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Flora Steele Mystery #6
Murder at Abbeymead Farm
Amateur detective duo Flora Steele and Jack Carrington have gained a reputation for crime-solving. But will they be able to untangle the latest baffling murder in the cosy village of Abbeymead?
Sussex, 1957: When Flora and Jack hear that Percy Milburn - a newcomer to the area who has ruffled more than a few feathers with his grand plans for modernising Abbeymead - is missing, they're determined to find him. But after scouring the village, Flora is shocked to discover the body of the poor man in the cellar of a crumbling farmhouse.
Percy's murder is tragic but not unexpected, as his ambition had made him many enemies within the small, rural community. Flora and Jack get stuck into the case, but they're sent on a wild goose chase around the village. Whoever is behind the death has taken careful steps to cover their tracks...
Was it Miss Minnie Howden, the nervous housekeeper who loved Percy? Sir Frederick Neville, the owner of the farm Percy was trying to buy? Or Colin Palmer, made rich by Percy's death? Did any of the suspects dislike Percy enough to end his life?
The amateur detective duo finds themselves outfoxed at every turn, unable to find any concrete clues. When their prime suspect is murdered, Flora and Jack have their work cut out to find the culprit. But the clever killer has pulled the wool over their eyes and is reeling them ever nearer to danger.
Will this case finally bring Flora and Jack closer together? And can they unravel the mystery before they're led like lambs to the slaughter?
Sussex, 1957: When Flora and Jack hear that Percy Milburn - a newcomer to the area who has ruffled more than a few feathers with his grand plans for modernising Abbeymead - is missing, they're determined to find him. But after scouring the village, Flora is shocked to discover the body of the poor man in the cellar of a crumbling farmhouse.
Percy's murder is tragic but not unexpected, as his ambition had made him many enemies within the small, rural community. Flora and Jack get stuck into the case, but they're sent on a wild goose chase around the village. Whoever is behind the death has taken careful steps to cover their tracks...
Was it Miss Minnie Howden, the nervous housekeeper who loved Percy? Sir Frederick Neville, the owner of the farm Percy was trying to buy? Or Colin Palmer, made rich by Percy's death? Did any of the suspects dislike Percy enough to end his life?
The amateur detective duo finds themselves outfoxed at every turn, unable to find any concrete clues. When their prime suspect is murdered, Flora and Jack have their work cut out to find the culprit. But the clever killer has pulled the wool over their eyes and is reeling them ever nearer to danger.
Will this case finally bring Flora and Jack closer together? And can they unravel the mystery before they're led like lambs to the slaughter?
261 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 31, 2023
1273 people are currently reading
435 people want to read
About the author
Merryn Allingham
43 books312 followersI was born into an army family and spent my childhood moving around the UK and abroad. Unsurprisingly it gave me itchy feet and in my twenties I escaped an unloved secretarial career to work as cabin crew and see the world.
I still love to travel and visit new places, especially those with an interesting history, but the arrival of marriage, children and cats meant a more settled life in the south of England, where I've lived ever since. It also gave me the opportunity to go back to 'school' and eventually teach at university.
I've written seven historical novels, all mysteries with a helping of suspense and a dash of romance - sometimes set in exotic locations and often against a background of stirring world events.
My latest novel, A Tale of Two Sisters, is set in Constantinople at the turn of the 20th century when rebellion within the Ottoman Empire is growing ever louder. Against this background the novel traces the fate of two sisters, Alice and Lydia Verinder, and explores themes of family, love and loss.
I still love to travel and visit new places, especially those with an interesting history, but the arrival of marriage, children and cats meant a more settled life in the south of England, where I've lived ever since. It also gave me the opportunity to go back to 'school' and eventually teach at university.
I've written seven historical novels, all mysteries with a helping of suspense and a dash of romance - sometimes set in exotic locations and often against a background of stirring world events.
My latest novel, A Tale of Two Sisters, is set in Constantinople at the turn of the 20th century when rebellion within the Ottoman Empire is growing ever louder. Against this background the novel traces the fate of two sisters, Alice and Lydia Verinder, and explores themes of family, love and loss.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 137 reviews
May 14, 2023
The sixth book in this great series and I have read them all.
It is 1957 in the English village of Abbeymead and Flora Steele and Jack Carrington are crime solving again. More than one person dies, and Flora finds herself being harassed by someone unknown - just small things at first but getting more serious as the story progresses. When possible suspects for the first murder also die Flora starts to lose confidence in herself and her ability to solve crimes.
She should have asked me - I knew who it was! Anyway all was well in the end, and the pair even took one more tiny step towards becoming a couple. The author is determined to make us wait for this but at least it should mean there will be another book soon. I am looking forward to it.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.
It is 1957 in the English village of Abbeymead and Flora Steele and Jack Carrington are crime solving again. More than one person dies, and Flora finds herself being harassed by someone unknown - just small things at first but getting more serious as the story progresses. When possible suspects for the first murder also die Flora starts to lose confidence in herself and her ability to solve crimes.
She should have asked me - I knew who it was! Anyway all was well in the end, and the pair even took one more tiny step towards becoming a couple. The author is determined to make us wait for this but at least it should mean there will be another book soon. I am looking forward to it.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.
May 11, 2023
It was 1957 in Abbeymead, Sussex, and Flora Steele was impressed with Percy Milburn's verbal image of the farm he was going to buy, turning it into a hostel. But not everyone was impressed with Percy's idea, and when a meeting called to iron out the differences was missing its main person - Percy - they all wondered where he was. But it was three days later that he was found, murdered. Shocked but determined to uncover the killer, Flora and Jack Carrington, crime writer and Flora's good friend - maybe beau - joined forces to once again discover the answers.
But this case was particularly baffling and it was one step forward and two back for them both. Plus someone was after Flora, damaging items she loved. Jack was worried, Flora was angry. And when another body was found - their main suspect - their frustration was immense. Would Flora and Jack find the evil doer before it was too late for someone else?
Murder at Abbeymead Farm is the 6th in the Flora Steele Mystery series by Merryn Allingham and I quite enjoyed it. Fun, entertaining with plenty of twists, I have no hesitation in recommending this cosy mystery to fans of the genre.
With thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for my digital ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.
But this case was particularly baffling and it was one step forward and two back for them both. Plus someone was after Flora, damaging items she loved. Jack was worried, Flora was angry. And when another body was found - their main suspect - their frustration was immense. Would Flora and Jack find the evil doer before it was too late for someone else?
Murder at Abbeymead Farm is the 6th in the Flora Steele Mystery series by Merryn Allingham and I quite enjoyed it. Fun, entertaining with plenty of twists, I have no hesitation in recommending this cosy mystery to fans of the genre.
With thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for my digital ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.
July 8, 2023
My thanks to Bookouture for a review copy of this book via NetGalley.
Author Merryn Allingham certainly writes these faster than I can keep up; it was only recently that I seemed to be reading Murder at St Saviour’s, the fifth of the Flora Steele series of mysteries set in 1950s England, and before I knew it, there was book 6.
In Murder at Abbeymead Farm (2023), we are back to the small Sussex village of Abbeymead where twenty-seven-year-old Flora Steele runs a book shop, the All’s Well left to her by the aunt who’d brought her up. In the village also lives her partner in crime, and the man she is in love with journalist-turned-mystery-writer Jack Carrington with whom her adventures began when he discovered a body in her book shop. In this book, we meet Percy Milburn, an enterprising and wealthy Yorkshireman who has settled in Abbeymead after retirement and is not only Flora’s best customer but one she likes very much for his endless energy and ideas. His latest is the purchase of a farm, Bird’s Acre whose tenant Robert Martin has died, to convert it into a hostel where people with limited means can stay while enjoying the countryside at Abbeymead. This, not surprisingly, stirs up a hornet’s nest, for while the owner of the farm Sir Frederick Neville is desperate for money, he’d rather have a classy hotel than a hostel, while other residents of the village are opposed to any project at all. Mr Milburn fails to appear at the village meeting set up to pitch his ideas, and then also to his meeting with Sir Frederick. Worried, Flora convinces Jack to search for him, only to find his body, in a cider barrel on the Farm. The police is, as always, short-staffed and Jack’s friend Inspector Alan Ridley is happy to have Jack and Flora take over some of the investigation. Sir Frederick and his as-unlikeable nephew Piers were both keen on having a hotel on the farm and have also been involved in negotiations with the odd-looking and shady agent, Sidney Lovejoy. There’s also Sir Frederick’s agent Colin Palmer, who wants the sale to go through. Then Flora starts to become a target of someone very nasty, but is it the killer or someone else?
