“She interviewed the living to understand the dead”

‘Cozy’ mystery, or traditional murder / mystery, or perhaps a mixture of both! No matter how you choose to define this story, there is only one superlative to describe it – Amazing!

This is professional obituary writer and amateur sleuth, Eve Mallow’s, fourth case to solve and she has obviously arrived in Saxford St Peter with a certain amount of personal baggage she is hoping to offload, but which still comes back to haunt her every so often. Even so, this book works fine as a stand alone story, as the details of Eve’s past are revealed slowly on a need to know basis and the picture never feels anything but complete and up to date.

A great opening which drew me right in; a plot which just threw up one surprise after the other; and a rather satisfying ending that left me feeling full of hope, promise, and a job well done!

This multi-layered, suspenseful storyline moved along at a steady pace, with natural peaks and troughs in all the right places, enough to keep the atmosphere tense and me glued to the edge of my seat, wanting to turn the pages ever faster, as the bodies began to mount up and Eve’s suspect list grew in length. This fiendishly twisted plot was well constructed by an author consummate in the art of storytelling and skilled in the imagery of words. Great observational and descriptive dialogue lifted the characters from the page, making them three dimensional as they inspired my imagination, but unfortunately not my powers of deduction, as I failed dismally to spot the perpetrators until it was too late and they had already been unmasked.

The red herrings were spread liberally and seamlessly around the crime scene, and with so many people in this sleepy little village having secrets and personal hidden agendas, suspicion was liable to fall in any direction, sometimes being deflected to all the wrong places, as suspects sought to cover their tracks and draw attention away from themselves and onto others. The crisp narrative and dialogue was fluid, with plenty of gossip, a good deal of heart-searching and a liberal splattering of lighter-hearted moments amongst Eve’s effortlessly conversational questioning style, but nonetheless very concerted and focused investigations.

Author Clare Chase, expertly guides her amateur sleuth through this veritable minefield of lies and deceit, providing her a few close encounters of the scary kind – but is she deterred? – not on your life! Only as the investigation builds to jaw dropping, heart stopping climax, do events rather slew out of control, as we see Eve’s shields really down, exposing her vulnerability and inexperience.

True to the traditions of a well developed cozy mystery, the characters are every bit as important as the plot and the crime, and Clare has researched her small village community structure very thoroughly, before committing pen to paper and beginning to define and flesh out her sprawling cast of characters, in rich detail. This makes them very easy to connect with and become invested in, although there are one or two I probably wouldn’t want living too close me, and a couple of gossips I would try to avoid being alone with. There is some excellent character interaction and some quite strong emotional and family connections for Eve to unravel during the course of her investigations and of course, there are those who are not quite as innocent or nice as they would have me believe, but did I mange to spot them? – not on your life!

Eve is a middle-aged, ex-wife, and loving mother, who would stand up well alongside Agatha Christie’s Miss Marple, or any of her more modern day counterparts, of which there are many. She has just the right amount of nosy neighbour tendencies, with the ability to sniff out a juicy murder/mystery, good powers of deduction in first building then whittling down a suspect list, and yet can stand up to serious scrutiny in her own right as a stalwart and trusted member of the community. She seems like a good and loyal friend to have and I look forward to following her new and blossoming friendship with the new man in her life!

Oh! And talking of sniffing out a suspect or two, I can’t end this review without mentioning Eve’s canine side-kick, Gus. What he lacks in physical size, he certainly makes up for in stature and wisdom, after all Eve does spend much of her time talking to him like an investigative partner and he is always a ‘go-to prop’ when she needs an excuse to visit a crime scene or chat to a suspect. To be honest, Eve might well have been toast in this particular investigation, if Gus hadn’t been the one to raise the alarm and set the wheels in motion for a rescue!

The story was well structured. The protagonist Eve Mallow was very astute and thorough. It was quite interesting entering a world of agony aunt columns and obituary writers - not a subject matter that is commonly dealt with. It left me wondering as to how much we really know about the people around us.
Although it was a good mystery it was not a page turner - which was a good thing because I was able to put the book done and deal with real life issues with no guilt!

