Thankyou to NetGalley, Bookouture and the author, Betty Rowlands, for the opportunity to read a digital copy of Murder at Larkfield Barn in exchange for an honest and unbiased opinion.
Such a good, gripping read. Well drawn characters, descriptive scenery and an intriguing plot make for a very enjoyable read.
Worth a read.

Melissa Craig is a writer of detective fiction. Ken her boyfriend is a ex policeman who is now a PI. There country village in the Cotswolds is a sleepy Midsomer Murders place where a serial killer is on the loose. Little old ladies killed in their beds with a gruesome twist of there faces made up.
This is part of a series with established characters who give a good read for a weekend afternoon.
I was given an ARC of this book by Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

The seventh in the Melissa Craig series, centering on a mystery writer who has moved to a small village in the Cotswalds and finds both romance and plenty of murder. Although this is Rowland's first series, by the seventh title, Melissa should have been a well developed character. While she may have been well-developed, I didn't like her as much as I liked Sukey. Melissa's character came across as quite old-fashioned, despite the original publication of the book in 1996. The murders of several people, united by a garish clown smile painted in lipstick on them, don't seem nearly as gruesome to me as Melissa's and the townspeoples' reactions would warrant. The complicated ending was somewhat of a surprise, although the dearth of suspects clearly indicated who had done it; the mystery was why.

This is part of a series but will also work as a stand-alone book.
This is my favourite book in the series. It was much more compelling than the others.
Well paced storyline with engaging characters

First of all, a disclaimer. I’m a big fan of the Melissa Craig mysteries by Betty Rowlands. Every time I read one of her books, it’s like visiting an old friend. Betty Rowlands is masterful at describing a place so that you feel as though you’re there. Her characters are varied, interesting and very believable. And, finally, the mystery itself is always cleverly well-written with a few twists and surprises.

Murder at Larkfield Barn is the seventh book in the series and, once again, it doesn’t disappoint. This time Mel is involved in the murder of a neighbor. When it becomes apparent that this death has the same characteristics as a series of murders in the Cotswolds, Mel begins to realize that the killer may be closer to home than she initially thought.

I highly recommend this engaging and entertaining series by Betty Rowlands.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing a copy of this book for review.

I've been enjoying reading the Melissa Craig series of mysteries over the past several months. In this episode, Melissa discovers the body of an elderly neighbor with a big smile painted on her face with lipstick. It appears to match the MO of other recent murders in the region. She and her PI boyfriend, Ken, try to solve the murder, while also trying to find balance in their new relationship.

I thought this was one of the less interesting of the series, but still a good read. There are some unexpected twists that keep you interested.

I always enjoy these Melissa Craig mysteries. She is a likeable heroine with intriguing situations which fall at her feet.

I really love this series and always look forward to starting the next one.
Fabulous characterisation and description of setting, enjoyable and intriguing plot and never obvious "who dunnit"
These books are joy to read.

This British cozy mystery series keeps getting better and better.

Murder at Larkfield Barn, book 7 in the Melissa Craig Mystery series, features Melissa and new mystery to solve - The Smiler. As usual Melissa feels compelled to find out what secrets are being hidden by her neighbors and if The Smiler will strike again. As the case begins to crack, as well as the walls of secrets, Melissa begins to realize things in the Cotswolds are not always what they seem.


Highly recommended to those who are looking for a new series to devour!

A nice old-fashioned mystery, quiant and whimsical atmosphere, an enjoyable and intriguing plot, and complete with a good cast of characters. Like Agatha Christie-lite set in an English village with a heroine a tad bit more modern than Miss Marple: you are probably going to enjoy this!

Thanks for an ARC.

Murder at Larkfield Barn is the second of the Melissa Craig mysteries I’ve read, so while I usually avoid books with serial killers, I knew the type of book it was going to be and wasn’t too concerned. Melissa is a mystery writer with a Private Investigator boyfriend, so it’s really no wonder she gets mixed up in these mysteries.

The blurb gives you the lay-out. There’s a serial killer in the area who paints horrible smiles on the victims. But the police aren’t convinced the murder in Upper Benbury was committed by the same person, maybe it’s a copycat. It turns out that of course there’s more than one killer. And Melissa is always at just the right place at the right time to put all the clues together.

Rowland can be a little heavy-handed in this one. The foreshadowing is annoying rather than suspense-building. It’s pretty easy to guess who the killer(s) are, just based on how they’re portrayed, but the clues are solid. The main character, Melissa, her boyfriend, her neighbor Iris, are enjoyable to spend time with, but I think I liked the last one I read more than this one.

Highly recommend
Murder mystery in a village and half way through a series that I have not read before but this did not mater.
Good plot
Believable characters, good fun.

