Flora Steele heads to Cornwall with author Jack Carrington to help him explore the county to gain ideas for his latest book. Before they depart, they receive a note warning them not to go. Then shortly after arrival, their landlord is found dead in the orchard and the pair find themselves embroiled in another murder case...
Murder at Primrose Cottage is the third book to feature Flora and Jack. There are mentions of events from the first two books (The Bookshop Murder and Murder on the Pier) but no spoilers so they could be read out of sequence.
The pair discover a wartime link that is very secretive and their late landlord had shown an interest in it. However, his brother also has a motive for murder. Flora and Jack seems to be targeted by someone who doesn't want them in Cornwall and a series of accidents put them in danger. Is there a connection between the two plot strands?
I was quite surprised at unmarried friends Flora and Jack holidaying together as I felt this jarred with the 1950s setting. The geographical setting was brought to life and I can't wait to visit some of the places when we go on holiday. I was also interested in the history which provided a backdrop to the plot. The local characters are vividly portrayed especially housekeeper Jessie and local 'witch' Mercy.
Murder at Primrose Cottage is an enjoyable murder mystery.

Once again, I find myself jumping into the middle of a series. Once again, doing so leads me to a whole new series and a new author to enjoy!

Flora and her companion, Jack Carrington, are off to Treleggan, Cornwall so Jack can do some research for his latest crime novel and Flora can get in some rest and relaxation. Those plans are sidetracked when Flora finds the landlord of the cottage they’ve rented dead in the cottage garden. A mystery needs unraveling, and Flora is determined to get to the bottom of it.

Flora Steele is a thoroughly likable heroine. She’s intelligent, adventurous (sometimes too much so for her own well-being), and generally pretty outspoken. She barely knew Roger Gifford, but she’s determined to see justice done for him, especially as it appears the local constabulary may not be doing such a great job. She and Jack work well together, and their banter is a lot of fun.

The story’s setting is wonderful. I’d now like to go visit Cornwall, please. I want to eat the food and meet the people and explore all the historical sites. The plot was well laid out, too. Allingham would give us a possible villain, and then they’d be taken suddenly and thoroughly out of the running. I love it when stories take turns that keep me guessing!

As for characters, I particularly appreciated Mercy Dearlove and how Flora related to her. Mercy seemed not to be very well liked in Treleggan, but Flora moved past local prejudice and reached out Mercy when she thought Mercy might have useful information. I daresay there may have been good feeling toward Flora on Mercy’s side, too. It’s a good reminder that just because someone is different doesn’t mean they’re bad.

Murder at Primrose Cottage is an easy read, and an enjoyable one. The mystery isn’t too easily resolved, the characters are well-written, and the setting makes me want to go there. I’ve found a new author and series to love. Five stars, because it’s just that much fun!

Merryn Allingham's Flora Steele Mystery series follows the adventures of protagonist Flora Steele and author Jack Carrington as they navigate life, romance and murders in post World War II England. The first two books in this series are set in the small village of Abbeymead, Sussex. For book three, Murder at Primrose Cottage, Jack has agreed to write a series of mysteries set in various counties throughout England and has travelled to Cornwall for research with Flora accompanying him. The morning after they arrive at their rental cottage, Flora goes exploring in the garden and comes across the recently deceased body of the owner of the cottage. Soon they become embroiled in not only the mystery surrounding the murder but also secrets from the war era.

This author has done a marvelous job of creating characters and descriptions that enable the reader to envision themselves taken back to the time and place in which this story is set. By having the main characters travel to other places, their is the possibility of new characters introduced in this book visiting Flora and Jack in future installments or possibly even spawning their own unique series in the future. I particularly enjoyed the intertwining of stories which not only linked the current murder to a previous disappearance but also the towns in both Cornwall and Sussex. The various plot twists were quite unique and led to a very powerful resolution of both mysteries.

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley and Bookouture and am leaving this review voluntarily.

We are back with our bookseller and amateur sleuth Flora Steele and crime writing companion Jack Carrington. And there's never a dull moment when these two are around! Having left their sleepy Sussex village of Abbeymead for a vacation of sorts to another sleepy village in Cornwall, little did they expect to become embroiled in yet another murder mystery! Let alone discover the body in the grounds of their rental cottage! It seems trouble has a habit of following Flora around...or she has a knack for sniffing it out. Either way, the daring duo find themselves knee deep in investigations whilst taking in the beautiful sights that Cornwall has to offer.

