Tag: #Mystery

Posted in Cozy Mysteries

Murder in the Desert

Posted on by BookReviews

An utterly page-turning, jaw-dropping cozy mystery novel (A Flora Steele Mystery Book 15)

When amateur detectives Flora and Jack Carrington set sail for Egypt, they expect pyramid views and warm desert nights… but is that a body by a sphinx?

Flora and Jack are delighted to escape to Egypt, and looking forward to a peaceful trip – with no sleuthing involved. That is, until strolling past the Avenue of the Sphinxes, marveling at the incredible stonework, they stumble across a body slumped at the stone feet of a lion.

They are horrified to discover that the victim is Jeffrey Milton – an archaeologist they’d dined with every night on the ship to Egypt. So they can’t resist Jeffrey’s assistant, Stella, when she corners them at breakfast begging for their help. Jack is sure rival archaeologist Laurence is involved – especially when a glittering, priceless amulet from Jeffrey’s site goes missing…

Under the hot sun, Jack and Flora begin digging for their own treasure: the truth. But Jeffrey had more than one enemy waiting in Egypt – a jealous ex-wife and bitter son, busily plotting his downfall beneath the shadow of the palm trees. But when one of their key suspects is found murdered in a boat bobbing gently on the river, the race is on to unearth the killer…

The deeper Flora and Jack dig, the more suspects emerge from the banks of the Nile and dunes of the desert. But can they dust off their sleuthing skills before any more victims are laid to rest in the ancient catacombs of Egypt?

An utterly charming, page-turning cozy mystery novel packed full of puzzling clues and brilliant twists and perfect for fans of Agatha Christie, Clare Chase and J.R. Ellis.

Readers love the Flora Steele Mysteries:

‘Fantastic!!! Absolutely devoured in one sitting!!… Absolutely addictive!!!… My heart was in my throat… OMG!!!! THAT ENDING!!!! LOVE, LOVE, ABSOLUTELY LOVED!!!!… ABSOLUTELY AMAZING!!! DID I MENTION I LOVED IT???!!!!… Clear your schedules as you won’t be able to put this book down!… Kept me turning the pages late at night!!… I LOVED it.’ Bookworm86, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘Wonderful! I absolutely adored this… Had me finishing in no time! I highly recommend!!!… I was drawn in instantly.’ NetGalley reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘Fantastic… I really didn’t want to put this book down for even a second… Totally immersive… Bravo!!’ Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘I started this with my morning coffee and didn’t put it down until it was finished… I could not tear myself away.’ Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘I loved this… Keeps you guessing to the very end. Just when I thought I had it all figured out, another twist… Wow… I completely loved this.’ Page Turners, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘Enchanting and atmospheric… Completely absorbing and wholly immersive… Will sweep you up in all its secrets and mysteries… Truly a delight… Truly wonderful.’ The Staffymum’s Book Nook, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Posted in Cozy Mysteries

Murder at the Country Fair

Posted on by BookReviews

A completely addictive and utterly page-turning cozy mystery novel (A Flora Steele Mystery Book 14)

When a body is discovered at their local country fair, amateur detectives Flora and Jack Carrington agree this death smells suspicious – and it’s not just the killer cheese. It’s the scent of murder…

Sussex, 1960: It’s the perfect day for Abbeymead’s autumn fair. The village green has been transformed into a riot of stalls and tents, and Flora and Jack are keen to sample all the local produce. But when local cheesemaker Gilbert Barrow crashes into the fair, he brings the festivities to a dead halt.

Flora rushes to the van and finds Gilbert slumped over the wheel, killed by his prize-winning round of cheese, which has broken free of its bonds. Flora is immediately alert – surely Gilbert would have been more careful with his treasured prize… and with his life?

Certain there’s more to this than just a tragic accident, Flora and Jack begin investigating Gilbert’s close circle – his jealous cousin, Bea, his corporate dairy rival, Reginald, and his estranged wife, Vivienne. When Gilbert’s new girlfriend is attacked, the race to find out who had the biggest motive heats up faster than fondue. But can Flora and Jack sniff out the killer – or will their investigation crumble before the murderer strikes again…?

A completely gripping and page-turning, charming cozy mystery novel packed to the brim with brilliant twists. Fans of Agatha Christie, Faith Martin and J.R. Ellis will love Murder at the Country Fair.

