*I received a free copy of this book with thanks to the author, Storm Publishing and Rachel Gilbey at Rachel's Random Resources blog tours. The decision to review and my opinions are my own.*
Blurb: When Milla Graham returns to her childhood home of Raven's Edge after eighteen long years away, she finds the perfect English village looks much the same – all rose-covered cottages, nosy neighbours, and chintzy teashops full of scones and gossip.
But her nostalgic visit takes a dark turn when the body of a local woman is discovered in an abandoned manor house on the edge of the forest. The murder scene is chillingly close to that of Milla's own mother, whose death was never solved. As she begins to investigate the connection, Milla realises this adorable village is guarding some dark secrets.
Handsome, grumpy local policeman Ben Taylor doesn't believe in coincidences, and he doesn't think mysterious newcomer Milla Graham is as innocent as she seems. Why is she really here in Raven's Edge, and how come she keeps turning up at his crime scenes, causing trouble? Can he solve this murder case without losing himself – or his heart – to the rather distracting Miss Graham?
When another body is found, everyone becomes a suspect – from the barmaid at the local pub to Milla Graham herself. It seems that in Raven's Edge, not everybody is as friendly, or as innocent, as they first seem.
This picture-perfect English village is full of rumour, romance... and murder! A gripping, funny, absolutely unputdownable murder mystery, which is perfect for fans of Faith Martin, Fiona Leitch and M.C. Beaton.
For a 'cosy English mystery' this book manages to pack in a surprising amount of dysfunctional family shenanigans, collegial bridge-burning and surreal literary-fairytale references.
I was mesmerised by the backstory and by the question of who main character Milla really is: is she really Camilla Graham, lost daughter to a tragic family, or is she pretending for her own benefit? And, if she is pretending, will she even survive to benefit?! The chapters from her point of view – as she flees the police, her possible family members and just about everyone else – manage cleverly not to give her secrets away and nor do the flashbacks to the night years ago when a family was destroyed.
Interposed with Milla's breathless running and hiding, we also get chapters from the point of view of Ben and his sergeant, Harriet, as they investigate a more recent tragedy and Milla's obvious involvement in the events surrounding it. The chemistry between Ben and Milla is obvious and it was interesting to see how quickly he 'turns to the dark side', or at least the dubiously grey side, when it comes to questions of police procedure over personal life. And hints at his own family background suggest there is more story to come there!
A lot of the plot is a little far-fetched - Alice and Mad Hatters, millionaires and masquerades - but it doesn't really matter as long as you are willing to suspend your disbelief, as the story and characters are interesting enough to keep you hooked and hoping for them to succeed.
I can't wait to read Murder at Ravenswood House next and find out what further trouble Ben and Milla are able to get themselves into if they try... watch this space!
Another streak of lightning slashed the sky, revealing the miles of unbroken forest reaching down to the river, the almost horizontal rain that was threatening to turn into sleet – and the woman walking in the centre of the road.
It was one of those split-second moments that stretched out forever. He saw her terrified expression as her arms went up to protect herself. He saw her tense, awaiting the impact that would surely kill her. He hit the brakes and then he hit her.
- Louise Marley, Murder at Raven's Edge
About the author
Most of my stories are set in small villages filled with quirky characters. These are partly inspired by the places I've lived in over the years, although the characters are straight out of my imagination! I currently live in Wales, close to a famous library and two ruined castles. My husband thinks we moved here by accident.My first published novel was Smoke Gets in Your Eyes, which was a finalist in Poolbeg's Write a Bestseller competition. As well as eight novels, I've written short stories for women's magazines such as Take a Break and My Weekly. Before becoming a full-time writer, I worked as an administrative officer for the police.When I'm not writing, I enjoy visiting big old houses, which I use as inspiration for the houses in my novels, and reading other people's books when I ought to be writing my own.
Website: https://www.louisemarley.co.uk/index.html
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LouiseMarleyAuthor/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/LouiseMarley
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/louisemarleywrites/
Don't forget to check out the other blog stops on the tour for more great reviews and content (see the poster below for details)! And check back here on 13th May 2024 for my review of Murder at Ravenswood House!
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