The title itself conjours up an Agatha Christie mystery with the cover adding a touch of Midsomer Murders to the mix. And I love both - title and cover. The name "Primrose Cottage" is quintessentially English complete with cottage gardens, narrow lanes and gossipy villagers. Oh what a delight! It seems Abbeymead isn't all that far away at all.

At the end of the last book "Murder on the Pier" , Jack had alluded to a trip to Cornwall on a research expedition for his next book in which his agent had secured a three book deal for. However, Jack is feeling somewhat bereft of any inspiration at all and although he packs his trusty Remington typewriter to make the journey with them, he doesn't envision much writing will take place. Flora, on the other hand, is brimming with excitement. So much history, so much to see and places to visit...surely Jack is bound to find inspiration in some of them.

But no sooner had they arrived but Flora stumbles upon their landlord's body the following morning before breakfast. The police are called and soon they are treating it as a mugging gone wrong. But of course Flora knows better. Roger Gifford, the dead man, was excited about his research into Cornwall's involvement during the war, and the secrets he has uncovered. And Flora thinks that it's this that has played a part in his murder. Maybe he uncovered one secret too many? Jack isn't so sure.

And then Gifford's brother, Lionel, turns up demanding papers his late brother had collated. What papers was he talking about? Gifford's research into the war in Cornwall? Or his will, maybe? Did Lionel hope to benefit from his more successful brother? Jack thinks this is more likely.

Flora, however, is intent on uncovering whatever it is Gifford had. And as the ideas come bursting from her mouth, Jack wonders if she should be writing a novel. I have to agree. Flora is certainly nothing if not imaginative. And it's hard not to be drawn into her enthusiasm. Though I do find her a little impetuous at times and not entirely careful either. Especially when she has a tendency not to share some of her suspicions with Jack for fear of him stopping her from investigating them. Although they are an unlikely duo - Flora and Jack - they do complement each other. She with her ideas and enthusiasm, and he with his logic and practicality.

Naturally, as with all tales involving Flora, things do go awry and they inevitably find themselves in danger. But can they recover themselves in time, uncover the truth and apprehend the murderer before it's too late? And will they stop dancing around the inevitable and admit to what readers can already see? The hint of romance is a subtle touch and adds a certain charm to their characters. I have come to love both Flora and Jack over these three books and look forward to meeting them again in coming tales that are bound to have them tangled up in yet another murder or three.

MURDER AT PRIMROSE COTTAGE, as with the rest of the series, is charming and enjoyable from beginning to end. I loved every minute of it. And this one delves into a mystery from WW2 involving a missing young man from Abbeymead and Jack's own father. Very intriguing and another pageturning mystery to while away the hours in a very enjoyable way.

Overall, MURDER AT PRIMROSE COTTAGE is a delightful addition to this fantastic cosy series that is always a delight to read. The stories are easy, fun and entertaining. Flora and Jack are a just as entertaining and the setting of the mid-50s English village adds a touch of Father Brown coupled with Miss Marple to it.

I thoroughly recommend this delightfully thrilling tale that takes us to Cornwall (always a favourite setting of mine), as well as the rest of the series. Each mystery is standalone and equally enjoyable. I look forward to reading "Murder at the Priory Hotel" next.

I would like to thank #MerrynAllingham, #NetGalley and #Bookouture for an ARC of #MurderAtPrimroseCottage in exchange for an honest review.

This review appears on my blog at https://stinathebookaholic.blogspot.com/.

“Join Flora Steele – bookshop owner, bicycle-rider, daydreamer and amateur detective – in her quest to solve a brand-new murder mystery!”



This is the third book in this excellent cozy mystery series, set in the late 1950s, featuring Flora Steele, Abbeymead bookshop owner and enthusiastic amateur sleuth extraordinaire; and her erstwhile companion, journalist turned crime writer, Jack Carrington.

This traditional murder mystery series is fast becoming compellingly addictive and growing in depth, with each episode also working well as a standalone story, the backstory being deftly woven into the narrative and dialogue without detracting from the detail of the current investigation, making for an immersive, multi-layered, well-structured storyline, which is rich in atmosphere and beautifully textured. The fluent, well-paced and assured writing is visually descriptive, adding a wonderfully three- dimensional sense of time and place, which came to life on the pages as I was reading, transporting me back in time, immersing me in the action and making me part of the village life, on this occasion, both in Cornwall and Sussex. It’s a bit of a shame that the two main location hubs of the storyline have been given fictional names, however other places are real and are brought beautifully to life, which made this particular “armchair traveller” very happy, as Cornwall is one of my most favourite places to visit, whilst Sussex remains on my bucket-list of places to explore.

