Melissa Craig, the Jessica Fletcher of the Cotswolds is back with her latest instalment and this time its personal, her estranged father is found murdered and the number 1 suspect looks like her Mother, She hasn't seen either for over 30 years after they kicked her out for being unmarried and pregnant, but the more she probes into her fathers death the more she realises daddy wasn't as good as he made out and her Mother is acting increasingly strangely. Betty Rowlands as always makes the characters interesting and for a cosy murder mystery it keeps you guessing right to the end on who actually has committed the crimes.

This is a little bit of a departure from her usual, and it probes more into Melissa's private life with the murder of one her family members. It also has a further instalment on her love life, one most will enjoy.
Since the series started, I have found all these books well written, exciting to read and ones that cannot be put down easily - this one is no exception, in fact I am finding the stories getting better and better.
A must read for cozy mystery fans, this one has a bite.

When Melissa Craig is informed of her father's death and tat her mother needs her help time goes backwards to when her parents told her to leave when they found out she was expecting a baby . Not only is Melissa dealing with her own feelings regarding her parents but now has to find out who killed her father before the police arrest her mother for his murder.
This is the best book in the seriesyet and is definitely a book that is hard to put down. A great read

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

What an absolute treat it was to spend time with Melissa Craig again. In previous books we have learned that she was thrown out of her home when her parents found out that she was pregnant. While we assumed that her mother might not have been in agreement with her father, she was powerless to help Melissa. Thankfully she was taken care of by her dead boyfriends parents and she was able to bring up her son Simon.

This time we get to meet Sylvia Ross, Melissa's mother but the circumstances are not happy. Sylvia is accused of murdering Frank Ross, Melissa's father. None of her mother's neighbours or friends are aware that they had a daughter, much less that she is best-selling author Mel Craig. Her father did not approve of the sort of books that Melissa wrote but her mother read them in secret at a good friend and neighbour's house.

Melissa promises her mother that she will find out who really did kill her father. With many red herrings thrown in the mix, police who don't appreciate Melissa helping them, and her mother's erratic behaviour at times. Did Frank have a disgruntled employee that was not happy with the way things are happening at work?

This book made me want to sing with joy as Melissa finally realized that her agent Joe Martin was a good man and the man that will take care of her and make her happy. They will work things out together. A surprise visit from good friend Iris, is just the icing on the cake. Once again I was hooked from page one and could not stop turning pages until I knew what the ending will be.

Estranged from her parents for all of her adult life, Melissa Craig is notified by the police that her father has been murdered, and her mother is chief suspect

Another excellent addition to the series

Murder at the Old House, the tenth novel in the Melissa Craig Cozy Mystery series, uses the beautiful Cotswolds setting as one of the central aspects of the story and reminds me a lot of the chocolate-box villages portrayed in Midsomer Murders. It's a story that is full of charm and works well as a standalone - it certainly isn't necessary to have read the previous instalments. The author is adept at moulding interesting characters that you really care about, an intriguing plot and the twists and turns throughout make for a satisfying tale. We also get more development of main protagonist Melissa which is exciting to see and book tenth is just as exciting as the rest of the series.

It's an engaging mystery with a menacing undertone and chilling atmosphere running through it, and this time the case is personal as Melissa's mother Sylvia is accused of double murder. Importantly for a cozy there is no profanity, sexual liaisons or blood and gore, and the conclusion was unexpected and satisfying. Previously published as The Fourth Suspect, fans of Agatha Christie and MC Beaton should enjoy this as well as those who love to read cozies. A superb and highly entertaining addition to an already popular series, and a perfect read for those dark, chilly nights ebb away into spring.

Many thanks to Bookouture for an ARC

Another fantastic story from Betty Rowlands, Mel Craig on top form when she has to find her estranged father’s murderer. With a great twist at the end, and will it be a love story in the next book?