Murder at Abbeymead Farm made for another very readable entry in the Flora Steele series, giving us an interesting mystery with a fair few suspects, of whom some are strangers (always a standout in a small village), as well as developments in the village itself, in the lives of characters we’ve come to know and become interested in, besides Flora and Jack’s relationship.
Pretty much since the previous book in the series, Inspector Ridley sees Jack and Flora as allies rather than meddlers and is more than pleased to leave entire sections of the investigation (in this case, the fiddly bits where he might face difficulties, like talking to peers who might just be friends with the commissioner) to them, and openly admits it when he runs into a dead end. But he is also very much at hand when help is needed, arriving on the scene like some of those movie policemen, just in the nick of time!
In terms of the mystery, this book was an interesting one, but about half way into the book, based on some occurrences and remarks by the person concerned, I was fairly certain as to whodunit, but was happy to read on to see whether I guessed right (I had) or whether Allingham would spring a surprise.
The book’s setting is of course, in the post-war period, so we’re seeing the developments of the time like things coming out of rationing but others still remaining luxuries (smoked salmon amongst them). As Flora runs a bookshop, there’s also talk of the new books of the day, among them Daphne Du Maurier’s The Scapegoat (one I am still to read). Also aspects like the country side changing with hotels and such taking off and farms and manors changing hands and the character of the village with it.
In Flora and Jack’s relationship we also start to see some changes (slight tensions) as Jack has come to realise that he wants to cement things further while Flora, perhaps not too optimistic about marriage based on what little she’s seen (and of course her past experiences in love and those of Jack) would rather things continue just the same. But there are plenty of obstacles to that including new information about her parents who died when she was a child.
Will that lead us to our next mystery? Well, one will have to wait for the next book to find out, though I don’t think that will be long coming.
Author Merryn Allingham certainly writes these faster than I can keep up; it was only recently that I seemed to be reading Murder at St Saviour’s, the fifth of the Flora Steele series of mysteries set in 1950s England, and before I knew it, there was book 6.
In Murder at Abbeymead Farm (2023), we are back to the small Sussex village of Abbeymead where twenty-seven-year-old Flora Steele runs a book shop, the All’s Well left to her by the aunt who’d brought her up. In the village also lives her partner in crime, and the man she is in love with journalist-turned-mystery-writer Jack Carrington with whom her adventures began when he discovered a body in her book shop. In this book, we meet Percy Milburn, an enterprising and wealthy Yorkshireman who has settled in Abbeymead after retirement and is not only Flora’s best customer but one she likes very much for his endless energy and ideas. His latest is the purchase of a farm, Bird’s Acre whose tenant Robert Martin has died, to convert it into a hostel where people with limited means can stay while enjoying the countryside at Abbeymead. This, not surprisingly, stirs up a hornet’s nest, for while the owner of the farm Sir Frederick Neville is desperate for money, he’d rather have a classy hotel than a hostel, while other residents of the village are opposed to any project at all. Mr Milburn fails to appear at the village meeting set up to pitch his ideas, and then also to his meeting with Sir Frederick. Worried, Flora convinces Jack to search for him, only to find his body, in a cider barrel on the Farm. The police is, as always, short-staffed and Jack’s friend Inspector Alan Ridley is happy to have Jack and Flora take over some of the investigation. Sir Frederick and his as-unlikeable nephew Piers were both keen on having a hotel on the farm and have also been involved in negotiations with the odd-looking and shady agent, Sidney Lovejoy. There’s also Sir Frederick’s agent Colin Palmer, who wants the sale to go through. Then Flora starts to become a target of someone very nasty, but is it the killer or someone else?
Murder at Abbeymead Farm made for another very readable entry in the Flora Steele series, giving us an interesting mystery with a fair few suspects, of whom some are strangers (always a standout in a small village), as well as developments in the village itself, in the lives of characters we’ve come to know and become interested in, besides Flora and Jack’s relationship.
Pretty much since the previous book in the series, Inspector Ridley sees Jack and Flora as allies rather than meddlers and is more than pleased to leave entire sections of the investigation (in this case, the fiddly bits where he might face difficulties, like talking to peers who might just be friends with the commissioner) to them, and openly admits it when he runs into a dead end. But he is also very much at hand when help is needed, arriving on the scene like some of those movie policemen, just in the nick of time!
In terms of the mystery, this book was an interesting one, but about half way into the book, based on some occurrences and remarks by the person concerned, I was fairly certain as to whodunit, but was happy to read on to see whether I guessed right (I had) or whether Allingham would spring a surprise.
The book’s setting is of course, in the post-war period, so we’re seeing the developments of the time like things coming out of rationing but others still remaining luxuries (smoked salmon amongst them). As Flora runs a bookshop, there’s also talk of the new books of the day, among them Daphne Du Maurier’s The Scapegoat (one I am still to read). Also aspects like the country side changing with hotels and such taking off and farms and manors changing hands and the character of the village with it.
In Flora and Jack’s relationship we also start to see some changes (slight tensions) as Jack has come to realise that he wants to cement things further while Flora, perhaps not too optimistic about marriage based on what little she’s seen (and of course her past experiences in love and those of Jack) would rather things continue just the same. But there are plenty of obstacles to that including new information about her parents who died when she was a child.
Will that lead us to our next mystery? Well, one will have to wait for the next book to find out, though I don’t think that will be long coming.
May 15, 2023
Flora Steele find herself the victim of harassment. Some things that are very special to her are being destroyed. What has she done to annoy somebody to the point that they are trying to make her extremely unhappy? In addition to that, Flora and her boyfriend Jack are investigating yet another murder scene. Flora has always been very adept at when it comes to her role as an amateur sleuth.
In this sixth book in the Flora Steele cozy mystery series, Flora is interested to see how Percy Milburn plans on convincing the village of Abbeymead to begin a hostel at a farm he planned on purchasing. When a meeting is about to begin to discuss the plans, Flora and the others in attendance wonder why he is late. Sadly, not only is he late, but he does not show up at all. In fact, after a few days his body is discovered and it was apparently a murder. Between her determination to solve Percy’s murder and the strange happenings in her case, Flora is busier than ever.
Flora and Jack have different responses to the personal attacks that her. Jack’s concern is much different than Flora’s ire. And when you factor in yet another murder, they both realize that time is definitely of the essence. Then, when you consider the fact that Percy Milburn was actually killed in Flora’s bookshop, it really comes to no surprise that she is ever more determined to solve this murder. Then, with Jack being an author of crime novels, they make a wonderful team.
Considering that some of the villagers were not happy about Percy’s hostel plans, there are no shortage of suspects. One other part of this book is that Flora’s friend Kate is going to get married soon, so readers get another aspect of Flora’s relationship with Jack as she ponders her friend’s upcoming nuptials. I love keeping her relationship with Jack as part of the context of this series and I cannot wait to see where it goes from here when we get the next book. If you love cozy mysteries, and if you love continuity, then this series by Merryn Allingham is one that I think you will love.
Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this book for review. This is my honest opinion.
In this sixth book in the Flora Steele cozy mystery series, Flora is interested to see how Percy Milburn plans on convincing the village of Abbeymead to begin a hostel at a farm he planned on purchasing. When a meeting is about to begin to discuss the plans, Flora and the others in attendance wonder why he is late. Sadly, not only is he late, but he does not show up at all. In fact, after a few days his body is discovered and it was apparently a murder. Between her determination to solve Percy’s murder and the strange happenings in her case, Flora is busier than ever.
Flora and Jack have different responses to the personal attacks that her. Jack’s concern is much different than Flora’s ire. And when you factor in yet another murder, they both realize that time is definitely of the essence. Then, when you consider the fact that Percy Milburn was actually killed in Flora’s bookshop, it really comes to no surprise that she is ever more determined to solve this murder. Then, with Jack being an author of crime novels, they make a wonderful team.
Considering that some of the villagers were not happy about Percy’s hostel plans, there are no shortage of suspects. One other part of this book is that Flora’s friend Kate is going to get married soon, so readers get another aspect of Flora’s relationship with Jack as she ponders her friend’s upcoming nuptials. I love keeping her relationship with Jack as part of the context of this series and I cannot wait to see where it goes from here when we get the next book. If you love cozy mysteries, and if you love continuity, then this series by Merryn Allingham is one that I think you will love.
Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this book for review. This is my honest opinion.