Jack is several years Flora’s senior by age, and both are recovering from previous difficult and traumatic relationship breakups, which have left them feeling vulnerable and a little isolated. They have so far vowed to one another that their own, very fledgling relationship, will remain purely platonic, however Jack is beginning to dread Flora becoming embroiled in any more murder investigations, as with each new case, she seems to find herself becoming involved in ever increasingly dangerous situations and he cannot cope with the stress and worry, which might suggest that perhaps their feelings for each other have moved off first base.

Jack has been commissioned by his agent, to set his next crime novel in Cornwall, so in a moment of madness, he invites Flora to join him for an extended research break, basing themselves in the fictional village of Treleggan, located around the Helston River area and staying in a privately rented cottage the agent has found for them.

Flora leaves the shop under the loving care of local girl Sally and Flora’s stalwart friend and ally, Sally’s aunt Alice, knowing that it will be in safe hands, but still a little apprehensive about abandoning her ‘baby’. Alice happens to throw a casual aside into their handover conversation, about a local lad Thomas Martin, who was based at a Signals Unit in Cornwall during the war, disappeared around D-Day and was never heard from again, although rumour had it that he had turned traitor, which upset his disbelieving family back in Abbeymead. She is half hoping that Jack and Flora might be able to make some enquiries whilst they are in Cornwall, to see if there are any records relating to the incident. Jack’s inbuilt radar system is already sensing that there might be trouble brewing ahead, as Flora is already speculating on two separate research areas, one for Jack’s book and another into the case of the missing serviceman.

Okay, if you are with me so far, this will be about the only time you are, for the remaining duration of “Jack and Flora’s Cornish Adventure”. Even before they leave Abbeymead, Jack is warned off making any enquiries about wartime activities in Cornwall, in fact, he is encouraged to stay away from the county all together. From the time they arrive at the cottage in Treleggan, events immediately begin to spiral out of control, starting with Flora discovering a body in the orchard at the bottom of the derelict garden, within the first twelve hours of them unpacking their bags. One murder is more than enough for poor Jack, especially as this one turns out to be none other than their new landlord, but once Flora gets the bit between her teeth, there is no stopping her wanting to avenge the death and solve the case, which ups the ante and places them both in grave danger. Flora compiles a suspect list which grows longer by the day, yet constantly changes. She meets the local peller, who is shunned by all the villagers and with whom Jack will have nothing to do, even though Flora finds her intriguing. The body count begins to rise too, which rattles the local constabulary, who are completely out of their depth.

Jack’s book research is most definitely forced to take a back seat, as it soon becomes apparent that recent events are inextricably linked to those of the past, with at least one resident having plenty to hide. Although I did have my suspicions about the one person who wasn’t on the Flora’s suspect list, I wouldn’t have put my money on them being the perpetrator and clearly neither did Jack or Flora, or not until it was almost too late! After a middle of the night clifftop confrontation, involving a torch, a gun, a wartime bunker and a hidden grave, everyone was lucky that casualties were kept to a minimum, although even the redoubtable Flora is more shaken than she will ever admit. More by Jack’s forethought and planning, than Flora’s impetuous and reckless behaviour, the pair emerged victorious once again, although severely battered and bruised, and certainly more than ready to cut short their break and go home to Sussex, with the framework for Jack’s book still in tatters, but with good news for the Martin family, that their son’s honest reputation had been restored.

Once back in familiar surroundings, it seems as though Jack has also come to a decision about his future, although he hasn’t yet discussed it with Flora in any detail. I have the germ of an idea as to what it might be, but I might be way off the mark and I’m not sure what Flora’s reaction might be. I still need to catch up with book #4 in the series, so I can’t wait to see if I am anywhere near right! It also looks as though, following so many near death experiences in such a short space of time, Jack has decided that the only way he can ever hope to protect an impulsive Flora, is to move their relationship up a notch, so that they spend more time together; and Flora doesn’t seem to be complaining.

There is a multi-faceted, well drawn, developed and defined, sometimes quirky, cast of supporting characters who, whether they are on the side of good or bad, are authentically realistic to the times and genuinely believable in the individual roles which have been created for them. They have then all been afforded a good strong voice, with which to tell their story and direct the course of the action, which is probably just as well, as in these rather small and insular communities, everyone has an opinion and a wish to be heard, but only once you can prove that you can carve a worthwhile place for yourself amongst their ranks, of course. Not all of the characters are easy to connect with or relate to, although generally the individual dynamics and synergy between them, works quite well, so whilst they may be quite complex and emotional, sometimes unreliable and a little vulnerable; they are all compelling, addictive, vibrant and totally worth investing in.