I love this series. Each one just gets better and better. This time, the story takes place away from Melissa's village. Her father has been murdered and her mother is the prime suspect. Mel hasn't seen her parents for over twenty years (possibly nearly thirty?) as they threw her out when she got pregnant with her son Simon and wasn't married.
Although the story is a murder mystery (one which I didn't actually solve this time, I was barking up the wrong tree completely) much of the actual story is about Mel and her relationship with her parents. We have been told that they are estranged previously and why, but it has only really been mentioned in passing. Now we not only get to meet her mother, but we find out more about both Mel's past and her parent's relationship.
We also see much more of Mel's agent, Joe in this book. He has been a background character in previous stories, particularly because Mel has wanted to keep him at arm's length. In this book, he not only features quite prominently but Mel herself come to rely upon him more.
There are another two books still to go in this series and I have one earlier one to go back and read. I'm loving them and I'll be disappointed when they finally come to an end. The Mel Craig series is highly enjoyable.

Brilliant plot, excellent main characters that you invest in. I read this book in one sitting and I would highly recommend it.

Thanks Netgalley and the Publisher. Another great book in the Melissa Craig series, role on the next one.

Backstory is supplied on the main character, Melissa, when her father is murdered. Mel and Joe join her mother, Sylvia, since the police suspect Sylvia of killing her husband. We visit a new town, where the police don't know or like Mel interfering with the investigation.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for my eARC in exchange for my honest review. This is a great series as Mel continues having a life. It is nice to read a series where the character does more than just solve mysteries.

This book finds Mel back in her hometown. Her estranged father has been murdered and her mother is the prime suspect. Mel has come home to help investigate the crime. Fortunately Joe, Mel’s literary agent assists her in her investigations. Interestingly this book, the 10th in the series, has a real freshness about it. A very good addition to the series.
Thanks to netgalley and Bookouture for the ARC. All comments are my own. Highly recommend.

I really enjoy the Mel Craig series and was disappointed with the last book (number 9) however Rowlands is back on form in this book and I really enjoyed it. Betty Rowlands style appears to change in all the books which keeps up the suspense and I enjoy her style of writing.

The books are slightly dated however that doesn't detract too much from the overall plot. I look forward to reading the next!

Thank you netgalley for an arc.

Author Melissa Craig is moving on with her life. Iris is in France, Ken Harris in America and she is finding her more independent life challenging but enjoyable until a police officer arrives at her door again.

Over the previous ten books Mel's estranged parents have had a few mentions but nothing more. Now her father has been found dead with her mother the prime suspect and, regardless of the 30 years of silence, Melissa knows she has to help if she can. Another person who has been a bit player up until now is Joe Martin, an authors agent, who is devoted to Melissa and rushes to her aid when she asks for his assistance.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book, once again Betty Rowland's characterisation was excellent,  especially as I have always liked Joe and was delighted to discover his bigger role this time. Melissa's mother was a strange duck but definitely helped the storyline along by being so.

I was able to read an advanced copy of this book thanks to Netgalley and the publishers in exchange for an unbiased review and would recommend it to anyone working through this series or who enjoys a well worked, easy to read murder mystery by an excellent author.

Melissa Craig is the author of a well known detective series and does a little detecting herself.  In Murder at the Old House, Melissa receives the news that her father has been killed and that her mother is suspected of having murdered him.  Even though they have been estranged for 30 years, Melissa rushes to her mother's side.

While her mother insists that she had nothing to do with the crime, her story does not add up.  She doesn't seem to be very distressed by her husband's death and her story keeps changing.  Could her mother be the killer?  Melissa is determined to find out the truth.

This cozy mystery is perfect for those who are looking for an Agatha Raisin read-alike.  Both series take place in the Cotswolds, have a female protagonist and have a little romance mixed with a little murder.

NOTE:  This is book #13 in the series and, while the murder storyline is self contained, the side story revolving around Melissa's personal like is ongoing, so a ready would benefit from reading the series in order for that reason.  I received an ARC of this book and, unfortunately, was unable to find any of the  previous books of this series available through my library resources.

