This is the third book in the series, and just having finished book 2 I couldn't wait to start with this one. This was another good and thrilling read that keeps the reader glued up to the very last page. Recommended.

Third book in the series can be read alone.This is a terrific series each one tense chilling.The latest book in the series drew me right in kept me reading late into the night. For thriller lovers I would recommend grabbing the whole series..#netgalley#bookouture

I was not aware of this series before I was given the opportunity to read this book by Netgalley and the publisher, Bookoutour Publishing.

This is the third book in a series and can be read as a standalone story. I do, however, recommend reading the other books in the series to understand how Tara develops from reporter to detective.

The mystery of a missing artist is the basic plotline. The artist's brother is convinced there is something sinister going on even though local police will not investigate an adult who seems to be missing.

Tara is called in to investigate a missing painter who has been reported by his brother. While searching the artist's home studio, she finds disturbing paintings of a woman. Not ling after the house search, the woman in the paintings is found dead.

There are subplots but they do not distract from the main story - where is the artist?

This could be a great television series - ala Rizzoli and Ilse or Miss Fischer.

If you like cosy mysteries, then this is a book for you. Tara Thorpe is a detective with a journalistic instinct. That’s because she used to be a journalist! I knew from the start that was going to spell trouble, but also that it would make Tara a great detective.
The case Tara looks at initially seems to be quite open and shut! But Tara is not so sure and keeps digging. Her journalistic nose is correct and soon she has 2 dead bodies to investigate. Whilst the investigation continues to question work colleagues, friends and family of the dead,Tara continues to rub some of her colleagues up the wrong way. This never stopped a journalist before and I think Tara maybe forgets she is now a detective not a journalist. Tara is likeable and clever. When she has a bit between her teeth she will not let go.
I enjoyed this book because of the good range of characters, each with their own depth of personality. It’s not often I read cosy mysteries, I tend to go more for the dark or psychological thrillers so it was a good change to be transported to Cambridge which sounds like a beautiful arty place with many chameleon type people and places. I got the impression from this book that the area where that the Author wrote of could come across as idyllic until you look more closely to see the underbelly of deceit amongst some of the inhabitants. ( always a good premise for a murder or two!)
Death Comes to Call is a fictional cosy mystery which is so well written that the words flow enough to transport you to Cambridge in the snow. Where with each chapter you get to know Tara better, and while getting a feel for her, I got a suspicion and dislike for many of the other characters, while never guessing whodunit!
Clare Chase is a fantastic Author and I highly recommend her books to all lovers of cosy mysteries and to anyone who has been to Cambridge!

This is the third book to feature Tara Thorpe (I have read the first where she is a reporter and makes the decision to change career to join the police, but haven’t read the second 🙁 )
In this book, Tara and her colleagues are called upon to investigate the disappearance of artist Luke Cope. A body is discovered but it isn’t his! It is his alleged lover, married woman Freya Cross. Did Luke kill her or was her husband involved. And where is Luke now?
I loved the first book, need to read the second book and loved this one too. I had no idea who was responsible for the murder of Freya and the motive behind it. There are lots of suspects and suspicious behaviour to keep the reader guessing until the end.
There is not a lot of gory detail in this book and the focus is on the investigation and relationships between the police officers.
There is a lot of tension in the team as one person is suspended follwing his behaviour in the second book where he gave out secret information to a journalist. He continues to stir up trouble, hinting that Blake and Tara have a more intimate relationship than they do.
Meanwhile they are struggling to keep their relationship professional for the sake of the case and also because Blake’s wife is pregnant (did she deliberately get pregnant to keep Blake and make amends for cheating on him in the past…?)
Tara is a great lead character and a positive role model for women. She won’t let her past get in the way of her future although the very end of the book lets us know that her past is coming back to haunt her: can’t wait for the next book!

This 3rd Tara Thorpe mystery does not disappoint. There are actually two cases Tara must solve in this book. She is asked to search for an artist who has disappeared by his brother, even though no foul play is expected. In addition, Tara is investigating the murder of a woman found frozen around the fens. As she delves into both mysteries, Tara realizes that the 2 are really related. In addition, she's dealing with her former supervisor's abuse and a past that continues to haunt her. It's a great read.

Oh, it's good to have Tara Thorpe back! Death Comes To Call follows closely on from the previous book, Death on the River. It would probably be helpful if you'd read the earlier books in the series, but don't worry if you haven't. The case itself is completely new, and any back stories are explained in enough detail.