Thank you so much for taking the time to read my review, I appreciate your support!

Murder at Primrose Cottage is the third book in Merryn Allingham's delightful Flora Steele Mystery series and it sees a change of scene for Flora as she and her partner in solving crime, Jack Carrington leave Abbeymead and her bookshop, the All's Well and head to Cornwall. Jack is contracted to write a book and needs to research the area and Flora accompanies him to help out and to have a much needed break following the emotional upheaval she has experienced over the last few years. Any readers joining the series at this point are quickly brought up to speed with the key points from Flora and Jack's past and so the novel can be read as a standalone – however, I do think it's more rewarding to read the novels in order, if possible.
This is a mystery series, of course and so it's not unexpected when Flora stumbles upon the body of their Cornish landlord, Roger Gifford on their first morning in Primrose Cottage, and after her initial shock at discovering the murdered man, Flora soon has plenty of theories as to who killed him and why. The village of Treleggan is obligingly full of rumours and suppositions and with the local police apparently assuming the murderer was a random mugger, it's left to an enthusiastic Flora and a rather more circumspect Jack to investigate.
I tend to be drawn to the darker end of crime fiction and yet remain totally captivated by this cosy mystery series. This is due, in no small part to the two main characters who complement one another perfectly. Flora is the more headstrong but there are moments here where it becomes clear that her recent frightening encounters make her more anxious than she perhaps would have been in the past. Jack is understandably concerned for her safety but one of the things I most love about his character is that although he wants to protect her, he never becomes overbearing or demands that she has to fall in with his wishes. It's often quite the contrary and he ends up accepting that her hunches may well be leading somewhere – even so, they are both wrong-footed at times as they try to figure out the motive that will reveal who the murderer is. I didn't work out who the killer was this time and thought the scene where their identity finally becomes known was particularly terrific; full of tense drama and emotion, I can't help thinking it signals the beginning of a change in Flora and Jack's relationship.
Change is certainly in the air throughout the book with the new setting just one example. The beautiful scenery is described so evocatively, perfectly capturing the wild essence of Cornwall in spring as the flowers start to bloom and the sense of time is further brought to life as the storyline results in the pair looking to the past for answers. Set in 1956, it's clear that this was a time of uncertainty, with people gradually starting to embrace the future yet still often bound by old beliefs and morals (without giving too much away, I absolutely loved the inclusion of a little local witchcraft...) and of course, still affected by their wartime experiences. By the end of Murder at Primrose Cottage, we are back in Abbeymead but with Jack seemingly uncertain about his future plans and more changes afoot in the village, I can't wait to find out what intriguing mysteries await this engaging pair next – and what that means for the undeniable spark that appears to be burning ever brighter between them. Murder at Primrose Cottage is a wonderful read; packed with warmth and humour but with a very real sense of danger running throughout the story, it's also a gripping mystery. I thoroughly recommend it.

Murder at Primrose Cottage is definitely the weakest book in the Flora Steel Mystery series. I wasn't as engrossed as I was with the previous books. However, I didn't guess who the murderer was this this time. I'm hoping that the next book in the series is a bit better and the will they won't they aspect between Flora and Jack will keep me reading.

Roger Gifford is dead and, despite being on vacation with boyfriend Jack Carrington, Flora Steele is determined to get behind what happened. Flora has already proved more than adept at solving murders and she is certain that she will discover who is responsible for Roger’s death. However, with at least three suspects, Flora has her work cut out for her.

Whether it is is Roger’s alienated wife, his brother or even someone new where Flora is vacationing she doesn’t doubt for one second that she will have success in finding answers she is seeking. However, not only is another body soon found, but things begin to tie in to Jack and his estranged father. Flora is a bookshop owner and Jack is a crime writer, so is this enough for this pair to prove successful at being amateur detectives yet again in order to solve the mystery that has somehow involved Jack and his past?

With excellent protagonists, a delightful setting and an intriguing mystery, Murder at Primrose Cottage is the delightfully engaging third book in the Flora Steele Mystery series. While this book can be read as a standalone novel, readers will no doubt enjoy reading the series in order and getting to know Flora and Jack as they flourish in their friendship and as their relationship grows all while solving the most surprising of crimes.

Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.

The third in the Flora Steele Mysteries and the young bookshop owner has left her shop behind i the Sussex village of Abbeymead and embarked on a trip to Cornwall.

Accompanying her is Jack Carrington, crime writer, who needs to finish his latest novel otherwise his agent and publisher are gong to be further annoyed if it is delayed any further.

Renting a cottage from Roger Gifford, Flora is somewhat surprised to find him dead the following morning after their arrival in an overgrown orchard. His throat had been caught. The locals are devastated, he was well liked, popular and why would such a heinous crime happen in such a small village.

Roger was looking into something and it seems he got quite near the truth about events during the Second World War. However, Roger leaves behind a bitter ex-wife and a money grabbing brother, both with valid reasons for wanting Roger gone. Then the presence of mysterious women Mercy Dearlove spooks a number of the locals, could she have been the one?

When another body turns up and the mystery during the war leads them back to Abbeymead and Jack’s own father, it seems that it is not just one puzzle that is going to be solved when they find the murderer.

A light cosy crime read which gives you escapism in all its forms and even if like me you worked out “whodunnit”, it doesn’t really matter as it is always nice to see how we get to the solution. Clearly there is more to be had from Flora and Jack, they make for a pleasant diversion and like friendly faces jumping off the page.

This was an enjoyable cozy mystery. I really liked the characters of Flora and Jack. The book kept me guessing about who the murderer could be until late in the story. I highly recommend this book to other mystery readers.

Very enjoyable cosy crime set in 1950s. Flora and Jack are a very likeable duo. There were plenty of red herrings in this story, so you will have fun trying to solve the murders along with Flora and Jack.

3.5 (rounded up to 4)

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for giving me an arc of this book in exchange for my review.

So great to travel back in time
To 1956 and this murder mystery crime
Where bookshop owner Flora Steele
Attempts the truth to reveal.

She's on holiday with Jack Carrington
Planning lots of things to get done
Staying in the Primrose Cottage is great
Till their landlord meets his lethal fate . . .

They visit Cornwall to explore and more
But beware fate leaving surprises near your door
With talk of witches, spells and death, too,
What will Flora and Jack have to do?

In the Cornish village where they're staying
There seem to be secrets and things no one is saying
Can this intrepid duo crack the clues
And ensure the killer pays his dues?

Another intriguing community murder mystery
This time involving WWII and history.
Jack's Dad and what happened in the past
May all come together at last.

Get ready for secrets to be concealed
And links to folks from home finally revealed.
Can they survive to reveal what's true
And stay safe themselves in all they do?

I'm thoroughly enjoying this series and so
I really hope you'll also give it a go.
For my complementary copy of this book, I say thank you,
A great 50's cosy mystery read and this is my honest review.

I enjoyed this third entry in the Flora Steele Mystery series. Well written, plenty of red herrings, likeable characters in Flora and Jack, who undertake a trip to Cornwall to do research for Jack's latest book. Flora and Jack get themselves involved in a murder with ties to the war. There seems to be growing feelings between Jack and Flora, so I am interested to see where that goes.

It was the bookshop owner bit that drew me in first time around and this is my second read of the series. The
books are fine as a stand alone, always a good thing.

Flora is accompanying Jake on his writing expedition. He has to write a book (he has promised his publisher) and
Flora is there to make sure that research and helping him out to achieve this. She did not expect in rural Cornwall
in a most picturesque setting to find a body. The body of the owner of the cottage brutally murdered just a few hours
after they met.

Local detectives seem to be taking their own sweet time in linking the dots, finding suspects so Flora decides to
pursue her own investigation into the case. Both Flora and Jake did not imagine it would take them to the post WWII
years and a secret that had to be hidden at any cost - both of them were totally oblivious of what was happening but
when a series of accidents could not be written off as mere coincidence they do realise it is imperative to find out
who is behind the whole dangerous game.

This was a beautiful setting, very descriptive and though Flora and Jake are sometimes quite quirky it all dovetails
very neatly into a very readable story.

Flora and Jack are off together to Cornwall, Jack to write his book and Flora to research and relax, it should be a great time…until they stumble over a body at the home they have rented. Merryn Allingham has done it again in book three of this series, Murder at Primrose Cottage, the mystery is interesting and the characters are enjoyable!

With no one in the village having any idea why the victim was murder, Flora can’t resist starting to dig a little deeper. On the journey, there are fascinating historical tidbits built in from the war years and what followed. The time they spend in Cornwall allows them to bond to the neighbours and other villagers, seeing the friendships build and guessing who is and isn’t suspicious is such fun!