Another great book in the Melissa Craig mystery series this time with her beau having retired from the police force and breaking out on his own. I really enjoy this series and thank Netgalley and Bookouture for letting me read this advance copy in exchange for my unbiased review. 5 stars

This is a great Cosy mystery. The story is thoroughly engaging and the characters are well rounded and likable,
This is a really well written novel and well worth the read. This book is part of a series and the series is well worth reading as is this book.

Once more Melissa Craig’s ends up slap bang in the middle of a mystery which is far too close to home for her liking. I had guessed who it was committing the crimes in this book, to a certain extent, but it didn’t spoil the read for me.

I still love the relationships Mel has with those closest to her, Iris and Ken. Both of these characters are totally different, and they bring out the best in Mel. The bombshell at the end of this story, however, may well change one of those relationships in the next book.

Another lovely, easy read. I can’t wait for the next book.

Many thanks to Bookouture and Netgalley for providing a copy.

Murder at Larkfield Barn, the seventh novel in the Melissa Craig Cosy Mystery Series by veteran writer Betty Rowlands and first released in 1996 as Smiling at Death, is full of the joys of spring with beautiful spring blooms, frigid air and an emergence of colour after a dreary Autumn and Winter period with their muted shades of grey and brown. Once again we join the inimitable Melissa Craig in the chocolate-box village of Upper Benbury in the scenic Cotswolds, and unlike most of the other books in the series this one had me rather creeped out, in particular due to the taunting cheshire-cat smile that has been painted onto the face of the elderly murder victim.

Although a long-running series each book stands well on its own as each tends to have a self-contained storyline, and this one is no exception. I did, hoedvrr, find the plot in this seventh instalment more compelling and scary than any of the other preceding six; the killers signature ensures said infivifusly shines bright. Well plotted and paced with engaging characters, and a clean, profanity-free story that will appeal to those who appreciate their crime fiction relatively tame; I would definitely say this was the most enjoyable so far for me.

Many thanks to Bookouture for an ARC.

This series improves with each new installment and this is the best one so far.
I read it in one setting and couldn't put it down.
The mystery was great and the solution came as a surprise.
It was great to read about the changes in the character's life and the description of the life in a tight knitted community.
Ms Rowlands did it again and I'm looking forward to reading the next installment.
Highly recommended!
Many thanks to Bookouture and Netgalley for this ARC

Ok, Ok, I know I told yçu the previous part was my favourite one, but I am a woman so I am allowed to change my mind. LOL. I definitely pick this one at the moment, but hey, maybe I will alter it again.

The stories are getting better and better. I thought this book had the most complicated, interesting and scary plot up till now which is something crime lovers always crave.

There is also a nice evolution in the lives of the recurring characters. 

There is only one thing I like to add : I just simply loved it. 5 stars.

Thank you, Betty Rowlands, Bookouture and Netgalley.

One does not associate murders with close knit village communities in idyllic Cotswolds but a series of murders of old age pensioners, doing no harm to anyone has shaken the entire area plus has left the Police confounded.

When one hits the village of Thanebury and Melissa herself is the one who finds the body, she is shaken enough to try to solve the murder herself. A crime writer by profession always out for fresh information and ideas, the fact that this old lady was found with a clown's smile on her face was outrageous and ludicrous. It is also not known to the general community at large.

Chance encounters with several people in the village all get noted down as suspects both by Melissa and her boyfriend an ex-Policeman who has not let go of his investigative instincts. The suspects however have very strong alibis and reasons as to why they should not be suspected from a group of precocious teenagers to a charismatic, flamboyant preacher, even someone who was going to be blackmailed for her past.

The final suspects were totally unexpected and typical in the style of Agatha Christie were revealed at the very end.

If you like good characterization, idyllic village settings and murder this is for you.

I read Book Seven in the series out of sequence by mistake, the perils of starting a book at four o'clock in the morning when you can't sleep. The upside to this being I can vouch that it reads well as a standalone, but this series is so entertaining that you want to read all the books.

This story is darker and more personal to amateur sleuth, crime writer Melissa Craig. Discovering the body of a friend and neighbour has a believable, profound effect on Melissa, which means she is reticent to be at the forefront of the investigation. Aside from the murder mystery, this book marks a turning point for both Iris, her close friend and neighbour and Melissa.

The characters are numerous and varied and this is perhaps one of the most difficult mysteries to solve. It does have its lighthearted moments, but there is also an air of menace not present in earlier books coupled with an overriding sense of loss and poignancy.

Despite the change in ethos, this story is as enjoyable as previous books, just deeper and more personal for the main character. Left on an emotional cliffhanger, I eagerly await Book 8 'Murder in Langley Woods.'

I received a copy of this book from Bookouture via NetGalley in return for an honest review.