July 18, 2025
4,25 ⭐️ doskonale się bawiłam. lekka, przyjemna lektura idealna na letnie popołudnia. Fajnie czytać jak rozwija się relacja Flory i Jacka. Nie uświadczymy tu brutalności. polecam
July 17, 2025
Już nie mogę się doczekać następnego tomu. ❤️ 4⭐
May 18, 2023
What's a sleuth to do when one of their prime suspects is murdered, too? That's just one of the problems facing Flora and Jack this go-round. I was pleased that we seemed to be getting more of the story through Jack's eyes this time, with Flora unusually rattled by the death of a man she considered a friend, Percy Milburn. Given the vandalism to some beloved objects and, well, Flora is having a rough go of it. That's even without all the not-so-subtle hints that many expect to see Jack and her wed soon.
So, who killed Percy, a man determined to make changes to stubbornly unchanging Abbeymead? Honestly, I didn't see this one coming. Was it Sir Frederick, whose decision to sell a piece of proper started the whole mess, or maybe his nephew Piers who has his own ideas of what should be done with the same property? Or maybe the ambitious Colin, who stood to gain a fortune? Surely not sweet, mild mannered Minnie, Percy's maid? Or one of the many citizens who are rankled by Percy's plan to build a hostel and, in their minds, bring the wrong kind of people to Abbeymead? Most seem content that Abbeymead remain the same forever.
There's great deal going on in this installment. I've read the series from the beginning and have enjoyed watching the relationship between Jack and Flora develop. Hmm, will that mysterious letter push it along or throw more obstacles in the way? Well, like finding dead bodies isn't distraction enough. Oddly enough, one my favorite things about the duo is that they've proven to be fallible. That makes them all the more human in my eyes. Jack's willingness to go the extra mile to make Flora happy is definitely sweet and I'm rooting for him.
Thanks #NetGalley and #Bookouture for inviting me back to Abbeymead. Life was both more difficult yet more simple in so many ways in 1957.
So, who killed Percy, a man determined to make changes to stubbornly unchanging Abbeymead? Honestly, I didn't see this one coming. Was it Sir Frederick, whose decision to sell a piece of proper started the whole mess, or maybe his nephew Piers who has his own ideas of what should be done with the same property? Or maybe the ambitious Colin, who stood to gain a fortune? Surely not sweet, mild mannered Minnie, Percy's maid? Or one of the many citizens who are rankled by Percy's plan to build a hostel and, in their minds, bring the wrong kind of people to Abbeymead? Most seem content that Abbeymead remain the same forever.
There's great deal going on in this installment. I've read the series from the beginning and have enjoyed watching the relationship between Jack and Flora develop. Hmm, will that mysterious letter push it along or throw more obstacles in the way? Well, like finding dead bodies isn't distraction enough. Oddly enough, one my favorite things about the duo is that they've proven to be fallible. That makes them all the more human in my eyes. Jack's willingness to go the extra mile to make Flora happy is definitely sweet and I'm rooting for him.
Thanks #NetGalley and #Bookouture for inviting me back to Abbeymead. Life was both more difficult yet more simple in so many ways in 1957.
July 1, 2025
Bardzo lubię tą serię. Kryminał retro umiejscowiony na angielskiej prowincji. Kolejna ciekawa kryminalna zagadka w małym miasteczku i niezastąpiona Flora 😉
June 30, 2025
3,75/5 ⭐️
Kolejna komfortowa Flora Steele przez którą się płynie! Uwielbiam te cozy crime okraszone slow burn romance, na dodatek w tym tomie odgadłam, kto był winny zbrodni!
Kolejna komfortowa Flora Steele przez którą się płynie! Uwielbiam te cozy crime okraszone slow burn romance, na dodatek w tym tomie odgadłam, kto był winny zbrodni!
May 21, 2023
BLOG TOUR REVIEW
Review for 'Murder At Abbeymead Farm' by Merryn Allingham.
Read and reviewed via NetGalley for Merryn Allingham, Bookouture publishers and Bookouture anonymous
Publication date 11th May 2023.
This is the fifth book I have read by this author. It is also the sixth book in the 'Flora Steele Mystery' series. I have previously read 'The Bookshop Murder' which is the first book in the series, 'Murder At The Pier' which is the second book in the series, 'Murder At Primrose Cottage' which is the third book in the series and 'Murder At The Priory Hotel' which is the fourth book in this series and all of them I highly recommend, although they can each be read as a standalone.
I was originally drawn to this book by its beautiful eye catching cover and its intriguing synopsis and title. The synopsis for this series stated that this series is 'A completely addictive cozy crime novel set in the fictional Sussex village of Abbeymead. Perfect for fans of Agatha Christie, Faith Martin and Joy Ellis!' I am a huge fan of all three of those authors so am looking forward to seeing if this lives up to this statement. I am also a huge fan of Merryn and if this is half as good as 'The Bookshop Murder', 'Murder On The Pier', 'Murder At Primrose Cottage' and 'Murder At The Priory Hotel' it is sure to be a page turning read. I must admit I was also biased due to the publisher being Bookouture. I have yet to read a book published by Bookouture that I haven't enjoyed. Hopefully this won't be the first... Watch this space! (Written before I started reading the book).
This novel consists of a prologue and 32 chapters. The chapters are short to medium in length so possible to read 'just one more chapter' before bed...OK, I know yeah right, but still just in case!
This book is based in Sussex, England 🏴, UK 🇬🇧. I always enjoy when books are set in the UK as I'm from Wales and have sometimes visited areas mentioned in the book. This makes it easier to picture where the scenes are set at times. I have in fact visited and holidayed in Sussex on many occasions including this year and next year again so am looking forward to possibly recognising name places.
This book is written in third person perspective and the main protagonists are Flora Steele ad Jack Carrington. The benefits of third person perspective with multiple protagonists are that it let's you see the bigger picture of what's going on and you get to know more characters more, what they are thinking and what they are doing. It feels like you get to see the whole picture and not miss out in anything.
Another fantastic success by Merryn!!! Absolutely devoured this book in one sitting!!
Well I must say this is yet another explosive book in an absolutely addictive series!!! The storyline was very interesting and very fast paced. I absolutely love the fact that the main characters (Flora) owns a Bookshop and Jack is an author. I always look forward to meeting them and am gutted to come to the end of each book as they have become like friends to me. There is just something about a book where there is a lot of emphasis on books for me and this book was packed with them!! I really enjoyed that it was set in the past and the storyline really suited that. It really is a nice cozy mystery that will keep you guessing throughout. Abbeymead farm is up for sale but the villagers are not happy with the fact that the new potential owner Percy Millburn wants to turn it into a hostel. When he doesn't turn up for a meeting Flora and Jack decide that something isn't right so go to look for him. They soon find him but not how they were expecting at all and they end up trying to discover who was responsible for his grim ending. However, this time they seem to be in deeper trouble than usual when Flora finds herself a target when her beloved bookshop is vandalized. The more that Jack and Flora dig into this mystery the more dangerous the attacks on Flora become. Will they find out who is responsible before there's another murder or before the killer has their final revenge on Flora?? You'll just have to pick up a copy of this fantastic coz mystery today to find out more!!! At no point did I suspect who was doing what or why so another huge well done there Merryn!!! I have read many a mystery and find that I am working out the killer/perp quicker every time and there's nothing worse than working out who did what when your need even half way through a book. I loved that this book is based in Sussex as the atmospheres suit the book perfectly. Not only is this a suspense and action filled mystery but there was just the right amount of quirkiness, laughter and attitude to give it a nice mix!!! This book was extremely well written and I do believe alot of research went into it as everything linked correctly in with the era it was set in which was 1955. It is a real bug bear for me when I read a historical novel and the author hasn't done their research and gets basic information mixed up so well done Merryn!! It was very well written and I found the synopsis and the cover fitted the storyline perfectly, The descriptions were great and it really felt as if I was in the storyline along with Flora and Jack. Merryn describes life in a small village perfectly with everyone knowing everyone else and their business, growing up and living in one now she has definitely got it perfectly!! This book is yet another fantastic addition to a brilliant cozy mystery series that I absolutely love looking out for the next book in!
OMG!!!! THAT ENDING!!!! LOVE, LOVE, ABSOLUTELY LOVED!!!! 😍 😘 ❤️ ❤️ ❤️ ❤️ WELL DONE MERRYN ABSOLUTELY AMAZING!!! DID I MENTION I LOVED IT???!!!!!