Tara is the most junior member of her team, and keen to prove herself. As an ex journalist, she is constantly inquisitive and determined to find everything out. Both these characteristics serve her well in her police work, but her desire to prove herself means she doesn't always follow the rules, sometimes putting herself and others at risk.

There is a lot going on in the case - a missing artist and his distressed brother, and the discovery of a woman's body are just the start. There are some interesting characters that Tara and the team come across and these are all well described, even though they aren't necessarily major players. The scenery in and around Cambridge plays a part - particularly the large, flat and often desolate fen areas.

The pace is steady, picking up as the story progresses and we learn more about what's going on. I think I was as frustrated as the team as I tried to work everything out. I failed.

I was a little surprised by the 'cosy' crime label. Whilst this is easy to read, and definitely not the most explicit, gruesome crime novel I've read, it has its moments, and I certainly wouldn't describe it as 'cosy'.

Of course, it's all about Tara. I love her determination and tenaciousness - she just has to get to the bottom of things. Her 'complicated' relationship with boss Blake is still there, and you know, I 'm silently cheering them on. I don't know if there are any more books planned in this series, but having followed along from the beginning, I would really love to see more of Tara.

A local artist disappears and the victim’s brother begs Detective Tara Thorpe to take the case. There was no evidence of foul playThis was a good book, that keeps you guessing until the very end. I enjoyed the characters. This was a well thought out plot, but the book ends with a cliff hanger. Not all your questions are answered and readers have to wait until the next book to find out how it ended.

The 3rd book in the series and for me not as gripping as the previous read, took a while to get into but then half way through it did start to grip

Whilst more is learnt about Tara Thorpe's family background this did seem slightly irrelevant

I’ve visited Cambridge a few times and loved it and was excited to read a book set there so when the option of being on this tour appeared I jumped at the chance.

It took me a little while to get into the story, whether that is because I haven’t read the previous ones in the series I’m not sure, however once I got into it I really enjoyed it. It moved along at a good pace with lots of leads for the police to follow and therefore lots of information that keeps the reader guessing.

Despite where it is set I didn’t get a strong sense of location which is something I like in the books I read. However, I did get a good sense of the characters, they were well formed and their feelings and emotions came across clearly, even those who were only in it for a page or two. This is definitely a police procedural and it gave me a good idea of the amount of leg work involved in an investigation, particularly one with many lines of enquiry as this one.

This is a good story and one that will keep you interested and wanting to know more but I think it works better if you read the others in the series first to get more of the character and relationship development.

Death Comes to Call is the third in this series , but can be read as a standalone. Another fabulous book in this series and it did not disappoint. A great mystery with wonderful characters and a great plot. A must read for all.

I’m so annoyed with myself, when I saw Death Comes to Call was being released I had every intention of catching up with the first two books before hand but time got away from me and I didn’t manage it. I’d definitely say that I would have benefited from reading them as there are a lot of story lines being referred to that must have happened in previous books. That said though, I still thoroughly enjoyed this story.
Tara Thorpe used to be an investigative reporter before joining the police force and I’m not sure if this is doing her any favours. She tends to go off on her own and I found she struggled to work as a team sometimes. She’s a great character though and has clearly been through a lot, stalked as a teenager, landing her boss Detective Patrick Wilkins on suspension to name just a couple but she seems strong and determined if not a little sulky at times.
The main storyline was gripping with so many twists to it, I almost felt giddy. When Matthew Copes brother Luke goes missing Tara decides to investigate after its seemingly not a priority to the police. She has a hunch and decides to act on it and it’s just as well she does as not everything is as it appears to be. What follows is a real murder mystery, I kept trying to guess who the culprit was. Quite a few of the suspects could have done it and I kept changing my mind, it certainly kept me on my toes.
Death Comes to Call is a real page turner, even if I was a bit confused now and again due to the sub-plots it didn’t put me off and I got enough back story to not be completely lost but it’s now my mission to read the first two. I’m intrigued to find out what I’ve missed. I’d definitely recommend this book and I’ll certainly be looking forward to reading more in the series and catching up.

Death Comes to Call is the third book in the Tara Thorpe Mystery series. Although this can be read has a standalone, do yourself a favour a read all three of them, it is two good a series not to miss.

