Definitely in the ‘cozy mystery’ genre. A fairly interesting yet silly story buried in way too many words, people, spirits and dogs! Perhaps it would have been a smoother read if the chapters had a heading indicating which character’s perspective was now being told. The constant chopping and changing halted the flow while I registered who we had moved on to!

Sam and Maggie are taking part in an archaeological dig when a body is discovered. But it is much more recent than expected, and the killer may still be alive...
At Death's Door is quite a quirky crime mystery novel. It is the second book in the series and I have not read the first. However, there are no spoilers about events from the previous book.
Maggie is a wonderful character and I liked how she is presented via the first person. She is psychic and can see spirits which has significant impact on her in terms of the murder investigation as well as her personal life as tragedy strikes. I really liked this element to the book although one vision was particularly heartwrenching.
The discovery of the body takes a back seat after the initial discovery as Maggie's personal life and family relationships takes centre stage. This adds a great deal of emotion to the book which is softened by Maggie's eccentric personality and humorous escapades.
The book is written from third person perspectives, mainly focussed on Sam and Andrea, but also Maggie in the first person. I found it a little tricky to get into the book due to the style of writing and how it jumps between characters and in time to relevant flashbacks in the past. However, by a third of the way through I had settled in and coped better with the changes.
At Death's Door has a strong plot and lead character and I'm glad I persevered to get to grips with the style.

A wholly engaging whodunnit with a colourful cast of characters, an entertaining narrative and a beautiful location. A very fast paced, action packed story with lots of craziness and suspense to keep you reading straight to the very end! Highly recommend!

I previously reviewed Death Comes To Bishops Well and really enjoyed it. Just like the previous review, I really enjoyed Maggie and Sam as characters. This was a great addition to the series. There was something sad that happened – I won’t say what so as not to spoil it for you – but from that develops the story and really gets it going.

Maggie and Sam work well as a team once more and you see how the inner workings of a village works. Secrets and lies come to the forefront and it can also brings some danger too.

I really loved this addition to the series and will definitely be checking out more from the author.

At Death’s Door is vast in scope, dealing with not one but two mysteries that take several twists and turns until they finally give up their secrets.

The focus of this book is the eccentric Maggie Kaye who is nobly supported by her neighbor, Sam Dee. Maggie’s family dynamics are extensively explored by the author. You’re in for a series of shocks that will leave you open-mouthed.

Just like the previous book, Death Comes to Bishops Well (Book #1), the story is alternately narrated by Maggie and Sam. I enjoyed the streak of humor that runs throughout the chapters. It helped lighten the sad, painful, and emotional moments–of which there are plenty.

The mystery of the body found by Maggie and her friends from the local archeological society is overshadowed by the explosive secrets around the Kaye family. It barely made an impression on me because I was so absorbed in Maggie’s drama-filled story.

The resolution of the mystery also appeared a bit weak but I guess the author chose to be realistic. I wasn’t quite satisfied with how either of the storylines ended because I like convenient happily-ever-afters. The author seems to understand human psychology well and her characters are suitably flawed and fickle. Chances lost are lost forever and the choices we make stick with us for a lifetime.

Expect plenty of drama, shocking secrets, and emotional scenes from At Death’s Door along with a sprinkling of humor to top it up.

(I received a free e-copy of the book from Rachel’s Random Resources with a request for an honest review.)