A fun, addictive, unputdownable cozy crime mystery. Clear your schedules as you won't be able to put this book down!
Although this is the sixth book in the series I had absolutely no problems reading it without the others. Any details or events that have previously happened are mentioned in just the right amount of detail to let a new reader know what has happened and yet not too much to bore a previous reader.
I am thoroughly invested in the characters and really enjoyed meeting Flora and Jack again both with their fantastic and quirky personality!!! In fact all of the characters had their own individual personalities which worked really well with each other. I am definitely looking forward to meeting Flora and Jack again and some more of the villagers. Some of the characters I was glad to see the back of but what fun would there be if we got along with them all. Flora and Jack have definitely become like friends to me and I look forward to meeting them again each time Merryn brings out another fantastic book in this series. I have loved watching Jack and Flora getting closer and closer and I really hope she gets over her fear of marriage and that they finally tie the knot soon as they make the perfect partners in crime and love!! Some of the other characters I enjoy meeting each time include Flora's friend and cafe owner, soon to be married, Kate, Alice and Jack's little helper Charlie. I wasn't a fan of Winifred who was trying to bully everyone into agreeing to what she wanted, especially the lovely Minnie. Anyway I won't say anymore as I don't want to give anything away but as always with this great seriea there is a perfect mix of strong and realistic characters to make an addictive storyline.
Congratulations Merryn on yet an absolutely fantastic book in an absolutely epic series!! I am really looking forward to see what Flora and Jack get up to next!!! Here's to your next success 🥂
Overall an page turning, perfect mix of mystery, crime, suspense and quirkiness which kept me turning the pages late at night!! An explosive addition to an addictive series!!!
Genres covered in this novel include Suspense, Cozy Animal Mystery, Mystery, Thriller, Cozy Culinary Mystery, Women Sleuths, Crime Thriller, Cozy Crafts And Hobbies Mystery, Police Procedural, Women Sleuths, Cozy Mystery, Amateur Sleuths, Murder Mystery and Crime Fiction amongst others.
I would recommend this book to the fans of the above as well as fans of Helena Dixon, Agatha Christie, Faith Martin, Joy Ellis, Verity Bright, Clare Chase, Dee MacDonald, Fliss Chester and anyone looking for a historic cosy mystery!!
266 pages.
This book is just £1.99 on kindle, free with kindle unlimited and £7.99 in paperback (at time of review) via Amazon which I think is an absolute bargain for this book!!!
Rated 5 /5 (I LOVED it ) on Goodreads, Instagram, Amazon UK and Amazon US and on over 30 Facebook pages plus my blog on Facebook.
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Review for 'Murder At Abbeymead Farm' by Merryn Allingham.
Read and reviewed via NetGalley for Merryn Allingham, Bookouture publishers and Bookouture anonymous
Publication date 11th May 2023.
This is the fifth book I have read by this author. It is also the sixth book in the 'Flora Steele Mystery' series. I have previously read 'The Bookshop Murder' which is the first book in the series, 'Murder At The Pier' which is the second book in the series, 'Murder At Primrose Cottage' which is the third book in the series and 'Murder At The Priory Hotel' which is the fourth book in this series and all of them I highly recommend, although they can each be read as a standalone.
I was originally drawn to this book by its beautiful eye catching cover and its intriguing synopsis and title. The synopsis for this series stated that this series is 'A completely addictive cozy crime novel set in the fictional Sussex village of Abbeymead. Perfect for fans of Agatha Christie, Faith Martin and Joy Ellis!' I am a huge fan of all three of those authors so am looking forward to seeing if this lives up to this statement. I am also a huge fan of Merryn and if this is half as good as 'The Bookshop Murder', 'Murder On The Pier', 'Murder At Primrose Cottage' and 'Murder At The Priory Hotel' it is sure to be a page turning read. I must admit I was also biased due to the publisher being Bookouture. I have yet to read a book published by Bookouture that I haven't enjoyed. Hopefully this won't be the first... Watch this space! (Written before I started reading the book).
This novel consists of a prologue and 32 chapters. The chapters are short to medium in length so possible to read 'just one more chapter' before bed...OK, I know yeah right, but still just in case!
This book is based in Sussex, England 🏴, UK 🇬🇧. I always enjoy when books are set in the UK as I'm from Wales and have sometimes visited areas mentioned in the book. This makes it easier to picture where the scenes are set at times. I have in fact visited and holidayed in Sussex on many occasions including this year and next year again so am looking forward to possibly recognising name places.
This book is written in third person perspective and the main protagonists are Flora Steele ad Jack Carrington. The benefits of third person perspective with multiple protagonists are that it let's you see the bigger picture of what's going on and you get to know more characters more, what they are thinking and what they are doing. It feels like you get to see the whole picture and not miss out in anything.
Another fantastic success by Merryn!!! Absolutely devoured this book in one sitting!!
Well I must say this is yet another explosive book in an absolutely addictive series!!! The storyline was very interesting and very fast paced. I absolutely love the fact that the main characters (Flora) owns a Bookshop and Jack is an author. I always look forward to meeting them and am gutted to come to the end of each book as they have become like friends to me. There is just something about a book where there is a lot of emphasis on books for me and this book was packed with them!! I really enjoyed that it was set in the past and the storyline really suited that. It really is a nice cozy mystery that will keep you guessing throughout. Abbeymead farm is up for sale but the villagers are not happy with the fact that the new potential owner Percy Millburn wants to turn it into a hostel. When he doesn't turn up for a meeting Flora and Jack decide that something isn't right so go to look for him. They soon find him but not how they were expecting at all and they end up trying to discover who was responsible for his grim ending. However, this time they seem to be in deeper trouble than usual when Flora finds herself a target when her beloved bookshop is vandalized. The more that Jack and Flora dig into this mystery the more dangerous the attacks on Flora become. Will they find out who is responsible before there's another murder or before the killer has their final revenge on Flora?? You'll just have to pick up a copy of this fantastic coz mystery today to find out more!!! At no point did I suspect who was doing what or why so another huge well done there Merryn!!! I have read many a mystery and find that I am working out the killer/perp quicker every time and there's nothing worse than working out who did what when your need even half way through a book. I loved that this book is based in Sussex as the atmospheres suit the book perfectly. Not only is this a suspense and action filled mystery but there was just the right amount of quirkiness, laughter and attitude to give it a nice mix!!! This book was extremely well written and I do believe alot of research went into it as everything linked correctly in with the era it was set in which was 1955. It is a real bug bear for me when I read a historical novel and the author hasn't done their research and gets basic information mixed up so well done Merryn!! It was very well written and I found the synopsis and the cover fitted the storyline perfectly, The descriptions were great and it really felt as if I was in the storyline along with Flora and Jack. Merryn describes life in a small village perfectly with everyone knowing everyone else and their business, growing up and living in one now she has definitely got it perfectly!! This book is yet another fantastic addition to a brilliant cozy mystery series that I absolutely love looking out for the next book in!
OMG!!!! THAT ENDING!!!! LOVE, LOVE, ABSOLUTELY LOVED!!!! 😍 😘 ❤️ ❤️ ❤️ ❤️ WELL DONE MERRYN ABSOLUTELY AMAZING!!! DID I MENTION I LOVED IT???!!!!!
A fun, addictive, unputdownable cozy crime mystery. Clear your schedules as you won't be able to put this book down!
Although this is the sixth book in the series I had absolutely no problems reading it without the others. Any details or events that have previously happened are mentioned in just the right amount of detail to let a new reader know what has happened and yet not too much to bore a previous reader.
I am thoroughly invested in the characters and really enjoyed meeting Flora and Jack again both with their fantastic and quirky personality!!! In fact all of the characters had their own individual personalities which worked really well with each other. I am definitely looking forward to meeting Flora and Jack again and some more of the villagers. Some of the characters I was glad to see the back of but what fun would there be if we got along with them all. Flora and Jack have definitely become like friends to me and I look forward to meeting them again each time Merryn brings out another fantastic book in this series. I have loved watching Jack and Flora getting closer and closer and I really hope she gets over her fear of marriage and that they finally tie the knot soon as they make the perfect partners in crime and love!! Some of the other characters I enjoy meeting each time include Flora's friend and cafe owner, soon to be married, Kate, Alice and Jack's little helper Charlie. I wasn't a fan of Winifred who was trying to bully everyone into agreeing to what she wanted, especially the lovely Minnie. Anyway I won't say anymore as I don't want to give anything away but as always with this great seriea there is a perfect mix of strong and realistic characters to make an addictive storyline.
Congratulations Merryn on yet an absolutely fantastic book in an absolutely epic series!! I am really looking forward to see what Flora and Jack get up to next!!! Here's to your next success 🥂
Overall an page turning, perfect mix of mystery, crime, suspense and quirkiness which kept me turning the pages late at night!! An explosive addition to an addictive series!!!
Genres covered in this novel include Suspense, Cozy Animal Mystery, Mystery, Thriller, Cozy Culinary Mystery, Women Sleuths, Crime Thriller, Cozy Crafts And Hobbies Mystery, Police Procedural, Women Sleuths, Cozy Mystery, Amateur Sleuths, Murder Mystery and Crime Fiction amongst others.
I would recommend this book to the fans of the above as well as fans of Helena Dixon, Agatha Christie, Faith Martin, Joy Ellis, Verity Bright, Clare Chase, Dee MacDonald, Fliss Chester and anyone looking for a historic cosy mystery!!
266 pages.
This book is just £1.99 on kindle, free with kindle unlimited and £7.99 in paperback (at time of review) via Amazon which I think is an absolute bargain for this book!!!
Rated 5 /5 (I LOVED it ) on Goodreads, Instagram, Amazon UK and Amazon US and on over 30 Facebook pages plus my blog on Facebook.
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May 24, 2023
Merryn Allingham is either crazy or a genius. A mystery where the sleuths don't figure it out but the reader does? Loved it!
Some village relationships get really strained, and as a result, red herrings abound. I can't wait to see what Allingham does next.
Some village relationships get really strained, and as a result, red herrings abound. I can't wait to see what Allingham does next.
August 3, 2025
W Abbeymead zaginął nowy mieszkaniec Percy i tylko Flora przejmuje się jego losem. Wyrusza z Jackiem na jego poszukiwanie, niestety finał jest makabryczny. Teraz muszą odkryć kto stoi za jego śmiercią, a wrogów nie brakuje.
„Morderstwo na wzgórzu” to już szósty tom, gdzie Flora Sleele prowadzi śledztwo. To seria przyjemnych kryminałów cosy crime w stylu retro z dobrze zarysowanym tłem społecznym.
Ponownie przenosimy się do małej angielskiej wioski. Narracja prowadzona jest z perspektywy Flory, więc doskonale znamy jej uczucia i targające nią emocje. Tym razem Florę, naszły chwile zwątpienia podczas prowadzonego śledztwa, dochodzi też sprawa z Jackiem. Ich relacja się zacieśnia, jednak ona nie chce słyszeć o ślubie, boi się takich poważnych zobowiązań, towarzyszymy jej w tych rozmyślaniach. Na domiar złego ktoś uprzykrza jej życie, w miejsca które najbardziej za bolą. Przez to traci poczucie bezpieczeństwa i spokój. Flora dzięki temu staje się bardziej realistyczna, nie zawsze życie jest kolorowe i wszystko układa się. Jack natomiast to jedyna stała w życiu Flory, daje jej potrzebne wsparcie i przestrzeń. Nie może zabraknąć cudownego małomiasteczkowego klimatu, gdzie wszyscy się ze sobą znają, nie lubią obcych oraz zmian. W tym tomie wybrzmiewa niechęć do powstawania nowych miejsc, które mają przynosić pieniądze oraz turystów. Autorka zgrabnie wplata różne ciekawostki o tamtych czasach do fabuły, jak się wtedy żyło i z jakimi ograniczeniami się mierzyli, co bardzo sobie cenię w tej serii. Intryga kryminalna prowadzona skrupulatnie w klasycznym stylu, z mnóstwem rozpytań i szukaniem tropów, bez krwawych opisów. Jack i Flora zostają wciągnięci sieć intryg, niedomówień oraz skrywanych emocji. Autorka świetnie myliła tropy prowadząc do zaskakującego finału. Polecam 💚
„Morderstwo na wzgórzu” to już szósty tom, gdzie Flora Sleele prowadzi śledztwo. To seria przyjemnych kryminałów cosy crime w stylu retro z dobrze zarysowanym tłem społecznym.
Ponownie przenosimy się do małej angielskiej wioski. Narracja prowadzona jest z perspektywy Flory, więc doskonale znamy jej uczucia i targające nią emocje. Tym razem Florę, naszły chwile zwątpienia podczas prowadzonego śledztwa, dochodzi też sprawa z Jackiem. Ich relacja się zacieśnia, jednak ona nie chce słyszeć o ślubie, boi się takich poważnych zobowiązań, towarzyszymy jej w tych rozmyślaniach. Na domiar złego ktoś uprzykrza jej życie, w miejsca które najbardziej za bolą. Przez to traci poczucie bezpieczeństwa i spokój. Flora dzięki temu staje się bardziej realistyczna, nie zawsze życie jest kolorowe i wszystko układa się. Jack natomiast to jedyna stała w życiu Flory, daje jej potrzebne wsparcie i przestrzeń. Nie może zabraknąć cudownego małomiasteczkowego klimatu, gdzie wszyscy się ze sobą znają, nie lubią obcych oraz zmian. W tym tomie wybrzmiewa niechęć do powstawania nowych miejsc, które mają przynosić pieniądze oraz turystów. Autorka zgrabnie wplata różne ciekawostki o tamtych czasach do fabuły, jak się wtedy żyło i z jakimi ograniczeniami się mierzyli, co bardzo sobie cenię w tej serii. Intryga kryminalna prowadzona skrupulatnie w klasycznym stylu, z mnóstwem rozpytań i szukaniem tropów, bez krwawych opisów. Jack i Flora zostają wciągnięci sieć intryg, niedomówień oraz skrywanych emocji. Autorka świetnie myliła tropy prowadząc do zaskakującego finału. Polecam 💚
January 6, 2026
3.5⭐️
[Eng]
I really enjoy Merryn Allingham's books. They are perfect comfort crime novels — light, cozy, and easy to get lost in. The mysteries may not always be highly complex, but they are engaging and consistently enjoyable. I also really like the characters, Flora and Jack, and enjoy following them from book to book. This series is a reliable choice whenever I want a relaxing and entertaining light read.
[PL]
Bardzo lubię książki Merryn Allingham. To idealne comfort kryminały — lekkie, przytulne i wciągające. Zagadki nie zawsze są bardzo skomplikowane, ale są interesujące i konsekwentnie sprawiają przyjemność podczas czytania. Lubię też bohaterów, Florę i Jacka, i z przyjemnością śledzę ich losy z tomu na tom. Ta seria to dla mnie pewny wybór, gdy mam ochotę na relaksującą i lekką historię.
[Eng]
I really enjoy Merryn Allingham's books. They are perfect comfort crime novels — light, cozy, and easy to get lost in. The mysteries may not always be highly complex, but they are engaging and consistently enjoyable. I also really like the characters, Flora and Jack, and enjoy following them from book to book. This series is a reliable choice whenever I want a relaxing and entertaining light read.
[PL]
Bardzo lubię książki Merryn Allingham. To idealne comfort kryminały — lekkie, przytulne i wciągające. Zagadki nie zawsze są bardzo skomplikowane, ale są interesujące i konsekwentnie sprawiają przyjemność podczas czytania. Lubię też bohaterów, Florę i Jacka, i z przyjemnością śledzę ich losy z tomu na tom. Ta seria to dla mnie pewny wybór, gdy mam ochotę na relaksującą i lekką historię.
July 15, 2025
zdecydowanie moja comfort seria do słuchania, a ta część jest najlepsza jak do tej pory
June 27, 2025
4.75⭐️
July 1, 2025
3.5
dajcie florze więcej wolności i niezależności i wszystko będzie super. ja rozumiem lata 50, ale w końcu książka została napisana współcześnie, I DON’T NEED THIS MUCH OF AUTHENTICITY
a jeśli chodzi o fabułę, oceniam wyżej niż poprzednie 3? tomy, ze względu na coraz więcej łączących się nitek, chociaż przy wytłumaczeniu motywu mordercy czekałam, aż jakiś trup wyskoczy z szafy i powie SIKE!
dajcie florze więcej wolności i niezależności i wszystko będzie super. ja rozumiem lata 50, ale w końcu książka została napisana współcześnie, I DON’T NEED THIS MUCH OF AUTHENTICITY
a jeśli chodzi o fabułę, oceniam wyżej niż poprzednie 3? tomy, ze względu na coraz więcej łączących się nitek, chociaż przy wytłumaczeniu motywu mordercy czekałam, aż jakiś trup wyskoczy z szafy i powie SIKE!
