Thank you to Net Galley for the chance to read and review this book. I love a good mystery, and this one does not disappoint. Sukey Reynolds is a very likable character, and the mystery is very well developed. Great start to a new series!

Having thoroughly enjoyed reading the authors Melissa Craig series, I wasn’t sure a different series would be as good. I was absolutely wrong.

Sukey Reynolds is a very likeable character. She steps outside her role of police photographer in order to try and solve a crime herself. This leads her into danger, something she has in common with Melissa.

A great start to a new series, one which I look forward to reading.

I have read all of the Melissa Craig mysteries by Betty Rowlands, and mostly enjoyed them. The Sukey Reynolds series, however, promises to be even more interesting. I like that this protagonist is a single mom of a teenage son. This adds lots of extra story material involving the son, the ex-husband, and her new love interest (who's actually an old love interest and works with her). The mystery is fast-paced with enough procedural to make it interesting, but not so much as to be overwhelming. A great start to this series, and looking forward to future episodes.

A great start to a new series. Twisty, gripping and entertaining! This is a well-plotted mystery with plenty of red herrings as well as a complex set of related crimes involving a group of people connected to a past bank robbery. Although Sukey is the main character, there are other points of view within the narration as the investigation into the murder leads to evidence of other nefarious activities. Since this is the first of a long-running series originally published in the 90s, the technology and investigative methods are a bit dated but that doesn't negatively affect the outcome of the case. This isn't the grisly chiller thriller type of book, nor is it really suspenseful, but demonstrates overtones of a police procedural where dogged detectives and serendipitous findings lead to the solve.

I love when a new series captivates me with book 1. That is the case with the Sukey Reynolds series by Betty Rowlands. Sukey is a photographer that works for the local police department. She views herself as an amateur investigator and occasionally gets to take pictures for major crimes. When she's called to photograph the body of Lorraine Chant it looks like a botched robbery. She thinks something is strange so she starts investigating and becomes the next target for murder. Well written with lots of possibilities for future books this is a winner. I received a copy of this ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Title: Death At Hazel House

Series: Sukey Reynolds Mystery #1

Author: Betty Rowlands

Genre: mystery

Description
Meet Sukey Reynolds: police photographer, proud mother… and amateur detective. Years ago, Sukey was hoping to become a detective but life took a different turn. Now she’s happy to be involved with the local police force, as long as she still gets to work the occasional murder case... When Sukey arrives to photograph the body of Lorraine Chant, the beautiful wife of a wealthy businessman, she’s baffled. At first, it looks like a botched burglary, as the huge family safe has been left wide open and empty. But why does Lorraine’s rich husband claim nothing was taken? And what is he not telling the police? Deciding to do a little investigating of her own, things take a darker turn for Sukey when she is brutally attacked by a masked figure. What do they think she knows? As Sukey finds herself in the firing line, can she expose the true killer before it’s too late? If you love murder mysteries by Agatha Christie, Faith Martin or Joy Ellis, then this unputdownable novel from the bestselling queen of cozy crime will have you hooked! This book was previously published as An Inconsiderate Death.



My thoughts

Rating: 4.5

Would I recommend it? yes

Will I be reading the rest of the series? yes

Would I read anything else by her ? yes

What a great start to a new cozy mystery series , now that I've read this one I can't wait to read the others that I already have books 2-5 with that said I want to thank Netgalley for letting me read and review it .

The start of another lovely series by one of my favourite authors.
I have read and enjoyed all Betty Rowlands, Melissa Craig books and this series promises to be just as good.
Sometimes a cosy mystery is just what you need and this author never fails to deliver.

Princess Fuzzypants here: As a fan of the Melissa Craig series, I was interested to try this new series by the same author. There are some similarities. Both have very smart and capable heroines. Both are set in an extremely pretty part of England. Both are involved with crime- Melissa as a mystery writer and Sukie as a crime scene photographer who used to be a copper herself. Both have rather complicated personal lives and both tell an intriguing and exciting story.
I did enjoy getting to know Sukie, her son and the various supporting characters in the tale. The villains for the most part are thoroughly reprehensible people especially the one who is first a suspect and then a victim himself. With all the betrayals and scams he pulled the big question is why no one knocked him off earlier. I was so sure he was the big bad that when he turned up dead, it threw all preconceived notions to the wind. It added to the suspense and excitement. I have several other books of the series I plan to read and review.
In the meantime, I am happy to give this first outing a rousing five purrs and two paws up.

Death at Hazel House is the first book in the Sukey Reynolds mysteries. Sukey, a Scene of the Crime Officer and photographer for the Gloucestershire police, is also the single mother of a teenage son. She is smart, talented and resourceful. The mystery is well-plotted with a few twists and mis-directions. The characters are interesting and varied.

There are quite a few things I like about this book. One of my favorites aspects is the relationship that Sukey has with her son, Fergus. He is a bright 16-year-old who tries to look after his mum, fixes tea for her at the end of a long day, and will plant a kiss on her head as he leaves the house. The mother and son have candid conversations and clearly respect and love each other. While this particular aspect isn’t a focus of the story, it does give it added dimension and provides more insight to the characters.