The author takes us one hell of a journey when we follow Tara on a case after a local artist disappears. Then case takes a turn when a body is found frozen near the fens.

Throughout the series we have got to know Tara but in this story we get to know her a whole lot better. Tara is a character that I love and is easy relate to. I enjoyed the relationship element Tara has with Blake and how the author has weaved it into the story.

I have to say out of the three books this one is definitely my favourite, Like all of Clare’s books it is an atmospheric read set in Cambridge…a place I really want to visit now!

Slowing dropping pieces of the puzzle throughout the story…..Oh did I mention the twists and turns… it will certainly keep you guessing until the very end. This is one hell of an addictive read, I devoured it in one sitting. Which I highly recommend grab yourself a copy, you wont be disappointed.

Although this is part of a series I generally find that I go about things in a backward fashion and so I've jumped in at book three because that's the obvious place to start isn't it? But fear not I never felt wrong footed in the slightest as the writer made sure that I was constantly in the loop of past and present happenings.


I thoroughly enjoyed this book and found myself engrossed in the plot from the word go and read on like a woman possessed to see if my amateur sleuthing skills were correct..... for the record I hit the nail on the head with who dunnit but I think it was more beginners luck as I had no motive just a murderer.


The writing was perfectly pitched and kept me enthralled from start to finish and I was completely wrapped up in Tara's antics which were thoroughly entertaining if a little offbeat. I felt she was the perfect character to step up and lead this story and I look forward to reading more of her undertakings in the future.


Death Comes to Call is a complete corker of a book. It picked me up and shot me straight into the action and I simply hung on and enjoyed the ride. It was an absolute treat and I highly recommend it.

** spoiler alert ** I received a free ARC of this book from NetGalley, in return for an unbiased review - thanks for the opportunity.

This had the potential to be good, although it did feel a little sluggish to get going. The developments with the team (changes, promotions) felt good and timely. I agree with other reviewers in that Tara comes across like a lovestruck teenager (Blake having his moments too), and that does start to grate. Even if I’d like them to get together, it’s a “do it or don’t do it, but stop moping” frustration. I found the murderer and their motives a little unbelievable, though wasn’t expecting the very end chapter with the seeming return of the stalker.

Also posted on Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/42953387-death-comes-to-call

This is a perfect winter mystery and I absolutely loved the Cambridge setting-it's not a place I am familiar with but Clare describes it perfectly and you definitely feel the place come alive as she describes it.

Another thing that I loved about the book was the female perspective-Tara and her chief officer and pathologist are women but they are doing their jobs, they are consummate professionals in  a profession that is traditionally patriarchal. They stand up for themselves and take no nonsense.

It's an incredibly atmospheric story wherein Matthew Cope has called the police regarding his missing brother, Luke, an artist. His relationship with a married woman has broken down, he has a problem with drink and his latest piece of painting is a nude woman being strangled..a woman who resembles his girlfriend who has also gone missing...

This is a really twisty, turning novel with great characters and a plot that has you turning the pages so quickly that you don't even realise your finger has gone numb pressing the forward arrow on your Kindle!
Thoroughly recommended!

When a woman is found murdered in the snow at a Cambridgeshire park the police are called in to solve the case. Tara Thorpe is trying to help the rest of the team while dealing with her own personal feelings

I'm a great fan of mysteries and thrillers so, when I saw “Death Comes To Call” featuring DC Tara Thorpe being launched, I knew I had to read it. This is actually the third book in the Tara Thorpe Mystery Series. Although I haven’t come across the other two novels in the series - “Murder on the Marshes” (Book 0ne) and “Death on the River” (Book Two) - I thought “Death Comes To Call” worked fine as a stand alone as there was enough back-story provided to understand some of the dynamics between the different characters. Reading this novel, however, and Clare Chase’s excellent writing, have inspired me to go and get myself copies of the first two books!

In the opening chapter, we are introduced to DC Tara Thorpe who is Cambridge Police’s youngest detective and isn't afraid to step on toes to get results.

When a promising local artist disappears, the victim’s brother begs Tara to take the case. It seems there’s no evidence of foul play… he simply disappeared without a trace. 

Tara agrees to investigate however her unconventional approach to policing has upset some of her colleagues, including her former boss DC Patrick Wilkins, currently suspended, but who is prepared to do anything to bring her down. Luckily, she’s on good terms with DI Garstin Blake…

I loved that in “Death Comes To Call,” the sub-plots that explore the detectives’ personal lives run parallel with the murder investigation. Clare Chase writes with flair and an easy style. I thought the characterisation was very well done and I liked the gripping plot, as well as the wonderful depictions of the setting.

