A Deadly Inheritance

Olivia Wells Mysteries #1

by Jane McParkes

When Olivia Wells returns to Creekside, Cornwall, intent on fulfilling her bequest of cultivating a co-working community of eco and creative entrepreneurs in a renovated railway building, she soon finds opposition, sabotage and the murdered body of her friend. She has to put her trust in an unlikely ally to help her investigate exactly who is threatening the success of her ventures, her liberty and ultimately, her life.

Readers who enjoy books by LJ Ross, Betty Rowlands and Claire Chase, will love this cosy mystery.

Genres: Mystery, Environment, British Literature, Crime

Kindle Edition

Published December 1, 2022

Reviews

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I genuinely couldn't out this down. Crime, thriller and romance with a sustainability/eco twist (but not the green bashy stick kind)
Loved it, can't wait for the next one.

[Bookworm86 · Rating 5 out of 5]

BLOG TOUR REVIEW

Review for 'A Deadly Inheritance' by Jane McParkes

This is Jane's DEBUT novel, not that you would ever think that!!! I mean this woman writes as if she has been doing it her whole life!! It is also the first book in her 'An Olivia Wells Mystery' series and what an explosive start to a new series it is! I cannot wait to get stuck into her next guaranteed success in this series which is already available to order on Amazon and is called 'Deadly Treasures'.

OMG!!! I ABSOLUTELY LOVE, LOVE, LOVED THIS BOOK!! IT TRULY IS AN ABSOLUTELY AMAZING, GRIPPING AND PAGE TURNING EXPLOSIVE MUST READ!! AN ABSOLUTELY FANTADTIC READ FROM AN AMAZING DEBUT AUTHOR!!

The first thing I have got to say is an absolutely HUGE CONGRATULATIONS to the amazing author Jane McParkes!! I was absolutely mind blown when I had finished this epic page turner and realised that it is actually her first book!! What an absolutely EPIC debut novel!! If THIS is what you can create for your very first book then I just cannot wait to see what on Earth you have come out with next!! This is definitely one of the best debut novels I have ever read and it is also one of my favourite cosy crime books of all times!!! You seriously have to grab your copy of this twisty and gripping cosy crime today!! The stunning setting, the twists, the realistic characters, the absolutely mind blowing twists and turns!!! This book NEEDS to be turned into a movie!!! This book really is an absolutely fantastic and explosive introduction to what promises to be one gripping and addictive series!! The storyline is so compelling and immersive it had me hooked throughout so make sure you clear your schedules before stepping into the world of Olivia Wells!!

Get ready to get whisked to Cornwall, delve into a fantastic murder mystery and discover a new favourite author and series today!

I am not going to go into the storyline as the synopsis already does a brilliant job of letting you know what the book is about and if you want to know more well you will just have to grab your copy of this brilliant page turner today and I promise that you will not regret it!! With an addictive storyline ram packed with mystery, crime, stunning settings, suspense, twists and so much more then what on Earth are you waiting for? Jane absolutely captivated my attention and sucked me deep into the storyline. I cannot even express in words how good this storyline in and how much I was completely sucked into the storyline!! If you love mysteries, crime, unique, mind blowing, addictive books and .do you know what? Whatever you like to read just give this a go and you will NOT regret it!!! As you can tell I absolutely LOVED this addictive and intriguing page turner!!! I honestly loved absolutely everything about it from the start to the end. It was just one heck of an amazing read!!! I absolutely love, love, LOVED the unique storyline!! I have read so many books that it is getting harder and harder for me to find a truly unique plot but Jane absolutely smashes it out of the park with this one!! There was no way I could put this book down until I had finished it. I picked it up and even though I kept telling myself just one more chapter I just could not put it down as every time I went to something happened which meant I had to read just one more again until I ended up reading it in one sitting having been glued to the book for a few hours!! I also listened to the audio version of this book which is also absolutely incredible!! It is narrated by Laura Kirman who does an absolutely brilliant job of bringing the characters and storyline to life. This is the first book I have listened to that Laura has narrated but I will be keeping an eye out for books that she has narrated!! So regardless of whether you pick up the audiobook, a physical book or get it on kindle you are in for a fantastic treat! Jane's vivid evocative writing skills and descriptions really brought the storyline to life and I just cannot wait to get hooked into her next book!!! I have just never come across a book or movie anything like this one and I doubt I will again!!!! I really hope this is brought to the big screen and if not why not? I will definitely be first in line to watch it. I just genuinely love, love, LOVED IT!!! This book will suck you in and keep you gripped in the pages until your thrown out at the end with a racing heart!! A truly unforgettable one in a million page turner!!!! Get ready to pick your jaw up from the floor at the twists that you will NEVER see coming!! An absolute must read that I wont be forgetting about anytime soon!!