I have read and enjoyed a number of books by Ms Rowlands. This series promises to be quite enjoyable as well.

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

first I would like to thank netgalley for providing me an arc.

this was the 1st book I had read by Bety Rowlands.

In this first book of the series we are introduced to Sukey Reynolds who works as a SOCO, as she plays a major part in solving a murder. there are several twists and turns in this story.

I thought I had missed something in the plot line as there were several references to vehicles of the 90s etc and have just become aware that this is actually a re released novel.

I will definitely be looking out for future novels in this series, it was an easy read and I enjoy the cosy murder genre.

Great new series! I can't wait to read the next book. The characters were interesting and it had a great ending!
Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and author for this ARC.

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

I blame this book for the lack of things that I got done today. Mystery fans take note of this series because I am quite sure you will enjoy it as much as I did. I love reading books with a strong female character.

This is the first book in the series. Sukey Reynolds is a great character that you can relate to. She is a civilian Scene of Crime Officer that takes photographs of crime scenes. It was a mystery novel that kept me guessing who could be the murderer. There is several peopled killed. I am looking forward to reading more in this series.

Once upon a time, Sukey Reynolds had a promising career in the police. She had to abandon that dream when her husband left her for another woman on her son's 10th birthday. Fergus is now 16 and Sukey has recently returned to work as a civilian Scene of Crime Officer. She still has friends in the police, most notably a romantic interest, DI Jim Castle, and she receives assignments to take photographs and obtain other crime data or information as needed. This cozy murder mystery opens with Sukey attending at Hazel House in Marsdean to gather information at the scene where the body of Lorraine Chant is found in the master bedroom.

This is a well-plotted mystery with plenty of red herrings and a complex set of related crimes involving a group of people connected to a past bank robbery. Although Sukey is the main character, and a woman I'd like to get to know better, there are other points of view within the narration as the investigation into the murder leads to evidence of other nefarious activities. Since this is the first of a long-running series originally published in the 90s, the technology and investigative methods are a bit dated but that doesn't negatively affect the outcome of the case. This isn't the grisly chiller thriller type of book, nor is it really suspenseful, but demonstrates overtones of a police procedural where dogged detectives and serendipitous findings lead to the solve.

I enjoyed this change of pace and I look forward to reading the next few in the series that I happen to have on my TBR. Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for the e-book ARC to read and review.

Not your traditional cozy, this mystery intersects with a police procedural approach. I found it a little edgier than most cozies, which I personally like, However, I did feel the detection took a back seat to other story elements.

I've never read any of Betty Rowlands books. So, this was my very first book called Death at Hazel House.
Its the first book on the Sukey Reynolds series and I just loved it.
Sukey is a proud single mum to her teenaged son called Fergus and a SOCO which is a scene of crime officer to the local Police.

Lorraine Chant, is the wife of a rich local business man, has been found murdered. Both safes have been opened and all its contents are missing. The local Police are called. Sukey Reynolds takes photos of the crime scene. The police think it's a burglary gone wrong, Lorraine Chant's Husband has a strong alibi and has no motive to murder his wife, as he thinks he is happily married. Something doesn't feel right on this case and there's more to this murder than it seems.

I found this book an "old-fashioned mystery" with some interesting character's.
It was a very good read and I will read more of Betty's Books.

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

Thank-you Netgalley and Bookouture for allowing me to read an advanced copy of Death at Hazel House in exchange for an honest review.

A great start to a new series. Twisty, gripping and entertaining!

The wife of a rich businessman is murdered. Her jewelry is missing and the safe is empty. The police assume this to be a case of burglary gone wrong. The victim’s husband has an alibi and seemingly no motive to kill his wife.
Enter Sukey Reynolds, a Scene of Crime Officer whose job is to photograph the crime scene. And as soon as she enters the house she feels the case is not as simple as the police think and there is a lot more to it than meets the eye.

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

Sukey Reynolds is a police photographer, although her real dream was to be a detective. As a single mom Sukey often struggles to give her son the extras in life, so when the opportunity to freelance and earn extra money comes along Sukey reluctantly takes the job photographing a clients yard and garden. Simultaneously, Sukey is asked to photograph a murder/robbery crime scene. But to Sukey's analytical mind, things just don't add up, and she decides to do a little investigating on her own. As Sukey gets closer to solving the murder, she herself becomes the target of the killer. Can she solve the murder in time?
This mystery was the perfect combination of suspense with a few twists and turns I didn't see coming, as well as every day life of a single parent. . I am really looking forward to the next book in the series.
I received an advanced copy of this book and wrote the review independently.

Sukey Reynolds is a divorcee with a teenage son who works as a Scene of Crimes photographer for the Police. Shehas been asked by the owner of her gym to take some photos of his house and garden, while trying to make up her mind she is called out to the murder of a woman, who unknown to her is involved with the owner of the gym.
There are a number of twists with surprises when the killers are discovered. A new series by Betty Rowlands which are well worth a read