Another cosy instalment in the life of Eve Mallow, Obituary writer and novice sleuth

This the 4th in this series sees Eve probing into the death of Newcomer Harry Tennant , due to have welcomed his neighbours to his new home he does not get that opportunity due to his untimely and suspicious death

Love that you can settle right into the story from the opening page and feel as though are in the village with all the regulars

Highly recommended

Stepping into the pages of a new Eve Mallow mystery is like stepping into your favourite well worn comfy slippers, the setting and characters oh so familiar. Eve now feels to me like a trusted (if fictional!)friend that I can’t wait to catch up with. I experience a real sense of coming home when I embark on another episode in the life of Eve and her friends, reacquainting myself with this loveable obituary writer cum super sleuth extraordinaire and the beautiful setting of Saxford St Peter. All the regulars are on hand to accompany Eve through her latest adventures as amateur detective, from Viv, owner of Monty’s tea shop to local storekeeper and village busybody Moira to mysterious local gardener Robin, not forgetting her most trusted and loyal sidekick Gus the dachshund. In Mystery at The Old Mill, the fourth in this series, you can count on more than one dead body making an appearance as Eve happily snoops into the lives of local residents, satisfying her curiosity and her love of people watching. Nothing escapes Eve’s beady eye in what promises to be another delightful and entertaining read.

On this occasion relative newcomer to the village and owner of the old mill, Harry Tennant will become the first victim in this whodunnit, his assailant setting fire to this beautiful old property. Gossip spreads like wildfire or in this case arson (!) in these parts, thanks to the likes of Moira and Robin’s connection with the local constabulary and so it’s not long before this unwelcome news reaches the ears of Eve. The fact Harry was due to have welcomed his fellow neighbours into his home to celebrate his arrival in the village makes his death all the more timely and suspicious. At Eve’s midwinter open house just days before, he’d divulged he may have some interesting snippets of gossip to reveal which suggests that the subject of this not so secret information is desperate for it to remain private. What kind of secret could be so damaging that our culprit resorts to murder? Rest assured, with Eve and Gus, frequently used as a decoy to justify her nosiness, the case will be solved. The assumption that there will be more collateral damage along the way is one of the reasons you keep turning the pages.

The most pertinent question for Eve to answer is what could Harry’s death and Judd Bentley’s questions surrounding the whereabouts of agony aunt Pippa Longford have in common?
Well, it will come as no big surprise that Harry and Pippa are one and the same, this agony aunt/uncle having written for national magazine the Real Story, dispensing often controversial pieces of advice. Under the guise of writing his obituary it’s up to Eve to determine exactly who knew of Harry’s true identity and in unmasking the man beneath the disguise, will evidence of his true, rather unsavoury character point to the killer?

Clare has provided yet again an abundance of colourful, interesting characters to keep her readers guessing as to the killer’s identity. Displaying her usual skill at misdirection your attention constantly lurches from one suspect to another, quickly becoming entangled in a web of suspicion. There’s Harry’s cleaner, Kerry Clifton, a Mrs Tiggywinkle type character who claims she had a good relationship with her employer; Camilla the local florist who has recommended Pippa Longford’s services to more than one village resident; his neighbours the Abbotts; his uncle Tristan and Judd Bentley, a new groom at the local stables who seemed more than keen at Eve’s open house to make contact with the elusive Pippa. Finally there’s a mystery blonde, seen previously at Harry’s residence who could also be in the frame. So many potential suspects but will you identify the killer ahead of our accomplished sleuth Eve? I couldn’t!

Although I’m fairly adept at guessing the identity of culprits in the many psychological thrillers I often read, I have NEVER guessed the guilty party in any of Eve Mallow’s mysteries which makes them all the more engrossing. Coupled with the cozy village atmosphere in which gossip is exchanged and often overheard in Moira’s shop or at the tables in Monty’s tea shop makes this series deliciously moreish. I’d love to wander down the country lanes, meander along the river and indulge in some hearty fare at the Cross Keys pub or share a pot of tea with Viv at Monty’s in this setting that no longer feels fictional to me. Clare has surpassed herself in bringing this location alive so that the more I read of this series the more I think the characters and the setting would translate brilliantly onto the small screen, providing perfect prime time Sunday drama. What I also love is that whilst I highly recommend reading the books in order, you don’t need to be familiar with the characters to wholeheartedly enjoy these crime mysteries. The author punctuates the storyline with salient pieces of background information which can either serve as an introduction for new readers or a recap for erstwhile fans. In her creation of Eve Mallow, Clare Chase allows you to indulge in an inoffensive and sanitised version of death and drama without ever losing a sense of intrigue. With each new mystery, Eve is fast becoming my favourite sleuth and my desire to see a possible romance brewing between Eve and Robin may finally be realised going by the events in this latest book. If you haven’t already discovered this series then what are you waiting for???
My thanks as always to the publisher and Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read in exchange for an honest review.

More Amateur Sleuthing For Eve....
The fourth Eve Mallow mystery and sometime amateur sleuth, Eve, finds herself in danger following a fire at the Old Mill in Saxford St Peter. Can Eve and adorable sidekick, Gus, get to the truth in time to avoid a killer?Enjoyable entry into the series with a likeable protagonist in Eve and a colourful cast of supporting characters.

When an old converted windmill is burnt down deliberately killing the owner Harry Tennant Eve Mallow is asked to write a professional obituary for a magazine. The more Eve finds out about Harry Tennant the less she comes to the conclusion he is a manipulative character that uses people for his own ends.
This is a cosy mystery in which the main character Eve Mallow ends up putting herself in danger while trying to get to the truth.

When the calm of Saxford St Peter is disrupted by a deadly fire at the Old Mill, amateur sleuth Eve Mallow finds herself investigating a most surprising mystery! This was an enjoyable and charming cozy mystery. Not too complicated but enough of a mystery to keep me entertained. Thank you NetGalley for the advanced readers copy for review.

At Eve Mallow's traditional open house, resident of the Old Mill Harry Tennant announces that he has some surprises when he hosts his own open house. But before this takes places, the mill burns with Harry inside.

Revelations about Harry's job, and the number of people with a motive give Eve plenty of scope for writing his obituary - and for getting involved in another murder, much to the chagrin of the less-than-competent Inspector

As ever, Eve's investigations put her in danger.....

Another great addition to a super series