It is a delightful cosy mystery with twists and humour, I thoroughly enjoyed it and look forward the next in the series! It’s a five out of five on the enJOYment scale and highly recommended!

I received a complimentary copy of the book from Bookouture through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in my review are completely my own.

Murder at Primrose Cottage by Merryn Allingham revisits Flora Steele and Jack Carrington as they visit Cornwall in a research trip for Jack's news book. Days before they left, Jack got a letter, using cutout letters, to warn him off. He insisted Flora stay behind, but that got nowhere with Flora, so off they set. They arrived at the cottage that had been reserved for them and met their landlord who introduced them to it and they settled in. The next morning, Flora was up early and still in her nightclothes, she set off to explore the garden and the yard behind it. She discovered, not a yard, but and orchard as well as the landlord's dead body. Of course, they called the police, but Flora was not impressed with their motivation to solve the crime and so she began her own investigation, much to Jack's disapproval.

I love this series. It takes place circa 1957, when life was simpler. Jack and Flora are carefully circling one another as they've both been hurt. Flora has a detective's eye and can't help but investigate, making errors along the way. She is open and friendly and hardworking. While she has at the cottage she has decided to put the garden to rights, or at least come of it. She likes to stay busy and aside from their explorations, Jack is here to write. Cornwall was key in the English war effort and there is still some of that around. He landlord had been investigating that, and Jack's father had been involved with that. It's an interesting mystery as well as a lovely visit to Cornwall, which hold a certain fascination. In the end she solves several mysteries and all is well as they return home.

I was invited to read a free e-ARC at Murder at Primrose Cottage by Bookoutre, through Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own. #netgalley #bookoutre #merrynallingham #murderatprimrosecottage

This is the third and most recent Flora Steele – Jack Carrington mystery in the series (each book can be read independently but best in order). These are light crime-suspense stories which are also good for teens.

Jack has planned a stay at Cornwall to write his new book and has invited Flora to come along. They drive to Treleggan Primrose cottage where they meet with the owner Roger Gifford. Roger uses this as a workplace on and off for his research and has let the place out this time. Flora has a restless night and early morning decides to take a walk. As she walks into the orchard right next to the cottage, she finds Roger lying dead. This is a small village and Roger was a much-liked person. Flora and Jack meet with his brother – Lionel, his estranged wife Beatrice and a woman Mercy who many find strange, but struggle to find the motive for the murder. There is more to follow, including Jack and Flora being threatened.

This is a light read which is well-paced, though as with the previous books the sleuthing and unravelling of the crime is simplistic.

My rating: 3.5 / 5.

This is the third book in the author's Flora Steele series, it's the first one that I've read though and I wish I had read the previous books as there are quite a few references to them within this book. The setting is 1950s Cornwall, Flora and her author friend Jack have gone there as JAck is planning to do some research and continue with his writing, but before leaving his home in Sussex he has been sent a warning which has unnerved him. This is a good mystery which did keep me guessing and I enjoyed being in the company of Flora and Jack.
I was sent a digital copy of this book by the publisher via NetGalley. Thank you.

Flora Steele, 25, owns a bookshop called "All’s Well" that she inherited from her Aunt Violet. All's Well is located in Abbeymead, a picturesque, quiet English village in Sussex. Sally Jenner, the niece of a good friend, will be looking after the shop while Flora takes a trip to Cornwall with Jack Carrington, a crime writer. They are staying at Primrose Cottage and it's not long before a dead body, with a slashed throat, is discovered in the overgrown orchard there.

Set in the 1950s, this intriguing mystery had me guessing until the end. Flora and Jack make a great team and I remain keen to see where Merryn Allingham will go with their relationship. The secondary characters located mostly in Treleggan are good in their respective roles and there's a trove of buried secrets to be unveiled. I really enjoyed spending time with Flora and Jack and I hope to be with them soon in book four. If you love a historical cozy mystery, I recommend giving this series a shot.

I received a complimentary copy of this novel from Bookouture via NetGalley at my request and this review is my own unbiased opinion.

I think this is the best novel in this series so far. I had a lot of fun in following Flora and Jack in Cornwall and their investigation.
The mystery is solid, full of twists and turns, and kept me guessing till the end. The historical background is detailed and vivid as usual.
Something more could happen between the two amateur sleuth but their relationship is delighful as usual.
An entertaining and compelling read.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine