Almost two and a half years since I read the previous book in this series and I had not forgotten about Mel, Joe, Iris, …

Normally when you don’t forget something it means that it has left an impression on you. It can be a either a pleasant or bad one. In this case I can assure you I only have positive memories coming back to me.

Mel does not seem to be the only amateur sleuth in town in this instalment and It’s someone very close to her heart. She is not too happy about that fact and for once Mel and the killer are on the same side when this is concerned…

Time for Mel to put her thinking cap on and to prevent the killer from executing their devilish plan.
Will the help of her journalist friend Bruce and her connections with the police be enough to stop the culprit?

This is another entertaining story in a great cosy mystery series. If you are a fan of the genre, you will enjoy these books very much. If you are not yet familiar with the genre, they are a very good start. 5 stars.

Thank you

I have loved this cosy old fashion mystery this is the series of books for you. Murder in the Dining Room
by Betty Rowlands is the omg 11th book in the Melissa Craig series and I have loved reading them. One thing I liked about this series was I never read them in order and I found you could pick these up at any time and get a great feel for these books as they are so easy to read and enjoy.

Highly Recommend this book if you Love Old fashion Mystery who done it books.

Big thank you to Bookouture and Netgalley for an ARC.

*Many thanks to Betty Rowlands, Bookouture and NetGalley for arc in exchange for my honest review.*
An entertaining mystery which engages this time Mellissa and her mother. A comfortable weekend read which follows already established routes for Mel and her fans.

Excellent book with a clear cut depiction of characters. The storyline is fluid and constant, and my concentration never waived. Highly recommended.

Another interesting book in the Mel Craig series. After being reunited with her mother in the last episode, we find that Mel's sleuthing is in her genes! Her mother begins to investigate the death of a resident in the rehabilitation facility where she now resides (until the addition can be finished on Mel's cottage). Not wanting to have her mother in danger, Mel gets involved in the mystery. Very interesting characters in this episode, and a well constructed mystery.

I love Betty Rowlands books, wonderful cosy mysteries to loose yourself in. Her books are easy to read but well written with good plots and stories to keep you engaged, fabulous characterisation is the icing on the cake.

One of my new favorite books! This author has such a way with words the pages flew by in no time! I can’t wait to see the next work by this author! This was such a joy to read!

Melissa Craig’s mum, Sylvia has had surgery and is recovering in a retirement home. Mel wants her mum to live with her, so has work done on Hawthorn Cottage.

While this is being completed, Sylvia is concerned when a residents dog dies, then it’s owner dies soon after…...Sylvia decides to take a leaf out of Mel’s book and investigate the mystery herself…..which could put her own wellbeing at risk…

Told mainly from Sylvia’s point of view this is another fun cosy mystery from Betty Rowlands…..it will be sad to see the end of the series as it’s been such an entertaining journey…


I’ll be looking out for more of Melissa Craig.

I would like to thank the Author/the Publishers/NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book for free in exchange for a fair and honest review

#NetGalley #MurderInTheDiningRoom

This was not my type of book and I was very disappointed in it.
I had such high hopes for this book

Another excellent addition to the Melissa Craig series! Apparently sleuthing is genetic as Melissa's mom gets in on the sleuth action as she starts poking around in suspicious activities at the senior center she is residing in while renovations are completed at Melissa's home, but mom may bungle her way into an early grave if she doesn't watch out! Excellent character development as the author really does make the characters come alive for you which only enhances an already intriguing plot! I can't wait to see what happens in the next book! This series is so well thought out with interesting characters and plots that you really should read the entire series, but you could just pick up this book and not feel like you have gotten lost somewhere. Each book could be a stand alone book, but why not get the full enjoyment of the full series!

I was disappointed in this book as have enjoy several Betty Rowland’s books in the past. I found the
story repetitive and too many coincidences to be taken seriously.

Murder in the Dining Room is the eleventh book in the Melissa Craig series and the first I have read. This is a quick run cozy mystery that is well written and has interesting characters.

I like these books; the characters are well developed; the storyline is good; it is excellent for purists in the Cozy Mystery Genre. I usually read a book a day; this took me a week; it was slow, tedious; I find Cozy Mysteries need to grow up. What are two fifty olds doing? Not kissing, not having pillow talk; nothing erotic, romantic is what I am looking for.
Thank you for allowing me to read.
carolintallahassee.com

Another great read from the author, and one with a slightly different feel to it. This one features heavily the character of Melissa Craig’s mum, Sylvia. She seems to be following in her daughters footsteps by finding herself embroiled in something which may lead to her being put in harms way.

I love this series, I’m a huge fan of the authors writing, and I can’t praise her books highly enough. If you are looking for nice easy to read mysteries then this is the series for you.

Many thanks to Bookouture and Netgalley for providing a copy.

While Melissa’s mother is staying at a retirement home, the dog of one of the residents is poisoned and soon after, the owner suffers the same fate.
Is it just a case of food poisoning or is there someone with a grudge against the victim?
Who is guilty? What is the motive behind the murder? And is there going to be a next victim?

A fun and engaging cozy murder mystery, Murder in the Dining Room is the eleventh in the Melissa Craig series.

Thanks to the author, Bookouture and the NetGalley for providing me with the book.

After a rocky start, relations with her mother seem to be on an even keel and Melissa is keen for renovations to the extension to be finished soon so that her mother can move in and live with her on a permanent basis. In the meantime, the accommodation at the nearby retirement home is very good and her mother seems to have settled in for this short period.

The apparent murder of a pet dog and then the sudden demise of its owner sets Sylvia off on a tangent, determined that foul play is amiss and Melissa is terrified that with her interference that if there is an actual murderer around, her mother is the one in most danger as she is stirring things up without realizing it. Initially skeptical, Melissa begins to think that something is amiss in the Home and that its inmates are not exactly what they seem.

Like everyone else, people are hiding secrets. There are skeletons in the closet that no one wants anyone to find and there are those who are determined to keep them hidden.

An old fashioned mystery murder, with slow detective work being laboriously followed up is this story. It does not mean it is boring though. Reminiscent of Miss Marple mysteries this was a good one.

I never get tired of this series; this installment does not disappoint, either with the plot, or the development of the main characters, and there is always a twist! Melissa's mother is back to play a starring role, and it's good to see that relationship developing.. The sub-title says it all: A completely addictive cozy mystery novel!

Whilst I enjoyed the story within this book, the writing appeared quite childish at times, and the book did not capture my imagination as much as I expected

Murder in the Dining Room, the eleventh 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 eleven 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 intrepid amateur sleuth investigates a death at a stately retirement home. Importantly for a cozy there is no profanity, sexual liaisons or blood and gore, and the conclusion was unexpected and satisfying. Previously published as No Laughing Matter, 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 sunny, if chilly, spring days.

Many thanks to Bookouture for an ARC.

Modern British Cozy Mystery
This is the 11th in a 12 book series, yet it is the first that I have read. This is a great cozy mystery with lots of suspects in an evolving crime. I found the book a bit slow and was cumbersome for even a British novel. There seemed to be a lot of unnecessary detail that added nothing to the story. While longtime readers are sure to appreciate getting caught up on the details of the lives of favorite characters, I felt it was overdone. While I understand that Melissa's father was very overbearing and bossy with his wife and daughter, mentioning it several times per chapter was overkill. The mystery was very interesting and the background for it was wonderful. I felt the end was too neatly tied up with the villain being very quick to jump into the limelight. Longtime fans will love this addition to the series. I received this book at no cost and this is my honest review.