this occasion, the story featured some different characters that I wasn't as familiar with, but I warmed to them. The story also had a heart-warming ending.
I've recommended these books to some friends.
November 13, 2023
DS Charley Banks, partner of Kitt's best friend Evie, takes centre stage in the latest in Helen Cox's series. I enjoyed it very much (although I'd have liked it more if the sergeant had been referred to as Charley, rather than Banks) and thought that the back story of Murder in a Mill Town helped us to understand Charley. Kitt plays a central role but the other main characters stay very much in the background which I think is a pity. However, I raced through the book and am now eagerly awaiting the next in the series.
November 30, 2023
A police procedural/cosy crime crossover novel that I chose on the title and author. I have read other’s in the series and enjoyed them but this one seemed to be a little flatter and lack the humour of previous volumes. A good enough read, however, with the many twists and turns that keep eyes on the page.
September 8, 2022
A good murder mystery . Twists and turns in the story which feels believable. Set in York and West Yorkshire.
A good read
A good read
October 27, 2022
Another great tale from kitt and co. Like wearing comfy slippers in winter, the perfect pick me up
July 10, 2023
Really struggled with this one .
July 11, 2023
3.4 ster. Een van de betere verhalen in de serie! Vooral door het grotendeels wegblijven van Mal ☺️
September 25, 2023
Took a while to get into this book really slow but stuck with it but not one of my fave authors
March 10, 2024
good book. liked the twist in it
March 30, 2024
Never really gripped me. Doesn't mean it was bad though, just not for me
September 27, 2024
This was a good read but it doesn’t feel as much of a comfort read as the earlier books. X
November 4, 2024
Zo jammer, dit was het laatste deel, maar ik heb genoten van deze serie
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