A great start to a new series for me. Beth is a single mom and has just landed a new job as assistant archivist at a school, even though she has no experience or training for the job. She gets off to a rocky start when she finds her boss laying dead on the school grounds. Great characters, great plot, and perhaps a future romance?

A good mystery filled with relatable characters, gentle humor and sharp insight into village life of an upper mobile class, particularly with reference to all the going-ons of raising children to be competitive in such a world, i.e., the sports, after school arts and language programs, etc. Beth Haldane, a single mother, has just started working as an assistant archivist in a private school when she discovers her boss' murdered body. Afraid she will be considered a suspect, she quickly begins to investigate on her and discovers many secrets in the hallowed halls of this prestigious institution.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest opinion.

Three and a half stars.

Beth Haldane, former journalist, single mother, gets a job as assistant archivist at swanky Dulwich village Wyatt's School. When she finds her skeevy new boss Alan Jenkins murdered behind the bins at lunchtime on her first day she is terrified that as the last person to see him alive, and the person who found his body, she will be the prime suspect and decides to do her own investigating.

Whatever Mr Jenkins was doing, it clearly wasn't archiving the school's records, which are in a disgraceful state. Amongst them Beth finds Mr Jenkins' personal bank statements which hint at a life of fancy clothes, fine wine and an addiction to p*rn. But who had a motive to kill Mr Jenkins, and what do they think is hidden in the archives?

This was a fun detective mystery, worthy of the cosy label. Although her family are Dulwich village born and bred Beth still finds time to wonder at the ambition of the Dulwich parents, their whole-hearted commitment to getting their children through the educational system ticking all the right boxes so that they can get jobs earning obscene amounts of money, all whilst driving 'Chelsea tractors' and wearing the ubiquitous white jeans.

Interested to see how the relationship with Detective Inspector York will turn out.

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

Beth Haldane, widow and single mom, starts a new job as assistant archivist only to discover her boss dead on her first day.

Beth is a refreshingly unusual character in an amateur sleuth mystery with an unusual job. I really liked the brief look into the world of the archivist. I love history so Beth's job was fascinating. The action starts right away with a murder in the first chapter. The pacing was a bit slow in parts but overall I enjoyed this mystery.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

The Murder mystery by Alice Castle.
Beth Haldane mystery book1.
Meet Beth Haldane Dulwich Village most daring resident. She is mother to a sweet little boy, owner of a sulky cat and solver of Mysteries?.
Really good read. I loved Beth. I loved the cover. Can't wait for book 2. 5*.

A great start to a new cosy mystery series.
Beth starts a new job as an archivist at a local school but things don’t go to plan .
Beth finds the dead body of her boss and she decides to begin a bit of amateur sleuthing herself.
The story easy to read and Beth is a likeable character and look forward to reading the next in the series.
Thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture.

This was so slow going. I found the story to be far to0 simplistic with minimal sluthing, minimal character development.

The Murder Mystery is the first book in the Beth Haldane series and it is a really good opener. It introduces us to our main character Beth who is starting a new job and promptly finds the body of her new boss in the school grounds. With suspician pointing at Beth she sets out to solve the murder and clear her name. I found it to be an enjoyable cosy read that I finished in one sitting. I enjoyed learning about the characters and am excited to read further books in the series.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for my ARC.

A Beth Haldane Mystery Book 1

It's a crisp spring day in Dulwich Village when Beth arrives at the intricate iron gates of Wyatt's School for her new job as the historian's assistant. But on a lunchtime stroll admiring the pristine grounds of this five hundred year old institution, Beth is shocked to stumble over the body of her new boss Alan Jenkins: spectacles askew, his mustard-yellow tweed jacket covered in blood. gossip about outsider Beth spreads like wildfire. The parents in the playground are all whispering: did she bump him off to get her hands on his job? Desperate to clear her name and protect her own little boy, Beth turns her research skills to bunt for the real killer.

Beth and DI York are determined to find out who killed Dr Alan Jenkins. Beth is a likable character who has her own battles to contend with, but there's also a few eccentric characters as well. This is one of those easy reads where there isn't really any violence, There's a few suspects to choose from. The story is descriptively written with some added humour. The story is told mainly from Beth's point of view. A great start to a new cosy mystery series.

I would like to thank #Netgalley #Bookouture and the author #AliceCastle for my ARC of #TheMurderMystery in exchange for an honest review.