Do not start this book until you have cleared your schedules as you will not be able to put it down!!

The characters were all realistic and strong and I was completely invested in them throughout. Jane's brilliant evocative descriptions really makes them jump out of the book and come to life in front of the readers eyes. I was completely invested in each and every one of the characters especially Olivia Wells who I loved "being next to" and investigating the mystery with. I really enjoyed getting to know her and look forward to seeing her again in the next book in this series. Each of the characters all played their own roles perfectly and they all had their own unique and individual personalities with their own flaws, strengths and weaknesses. The fact that this is Jane's debut novel yet she has managed to create these amazing, unique and strong characters is just absolutely amazing!!! All of the characters were multi layered with complex personalities which definitely made them all the more interesting to read about!!! Unfortunately, I really can not say anymore as I don't want to spoil it for future readers. Regardless of what I thought about who, each character worked perfectly to make this page turning psychological thriller!!! I just cannot wait to see what characters this amazing author comes up with next!!! I genuinely loved getting to know all the characters and was completely invested throughout!! It just goes to show how fantastic Jane's writing skills are as she completely brought them all to life for me. An absolutely fantastic selection of unique characters that all worked together perfectly to create an absolutely gripping and addictive page turner!!! This book really is a truly unique page turner that I picked up this morning and had completely devoured it in a few hours!!!

Overall an absolutely unputdownable, mystery packed, intriguing cosy crime thriller that will keep you hooked!


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[Erin Green · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Deadly Inheritance ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Olivia Wells is a talented architect employed in New York, but has taken a much-needed sabbatical returning to her roots in Cornwall to support her godparents, George and Molly. George had a dream of renovating a disused station yard bringing life and creativity to the area, with the added bonus of greener productivity and sustainability. Olivia takes up the baton attempting to make his dream a reality. Sadly, circumstances overshadow her renovation plans and desperate times call for desperate measures when suspicious events occur ruining revenue and reputations. The question is, who can Olivia trust when her life might depend on it?

I’m not too familiar with the Cornish area but through the vivid descriptions of landscape I felt I was walking amongst the characters at the Penbartha station renovations, be it the Goods shed, the Signal box or the Bakehouse. A five star review for this enchanting debut novel.

[Zoe Andrew · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was very dull read - too much emphasis in trying to set out an idyllic world in Cornwall (with far too much emphasis on tea and coffee drinking), than giving a decent and exciting plot.

[Lorna Ellis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Random Things Tours, No Exit Press and Jane McParkes for my physical copy to read and review.

Olivia has moved back from New York to the Cornish village she grew up in. She is there to continue her Godfather’s legacy, turning some beautiful old railway buildings into a business and community hub for the local people and Cornwall. But things are not that straight forward. She is still grieving her godfather and things get worse when one of the community is murdered. Did Olivia do it and if not who did?

The story paints a great picture of rural life and challenges - stunning settings; tight communities who stick together; local gossip and economies that need a boost.

I loved the range of characters in this book - quirky Cornish locals, newcomers to the village, people loyal to the community and those that only act to benefit themselves. The connections between the characters are deep and real, but people have secrets and not everyone can be trusted.

Of course, everyone is a suspect and as more crimes impact the community everyone is worried and scared, and Olivia is anxious, upset and desperate to put things right.

The coastal setting is idyllic, but I was also charmed by the architectural aspect of this book - the old railway buildings being brought back to life by those that care about the community, heritage and the environment. I was excited to see the buildings be brought back to their heyday!

A cosy crime book with a punch. A great read and easy pager turner. I’ll definitely be buying book 2.

Perfect for fans of Elly Griffith and Richard Osman

[AtomicBooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love a dark thriller but you can’t beat a bit of cosy crime too to balance things out so this book was the perfect tonic.

This cosy crime book is the perfect balance between crime, friendships and romance. The location is like an extra character who plays their part beautifully. I love Cornwall and could picture the small village perfectly and its tight knit community. What a perfect backdrop to murder! The characters are all very believable and likeable and I liked the way the characters and relationships developed throughout the story. Olivia is a strong leading lady flaws and all. Without giving any spoilers the story does drift into romance nearer the end but the crime story is never far away with a brilliant and dramatic ending!