Thanks to NetGalley for an advance copy of this cozy mystery.

I enjoyed this book very much. Melissa Craig is a very successful author of a detective series. She learns that her estranged father has been murdered, and that her mother is a suspect in the death, and leaves her country cottage to travel two hours to her parents' home. Her mother is very tearful and fragile, and Mel has to deal with her mother's protective neighbour and the police who want to pin the killing of Mrs. Ross. Her mother's health is not good, but she begs Mel to investigate the murder herself and Mel agrees to take it on.

The writing in this short but sweet book was very good, and the story was easy to follow, with a touch of romance as well. I will definitely read more in this series, and have already purchased the first one. Well done!

4 and 1 / 2 stars

Melissa “Mel” Craig has finally closed the book on her fictional detective. She feels good about finishing her final book about him and plans to also leave the real-life detecting to the police as well. Her boyfriend, Ken Harris has joined a private detective firm in the US and has moved to America.

She receives an unexpected visit from a friend of hers and Ken's. Detective Waters drops a bombshell of Mel. Her father has been murdered and her mother is a suspect in his killing. Mel hasn't spoken to heard from her parents for the past thirty years. They threw her out of the house when they discovered she was pregnant “with out benefit of clergy,” as Mel put it.

When she arrives at her mother Sylvia's house,she is shocked and surprised to learn that her mother was afraid of her father and not all was well in the marriage. Sylvia says she wanted to contact Mel in those missing years, but Mel's father wouldn't let her. She begs Mel to find the real killer of her father Frank. Sylvia is arrested for the murder. Evidence is found in her home. Sylvia tries to explain it and Mel has a very strange encounter with her mother.

Mel and her agent, Joe visit Sylvia's friends before Frank forebode her to meet them any longer. They get some very interesting reactions to their visits and learn some surprising news as well.

A journalist named Denis Botting beards Melissa outside her mother's door and intimates that he knows a great deal about the local area and its people and could help with her inquiries. Mel reluctantly and suspiciously agrees to work with him.

Melissa begins to put the pieces together; investigating in spite of the fact that DI Adair does not want her to. Sylvia continues to act very strange. Her moods are all over the place. She says something and then denies she ever said it. She urges her mother to see a doctor.

In a sudden epiphany, Mel knows who committed the murders. DI Adair isn't interested.

I was surprised at the identity of the killer, but the motive was as old as the hills.

This is perhaps my favorite Melissa Craig book so far. While it was a departure from her “village” murders, it held my interest and I truly enjoyed it. The writing is very good and the characters likable. I have a little trouble with Mel's naivete – her being a writer of detective fiction, one would think...well. DI Adair was deplorably incompetent. She wanted an easy answer and wouldn't listen at all to her partner. I love that Melissa has finally found a solid love interest!

I want to thank NetGalley and Bookouture for forwarding to me a copy of this absolutely great book for me to read, enjoy and review.

I'm new to the M Craig series, and I enjoyed this intro. I chose to read this one before a long list of others, and I'm glad I did. The characters are unique, and the plot was interesting and fun, with a satisfying ending. I don't read a lot of cozy, but I'll check out more from this author.

This was another gripping read in the Melissa Craig series, it was a totally setting from her little cottage and we finally got to learn a bit more as to the reasons as to why she is estranged from her family....

Upon learning of the death of her father she finally reconnects with her mum and learns secrets about her father she would never have imagined he was capable of

Highly recommended read and cannot wait for the next in the series

Thank you to net galley and the publisher for giving me the opportunity to read this book it was a great experience first time reading anything from this author



Melissa has just finished writing her latest mystery novel and is enjoying the arrival of spring. She’s decided to let her fictional detective retire at last, and perhaps put her own days of investigating behind her too. But the ink has barely dried on the page when Melissa receives shocking news: her estranged father has been found dead in the family home and her mother, Sylvia, is under suspicion of murder.