The Murder Mystery is a quick, easy read. The character development, Beth's inner musings, and acerbic observations during the school run make it so enjoyable. Beth is a lovely person and very relatable. We get to know her personal history as a grieving, single mother and as a reader, I couldn't help but get emotionally invested in her life.
Having the school as a setting for murder was a little bit different and luckily most of the staff and pupils were away on a field trip which narrowed down the pool of suspects somewhat. I was impressed with how well the author wrote about education and experiences and attitudes towards special needs and learning support. It was all very realistic and true to life.
As Beth continued to investigate the murder it became clearer who the culprit was most likely to be but I had to wait to the end to find out if I was right.
Thankfully sparse in detail, the heavier topic of child abuse also came into the frame as the investigation gathered pace. I really enjoyed DI York. It was easy to see that he was good at his job and was trying to keep a professional distance from Beth even though it was obvious that they would make good friends. The scene where he helped call her cat home was cute. I'm looking forward to seeing these two develop their relationship as the series progresses.
I spent a lovely relaxing day reading this book and I recommend it wholeheartedly.

Beth Haldane is a widow & mother to Jake who lives in Dulwich village. On a crisp spring Monday Beth arrives at Wyatt’s School to start her new job as the assistant archivist. But on a lunchtime stroll admiring the pristine grounds of this five-hundred-year-old institution, Beth is shocked to stumble over the body of her new boss Alan Jenkins. Beth meets D I Harry York but she thinks she’s the prime suspect so sets about with a bit of sleuthing.
The first in a new series & a very enjoyable starter it was. I liked Beth & warmed to her immediately. I loved the picture the author builds of the village with its pretentious occupants all vying to have the ‘best’ child. The picture painted of Wyatt's school is also very good. I also liked Harry York & enjoyed the banter between him & Beth, hopefully their relationship will be developed over the series. There were plenty of suspects as well as twists & turns. The denouement was a surprise & the motive not what I was expecting.
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read

Single mum Beth Haldane is hoping that her new job as an assistant archivist is just what she needs to give a regular income. What she didn't expect was to discover the body of her boss, stabbed behind the bins.

I found the writing easy to read, flowing quickly and pulling you as the reader in where you became invested in trying to fathom just who the killer was. This was a cozy mystery, the likes of Marple, where Beth takes on the task of establishing who the killer was, is well crafted with good world building and believable characters.
The relationship with Beth and the delightful inspector York is one I hope the author develops further.

Beth Haldane has a new job working as an assistant archivist at the prestigious Wyatts Boys School. It's her first day and waiting for her boss for hours she decides to go and look for him at lunchtime. She eventually finds Dr Alan Jenkins, the senior archivist at the school lying behind the bins, dead in a pool of blood. Single-mum Beth is a determined and amusing protagonist whose priority is her son. But she gets involved in the investigation led by DI Harry York in an attempt to clear her name as a suspect. Set in Dulwich, South London this is a cracking first instalment, hilarious in parts, with a good mystery. I'm excited to read book two, The Murder Museum.

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

The Murder Mystery by Alice Castle
A Beth Haldane Mystery Book #1 - Previously released as Death in Dulwich

I received an advance review copy for free thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Blurb

Meet Dulwich Village’s most daring resident, Beth Haldane. Mother to a sweet little boy, owner of a sulky cat… and solver of mysteries?

It’s a crisp spring day in Dulwich Village when Beth arrives at the intricate iron gates of Wyatt’s School for her new job as the historian’s assistant. But on a lunchtime stroll admiring the pristine grounds of this five-hundred-year-old institution, Beth is shocked to stumble over the body of her new boss Alan Jenkins: spectacles askew, his mustard-yellow tweed jacket covered in blood.

Gossip about outsider Beth spreads like wildfire. The parents in the playground are all whispering: did she bump him off to get her hands on his job?

Desperate to clear her name and protect her own little boy, Beth turns her research skills to hunt for the true killer. She soon discovers Alan rubbed his fellow teachers up the wrong way… could the handsome headmaster be involved? Why did Beth see a flash of the school receptionist’s bright pink jumper at the murder scene? And what is the groundskeeper hiding?

My Opinion

This series of books is being re-released with new names, I haven't read any of this series so I am looking forward to making my way through. I read this book in one sitting, finishing it in less than two hours. This is a cosy murder mystery set in a rural village, complete with a long list of suspects. Everyone seems to have a reason for wanting Dr Alan Jenkins dead, using her journalistic skills Alice tries to uncover the culprit.

