In this episode of the Sukey Reynolds series, the detectives are investigating the puzzling death of a man attending a music conference at a hotel. There are very few clues and just a few suspects. Just when they think they have it figured out, it turns out not to be right. Two more potentially related deaths complicate the situation. In this episode, DS Rathbone (Sukey's immediate supervisor) has been promoted to DCI, and it seems that he's portrayed as becoming a bit lazy (preferring to work on the computer and drink coffee to being out in the field with his detectives). That surprised me a bit, given how he was portrayed in previous episodes. I was also confused by the fact that now there are two DCIs (Rathbone and Leach), who are both working on this same case (Rathbone still seems to report to Leach). But, perhaps that's because I'm American and don't understand the British hierarchy of police. Regardless, I thought this was a really good mystery that will keep your interest and with unique characters.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for the opportunity to read this 13th book in the Sukey Reynolds series in exchange for an honest review.

After a series of deaths or possibly murders at Dallington Manor during a music appreciation event, Sukey and her fellow detectives from the Avon and Somerset Constabulary are puzzled by this incredibly complex case. Newly promoted DI Rathborne is especially concerned that his promotion was not worthy as they are having so much trouble puzzling this case out.This is by far the most complex mystery written in the Sukey Reynolds series. After several red herrings, wrong turns and an incredible cast of characters the team has their work cut out for them.

There is some happiness on the horizon for Sukey. Her son Gus is not mentioned in this book at all. This was another incredible read from Betty Rowlands.

Deaths at a Music Convention
This is part of the Sukey Reynolds Mystery series. It is part police procedural and part cozy mystery and all British. It stands alone well, but I have loved the entire series. Some suspicious deaths occur at a musical convention. That means lots of guests as well as staff. There are many moving pieces in this story. The reveal is quite unexpected. I received this ARC book for free from Net Galley and this is my honest review.

Betty Rowlands Sukey Reynolds series is now on its 13th outing and this time Sukey finds herself investigating a body found in a hotel lake, the victim is a guest and attendee of a music extravaganza being held at the hotel, the big question is, was it an accident? Or was it murder?
Betty Rowlands has a quaint way of writing that is so endearing you can’t help but like her books.

Sukey Reynolds is called to a country house hotel where the body of a guest taking part in a music appreciation weekend has been found in the grounds. With the cause of death up for discussion and very few leads to follow up nothing seems to be moving forward when another suspicious death occurs.

This is the last in Betty Rowlands' Sukey Reynolds series and for me it started strongly but fell away. The original death investigation was very enjoyable, especially as Sukey's partner, Vicky Armstrong had been promoted along with their boss the now Detective Inspector Rathbone. The suspects were varied and realistic and with an interesting suspect pool there was the opportunity for an abundance of red herrings. Add to that Sukey's private life which was a happy distraction and things seemed to be heading towards a very satisfying denouement.

Unfortunately the big reveal, to me was lack lustre so much so in fact that I didn't realise it had happened and was expecting there to be another suspect still to be identified and taken down by Sukey in a blaze of glory but regretfully that didn't happen.

Overall I have thoroughly enjoyed both this series and Ms Rowlands previous works in the Melissa Craig books all of which I have no doubt I will revisit and enjoy again in the future. It's just a shame that this final outing didn't leave me wishing there was still more to come.

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 who has read the previous books in both series, it does round things off but it could have been so much more.

This book was previously published as The Scent of Death.

This is the 13th book in the series and the style is a little different to the others.

It is a quick, easy read and whilst is no longer a cosy murder mystery due to it being more procedural it is still gentle rather than gritty, thriller territory.

I still enjoy the other series however the main characters were all there.

One thing I spotted was that Fergus did a business degree but in the other books it was forensics?!

A body is found in the lake at Dallington Manor when a group of music lovers have their annual party. The Police are called in to see whether there is anything suspicious to investigate then the body count increases. Sukey Reynolds is on the team investigating the murders and she finds there are many questions to be answered and very few clues leaving everyone unsure who the murderer is.
Betty Rowlands has a way with her writing that keeps you guessing until the end. Another book to be enjoyed in the Sukey Reynolds series

This is a great cosy series and this was the best instalment I read in this series.
Everything was great: the solid mystery, the fleshed out cast of characters and the setting.
The plot is engrossing and entertaining and it kept me guessing.
Strongly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.