All in all, this was a story that held my attention well and I loved that things came together for a great finish and wrapped everything up very neatly.

[My thanks to NetGalley, Bookouture and the author for providing me with a free advanced copy of this novel.]

DC Tara Thorpe of the Cambridgeshire Constabulary has been assigned to look into a missing person report filed by the brother, Matthew Cope. It seems that the absent artist, Luke Cope, had gone off over a week previously and the situation had not been taken very seriously. When Tara visits Luke's messy house and art studio, she's shown a strange painting -- of a woman in the throes of being strangled. It looks to be the work of a seriously disturbed individual and it sets Tara's spider sense tingling. When it's revealed that the woman in the picture is Freya Cross, Luke's illicit lover, Tara becomes even more concerned. And when that very woman turns up dead in the nearby Paradise Nature Reserve, things really heat up for the constabulary as all hands on deck try to find the truth. Did Luke murder Freya and then vanish to avoid being caught? DI Garstin Blake leads Tara and the rest of the team -- DC Max Dimity and newly promoted DS Megan Maloney -- in a complicated investigation that involves art, heroin and greed. NO SPOILERS.

I really like this series and have read all 3 books in order and I'd recommend that others do the same as each provides some essential background to the development of the characters and their relationships. I enjoy the details of the police procedural and the description of Cambridge, the fens, and the surrounding countryside. I am not quite sure yet how I feel about the characters as both Tara and Blake have some serious flaws and issues that I wish would be resolved and not with some ridiculous or sappy romantic twist that makes her a twit and him a cad. Their whole "thing" needs to just stop and be over and they need to get on with their jobs and leave out all the yearning and whatnot that is affecting their ability to fully function as a team and makes them do stupid stuff. I'm also tired of the "stalker" thing -- seriously, that needs to be finished as well after 3 books and all that police power to figure out who's involved and why. Other than those two things, I'm ready to read more books about Tara and the team and the crime at Cambridge.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for the e-book ARC to read and review.

Death Comes to Call once again sees DC Tara Thorpe in the middle of a murder investigation. What initially starts off as a follow up to a missing person report made by Matthew Cope regarding his brother Luke soon turns into something more when the body of Luke’s close friend Freya Cross is discovered. Is Luke responsible for her death or is his disappearance a sign of something much worse.
This is the third book in the Tara Thorpe series and I have to say that I enjoyed it just as much as the first two so much so I read the whole book in a day. I will admit I like Tara. She just can’t quite give up on her journalistic background when it comes to digging into particular lines of enquiry and this usually produces results. That is not to say though that at times this can prove quite dangerous when she goes off on her own much to the exasperation of her boss DI Garstin Blake. She absolutely hates not being in the thick of all the investigations which can lead to a bit of sulking on her part but her attitude does not always sit well with the newly promoted DS Megan Maloney who secretly believes that Tara is given too much freedom for her level of experience and time in the force.
For someone who has not been in the police force very long Tara is managing to get on the wrong side of quite a few people and this could be trouble for her career. Her ex-boss from the magazine she used to work for is out to make as much trouble as possible for her and now her previous DS is also out for blood after he holds her responsible for him currently being on suspension. He has managed to put doubt in the mind of DS Maloney so you have to wonder if maybe despite her best intentions if she is really cut out for her chosen career. With her feelings for DI Blake becoming more evident her mind isn’t always on the job either and with him now about to become a father for the second time you kind of hope that she will stop hoping for something more and get on with her life… part of me even hopes she will hook up with DC Max Dimity as they seem to get on great and their partnership has even seen him start to focus on his career again. If there is anything that niggled me, its Blake’s attitude towards Tara. I can understand him wanting to encourage her to do well but as the least seasoned member of the team who still has a lot to learn, I would have thought he would have kept her under a little more control. Then again he is also dealing with his feelings for her that started when she was a journalist and before she joined the team but this is something else he should put a lid on before it becomes a real issue.
The pace of the book kept my attention and we start to see more of why Tara is the way she is. With the stalker of her childhood seemingly making his presence felt once again and others also determined to bring Tara down a peg or two I can’t wait to read what Clare Chase has in store for the next book in the series.