Mystery at the Old Mill is the fourth instalment in the Eve Mallow Mystery series, set in the picture-postcard village of Saxford St Peter. Freelance obituary writer and part-time waitress at her friend Viv’s tea shop, Eve is partaking in the local tradition of offering tours around her home—Elizabeth cottage—on the eve of the winter solstice. An annual celebration of the history of the cottage includes fine food and wine and good conversation and most the villagers are invited. Eve knows many of them but newcomer to the area Harry Tennant, a mysterious and flirtatious figure who gives his occupation as a consultant, which is rather vague, piques her interest. Eve understands Harry will be hosting his own party at his home, The Old Mill, in January and they agree to meet once it winds down. But the celebration is not to be as Harry's new home is targeted by an arsonist, destroying much of the property, and the conflagration kills him in the process. Not long after his suspicious death, the villagers learn exactly who Harry was. He authored many advice columns in the local newspaper using the alias Pippa Longford and therefore held many secrets of those villagers who had written in looking for ”her” advice.

Did someone kill to protect their secrets after discovering his identity or is the truth more complicated than it initially appears? It's always a delight to read a new Mallow mystery and it feels very much like meeting up with an old friend. It's just a simply superb, cosy piece of escapism which draws you in with its effortless charm and riveting plot. The small village atmosphere is true to life throughout and I imagine Saxford to be like the hamlets in Midsomer Murders—beautiful but sinister-looking too. We also have the gossips who frequent these locations where everyone knows everyone and secrets don't stay secret for long. There is plenty of action, drama and tension throughout this engrossing tale and the twists and liberal use of misdirection are used to great effect creating an unpredictable storyline that ducks and dives. There are plenty of suspects so it's difficult to pinpoint the culprit and the writing flows seamlessly from page to page. I would go so far as to say this is the best and most gripping so far in the series and I can't recommend this perfect slice of cosy mystery and murder any more highly.

Mystery at the Old Mill by Clare Chase is an Eve Mallow mystery. Eve is a middle-aged woman living in Saxford St Peter, a Suffolk village she moved to after her divorce. She rented a home called Elizabeth's Cottage because of a story about a woman named Elizabeth who, back in 1720, had hidden a servant boy to keep him from the gallows. Eve was a professional obituary writer, no of simple obituaries who appear in the daily newspaper, but those of more well known folks, for whom magazines and such were willing to pay. Such obituaries went much more in depth and Eve made a decent living, though supplemented by her work at a local cafe. I was at her bi-annual charity party celebrating Elizabeth that she met Harry Tennant, a neighbor who lived in a refurbished mill nearby, and who seemed to be conversant with many of the residents of the village. The same Harry Tennant whose home burned down around his ears less than two weeks later, Harry never having awakened and so was killed in the blaze.

There was a slight British reserve in the telling of this story, not much, though. It could have taken place anywhere. Eve is a good character, still reacting to her divorce, but not heart-broken at all. She has made friends in this place, and she has an unquenchable curiosity about things. The mystery was compelling, with plenty of misdirection and confusion complicating its solving. People have so much to hide, that in a murder investigation, it is sometimes difficult to parse the important secrets from the others. Too often, the amateur sleuth putting herself into a position where she will be killed and that is the solution solves the crime. It is an old and over-used trope, which is the worst thing I can say about this book. It was an entertaining story with a good mystery and lots of interesting characters. I recommend it.

I was invited to read a free ARC of Mystery at the Old Mill by Netgalley. All opinions contained herein are solely my own. #netgalley #mysteryattheoldmill

This is an excellent addition to an excellent cosy series and I think each novel is better than the previous.
It’s a highly entertaining and gripping story, a complex whodunnit that kept me hooked till the end.
There are murders, there are a lot of secrets and there’s a lovely village where things could not be what they seem.
Henry Tennant is the victim but he’s also an intriguing character, full of secrets and with a double life. He’s complex character and you cannot help loving and hating him at the same time.
Eve is a great character: she’s curious and she wants justice for the victims. I love her discussions with Gus (one of the most lovely dog in the cosy world) and I love how she feels empathy toward the victims and the people involved.
The character development is excellent and the recurring characters are likeable and well thought. The new ones are well fleshed out and intriguing. My favorite is Robin and I would be curious to read about his previous life.
The mystery is solid, full of twists and turns, and the solution came as a surprise.
I can’t wait to read the next instalment, this one is highly recommended.
Many thanks to Bookouture and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

Eve Mallow, following tradition in her small seaside English village, opens her home on Christmas Eve for a celebration in honor of the beloved woman who owned it in the 1720’s. . Elizabeth was famous for saving the life of a young servant boy when he was being pursued by the local gentry for having stolen a loaf of bread to feed his hungry siblings. While showing off the room where Elizabeth slept, and the spot where she had hidden young Isaac, Eve meets some neighbors she hadn’t yet met, among them, Harry, a self described consultant. It turns out that Harry, who had been quite reclusive since moving to the village, has planned a party at his renovated mill, and promised everyone to share a few surprises. Before the party can take place though, Harry is killed when an arsonist sets his mill ablaze. Was he killed to keep him from sharing those surprises? As more details of his identity emerge, Eve, a professional obituary writer, is asked to write about him. The more she learns about this seemingly pleasant man the more she begins to question his morals and treatment of others. While talking with those who knew him she gets drawn into the mystery of why he was killed, and by whom. With plenty of potential suspects, we’re kept guessing until the end.
The village of Saxford St. Peter has become a cozy place to return to in book 4 of this series. The cafe run by Eve’s good friend Viv serves up mouthwatering cakes and tea, and the local shop owner, Moira, can always be counted on to pass on the latest gossip. I’ve been enjoying this series because of the development of the characters and their stories, although it could be read and enjoyed as a stand alone. Eve is an independent and intelligent woman who has frustrations and joy as everyone does, which makes her very relatable.
I started this series with an Advance Readers copy of book 3, and then happily read books 1 and 2. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for this copy of book 4. I’m hoping the author continues the series with many books to come.

4.5 Stars
Everyone in Saxford St Peter is desperate to know more about Harry Tennant, the newcomer who owns the Old Mill. He usually keeps himself to himself, but he’s finally invited the villagers round for drinks, and Eve Mallow isn’t the only one looking forward to having some questions answered. Just two days before the party, a terrible fire sweeps through the mill, and Harry is found dead. When Eve passes the burned remains of his beautiful house, she can’t resist the call to investigate. Especially when it turns out quiet, charming Harry was living a double life as the famous agony aunt Pippa Longford. Accompanied by her reliable dachshund sidekick Gus, Eve starts digging. She soon realises Harry was at the centre of a web of lives – and lies. There’s an uncle desperate to inherit, two women who thought they were his one and only, not to mention everyone who shared their darkest secrets with him.
This is the fourth book in this riveting entertaining series, it could easily be read on its own but if like me you love series then I’d recommend reading from the start as the relationships between the villagers do develop throughout the books. Eve as ever is eager to investigate & when she gets the call to write Henry’s obituary then she's given the green light to do so. Once again I was engrossed from cover to cover. There were plenty of suspects especially as Eve delved into Henry’s past, there were also red herrings, twists & turns so I was left guessing until near the end. The pace was very good & never lagged, the characters were well portrayed & had depth, I loved Eve who is forging a new life for herself & how she’s quickly become a loved village member, there's also the growing relationship between her & Robin, which I hope continues.
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read

Freelance obituary writer is certainly a unique job title! Eve Mallow combines that with part-time work at her friend Viv’s teashop in the quiet village of Saxford St. Peter. Eve, divorced with two adult children, lives in the historic Elizabeth’s Cottage. She’s designated the keeper of the cottage by villagers and opens it once a year for tours, food, drink and conversation. This year’s party is attended by the many villagers Eve knows and also by some new additions to the town. One is Harry Tennant, a handsome, flirtatious, self described “consultant” who makes plans to meet Eve after the next village party, an open house to be held at the old mill, Harry’s new home. He assures her that it will be a great party as he has many secrets to reveal. Eve never sees Harry again. An arsonist sets the mill on fire and Harry dies in the conflagration.

Almost immediately after his death, the villagers learn that Harry was author of advice columns by “Pippa Longford” and Eve remembers that several guests at her party had mentioned that Pippa Longford lived in Saxford St. Peter. Could Harry’s secrets be information revealed in questions sent to Pippa by villagers? When Eve is asked to write Harry’s obituary, she learns much about his character and the methods he used to dispense advice. She also learns that that Saxford St. Peter is full of possible suspects. Will Harry’s murderer kill again? Will Eve become a target?

