This was a new author for me and I throughly enjoyed this sweet, cozy mystery. Set in a boys school in Dulwich, England, it was a very clever book and it kept me guessing all the way through. I loved the twist near the end . My thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.. I recommend this book highly.

What a delightful new member of my favourite detectives club! Beth Haldane is an accidental detective who falls into the roll after discovering the body of her new boss in her first day in her new job as archivist at a prestigious school. A young widow with a little boy to provide for, Beth needs this job and feels she needs to find the murderer if only to exonerate herself from any hint of suspicion. Beth is a quirky, feisty character whose journalistic nose leads her into danger ...and also into the orbit of handsome detective Harry. I can't wait for the next instalment!

Very enjoyable cosy crime.

Beth is a very likeable young widowed mum who gets a job working as an archivist at a local private school. When she unfortunately stumbles across the body of one of her colleagues, it becomes clear that this death was not through natural causes.

There is also the potential for romance in future books with the handsome detective Harry York.

Thanks must go to the publisher and Netgalley for giving me a copy of this book in exchange for my review.

4 cozy stars for a very well written, thoroughly enjoyable book. Beth Haldane, a single mother in Dulwich, an upscale suburb of South London, begins her first day at swank local school Wyatt’s with an inauspicious start. Hours after her day as the assistant archivist begins she finds the body of her boss lying beside the dumpsters in a pool of blood. There begins the makings of a mystery as Beth tries to unravel the personalities and work relationships of the staff at Wyatt’s while at the same time holding on to her job. She is hoping that one day her son can win a rare spot to the school and her descriptions of the lengths the parents of Dulwich will go to to get their children admitted is hilarious. This was a very enjoyable book with terrific cast of characters, lots of red herrings and a rather surprisingly heavy motive for the murder. I am looking forward to more books in the series.

The Murder Mystery by Alice Castle

I saw the title of this, and then the fact that it was based around books, in a small English country village and my mind immediately went to Agatha Christie, and authors like her.

The fact that the murder happened so early on in this book introducing our heroine Beth Haldane, was intriguing. Normally there is a lot of build-up, an opportunity to get to know the victim, and find out more about the motivations behind the actions of the murderer. With this book, it seemed to sort of work in reverse. We had the murder and then, purely because she wanted to ensure that she wasn’t a serious suspect, our heroine and amateur sleuth sets off to discover the truth behind the mystery.

There were a few rough starts to this investigation, and the inclusion of some red herrings that were anything but obvious, led me a merry chase.

I loved Beth, though occasionally her internal narrator was a little annoying.

Early on we learn that she’s a widow and she was incredibly badly hit when her husband James died, but she starts to question if she can move on when she meets the detective in charge of the investigation into her new boss’ murder.

It’s rather lengthy for a murder mystery and given the unfortunate lack of character development that I would have enjoyed - especially where Beth, her son, the detective and her best friend were concerned - sacrificed for a secondary plot that didn’t go very far after it was eliminated from police enquiries and only really served to get Beth a promotion.

The twist occurred probably three-quarters of the way through the book and finally revealed the awful truth behind the murder, the motive and the method, and it was surprising, but I feel would have been more so had there been any indicators of disquiet prior to that moment.

I guess, in this instance, getting to know the victim before the crime would have been somewhat beneficial to make me actually care about what led up to his death.

It was well-written, the characters we met were mostly likeable, but a bit more in-depth character building would have been welcome.

A brilliant read. I am so glad I decided to give this series a go. Beth is absolutely brilliant and so funny. A short read with the perfect amount of mystery and humour. I can't wait to see what progresses between Beth and Detective York.

The only negative I have is that the chapters were quite long and it would definitely be easier to read with more chapters.

What a great little murder mystery! Really enjoyed this one, was a nice read which kept you intrigued throughout. I personally had no idea who the killer was!

If you enjoy a little murder mystery then this will not disappoint you.

I look forward to reading the rest of the Beth Haldane series!

Thanks to Netgalley & Bookouture for the ARC!

This is the first in the series and has all the essentials for a cosy murder mystery. Looking forward to seeing where Beth's adventures go.

Thank you for the arc.

What an excellent series. Beth is a great heroine and am looking forward to more developments in the romance between Beth and Harry.👏👏👏

A tidy little adventure in this new cozy mystery series.

This charming novel by Alice Castle gives us a sleuth for the ages: a single mother raising her son in a posh village trying to make ends meet with a myriad of jobs. When she starts her full time job as the assistant archivist at the elite Wyatt’s School, she has no idea that her new boss would turn up murdered on her first day on the job.

Castle delights us with a quaint village and a cast of characters that are both lovable and deplorable. The plot was swift and the writing charming. A triumphant beginning to a new series for avid readers.

The problem being a diehard Christie fan is that I tend to compare every murder mystery novel with that of the dame. Alas! I seldom find one which matches her (detective's) analytical acumen and deducing prowess. I am sorry to say this in the preface itself before proceeding to talk about my intro with Alice Castle's clever sleuth Beth Haldane of Dulwich Village.

Alice tries hard to create the rural backdrop of English countryside. But this is not the laidback, sleepy St. Mary Meade of Ms. Marple. In Dulwich the mothers are kyoiku mamas hell bent upon competing with each other in so far as their children's academia is concerned. Their offspring's entry into Wyatts, the poshest educational institute of the village, is every mother's ultimate ambition. The institute is famous for churning out notable alumni.