Betty Rowlands has done it again! Great combination of mystery, excitement, romance, and laughter.
Sukey and her fellow detectives are called to a hotel when a guest shows up dead. A small group of music lovers gathers from time to time for a convention of sorts to have a presentation of classical music. The mystery builds as the bodies pile up, and the clues point in so many different directions, Can Sukey and the others uncover who is behind the deaths of these men before someone else is killed?
Thank you NetGalley for the advanced copy of this great book. Truly love this series and look forward to Sukey's next adventure.

I received an ARC copy of this book from the Publisher via Netgalley and voluntarily leaving my review.

This was a great cozy mystery again this book series should be on the hallmark movie mystery channel.

Sukey and team are task investigating the death of Lance who was found floating in the lake. As they tried to figure if he was murder who will want him dead. As the task get more difficult they found two more bodies and they could be murder or accident but it does remain that a murder did happen.

When they found a suspect they believe they got the right person but Sukey isn't convince and she follow her instinct and realize she knows who the killer is but is it too late for her to catch the person.

Sukey's stories just keep getting better and better. When a body is found floating in the lake at a hotel, naturally her team is called in to investigate. When two others are found dead it really gets confusing. A lot of red herrings and a lot of twists and turns leads the reader on a merry chase. I have read the series in order, but could easily be a stand alone, although why not read the others? Great author, great characters and stories. Highly recommend.

So goodbye to Sukey Reynolds, the last in the series that just has to be the most enthralling read, As per the norm Sukey and her hunches prove that she makes a fantastic Detective Constable who should be moving up the ranks quickly

The last Sukey Reynolds book, what am I going to do now?! I've enjoyed this whole series, following Sukey from her early days as a scene of crime officer, until now when she's a detective constable looking to possibly be promoted to a sergeant.
This latest book has a number of suspicious deaths, with only one of them being definitely a murder, the others might possibly be. There are lots of twists and turns, most of which work quite well. I will admit though, that I wasn't completely convinced by the ending, it was almost left up in the air a bit. I don't' want to go into too many details and give things away. It didn't detract from my enjoyment of the book and I'd still recommend it, particularly to Sukey fans. In fact, I think that it was probably intentional that it was a little ambiguous.
I'll be sorry to see Sukey go, I've enjoyed reading about her. I've said before that I wasn't completely convinced by the sudden change in her life, midway through the series. I've still enjoyed them all though. It was good to see that Sukey settled into new career well and was enjoying life with her journalist friend. There was only a passing reference to her son, who randomly seems to have changed the degree that he's doing for some reason.
Overall, this has been a fantastic series and one that I've really enjoyed. You don't need to have read the other books, but I would encourage you to if you get the chance.
I received a complimentary copy of this book through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Death at Sandy Bay is another Sukey mystery that. Keep you reading until the end. Lots of possibilities and no motives. The detectives keep coming up with dead ends. You'll like how this turns out.

cosy-mystery, England, law-enforcement, procedural, relationship-issues

The first body might have been an accident, perhaps even the second, but the third was clearly murder. Even due diligence had a hard time finding adequate admissible evidence, and ferreting out the right killer was even harder considering all the lies and misdirection! A truly twisty mystery that kept my nose to the page!
I requested and received a free ebook copy from Bookouture via NetGalley. Thank you!

Death at Sandy Bay by Betty Rowlands was another cleverly plotted mystery that I think of as a contemporary cozy police procedural. I enjoy reading Ms. Rowlands' Sukey Reynolds series as it's a nice break from other cozy mysteries that usually focus on amateur sleuths.

Sukey Reynolds is quite good at her job as a Detective Constable because not only is she thorough in searching for clues and interrogating witnesses and suspects but she also uses her intuition to follow up on odd clues. The plot is smoothly paced with red herrings, several suspects and a few twists to keep Sukey and the team searching for more evidence. I found the ending which gave information about the actual court proceeding and the verdict of the jury to end this story perfectly.

Love this series book 13 another delicious read twisty plot kept me guessing. Each book has wonderful characters plots that make you guess so well written looking forward to next in series all ready.#netgalley #bookouture

When a death at a classical music weekend brings Sukey and the team to investigate, the body count continues to increase. So many suspects, so many motives but evidence is the thing they need to close this case and it seems to be the one thing that keeps eluding them. Can the team close the tricky case or will the newest DI’s first case be a failure for him and his team?

I have adored the Sukey Reynolds series and the writing of the talented Betty Rowlands. While I was hooked by the mysteries, I also enjoyed watching Sukey’s life and career evolve over the course of the books. Hers to hoping we see the next chapter in Sukey’s life soon.