October 17, 2023
Such a wonderful cozy mystery read. Merryn Allingham has me hooked on the Flora Steel mystery books. Set in the 1950's they all follow amateur sleuth Flora and her beau Jack as they fumble their way through another murder mystery.
Great characters and a really good plot.
Great characters and a really good plot.
June 28, 2025
Czekam, jak ktoś nakręci serial na podstawie tej serii w stylu serialu Poirot
April 10, 2023
Flora Steele has recently befriended a newcomer to Abbeymead, but as he intends to open a hostel for those tourists wishing to travel across the South Downs by foot, she is in the minority. When a meeting is called to discuss the plans and he fails to attend Flora and her boyfriend, popular novelist Jack Carrington, are dismayed to discover a body in the cellar of the farmhouse at the centre of the controversy.
As the two amateur sleuths begin looking into all those suspects with reason to commit murder Flora is unsettled by things happening far closer to home. Will she and Jack be able to discover the identity of Abbeymead's latest killer while facing the other problems head-on?
Book six in Merryn Allingham's lovely series sees changes afoot for Flora and her beloved home village. There is a lot going on but it was easy to follow the different storylines and additional characters. I thoroughly enjoy reading about life in the late 1950s and if there's a murder thrown in it's even better!
I was able to read an advanced copy of this book thanks to NetGalley and the publishers but the opinions expressed are my own. This is a great historical murder mystery series I happily recommend.
As the two amateur sleuths begin looking into all those suspects with reason to commit murder Flora is unsettled by things happening far closer to home. Will she and Jack be able to discover the identity of Abbeymead's latest killer while facing the other problems head-on?
Book six in Merryn Allingham's lovely series sees changes afoot for Flora and her beloved home village. There is a lot going on but it was easy to follow the different storylines and additional characters. I thoroughly enjoy reading about life in the late 1950s and if there's a murder thrown in it's even better!
I was able to read an advanced copy of this book thanks to NetGalley and the publishers but the opinions expressed are my own. This is a great historical murder mystery series I happily recommend.
September 21, 2024
I enjoyed the latest in the Flora Steele history mystery series (post WWII England). What I especially liked about this book, is how Flora and Jack really are just amateurs, and this is a genuine cozy series. However, unlike in some cozy series where our main character is brilliant at outwitting the police, in this one, Flora and Jack rather stumble along trying to figure out who did it. I'll admit I figured it out faster than Flora and Jack did.
August 1, 2025
wynudziłam się. jak czytałam inny tom z tej serii to dałam chyba wtedy 3 albo 4 gwiazdki, ale jakkolwiek mi się podobało. a tutaj dwie gwiazdki daję za głównych bohaterów i spoko styl pisania. liczyłam na coś lepszego, serio!! czemu to znowu było takie przewidywalne? czuję, że za parę minut totalnie zapomnę o czym to było
July 14, 2025
Wciągająca i przyjemna historia! Przypomina mi pierwsze książki z tej serii, które bardzo mi się podobały. Cieszę się, że znowu dobrze się bawiłam, nie jak przy ostatnich.
September 25, 2025
3,75/5⭐
September 30, 2025
Chyba na tym tomie zakończę przygodę z tą serią bo Flora jest zupełnie nie do zniesienia. Autorka zrobiła z tej kobiety głupią idiotkę, która uważa się za najmądrzejszą na świecie. Jej podejście do jej przyjaciółki sprawiało że miałam ochotę jej walnąć. Ugh...
October 31, 2025
3 tomy pod rząd to chyba nie jest dobry pomysł, bo schematyka szybko robi się męcząca i nudna. w przeciwieństwie do bohaterów ja od razu ogarnęłaś kto jest mordercą, bo było to okropnie oczywiste. ale bardzo podoba mi się wątek flory i jacka, jakie mają problemy w swoim związku. i też to, że flora jest taka niezależna i przeraża ją wizja małżeństwa. jest definicją champagne problems 😩😩😩
August 2, 2023
"Can they unravel the mystery before they're led like lambs to the slaughter?"
...
Whilst not all 'cozy' mysteries I come across are going to shout 'read me', this series is definitely one of my favourites and is one of the few I have striven hard to keep up to date with, as it just keeps getting better and better. The storylines are believable, the characters easy to engage with, and all in keeping with the time period in which they are set, which is the 1950s.
Although each episode is a self-contained storyline, with backstory details being added in sufficient detail to satisfy any newcomers to the series, but not so overwhelming as to be too repetitious for any dedicated Flora Steele followers, I'm sure that once you have read one book, you will be as hooked as I am!
So, without further ado, welcome to the fictional village of Abbeymead in rural Sussex, 1957...
...
Bookshop owner Flora Steele, is lucky enough to have many loyal, regular customers, who keep her business ticking over very nicely thank you! Relative newcomer to the village, and someone with an insatiable thirst for knowledge, Percy Milburn, is one such person. Still perceived and treated very much as a stranger by the staunch locals, Percy is a widower from Yorkshire, whose son was killed in the war and who has set his heart on buying the vacant Birds Acre farm, which he wants to turn into a hostel, providing low cost holiday accommodation for visitors wishing to explore the beauty of the Sussex Downs. Not everyone in the village is happy about Percy's plans for the farm and land though, as 'dyed-in-the-wool' locals are quite happy to accept the likes of Sir Frederick Neville with his inherited wealth and title, but are not quite so willing to accommodate Percy's style of hard-earned cash and status. Plus, many of the established locals also believe that the village is only for long-term residents and visitors of a certain status and there is already a more luxurious hotel which caters for them. Retired schoolmistress Winifred Ticehurst is leading the charge against Percy, thus splitting opinion in the community right down the middle.
The farm and its land, is owned by one Sir Frederick Neville, who despite managing several tracts of land and properties in the area, seems surprisingly, very short of cash and is eager to sell to the highest bidder, so long as the price is right. A meeting is arranged between the two gentlemen to finalise details of the sale, however Percy is conspicuous by his absence and it isn't until his concerned housekeeper visits Flora, that she and her fellow amateur sleuth, author Jack Carrington, decide to investigate. Unfortunately for Flora, when Jack persuades her that they should check out Birds Acre as their obvious place to begin the search for Percy, they discover much more than they bargained for and the site becomes the scene of a gruesome murder enquiry.
On this occasion, unlike so many previous times, their presence is actually appreciated and encouraged by Inspector Alan Ridley, Jack's contact in the Brighton police force and regular advisor to him about police protocol for the murder stories he writes. The Inspector is continually under-staffed and over-worked, so is happy for our amateur sleuthing duo to make enquiries on his behalf, knowing that he can trust them to be pragmatic and discreet in their investigations. On this occasion however, Jack is unusually reticent about getting too involved with his friend's investigation, because for one thing, the suspect list is long and not very salubrious, and on top of that, he is under increasing pressure from his agent and publisher to make good inroads into his next murder mystery novel. When it seems that anyone involved in the sale of Birds Acre, from the solicitor and agent, to a consortium of various gangland thugs trying to evade the long arm of the law and even Sir Neville himself, become both potential targets for murder, and also suspects in the demise of poor Percy, Jack and Flora realise that they are fast becoming embroiled in a situation which is spiralling out of control and which they are powerless to stop, which has never happened to them before. When the body count begins to rise, the suspect list is narrowed down by default and it becomes obvious that the perpetrator is getting evermore desperate, which leaves Flora and Jack facing potentially dangerous outcomes and situations which they may be unable to extricate themselves from.
Alongside this convoluted and difficult case to unravel, a series of very worrying events and 'accidents' have befallen Flora herself and it soon becomes obvious that she is the target of a personal vendetta of harassment, designed to scare her, but to what end? Is this connected to the case, or are there others whom Flora has unwittingly upset who are now out for revenge? As if this all isn't worrying enough for Flora, her personal relationship with Jack is also on a downwards trajectory, which she knows is of her own making, but about which she is not yet ready to make compromises or promises she cannot keep.
...
I know I say this every time, but this case has to be the most complicated and potentially deadly, that author Merryn Allingham has had Flora and Jack face yet. With her usual attention to detail, this very multi-layered and immersive storyline, unfolds its many secrets slowly, almost reluctantly, making me wait until almost the final page before the many strands of the plot are dovetailed together and the tension in the air is almost at breaking point, before the net closes on the perpetrator(s) of the crime(s). Merryn always ensures that her readers compile suspect lists which are always quite substantial and generally include any newcomers to the village, a status which automatically places them under suspicion, although not always justifiably so. In fact, this is the first time that I heard both Jack and Flora admit to being stumped by a case and not really certain which direction to take in their investigation. It really is refreshing to know that the characters in a story are only human, filled with doubts about their ability to bring a criminal to justice when there are so many peaks and troughs in a case.