[Seriesbooklover · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Deadly Inheritance by Jane McParkes is a cosy murder mystery set in a little village in Cornwall- a village on the verge of major change. A village that has to deal with very modern issues and challenges.
I received a copy of the book for a free and unbiased opinion
Olivia and Jago are the two main point of view characters and reluctant amateur detectives. Olivia has returned to the picturesque village she grew up from her glamourous life as an architect in New York when her Godfather suddenly dies. She has been tasked by her Godfather will to carry out changes to the old station to make it a sustainable modern place for people to use. Unfortunately, she finds her the main suspect after she has shouting match with the victim and has to clear her name
Jago is Olivia’s friend with a hidden side to him that did catch me by surprise and is one of a range of colourful and interesting characters- all of whom have a motive. The village of Penbarth is a character in its own right and the author captured the tension between people who have lived in the villagers and new people who have come to the village in their own way. The mystery behind the murder and motive was intriguing and I had to finish the book to see if I was right.
This was quick, easy and entertaining read with a bit of an edge when it comes Olivia’s backstory and past. I have to admit I was desperate to try some of the freshly baked bread with feta after reading the author’s description!
I would recommend this to anyone who wants to read a good, non-gory murder mystery in a gorgeous setting.

[Rachael Gray · Rating 5 out of 5]

A deliciously charming book.

If you don't love Cornwall before reading this book, you will afterwards. Full of suspicious characters, glorious details, and a twisty plot, this murder mystery is the perfect cosy book to curl up with.

Jane McParkes brings the landscape to life and peppers her narrative with interesting facts about eco businesses in this clever tale. Olivia - Olive to her closest friends - has returned from her high-flying career in New York to take on the inheritance left to her by her God parents in a little village in Cornwall. Beset by grief, life takes a disturbing turn when a friend is killed. But worse is to come, and the finger of suspicion is soon pointing at Olivia herself.

Jane has populated her village with a cast of intriguing characters and has crafted a truly devilish plot. I am very pleased to see that this is the first in a series and that book two is already available. I thoroughly enjoyed this Olivia Wells mystery.

[The Book Elf · Rating 5 out of 5]

So , if you were Olivia, who would you trust ? This is the question you will find yourself asking all the way through this Cornish Who Dunnit. I had my suspicions, almost from the beginning, were they right ? I’m not going to say. What I will say is that A Deadly Inheritance uses all the classic ingredients for a cosy crime story that keeps its readers turning the pages without shocking them to the core with blood, guts and gore. There is also a love interest thrown into the mix which will keep you wondering will they won’t they, as they try to find out who murdered Libby, and why.

The setting in Cornwall is lovely and I like the Eco theme that is running throughout along with supporting local independent businesses in order to enable a small community to thrive. McParkes descriptions of the various settings creates the images beautifully for you and you can almost smell the Cornish Sea air throughout the book.

[Cheryl Richards · Rating 4 out of 5]

Olivia Wells is the strong female protagonist in
this enjoyable cosy crime read, set in my absolute favourite place Cornwall.
Home from her successful job in New York following the death of her godfather, she is determined to complete an eco project which will benefit her whole village whilst carrying out her godfather’s wishes.
However events take a dramatic turn and Olivia finds herself the prime suspect in a murder that could see her whole world crashing down and the project at risk of complete failure.
Can she prove her innocence and who exactly is behind all of this?
There’s plenty of twists and turns and a bit of romance too in this murder mystery.
I’m looking forward to reading Deadly Treasures the next book in this series.

[Angela Phillips · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (3.5 out of 5)

A Deadly Inheritance by Jane McParks is an enjoyable read that blends mystery with a strong sense of place and purpose. The environmental themes woven through the story add real depth and give the book a distinctive edge, making the setting and underlying message just as engaging as the plot itself.

While I did enjoy the storyline and pacing, I found I had worked out who the criminal was about halfway through the book, which took away some of the suspense for me. That said, the journey to the resolution was still entertaining, and the characters and atmosphere kept me invested.

Overall, this is a solid, well-written mystery with thoughtful environmental elements. A good read, especially for those who enjoy crime fiction with a meaningful backdrop.

[Lizzie Lamb · Rating 5 out of 5]

An unusual combination of themes in this novel kept me hooked: sustainability, protecting the environment, making changes whilst keeping the local community on side, newcomers versus established families. This leads to tensions and . . . murder. Not quite what the cover led me to expect. How very clever of the author to combine those themes in a cozy crime mystery. I’m not very good a guessing who the ‘baddie’ is in these novels and, although I had my list of suspects, I was surprised in the end. I hope more novels are set in Penbartha and some of the characters make a return appearance, lots there for an author to play with. This series has ‘legs’ and I hope it runs and runs.

[K · Rating 4 out of 5]

Olivia has returned from New York to the small Cornish village of Penbartha following the death of her godfather George, she is back to work on his legacy, developing his disused railway station into a sustainable enterprise for the people of Penbartha. Completing her morning run she sees a light on in one of the buildings, the one where her friend Libby works, they had fallen out at the trustees meeting the previous day. Prepared to try and make amends Olivia enters, but is shocked to discover Libby’s body.
A well written book, although I did work out who was responsible long before the end, it is still a good read.
My thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the arc.