Readers love the Flora Steele Mysteries:

‘Fantastic!!! Absolutely devoured in one sitting!!… Absolutely addictive!!!… My heart was in my throat… OMG!!!! THAT ENDING!!!! LOVE, LOVE, ABSOLUTELY LOVED!!!!… ABSOLUTELY AMAZING!!! DID I MENTION I LOVED IT???!!!!… Clear your schedules as you won’t be able to put this book down!… Kept me turning the pages late at night!!… I LOVED it.’ Bookworm86, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘An easy, enjoyable cozy mystery… Charming… Entertaining… Warm, lively, and full of personality… Wonderful… Filled with charm, community, and just enough danger… A fun cozy mystery… Delightful… Perfect.’ Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘Wonderful! I absolutely adored this… Had me finishing in no time! I highly recommend!!!… I was drawn in instantly.’ NetGalley reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘Fantastic… I really didn’t want to put this book down for even a second… Totally immersive… Bravo!!’ Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘I started this with my morning coffee and didn’t put it down until it was finished… I could not tear myself away.’ Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘I loved this… Keeps you guessing to the very end. Just when I thought I had it all figured out, another twist… Wow… I completely loved this.’ Page Turners, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘Enchanting and atmospheric… Completely absorbing and wholly immersive… Will sweep you up in all its secrets and mysteries… Truly a delight… Truly wonderful.’ The Staffymum’s Book Nook, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘Fabulous… I really do love this series… A terrific cosy crime… Highly recommend.’ NetGalley reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Posted in #BookTours

Hidden Worlds

Posted on by BookReviews

Hidden Words
Christine Roy
Publication date: September 22nd 2026
Genres: Adult, Gothic, Mystery

A Novel by Award-Winning Author Christine Roy

Some secrets don’t stay buried. They wait for the right mind to hear them.

In 1994, on the rocky shores of Cape Ann, Massachusetts, Ben Barrows begins his senior year at Masters’ Preparatory like a dead man walking, half his friendships already over, just not yet buried. Then Dana Kirkland arrives: a new student, a rival dancer to his powerful ex-girlfriend, and the one person who might save him. Together, Ben and Dana try to hold on to love against a tidal wave of pain and treachery neither of them saw coming.

In the present, Joey Barrows is drowning in grief. As he crosses the graduation stage, a terrifying gift awakens, the unspoken words of everyone around him, pouring uninvited into his mind. When Joey discovers his distant, unstable father shares this same curse, the door to a devastating past swings open, releasing secrets, obsession, and ghosts that refuse to stay silent.

Told across two timelines, Hidden Words is a gothic, speculative mystery about the inheritance of trauma — and the terrible cost of truths left unspoken.

Perfect for fans of We Were Liars, Black Swan, and The Turnout.

Hidden Words deals with mature themes including trauma, family abuse, and sensitive interpersonal relationships. Recommended for mature young adult and adult readers.

Goodreads / Amazon

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EXCERPT:

Raising his head, he approached the distinguished, black-gowned dean. The ringing in his ears pitched higher. With cold dread sluicing through his veins, he shook the dean’s hand. His mind crackling with a storm of energy, he looked the man straight in the eyes and took his diploma.

Guess scholarship kid didn’t waste our money.

“I’m sorry, Sir. What?” He squinted up at the unsmiling man. A distorted hum circled around him as the man’s words echoed in his head—clear, yet unspoken, not the shadowy wisps of noise he’d experienced before.

“Keep it moving, Barrows.”

“It’s just that I…” Joey stammered, his breath ragged. Shame bubbled up through the scars on his body like oil from the ground. He gaped at the dean’s stone face. “I heard you.” The words slipped from his lips.

“Christ, just move Barrows.”

I’ve had enough of your pathetic sad-boy act.

Joey nodded, stomach twisting. His thoughts raced and twisted in his head. It wasn’t real. It couldn’t be. He wasn’t psychic; nobody was. Withering beneath the dean’s glare, he flicked his tassel to the left and stumbled to the end of the stage. Desperate, he scanned the crowd, fairytale hope rising in his mind.

Maybe he was there.

Not likely.

Ben Barrows worked and hid. A son’s graduation didn’t fall into either of those categories, especially since these were the halls of Ben’s past. Traces of that Ben, shining and connected, existed in pictures behind glass cases like an extinct museum specimen.

They looked so similar, with their dark hair, wide-set green eyes, and lanky frames.

But that Ben was a ghost.



GIVEAWAY!

Hidden Words Blitz

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Posted in Cozy Mysteries

Murder at the Homecoming

Posted on by BookReviews

An addictive and completely gripping cozy mystery novel (A Flora Steele Mystery Book 13)

Amidst the smell of sherry trifle and the sound of lively music, the guests raise their glasses. But as a loud scream interrupts the toast, amateur detectives Flora and Jack Carrington learn that not everyone is in the party spirit…

Sussex, 1960: Flora and Jack are delighted to be invited to the welcome party for Ambrose Finch’s long-lost son, finally back home after disappearing ten years ago. They’re eager to meet the young man they’ve heard so much about – and perhaps learn why he left in the first place… But when Ambrose’s maid goes to fetch the cake from the kitchen, her screams interrupt his big toast.