Mystery at the Old Mill is everything a cozy mystery should be. Well-written, It’s full of delightful characters, has a quaint setting and a plot full of surprises. This is the fourth in the Eve Mallow series by Clare Chase. I look forward to the next. 5 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley, Bookouture and Clare Chase for this ARC.

Following a local tradition Eve Mallow opens her beautiful home to the villagers of Saxford St Peters on the winter solstice sharing both her hospitality and the history of Elizabeth's Cottage. Chatting with newcomer Harry Tennant that evening is a pleasure and she is looking forward to his own get-together in early January.

The party was never to be as fire guts Harry's home and when Eve is asked to write the obituary his secrets begin to emerge. Not as popular as she'd first thought he was, her discoveries leave Eve with an interesting and varied list of suspects as she finds herself facing a danger she isn’t sure she can escape.

This has become one one of my favourite series of cozy crimes. Clare Chase has written a relatable protagonist whose only difference to those around her is her occupation as an obituary writer and the ability to work out links others don't. Eve likes people and wants to do her best for anyone who needs it, has friends who are interesting, a lifestyle which is realistic and a very cute dog!

The murders she investigates are always complex with twists aplenty and more suspects than you can shake a stick at! The writing is free flowing and both easy to read and get lost in. I wait with high expectations for each book and they never disappoint.

I was able to read an advanced copy of this thanks to NetGalley and the publishers but the opinions expressed are my own. I highly recommend this book.

I have read all four of the Eve Mallow Mystery series. This very likeable character and her unusual career certainly help her to did deep once again to work through and find out “who dunnit”. The friendships and village life, once again, complement and balance out the drama that unfolds. I enjoyed the plot twists in this one. Its another good one for those of us who enjoy that cozy, murder mystery.

I am thoroughly enjoying seeing how Eve's character develops with each book and am encouraged to see a key relationship develop just a little more. Its almost a mystery in itself

With thanks to #NetGalley, the publisher Bookouture and the author, Clare Chase, for my free advanced reader copy to review in exchange for an honest opinion.

I loved ‘Mystery at the Old Mill’. It absolutely oozed charm and then along came a murder of course. The location descriptions were calming and quaint, and if it wasn’t for the danger element, I’d love to live in Saxford St Peter.

I’d like to highly praise amateur detective, Eve Mallow’s sounding board and confidante, Gus the dog. I really enjoyed their conversations and walks as the mystery unfolded. Don’t worry, Gus the dog doesn’t talk back but he is the perfect little short legged partner and I found the descriptions of him adorable.

The opening was intriguing and as gripping as an opening could be. Soon, I was introduced to the main characters of the village through a house tour setting and it really made me feel Christmassy. The scene was well and truly set when the Old Mill, another local residence, is burnt to cinders. That’s when the mystery begins. There is so much more cosy excitement to come after this. This was a real, armchair read. Perfect for this time of the year and definitely one I’d recommend. It’s fun, and surprising at every turn.

The obituary writer day job for Eve was a master stroke, she had the perfect way to enter everyone’s world and investigate the murder. This book is well plotted and the interviews were great to read. There’s plenty of danger and mystery, definitely enough to have kept me reading into the early hours of the morning. Really enjoyable read and the setting - perfect!

If there was ever a writer for whom the term "cosy crime" was invented, it's Clare Chase. This is a wonderfully written book with engaging characters - this is the first of her books that I've read, but I'm sure it won't be the last.

I wish I'd met the cast first in the first book of the series (this is the fourth), I think a little knowledge of the characters would have helped. However there is enough background information dropped in to allow new readers to catch up quite quickly without boring older readers. The plot is also well thought through and developed, and does a good job of keeping the reader guessing.

This is the ideal read for a night in by the fire. Wonderful, lovely, easy to read and easy to become engrossed in - I'm 'glad I spent time reading this book.