Each new book is like catching up with old friends and it is always good to see how everyone is getting along. The core cast of characters are all wonderfully authentic and multi-faceted, well developed, easy to invest in and quite able to tell their own story. In fact they are more than willing to tell their story to anyone who will listen, so probably best not to let slip to any one of them anything in confidence, which you don’t want spreading far and wide, although Flora and Jack often find the 'jungle drums' a great source of information when they are working on a case. There is a real sense of community growing around Jack and Flora, now that they have finally been accepted into the fold and knowing that someone will always have your back in times of crisis is invaluable to them, although they do need to beware those residents who would set themselves above everyone else, unfortunately every community has them! I did wonder if there might have been a few too many ‘extra’ characters introduced this time around, who all stood out rather like a sore thumb. It was just a case of working out which of them were the rotten apples in the barrel, not easy as it turned out, especially when someone closer to home might have been using them as a decoy for their own nefarious ends.
Jack and Flora may now consider themselves part of village life, however, they have to be careful that they don't overstep the markers of propriety in their personal living arrangements. Having both had previous partners who hurt them badly, they are probably a little too liberal and ahead of their time for such an insular community. So, sooner rather than later, I feel certain they are going to have to make a decision about their relationship going forwards, as Flora's rather forthright approach when dealing with very thinly veiled questions from folk, is not going to sit well for too much longer and may end up by damaging relationships and even her business status, if she and Jack can't find a way forward, although I believe that Jack has already made his mind up and is trying to give Flora the time and space she needs to decide.
Albeit that there is a mix of real and fictional places in the storyline, for any ‘armchair travellers’ like myself, the author uses her palette of words wonderfully, to paint enough descriptive detail to set the backdrop of a scene more than adequately, which, when taken together with the vivid narrative details of everyday village life in the late 1950s, including many authentic cameos of some of the stalwart villagers themselves, offers a realistic sense of time and place which is most satisfying. In this episode, Flora and Jack, both together and independently, also spend short periods of time outside of Abbeymead, so Brighton, Worthing and London, also get a noteworthy mention.
Such is Merryn's fluent style of writing and the way she keeps moving a case forwards, almost imperceptibly at times, she always makes me feel as though I have just finished reading another new murder/mystery by the great Agatha Christie. In fact, Merryn does add a few lovely little touches, such as the referencing of Flora stocking newly published books, including one 'Spider's Web' by said Agatha Christie and the latest Ian Fleming novel in his James Bond series. That very slightly tongue-in-cheek narrative and dialogue, always engaging, but never laced with misplaced humour or with an unrealistic feel to it, is what keeps me coming back for more!
...
Whilst not all 'cozy' mysteries I come across are going to shout 'read me', this series is definitely one of my favourites and is one of the few I have striven hard to keep up to date with, as it just keeps getting better and better. The storylines are believable, the characters easy to engage with, and all in keeping with the time period in which they are set, which is the 1950s.
Although each episode is a self-contained storyline, with backstory details being added in sufficient detail to satisfy any newcomers to the series, but not so overwhelming as to be too repetitious for any dedicated Flora Steele followers, I'm sure that once you have read one book, you will be as hooked as I am!
So, without further ado, welcome to the fictional village of Abbeymead in rural Sussex, 1957...
...
Bookshop owner Flora Steele, is lucky enough to have many loyal, regular customers, who keep her business ticking over very nicely thank you! Relative newcomer to the village, and someone with an insatiable thirst for knowledge, Percy Milburn, is one such person. Still perceived and treated very much as a stranger by the staunch locals, Percy is a widower from Yorkshire, whose son was killed in the war and who has set his heart on buying the vacant Birds Acre farm, which he wants to turn into a hostel, providing low cost holiday accommodation for visitors wishing to explore the beauty of the Sussex Downs. Not everyone in the village is happy about Percy's plans for the farm and land though, as 'dyed-in-the-wool' locals are quite happy to accept the likes of Sir Frederick Neville with his inherited wealth and title, but are not quite so willing to accommodate Percy's style of hard-earned cash and status. Plus, many of the established locals also believe that the village is only for long-term residents and visitors of a certain status and there is already a more luxurious hotel which caters for them. Retired schoolmistress Winifred Ticehurst is leading the charge against Percy, thus splitting opinion in the community right down the middle.
The farm and its land, is owned by one Sir Frederick Neville, who despite managing several tracts of land and properties in the area, seems surprisingly, very short of cash and is eager to sell to the highest bidder, so long as the price is right. A meeting is arranged between the two gentlemen to finalise details of the sale, however Percy is conspicuous by his absence and it isn't until his concerned housekeeper visits Flora, that she and her fellow amateur sleuth, author Jack Carrington, decide to investigate. Unfortunately for Flora, when Jack persuades her that they should check out Birds Acre as their obvious place to begin the search for Percy, they discover much more than they bargained for and the site becomes the scene of a gruesome murder enquiry.
On this occasion, unlike so many previous times, their presence is actually appreciated and encouraged by Inspector Alan Ridley, Jack's contact in the Brighton police force and regular advisor to him about police protocol for the murder stories he writes. The Inspector is continually under-staffed and over-worked, so is happy for our amateur sleuthing duo to make enquiries on his behalf, knowing that he can trust them to be pragmatic and discreet in their investigations. On this occasion however, Jack is unusually reticent about getting too involved with his friend's investigation, because for one thing, the suspect list is long and not very salubrious, and on top of that, he is under increasing pressure from his agent and publisher to make good inroads into his next murder mystery novel. When it seems that anyone involved in the sale of Birds Acre, from the solicitor and agent, to a consortium of various gangland thugs trying to evade the long arm of the law and even Sir Neville himself, become both potential targets for murder, and also suspects in the demise of poor Percy, Jack and Flora realise that they are fast becoming embroiled in a situation which is spiralling out of control and which they are powerless to stop, which has never happened to them before. When the body count begins to rise, the suspect list is narrowed down by default and it becomes obvious that the perpetrator is getting evermore desperate, which leaves Flora and Jack facing potentially dangerous outcomes and situations which they may be unable to extricate themselves from.
Alongside this convoluted and difficult case to unravel, a series of very worrying events and 'accidents' have befallen Flora herself and it soon becomes obvious that she is the target of a personal vendetta of harassment, designed to scare her, but to what end? Is this connected to the case, or are there others whom Flora has unwittingly upset who are now out for revenge? As if this all isn't worrying enough for Flora, her personal relationship with Jack is also on a downwards trajectory, which she knows is of her own making, but about which she is not yet ready to make compromises or promises she cannot keep.
...
I know I say this every time, but this case has to be the most complicated and potentially deadly, that author Merryn Allingham has had Flora and Jack face yet. With her usual attention to detail, this very multi-layered and immersive storyline, unfolds its many secrets slowly, almost reluctantly, making me wait until almost the final page before the many strands of the plot are dovetailed together and the tension in the air is almost at breaking point, before the net closes on the perpetrator(s) of the crime(s). Merryn always ensures that her readers compile suspect lists which are always quite substantial and generally include any newcomers to the village, a status which automatically places them under suspicion, although not always justifiably so. In fact, this is the first time that I heard both Jack and Flora admit to being stumped by a case and not really certain which direction to take in their investigation. It really is refreshing to know that the characters in a story are only human, filled with doubts about their ability to bring a criminal to justice when there are so many peaks and troughs in a case.
Each new book is like catching up with old friends and it is always good to see how everyone is getting along. The core cast of characters are all wonderfully authentic and multi-faceted, well developed, easy to invest in and quite able to tell their own story. In fact they are more than willing to tell their story to anyone who will listen, so probably best not to let slip to any one of them anything in confidence, which you don’t want spreading far and wide, although Flora and Jack often find the 'jungle drums' a great source of information when they are working on a case. There is a real sense of community growing around Jack and Flora, now that they have finally been accepted into the fold and knowing that someone will always have your back in times of crisis is invaluable to them, although they do need to beware those residents who would set themselves above everyone else, unfortunately every community has them! I did wonder if there might have been a few too many ‘extra’ characters introduced this time around, who all stood out rather like a sore thumb. It was just a case of working out which of them were the rotten apples in the barrel, not easy as it turned out, especially when someone closer to home might have been using them as a decoy for their own nefarious ends.
Jack and Flora may now consider themselves part of village life, however, they have to be careful that they don't overstep the markers of propriety in their personal living arrangements. Having both had previous partners who hurt them badly, they are probably a little too liberal and ahead of their time for such an insular community. So, sooner rather than later, I feel certain they are going to have to make a decision about their relationship going forwards, as Flora's rather forthright approach when dealing with very thinly veiled questions from folk, is not going to sit well for too much longer and may end up by damaging relationships and even her business status, if she and Jack can't find a way forward, although I believe that Jack has already made his mind up and is trying to give Flora the time and space she needs to decide.
Albeit that there is a mix of real and fictional places in the storyline, for any ‘armchair travellers’ like myself, the author uses her palette of words wonderfully, to paint enough descriptive detail to set the backdrop of a scene more than adequately, which, when taken together with the vivid narrative details of everyday village life in the late 1950s, including many authentic cameos of some of the stalwart villagers themselves, offers a realistic sense of time and place which is most satisfying. In this episode, Flora and Jack, both together and independently, also spend short periods of time outside of Abbeymead, so Brighton, Worthing and London, also get a noteworthy mention.
Such is Merryn's fluent style of writing and the way she keeps moving a case forwards, almost imperceptibly at times, she always makes me feel as though I have just finished reading another new murder/mystery by the great Agatha Christie. In fact, Merryn does add a few lovely little touches, such as the referencing of Flora stocking newly published books, including one 'Spider's Web' by said Agatha Christie and the latest Ian Fleming novel in his James Bond series. That very slightly tongue-in-cheek narrative and dialogue, always engaging, but never laced with misplaced humour or with an unrealistic feel to it, is what keeps me coming back for more!
July 31, 2025
Początkowo byłam zachwycona klimatem książek Agathy Christie w połączeniu z serialem Gilmore Girls, ale im dalej tym coraz mniej elementów mi się podobało. Bohaterowie dość płytcy (może to po części też wina tego że nie czytałam poprzednich tomów), plot do przewidzenia i ogólnie przez jakąś część fabuły się po prostu nudziłam
November 13, 2023
I've enjoyed (with reservations) the Flora Steele books by Merryn Allingham so I was looking forward to Murder at Abbeymead Farm. Sadly, it brought back many of my reservations. The plot seems far-fetched, and the plotting is sparse. Having said that, I had the murderer sussed very early on. I struggled to find any rationale for the events and the story just felt flat. But it's the character of Flora that irritated me almost to the point of giving up. She had improved in the previous books and I had high hopes for her, but she's reverted to her old self here. If she were a man, she'd be described as a cad (I'm not sure what the female equivalent is) for the way she treats Jack! Here again she's reluctant to commit to a relationship but happy to take the support he gives. However, there are tantalising hints of something different to come and I'm looking forward to perhaps seeing Flora cross the channel...
May 12, 2023
The delightful Flora Steele and Jack Carrington are back as this series continues to entertain us from the sleepy village of Abbeymead in rural Sussex. And once again they become embroiled in another murder mystery on their hands...this time with baffling proportions. I'm guessing they will soon have a bodycount to rival Midsomer!
Abbeymead, April 1957: Since the discovery of a body in her bookshop the All's Well the previous summer, Flora Steele has had several murder mysteries fall into her lap and that she has insisted on solving...with the help of her dashing crime writer/sleuth Jack Carrington. And this time it's no different.
Recently befriending newcomer Percy Milburn to the village, Flora is among the minority who like Percy. His plans for a nearby farm which he intended to turn into a hostel to enable those less affluent to afford to holiday in such a delightful village had locals raging. They didn't want any hostel cheapening or decimating their quiet village with riff-raff. So when he calls a meeting to discuss the plans in the village hall and then fails to attend, Flora is concerned. There is no way Percy would miss this opportunity to sell his idea to the villagers. So why didn't he?
Putting her thinking cap on, Flora began a process of elimination. Where was Percy last seen? Or rather, where was he supposed to be and also failed to show? A discussion of plans with the vendor at the abandoned farm at which Percy was a no-show. Or was he? Flora knows Percy wouldn't have ditched his plans so therefore something must have happened to him. And when she and Jack discover his remains in barrel of cider in the cellar of the old farmhouse, she is both shocked and dismayed. But she isn't surprised. Because she knew something had stopped Percy from attending both meetings at which his presence was expected. The question is - who?
And then a new buyer is miraculously found for the old farm...who has plans to build a new hotel, of which Abbeymead has no need. So what is really at play here? And whose palms are being greased to make this sale happen?
This case has Flora and Jack similarly stumped. Enquiries take Jack to London where he does a little digging of his own, uncovering from rather unsettling surprises. Meanwhile, back in Abbeymead, someone seems to have it in for Flora as her bookshop is broken into yet again this time all her stock is not only vandalised but decimated. And then the rowan tree her aunt had planted in the front yard of their cottage which held special meaning to her is destroyed during the night. Who is after Flora? And why?
MURDER AT ABBEYMEAD FARM is the sixth book in this entertaining cosy series which is a cross between Agatha Christie's Miss Marple and Father Brown. Each one is a standalone mystery with a backstory that continues to evolve over time. As with each of the books, it is fun entertaining and a quick light read with plenty of twists. Though not my favourite of the series, it is still just as entertaining and just as much fun...and I cannot wait to rejoin Flora and Jack next time. Though I hope Flora isn't as troubled as she appeared in this one and soon makes peace with the news of her friend's upcoming wedding and that of her past.
I would like to thank #MerrynAllingham, #Netgalley and #Bookouture for an ARC of #MurderAtAbbeymeadFarm in exchange for an honest review.
This review appears on my blog at https://stinathebookaholic.blogspot.com/.
Abbeymead, April 1957: Since the discovery of a body in her bookshop the All's Well the previous summer, Flora Steele has had several murder mysteries fall into her lap and that she has insisted on solving...with the help of her dashing crime writer/sleuth Jack Carrington. And this time it's no different.
Recently befriending newcomer Percy Milburn to the village, Flora is among the minority who like Percy. His plans for a nearby farm which he intended to turn into a hostel to enable those less affluent to afford to holiday in such a delightful village had locals raging. They didn't want any hostel cheapening or decimating their quiet village with riff-raff. So when he calls a meeting to discuss the plans in the village hall and then fails to attend, Flora is concerned. There is no way Percy would miss this opportunity to sell his idea to the villagers. So why didn't he?
Putting her thinking cap on, Flora began a process of elimination. Where was Percy last seen? Or rather, where was he supposed to be and also failed to show? A discussion of plans with the vendor at the abandoned farm at which Percy was a no-show. Or was he? Flora knows Percy wouldn't have ditched his plans so therefore something must have happened to him. And when she and Jack discover his remains in barrel of cider in the cellar of the old farmhouse, she is both shocked and dismayed. But she isn't surprised. Because she knew something had stopped Percy from attending both meetings at which his presence was expected. The question is - who?
And then a new buyer is miraculously found for the old farm...who has plans to build a new hotel, of which Abbeymead has no need. So what is really at play here? And whose palms are being greased to make this sale happen?
This case has Flora and Jack similarly stumped. Enquiries take Jack to London where he does a little digging of his own, uncovering from rather unsettling surprises. Meanwhile, back in Abbeymead, someone seems to have it in for Flora as her bookshop is broken into yet again this time all her stock is not only vandalised but decimated. And then the rowan tree her aunt had planted in the front yard of their cottage which held special meaning to her is destroyed during the night. Who is after Flora? And why?
MURDER AT ABBEYMEAD FARM is the sixth book in this entertaining cosy series which is a cross between Agatha Christie's Miss Marple and Father Brown. Each one is a standalone mystery with a backstory that continues to evolve over time. As with each of the books, it is fun entertaining and a quick light read with plenty of twists. Though not my favourite of the series, it is still just as entertaining and just as much fun...and I cannot wait to rejoin Flora and Jack next time. Though I hope Flora isn't as troubled as she appeared in this one and soon makes peace with the news of her friend's upcoming wedding and that of her past.
I would like to thank #MerrynAllingham, #Netgalley and #Bookouture for an ARC of #MurderAtAbbeymeadFarm in exchange for an honest review.
This review appears on my blog at https://stinathebookaholic.blogspot.com/.
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