Bishops Well is a small market town steeped in history, with its ancient rituals and archaeological society, and locals determined to resist the march of time. Retired barrister Samuel Dee moved from London into one half of an old converted vicarage called Priest’s Hole after his wife Alice died. The other half of Priest's Hole is inhabited by Maggie Kaye, a woman who regularly sees spirits, indeed often spying Alice waiting in the garden for Sam. Sam is now aware of this and understands Maggie’s talents as she narrates half the story while the rest is told in the third person. This story begins as Maggie has twisted Sam’s arm into joining her in the Bishop’s Well Archaeological Association dig at Sexton’s Wood on the Weston-Jones estate. Lord Philips’s son James is part of the dig and unearths a body. Sadly for the diggers it is not a part of a Bronze Age Celtic settlement. Dr Michael Almond, forensic pathologist and boyfriend of DI Gillian Marsh, is also on the dig and pronounces the body, that of a woman, to have been there for around fifty years. Maggie confirms to Sam that it is the Swamp Lady that she has seen regularly at the site. She and Sam discover that the body belongs to James’s mother Helen who was rumoured to have run off to Africa with her lover, never to be seen again. So the question remains – did she return or did someone stop her leaving in the first place? Other old faces from the village make a return as well, bringing puzzles, explanations and more worryingly a whole load of danger with them. Maggie decides to put on her investigating hat and find the truth before any more skeletons emerge from the closet dragging death and destruction with them.
I adored Maggie’s character and the great affection she and Sam have for each other, and also the crossover with Sexton’s Canning’s DI Marsh, a character already well introduced in a series of her own. The alternation with third party and narration by Maggie I thought worked very well, particularly as Maggie has an often very humorous view on life and sees things that no one else can, for example when her mother slipped into a coma. Altogether these two amateur sleuths make a great team combining his legal expertise and her local knowledge, and with the attractive and quirky rural location and the well-drawn array of very believable and slightly eccentric characters, this is an excellent murder mystery whodunit and the second in what promises to be another hit series. I am definitely looking forward to reading book 3, Cause of Death. 5*

At death's door by Anna Legat.
The shires mysteries book 2.
When Maggie Kaye and Sam Dee join the Bishops Well archaeological dig, they are as surprised as everyone else to unearth a body that was buried there less than fifty years ago. It can't possibly be the remains of an ancient Celt. Maggie, with her usual flair - and psychic intuition - is convinced that there is more to this discovery than meets the eye. And some Bishops residents seem to know a lot more about the case than they are willing to let on. But nobody is as shocked as Maggie when a face from the past - a face she thought she'd never see again - appears in the village, and long-hidden secrets begin to surface.
A very good read with good characters. I liked the story. I liked the cover. 4*.

At Death's Door by Anna Legat is an entertaining and amusing cosy mystery set in the sleepy English village of Bishops Wells. This is the 2nd book in The Shires Mysteries, which reads as a standalone.

As most cosy crime stories, it's packed with amateur detectives, family secrets and skeletons in the closet, the quaint locale, and plenty of eccentric characters.

This cosy crime book with diverting characters and an enjoyable storyline, is just right for curling up with, wrapped in a duvet, with a cup of tea on the side table.

At Death's Door is a good old-fashioned British mystery, which will appeal to the fans of M C Beaton's Agatha Raisin series, Carola Dunn's Cornish mysteries or Cornwall Mysteries series by Janie Bolitho.

At Death’s Door is the second gripping installment of The Shires Mysteries, Anna Legat’s fantastic cosy mystery series perfect for fans of Midsomer Murders and Agatha Raisin.

Joining the Bishops Well archeological dig was meant to be a fun activity for Maggie Kaye and Sam Dee – they certainly never imagined that they would end up stumbling onto a body that had been buried less than fifty years ago! It is clear that these remains do not belong to an Ancient Celt and something is telling Maggie that there is more to this discovery than meets the eye. With her fellow neighbours seeming to know more about this body than they are letting on, Maggie simply cannot resist doing her own investigating and getting to the bottom of this mystery.

With Sam by her side and her psychic intuition and natural inquisitiveness helping her along, Maggie will not rest until she gets to the truth. But it looks like her investigation could end up being hampered by a face from her past she had hoped never to see ever again! As long-hidden secrets come flooding to the surface, Maggie finds herself in danger, but with somebody determined to keep her in the dark, will she be successful in her quest for justice? Or will she be the one who will find herself at death’s door?

Cosy crime fans are in for a treat with Anna Legat’s Shire Mysteries. Fun, compelling and full of red herrings, twist and turns and shocking revelations, At Death’s Door kept me guessing and glued to its pages until the very last sentence. Maggie and Sam are a terrific double act and the way they solve this latest crime in Bishops Well will certainly delight aficionados of the traditional British mystery.

Anna Legat’s At Death’s Door is an entertaining and enjoyable cosy mystery that has me eagerly anticipating my next visit to Bishops Well!