We are now on book four of this series and every one has been a winner! So... do yourself a favour and start from book one and read in order. You can thank me later!
So, Eve Mallow, my favourite fictional obituary writer - OK only, but it gives the crime fiction genre a unique spin - is once again embroiled in a murder mystery. The victim is mostly unknown to Eve apart from a short meeting at her open house but she is still shocked when his house - The Old Mill - burns down, his dead body found in the ashes, she finds out that he was the resident newspaper Agony Aunt! Even before being tasked with writing his obit, she decides to investigate - she's got the bug by now, well, we are on book 4! Along with trusty sidekick - of the canine variety - and ably assisted by her village friends and gossips, can she solve it before the police - again!?
This series does have it all - it ticks all the boxes I need for a great read. Cracking characters - series and episode extras - main and supporting - are all well drawn and wholly believable. But characters, even good ones, would be a little redundant if they didn't have a tale to tell. A mystery to act out. And again here we have that too. With secrets, lies and duplicitous behaviour, along with a fair few suspects all with motives, it definitely kept me on my toes throughout. Pacing is good and matches the narrative throughout. The story gets on with itself very well, aided by the fact that there is no superfluous waffle or padding. And the ending, when it eventually came, was perfect, and not something I saw coming either. As I said, ticked every box!
All in all, a cracking addition to one of my now favourite series. Can't wait for next time. My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.

I was intrigued in Book 1 by the idea of a freelance obituary writer, an easy cover for her sleuthing activities when something happens. In this entry to the series—it is the death of a man living in the Old Mill in Saxton St Peter, Suffolk village.

The victim, Harry Tennant, is an “agony aunt,” that is, an advice columnist. Harry is not a nice man and his columns are not always helpful—but, hey, that’s what sells. When his old mill burns down with him in it, it is established that it wasn’t accidental.

There is little additional development of Eve and Book 4 does not sufficiently reintroduce Eve’s circumstances, other than she is still working with her BFF, Viv in her tea shop. Eve discusses the case with Gus, her Dachshund, who eyes her appropriately depending whether or not he gets to go on her interviews.

I had difficulty getting into the rather drawn out plot, well-plotted though it was, just a bit slow for me and my attention lagged more than once. His isn’t the only body to fall by the wayside in the ensuing investigation and there are a number of red herrings. Eve has a way of seriously ticking off her interviewees, curtailing any further discussion but several possible perps rise to the top of the list.

Seems the more obvious suspects are too obvious and in the end, the conclusion is enlightening as well as surprising. In the meantime, I enjoyed the little tidbits about the frigid location by the North Sea and the country lanes with their very colorful names. If you are a fan of the author, I’d suggest you begin this series with Book 1, as I felt a bit lost in Book 4. Must have missed something and perhaps would not function well as a standalone. 3.5/5 stars

Lovely writing and execution.



Fast paced, quick and intense plot, keep you glued to the pages. Thoroughly delightful. A cosy murder mystery to sink into on a weekend, keep you on your toes with the twists,

Love this series, and this fourth book did not disappoint.
Eve Mallow once again is asked to write an obituary for a villager who has passed, this time in a fire. But Eve uncovers a few secrets about Harry Tennant that make her curious. When she starts investigating she realizes she has stumbled right into another mystery.
I always love the twists and turns in the Eve Mallow mysteries, and this one kept me guessing until the end.
I received an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Another great entry in the Eve Mallow series. As usual, Eve manages to get herself tangled in the mysterious death of one of her fellow villagers. Eve is asked to write the obituary, and in the process, uncovers many secrets. Plenty of twists and turns in the plot and some developments in Eve's personal life.

amateur-sleuth, cosy-mystery, England, law-enforcement, ex-cop, family-dynamics, friendship, murder-investigation, writers, small-town

The man seemed like an ordinary man who enjoyed chatting folks up sometimes until his murdered body was found after the fire that destroyed the Old Mill where he lived. It turned out that he ran an advice column and a bit more. Eve Mallow (and her trusty dachshund) was drawn to the investigation even before getting a call from one of her employers asking for her to write a signature obituary on the man. The more she learns about him, the more suspects come out of the woodwork. Lots of red herrings, suspense, and plot twists as well as the usual interesting characters. Of course I stayed up way too late just to finish it!
I requested and received a free ebook copy from Bookouture via NetGalley. Thank you!

First time I've read this author and I really liked the book. The characters are interesting as is the setting. They mystery kept me guessing. I look forward to finding the others in the series.

Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for my eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Fourth in the Eve Mallow series and the plot keeps up to it’s predecessors. The narrative is tight and maintains the suspense till the conclusion. The characters are many and some are dealt in detail while some are left off loosely. What I did not like in this book is the methods used by Eve which felt immature and different from her usual ways, and she trying to justify them. 4.5 stars