Personally I thought that this was a great introduction to Beth Haldane and I am already looking forward to reading the next book in the series.

Rating 4/5

A Body..!
The first of the Beth Haldane mysteries finds Beth settled in Dulwich Village and starting a new job. The first day brings surprises- for starters a dead body in the grounds is absolutely not what Beth had expected. Amidst much gossip and fingerpointing, Beth turns amateur sleuth and determines to solve the murder. A delightful murder mystery in the cosy vein with a likeable protagonist in Beth and a well crafted supporting cast. Enjoyable and entertaining. (Note that this was previously published as Death in Dulwich)

First time i have read a book by this author and was very impressed so much that i am now actively seeking others in what appears to be an interesting series

This is the first in the 'Beth Haldane series which was previously released under the title Death In Dulwich. Beth is a single mum trying to do her best in raising her son and running her home in the affluent Dulwich after her husbands death.
On the first day in her new job she discovers a body in the grounds. She feels the police aren't solving the case quickly enough and she worries that she is the main suspect, so she tries to solve the case herself
This is a relaxed and enjoyable read which focuses more on the characters than the actual crime.
I look forward to reading the other books in this series.
Thanks to netgalley and Bookouture for this advance read.

Most people. on their first day at work, worry about whether they are dressed appropriately, will they get on with their colleagues, have they brought everything they needed, and, most importantly, will they even like the job. Pretty glad that my first day has never been as eventful as Beth's faced with the discovery of her new boss's recently deceased body, a a prime position on the police's list of 'most likely murder suspects'. All she wanted was to earn enough money to keep her and her son afloat - not so much to ask now is it? But what intrigues Beth most is, knowing that she isn't actually a viable suspect, who might have wanted to murder Alan Jenkins and why? Could the answer possible lie in the piles of old school magazines and ledgers that she has been employed to sort and archive?

I really enjoyed this first foray into Beth's world. She is a fabulous character - resilient, clever, fun and positive and a wonderful mum to her son, Jake. I grew to like her very quickly.,adored the bond between the two of them and found myself often smiling at the banter between Beth and her friend, Katie, with whom she shares a lot of back and forth in trying to solve the mystery of Mr Jenkins murder. There are a wonderfully eclectic cast of characters who inhabit this book, and the author really brings them to life, capturing the larger than life positivity of the headmaster, Dr Grover, the pomposity and protectionism of the bursar, Tom Seasons, and the astute nature and sometimes weariness of the Detective, Harry York, who has a real chemistry with Beth.

Beyond there people there is a real sense of place too, from the streets of Dulwich and the school gate mums who try their damnedest to outdo one another in a game Beth is disinclined, or able, to compete in. And be it Katie's yoga studio, or the hallowed halls of Wyatt's. Beth's new employer and one of the most sought after Boy's schools in the area. The sense of entitlement and prestige comes off the characters in waves, bt it is echoed in the descriptions of the school and the nature of the archives and their contents, all the history wrapped up in a neat and high-performing package. Quite a dark history as it turns out, but that's another story. Maybe.

I do like a dip into cosy crime every now and again, love the escapism that it provides me in taking a dark subject - murder - but giving it a lighter twist. Not that it's not taken seriously, and with break-ins and threats in the pages too, there is plenty of tension to keep the pace flowing perfectly. But there is plenty of good humour too, a kind of MIdsomer Murders vibe but with an amatuer sleuth in the shape of our hero, Beth Haldane. If you like a fun, pacy, sometimes funny, always intriguing story that is packed with mystery and a myriad of suspects - Jake being one of the few who doesn't get placed under the heady of 'a little bit dodgy' - then this is absolutely the book for you. I'll be planning the remaining books into my diary over the coming months. I have a feeling spending time with Beth will be a lot of fun.

Beth Haldane is an ordinary person living in an uber posh society. She gets a great job in a top school, but her first day doesn't go so well. She must follow clues to work out what has happened.

Having previously read Castle's The Invitation, I knew The Murder Mystery would be enjoyable. I wasn't wrong. It is a fun cosy crime story that you will read in one or two sittings. I can't wait to continue Beth's story!

Thanks to Alice Castle, NetGalley, and Bookouture for this copy.

Thanks to Bookouture and Net Galley for this ARC. A nice cozy little mystery, its written in the first person and the character need to waffle at times, two sometimes three pages or irrelevant inner monologue that does not add to the story. I probably won't read the next in the series.