I read all the books in this series and I loved them all.
It's an amazing series and each book is better than the previous one.
This one was no exception.
The mystery was solid, it was great to meet again the cast of characters and read about their life, the setting as lovely as usual.
Highly recommended!
Many thanks to Bookouture and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.

It seems that Melissa’ Craig’s talent for becoming embroiled in murder mystery may have been inherited from her mother Sylvia. Whilst convalescing in a retirement home, Sylvia is certain that the death of a beloved pet and then its owner is not from natural causes.

This is quirky murder mystery is set in a retirement community, Melissa’s mother like many there is a temporary resident but she soon makes her presence felt. The plot is fast-paced with many possible suspects and shows older people in a refreshingly positive light.

It is Sylvia, Melissa’s mother who is the main sleuth in this story, which gives it an added dimension. Melissa worries about her mother’s emotional state, can her revelations be trusted or are they the result of her recent surgery?

This is an enjoyable read with cameos from favourite characters and a rekindling of the mother and daughter relationship for Melissa and Sylvia. A lovely escapist read, which lets you test out your detective skills.

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

This is the 11th in this wonderful series and can be read as a stand alone.
I highly recommend the entire series for fans of M.C. Beaton and any that like small English village cozies. This is a favorite series that is always endearing with a great sleuth.
In this next in series Mel's long lost Mom is now the sleuth. Its quite a departure from the earlier books as they have just reunited in the last book. I like how this book has a focus on care of senior parents. Its appreciated by this reader how compassionate this was written into the story.
Mel's renovation is almost done and her Mom is in a care home waiting to move in with her. Before the move can happen a murder of a resident and her dog occurs and Mel's Mother is on the case proving where Mel gets her investigative smarts from .
This was a fun sleuth and a great addition to the series. The whodoneit was expertly configured and had a pleasing conclusion . I understand this series is soon to end and I shall be very sad to see its finale. I highly recommend this series for your reading enjoyment. Very well done with great charcters and the perfect small village location to delight every reader.

Melissa Craig wants her mother to come and live with her, but Hawthorn Cottage is too small. While renovations are being made, she's arranged for her mother to live at a nearby seniors' residence. Sylvia likes the residence and quickly makes a few friends. When a resident's dog dies of poison, the owner thinks it's deliberate, but Melissa points out that the dog probably got oleander pollen on its nose and licked it. A few days later, the dog's owner also dies, but it's determined to be food poisoning. Sylvia decides to be like Mel and investigate, which puts her own life at risk.

I really like this series. They are nice short stories about good people, with a bit of humour and a bit of romance. I look forward to reading the entire series.

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

An absolute delight to visit with Melissa Craig in Upper Benbury again. Everything is going so well in Mel's life. She finally has a mother again after so many years of forced separation. Even better is that she will be living with her and Joe at Hawthorn Cottage.

Since her brain surgery Sylvia has been enjoying good health. She is temporarily staying at Framleigh House, a posh retirement home until the renovations to Hawthorn Cottage are completed. The home has an interesting array of residents and they seem to have bonds formed.

While getting to know the residents Sylvia stumbles upon a series of unexplained deaths at the home. Like her daughter who is famous for getting involved in murders - Sylvia starts investigating the suspicious deaths of a dog and shortly after his owner. As she begins asking questions, Mel starts to worry about her mother getting in over her head and possibly asking the wrong person.

Sylvia's investigating skills are ramped up when her friend Lily falls ill in Sylvia's room. As both Mel and Sylvia realize that she has rattled the wrong cage, Mel quickly moves Sylvia into Hawthorn cottage to keep her safe until Matt can solve the murders and the attempted murder of Lily or was it supposed to be Sylvia since Lily fell ill in her room?

Iris is back in Upper Benbury for a visit much to the delight of Melissa. Joe Martin and Mel are moving forward with their wedding plans and Iris may figure in their honeymoon plans.

An absolutely wonderful read, a brilliant addition to the series. Incredibly well written, it's like visiting with old friends and family once again. The entire series deserves more than the allotted 5 stars.

I received this book via Netgalley and the publisher, in return for an honest review. Returning to the Cotswolds for the 11th book in the Melissa Craig series is always enjoyable. This can be read as a stand-alone. The author keeps coming up with interesting ways to keep the series fresh. This time, Mel is renovating her home to add an addition for her mother, Sylvia. Sylvia is staying at a local residential home for the elderly, which is more hotel-like than nursing home. Then, a resident and her dog are dead under mysterious circumstances and Sylvia decides to investigate. Mel learns about this and does her best to keep Sylvia from becoming the next victim.

Enjoyable cosy murder mystery, easy and satisfying read. An addictive series and I can’t wait to read more!!

This Mel Craig book as a little different to the previous ones in the series. This time, rather than Mel getting involved in a mystery and investigating what had happened, her mother was in the thick of things. Mel was reunited with her estranged mother in the previous book, after the death of her father. Now in a residential home for the elderly, which is more like a hotel than anything, while she waits for the extension to be done to Mel's house, Sylvia finds that she the death of a dog, followed by her owner makes her suspicious that a murderer is at large.
I did find it quite funny that Mel did her best to stop her mother from investigating when in previous books she's been the one nosing into things and ignoring everyone else. Of course, her mother doesn't listen and before long both Sylvia and Mel are independently trying to get to the bottom of what happened.
This was another really enjoyable mystery. Sadly, this time I didn't quite manage to solve it all before the reveal, but that never detracts from the enjoyment of a book like this. I think that there's only one more Mel Craig book to go, which is a bit of a shame, as I've been thoroughly enjoying them.

I enjoyed "Murder in the Dining Room." This fun book is a who-dun-it that leads readers to make conclusions and discover dead ends before the final reveal. I appreciate that the main sleuth Sylvia Ross is an elderly woman, but I do wish her daughter Mel Craig would have respected her mom more.
If you're looking for a fun read that also keeps you guessing, this book is for you!

Who would have thought that a stay in a retirement village would end in murder, Melissa's mum Sylvia is recuperating whilst the extension at her newly reunited daughters cottage is going ahead, When first a dog is taken ill and sadly dies , everyone thought that this was a tragic accident but when the owner dies a few days later in the same manner is there more to it than meets the eye.....


Highly recommended and a definite cannot put down read

This is a fun cozy mystery where we meet Mel and her mother. The murder from the retirement home must be solved.
Thank you Netgalley for this nice book.

This is a fun series. I loved reading this one as so much of it is from Mel's mother's (Sylvia) POV. We find out where Mel gets her crime solving abilities in this book! Sylvia has moved into a retirement home while she recovers from her surgery and Mel's house gets remodeled. Mel believes Sylvia is suffering from the after effects of Sylvia's surgery, but not so much that Mel doesn't become involved in the mystery. Well written, interesting mystery and once again scene writing that has you feeling you are there.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review. - Do try this charming English countryside mystery.

I always enjoy reading Betty Rowland's murder mystery books and this was a solid read, with a good ending however I much prefer it when Mel is more involved.

I found Sylvia's pov a little frustrating at times which meant that I didn't race through the book quite as fast as I usually do.

Thank you to netgalley for providing me with an arc in exchange for an honest review.

Melissa is getting her one ready for her Mother to move in with her after Sylvia’s surgery. But while the renovation is ongoing Melissa finds a retirement home nearby until things are ready for Sylvia’s arrival. Unfortunately things aren’t as cozy as they seem at the retirement home when one of the residents and her dog both die.

As Sylvia begins to learn more about her fellow residents, she comes to believe it wasn’t death, but murder in both cases. As Sylvia to determine which resident(s) might be guilty, it looks like Sylvia may have made herself a target.

What a great discovery to find a series with 10 previous books to enjoy all at once. Love the setting and the Mother-daughter relationship. Truly relatable when you are caring for your own aging parents. No issues reading this book without having read the first 10 in the series, though I look forward to reading those as well.

It is summer in the Cotswolds and Melissa is in the throes of changing her life on almost all fronts. The builders are about to begin an extension on the back of her beloved home while she has a wedding to plan and needs to prepare for her mother to move into the aforementioned extension once it is completed. 

While waiting for her much anticipated move to daughter Melissa and future son-in-law Joe's enlarged home Sylvia Ross is convalescing from serious surgery at a very grand looking retirement home in the country.

When one of the less popular residents dies suddenly, Sylvia shows where her daughter got her inquisitive streak by beginning her own investigation into what she is sure is an unexplained death, not realising, in her naivety, how much danger she is putting herself in.

This is a series which improves with every book! I was able to read an advanced copy thanks to Netgalley and the publishers in exchange for an unbiased review and would recommend it to anyone who has enjoyed the series so far or wants a cosy mystery to read in either case you won't be disappointed.

Having read the previous 10 Melissa Craig books, I have to admit I found this one annoying, I've liked all the characters in the previous books but I do find her Mum really annoying, I just can't take to her and it really bugged me through out the book. I liked the old formula, where Melissa interferes and finds the murderer but having her mum trying to do the same ruins the dynamics. Anyway rant over, fingers crossed the next book will minimise her interference.

Another great read from Betty Rowlands. Easy reading of this cozy mystery. New colourful characters to shake up the story. Mel Craig’s mother is a delight. Look forward to more easy reading stories from Betty.

Mel does it again but this time she's drawn in by her mother. Interesting cast of characters in a retirement home setting. You'll find Mel dealing with a possible murder and trying to keep her mother safe.

While Melissa Craig is having an extension built on her cottage for her mother to live with her, her mother Sylvia Ross is staying at a residential home "Framleigh" while the work is carried out. A resident at the home has an old dog which dies and the resident is convinced that her dog has been poisoned. The resident is taken ill and dies. Sylvia Ross ten decides to try and find out why and puts her life in danger. Melissa is concerned that her mother is letting her imagination carry her away until she is drawn into the investigation to protect her mother.

Another great read these books get better and the characters draw you into their lives. Great read

cosy-mystery, murder-investigation, England, senior citizens *****

Sylvia needs to get herself back together following surgery for a brain tumor, and while waiting for needed work on her mystery writer daughter's new home she is temporarily ensconced in a pricey retirement home. Sounds boring, eh? Not when first a small dog and then its rather nasty owner are poisoned! Who was this old lady and why would someone in the home want to eliminate her? Sylvia knows the means and opportunity, and seems to be the only one interested in finding out the motive and who. Let the sleuthing begin! Enjoy!!
I requested and received a free ebook copy from Bookouture via NetGalley. Thank you!