The Shire Mysteries blend cosy crime with family drama. Maggie sees the dead, an invaluable gift in her role as amateur sleuth and often enlivens her neighbour Sam's life with ghostly sightings and provoking thoughts.

An archaeological dig unearths an unexpected find that revisits the past. Tragedy in Maggie's personal life leads to an unexpected visitor.

Believable characters, a well-written mystery and touches of humour make this a lovely escapist read.

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

At Death’s Door is the second in the Sam Dee/Maggie Kaye Shires series but this is Maggie’s story and what a story it is!

When a body is discovered during an archaeological dig in Sexton’s Wood, it is at first assumed, naturally, to be an ancient Celt. It’s not. It is the remains of a woman buried only decades ago, a woman whose spirit psychic Maggie has often seen wandering in the woods. Who is she and why was she buried there? That’s the first question in this well plotted mystery. The second is Maggie’s sister Andrea’s disappearance twenty-five years ago. After a family tragedy, Maggie will finally learn what happened to Andrea just as the woman from the woods is identified.

Anna Legat has hit her stride with At Death’s Door. Sam and Maggie are both strong, appealing characters. No spoilers but I especially loved Andrea’s story and the different locations featured. The Bishops Well Archaeological Association and its members, especially James, are welcome additions to this series. I’m looking forward to what happens next in the Shires! 5 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley, Headline and Anna Legat for this ARC.

The second tale in this series, and one which will keep you guessing!

Carrying on from the first book, we find ourselves back in Bishops Well; this time round Maggie and Sam have joined the local archaeological dig but when a body is discovered it’s not as ancient as expected. With Maggie’s psychic intuition and a visit from someone who disappeared long ago, this is a mystery with an awful lot going on!

There are many threads to this tale and, normally I wouldn’t have any problem unravelling them but the waters are muddied by multiple narrators, all talking in the first person, and I spent far too much time working out when changes occurred. I like the cast of characters and the idea of these mysteries but, sadly, I don’t think I’ll continue with this series as I find it incredibly annoying when the narrator changes without warning and I struggle to work out what’s happening – and to whom. The idea of this series is terrific and with a little attention it would be much more enjoyable. As it is, 4* from me.

My thanks to the publisher for my copy and to Rachel Gilbey for my spot on this tour; this is – as always – my honest, original and unbiased review.

When I reviewed Death Comes to Bishops Well, I wrote that it was a series full of promises, this book is up to the potential of this entertaining series.
It's a cozy mystery but it's also a family saga as family, relationships and secrets are at the center of the plot.
Maggie and Sam's relationship is growing, and I hope they will be able to bring it to the next step.
There's a cold case, an old story related to one of the aristocratic family, and there's a lot of secrets related to Maggie's family and her sister Andrea, who's back after disappearing long ago.
It's a complex plot full of twists and surprises. I couldn’t guess the twists and appreciated the solution.
The author did a good job in developing the characters and keeping the tension high, especially when it comes to Andrea.
I read it in one sitting and thoroughly enjoyed it.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to Headline Accent, Rachel’s Random Resources, and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

Enjoyed the first book in the series and was excited for the second instalment. I think this one was even better than the first. A great mystery to solve and kept me interested.

There is a lot going on in this book. The changing of who is telling the story confused me at first. I am not sure I will come to like Maggie. There are at least 2 mysteries going on - the dead body they find that is about 50 years old and what happened to Maggie's sister.

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

When Maggie Kaye and Sam Dee join the Bishops Well archaeological dig, they are as surprised as everyone else to unearth a body that was buried there less than fifty years ago. It can't possibly be the remains of an ancient Celt. Maggie, with her usual flair is convinced that there is more to this discovery than meets the eye. And some Bishops residents seem to know a lot more about the case than they are willing to let on. But nobody is as shocked as Maggie when a face from the past - a face she thought she'd never see again - appears in the village, and long-hidden secrets begin to surface.
This is the second book in the series & it could be easily read on its own. Another well written cosy mystery, there are plenty of red herrings plus twists & turns, some of which took me by surprise. I really like Maggie & Sam & I'm enjoying their relationship & how it's developing & changing. I do love how Sam supports Maggie. Not the fastest paced book but an enjoyable one & I look fotward to more in the series
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read