[Cecilia Peartree · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this mystery novel a lot. There's a good mix of characters, many of them very likeable, and the setting is one that particularly appeals to me, with the restoration of old station buildings as a backdrop to the action and more essential to the plot than is evident at first.
The heroine faces several threats, some more serious than others, and I like the way people's secrets are gradually revealed as the story progresses. Personally I was not at all surprised by the way things turned out but it was still a satisfying read!

[Mary Stagg · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm not sure what this book is - a murder mystery, a Cornish romance or a a treatise on eco living. It didn't really work for me. There's a whole cast of characters to keep track of, an inexperienced policeman who our heroine takes against because he's not a dog lover, a very obvious killer with a very obvious motive, a 'wacky' person with coloured hair and piercings (but its okay because at the end they take them all out and dye their hair back to its natural colour which makes them look so much better!) and many people with some very odd names.

[Barbara Deeprose · Rating 5 out of 5]

I Loved It!

It's very rare I don't enjoy books set in Cornwall so I was thrilled to come across this one and I wasn't disappointed. Olivia has recently returned to Penbartha after the deaths of her godparents, to continue the work they had started. They had begun to convert an old railway building into workshops for eco and entrepreneurs to work, but it seems not everyone is pleased to see her and do not like her taking charge. I really enjoyed this book and look forward to reading the next in the series.

[Amanda Giles · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent and enjoyable murder mystery. I loved the complicated characters of Olivia and Jago. I guessed the perpetrator about halfway through, but there were enough red herrings to distract and have me questioning my thoughts. I enjoyed the way all the various threads came together as the story came to its climax. And yes, I was correct in my findings. Cornwall was a perfect setting. Living in a small Welsh community I fully understood the way things work in these areas. I look forward to further books from the author.

[Reader · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was free with audible plus so I stuck with it but I found it laboured, predictable, and irritating. The love story was straight out of Mills and Boon and the crime obvious from the get go. The female lead is meant to be intelligent but she does some ridiculously stupid things. Not for me. Love the Cornish setting but not much more. More fluff than crime/mystery.

[Maggie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an average read The criminal was obvious from early on

[Martin Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic cosy mystery with a lovely setting and really well-drawn characters. Looking forward to book 2!

[Vickie Richens · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it, enjoyed meeting the characters and the storyline, looking forward to reading the next in the series

[Nicky · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyed the audio book.

[Roxy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Much cosier and slow paced than my normal read but it made a perfect break to my usual heavier crime and thriller reads.

[Sally mcfadyen · Rating 4 out of 5]

great murder mystery.

[Martin · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 rounded up

[Jackiesreadingcorner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Olivia Wells has returned home to the cosy village of Penbartha, Cornwall. Taking a break from her job in Manhattan as an architect, she’s come back following the death of her godfather, George, to honour his wishes for the village and its people. Years earlier, George had purchased the old railway station with the dream of transforming it into a modern, sustainable community hub, a place that would support local producers, showcase homegrown talent, and bring villagers and visitors together in an eco-friendly café and shared space.

However, Olivia’s homecoming doesn’t go smoothly. After a rather public argument with Libby, one of the tenants at the Weighbridge hut, gossip spreads through the village like wildfire. The next morning, Olivia discovers Libby’s dead body, and, as the last person seen arguing with her, she quickly becomes the prime suspect.

Despite being well-liked by many in Penbartha, not everyone is on Olivia’s side. One person being Jago Trevithick, who clearly finds her cold and difficult, and Olivia isn’t too fond of him either. Yet when another villager she’s clashed with is found dead, the pair are reluctantly drawn together to uncover the truth. Who is behind the murders? Who’s framing Olivia? And who’s trying to sell the land she inherited to replace George and Mollie’s dream with a retirement village? Olivia has been running all her life, will she continue to run and head back to her job in New York, or will she stay and face everything and settle for her old home?

I thoroughly enjoyed this story, it was exactly what I needed: a good, cosy murder mystery. The characters are wonderfully written, believable, and easy to connect with. The vivid descriptions of the Cornish setting made me long to visit Penbartha (although it may be a fictitious village based on somewhere in Cornwall) myself and breathe in that fresh sea air.

Once I picked this up, I couldn’t put it down. I had my suspicions about who was responsible, but the story kept me guessing right until the end. The pacing and plot were spot on, engrossing, engaging, and satisfying from start to finish. I closed the book with a smile on my face and can’t wait to see what Olivia and Jago get up to next time.

[rg gorham · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very interesting mystery couldn’t put it down i highly recomand it