Flora and Jack are horrified to find the cook hired for the occasion lying unmoving on the flagstone floor. The sickly-sweet smell of cyanide is their only clue, but the poor cook had no enemies. There are plenty at the party who do, though: Ambrose’s new secretary, Robin – at war with his former employer, a fellow guest – and his business rival, Chester, whose appearance at the party is suspicious in itself. Ambrose seems to have drafted the guest list to cause maximum conflict. But why? And was the poison intended for someone else?

Flora and Jack can’t resist investigating, in an afterparty they never saw coming… And when another of Ambrose’s employees is found dead, they must work out why all roads lead back to the Finch family. But can they uncover whose past sins have come home to roost, before it’s too late?

An utterly charming and completely page-turning cozy mystery novel filled with brilliant twists. Perfect for fans of Agatha Christie, Faith Martin and J.R. Ellis.

Readers love the Flora Steele Mysteries:

‘Fantastic!!! Absolutely devoured in one sitting!!… Absolutely addictive!!!… My heart was in my throat… OMG!!!! THAT ENDING!!!! LOVE, LOVE, ABSOLUTELY LOVED!!!!… ABSOLUTELY AMAZING!!! DID I MENTION I LOVED IT???!!!!… Clear your schedules as you won’t be able to put this book down!… Kept me turning the pages late at night!!… I LOVED it.’ Bookworm86, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘Wonderful! I absolutely adored this… Had me finishing in no time! I highly recommend!!!… I was drawn in instantly.’ NetGalley reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘Fantastic… I really didn’t want to put this book down for even a second… Totally immersive… Bravo!!’ Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘I started this with my morning coffee and didn’t put it down until it was finished… I could not tear myself away.’ Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘I loved this… Keeps you guessing to the very end. Just when I thought I had it all figured out, another twist… Wow… I completely loved this.’ Page Turners, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘Enchanting and atmospheric… Completely absorbing and wholly immersive… Will sweep you up in all its secrets and mysteries… Truly a delight… Truly wonderful.’ The Staffymum’s Book Nook, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Posted in Cozy Mysteries

Murder by Firelight

Posted on by BookReviews

An utterly gripping and page-turning cozy mystery novel (A Flora Steele Mystery Book 12)

No one can hold a candle to amateur detectives Flora Steele and Jack Carrington as they ask the burning question… Who is the killer walking the cobbled streets of their historic little town?

Sussex, November 1959. There’s a chill in the air at the Lewes bonfire celebration. Carnival floats fill the narrow streets, fireworks crackle overhead, and Flora and Jack feel the heat of the burning torches lining the streets. But when Trevor French, chief of the Grove Bonfire Society, tumbles from his parade float, they know something is afoot. Trevor didn’t just fall – and amidst the crowds, his killer slips away through the smoke-filled night.

But who would want the respected Trevor dead? As Flora and Jack question the vying bonfire societies, they find a surprisingly competitive underbelly at play. Did Edwin Brooker, former chairman, stoke the flames of rivalry too far? Or are the tears of the victim’s friend, Leo Nelson, faked to keep himself safe?

Just as the sleuths believe they’ve figured it out, the body of a key suspect in the case is found dead on their hearth rug, and Flora and Jack realise that no one is safe – including themselves. Together, can they smoke the murderer out? Or will their chances of survival go up in flames?

A completely addictive and absolutely charming cozy mystery novel. Fans of Agatha Christie, Faith Martin and Joy Ellis will adore this unputdownable series!

Readers love the Flora Steele Mysteries:

‘Fantastic!!! Absolutely devoured in one sitting!!… Absolutely addictive!!!… My heart was in my throat… OMG!!!! THAT ENDING!!!! LOVE, LOVE, ABSOLUTELY LOVED!!!!… ABSOLUTELY AMAZING!!! DID I MENTION I LOVED IT???!!!!… Clear your schedules as you won’t be able to put this book down!… Kept me turning the pages late at night!!… I LOVED it.’ Bookworm86, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘Wonderful! I absolutely adored this… Had me finishing in no time! I highly recommend!!!… I was drawn in instantly.’ NetGalley reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘Fantastic… I really didn’t want to put this book down for even a second…Totally immersive… Bravo!!’ Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘I started this with my morning coffee and didn’t put it down until it was finished… I could not tear myself away.’ Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘I loved this… Keeps you guessing to the very end. Just when I thought I had it all figured out, another twist… Wow… I completely loved this.’ Page Turners, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘Enchanting and atmospheric… Completely absorbing and wholly immersive… Will sweep you up in all its secrets and mysteries… Truly a delight… Truly wonderful.’ The Staffymum’s Book Nook, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