At Death Door was an interesting story. It was two stories in one. Maggie Kaye is the main character who can see the dead. She is involved in the Bishop Well Archaeological Association. She and her neighbor Sam Dee are working at a site of a Celtic Village. The local lore is that the settlement is as old as Stone Hedge. The group discovers a body on the burial grounds. The police are called as they realize it is not part of the Celtic village. There is a ghost who they call swamp lady. that Maggie can see. The body is later discovered to be James's; mother who everyone thought had gone away with her cousin Karl Van Niekerk. . Seton Woods circles around the vast estate called Weston Place. There are other characters that add to the story.. The second part of the story is about the disappearance of Maggie's sister Andrea. who has been missing for 25 years. Andrea was involved with a married man, Wayne Kew who murdered three men while in Africa. She witnessed the murder and eventually spoke at his trial. He was put in prison and threatened to kill her. She was put into a protective program and now lives in New Zeeland with her husband and son. When her mother passes away she comes home for the funeral Maggie finds out her sister had been in the witness protection program, Although she loves being back she goes back to New Zeeland. When her father dies she comes home again but this time Wayne Kew is out of prison and decides to come after her. This is where the story takes the reader on an adventure to an exciting end. and the two stories come back to one.

Thank you NetGalley and Headline Publishing Group for this ARC.

I want to thank NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read and review an advanced copy of this book.

Maggie and a team of amateur archeologists find human remains when digging at a historical site. Unfortunately for them, the remains is more recent, which sets off a police investigation. Maggie also ‘sees’ the spirits of dead people, and she has seen the woman whose remains were found. Shortly after this, Maggie’s mother dies, and people show up in town after being ‘missing’ for many years. This starts a series of revelations that upset several families. It also puts several people in dangerous situations. Throughout all of this, Sam, Maggie’s neighbor, finds it hard to reveal his feelings for Maggie, but he is always there to support her, when needed. After more secrets are revealed (and some additional tragedy) all the mysteries are resolved.

This book had many different story lines (with some flashbacks to ‘fill in the blanks’) that become intertwined with Maggie’s ghostly visitations and her struggles to keep her family together.

This is the second outing for the unlikely pairing of supply teacher Maggie and her next door neighbour, the retired lawyer Samuel. The story starts with a familiar setting of a body being discovered in an archaeological dig but it swiftly moves on to wider territory with parts of the story being set in South Africa and New Zealand. The story is also much more personal as this is the story of Maggie’s family, both past and present which lifts the plot above the normal cosy crime which can sometimes feel a bit impersonal. In this second novel, Maggie’s character is much more developed and she has a lot more emotional depth.
I enjoyed the wider plot and setting of this book but did find the constant changes of point of view a bit jarring as it is not always immediately obvious whose story is being told.
Thank you to Net Galley and the publisher, Headline, for an advance copy of this novel.

The Shires Mysteries gather momentum in this book. It is the second instalment of the series. The two main protagonists, the impossibly excitable but charming Maggie and her level-headed neighbour Samuel are confronted with a new puzzling mystery: the remains of a young woman dating back to the fifties are discovered at an ancient archaeological dig. At the same time a tragedy strikes – Maggie’s father dies. Although Maggie’s heart is broken, it is a blessing in disguise because his death brings back Andrea (Maggie’s long lost sister).
Legat weaves together several different sublots, which are ultimately put together to complete an intriguing puzzle of family secrets and past dramas. It isn’t just about the twenty years missing from Andrea’s life, but also about the whole Kaye family and its complex past. The mystery is cleverly plotted with many unexpected twists and earth-shuttering revelations.
Although the story is set in the quintessentially English village of Bishops Well, some of the characters take us out into the wider world, to southern Africa and New Zealand. The places are vividly described and really come to life in the story. It is evident that the author actually lived there and knows them well.
At Death’s Door bristles with humour, and the interactions between Maggie and Sam appear to be slowly leading towards something more than just neighbourly friendship. I can’t wait for the next instalment!