Beth Haldane is a single parent of a boundlessly energetic son, Jake, around whom her life pivots. She is obsessively cleanliness and routine conscious. A systematic eliminator of junk (I see a glimpse of Poirot here). Her forte is research (Another very sleuth-ish component). To foot the monthly bills she is in need of a steady source of income in addition to her freelancing jobs. Her appointment as the assistant archivist in Wyatt comes as an overwhelming tiding of a worthy beginning of a promising career.

But her first day turns out to be more than dooms day when Dr. Jenkins, the head archivist, whom she is supposed to report and whom she comes to hate at first sight, is found murdered in the school backyard amidst the bins. Beth's first reaction is to save her own skin as she is the one who first discovers the body ,which unfortunately and customarily, makes her a prime suspect. Her only target now is to clear her name not only for her own self but for the sake of Jake whom she wants to shelter from all evil and bad name.

Necessity is the mother of all inventions. So Beth tries all tricks of the trade, smart or lame, to dig out more about the lecherous Dr. Jenkins (yes, he has many qualities of a potential/actual murder victim) to uncover the motive behind his murder. In doing so she not only endangers her own life but also brings the murderer closer home and unintendingly very near to Jake. But she is Beth Haldane - clever, courageous with a Shetland-pony-like-strength-and-hardiness-coupled-with-an-untamed-fringe and an uncanny knack for "poking her nose" into matters from which she should ideally keep herself at a safe distance. That is what Inspector Harry York reminds her again and again to her great annoyance. He is also very reticent about divulging information and updating her about the latest police findings on the matter which does not help Beth any further.

So Beth has to do it on her own. Is it just because she is incriminated in some way? No, because she gets a kick out of it, whether she admits it or not. In doing so, she dishevels the prim and snooty Dulwich life.

Alice Castle does a very good job of contemporizing the backdrop - Dulwich is not the rustic backwater where people retire after a hectic career in the city to have a sedentary time table of long walks, leisure gardening, evening gossips and early bedtime. The South London suburbia is a modern hub of aggressive parenting and rat race of grooming children into the future who's who. The zeitgeist of elitist high flying of the uber-rich insurgently robbing the English countryside of its quintessential charm of unexciting and dull ethos.

Christie set her stories in times which she was part of. Yet, those are timeless period pieces showcasing the follies and fickleness of human psyche, villainy germinating from intrinsic vulnerability and vanity of human species which segregate them as the most intelligent and at the same time the most dangerous animals.

Alice Castle is not comparable with Christie. (In fact, such comparisons are fruitless and inappropriate). The flow of her narrative can keep readers hooked. Its a cozy mystery which is more of a coming-of-age genre. The who and why of the crime kept me going but the final denouement did not come as a great shocker. In the process of identifying the culprit Beth opens up another Pandora's box which kind of leads to a parallel trail but however ends in Beth's favour.

It will be wrong to conclude that I will not be on the lookout for subsequent Beth Haldane Mysteries. All said and done, it was an interesting and enjoyable read and I will not hesitate to recommend it to those who love a cozy bedtime read before going off to sleep wondering what's going on in Beth's mind and how will she unearth the perp at the end.

Thanks again to Rekha of Book Decoder fame for the maiden review of this book which undoubtedly tickled my curiosity.

This is my honest opinion about the book and anyone who does not agree with it is free to her differences.

What a great combination: a strong, likeable heroine, an intriguing mystery and lots of laughs. The comedy of manners inspired by the locals of Dulwich Village, where the book’s set, is excellent. I enjoyed the dynamic between Beth and the lead detective on the murder investigation too. (I’ll look forward to seeing how that develops!) Very enjoyable.

The Murder Mystery (A Beth Haldane Mystery Book 1) - Alice Castle

**Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for providing the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Cozy mysteries are one of my favorite genres and my go-to kind of books when I need something light to handle and easy to pass some time by.

For this one, what caught my eye was the title. It was interesting and intriguing as I was thinking what kind of murder shall I see? Will it be poisoning, or something else entirely?

Full of twists and turns that kept me guessing for the ending. Three stars, as I feel some parts are a bit too slow for my liking. But, I’d still go and read the next one in the series, if I can get my hands on it 😁

A very pleasant introduction to crime solving duo Beth and DI Yorke. Beth is a widowed, single mum trying to function in upper-middle class Dulwich. The story begins on her first day in a new job at an endownment school.
A gentle read with very likeable characters (apart from the deceased!). Nicely written with lovely character development. I like the growing connection between the two main character and the relationship between Beth and her best friend is lovely. A little slow paced and a bit boring in places, but a solid 4*s
I look forward to reading more in the series and I’m grateful to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy in return for this honest review.

Name of Book: The Murder Mystery
Author: Alice Castle
Series: A Beth Haldane Mystery - Book #1
Publisher: Bookouture
Genre: Mystery Thriller
Pub Date: August 22, 2022
My Rating: 3.7 rounded up

Originally published as “Death in Dulwich (London Murder Mystery) ISBN #1547040335

Our heroine Beth Haldane is starting a new job at the prestige’s Wyatt’s School as the historian’s assistant. The Wyatt School is which all about money, privilege, aspirations and yes even education. Wanting to get more familiar with the school on her first day during her lunch break, she decides to take a walk and explorer. As she is admiring the beautiful grounds of this five-hundred-year-old institution, she gets a bit lost and ends up on an isolated path and stumbles over a body who turns out to be her new boss Alan Jenkins: whom she just met a few hours ago.
Gossip buzzing about Beth by the Dulwich parents is guessing she killed Mr. Jenkins to get his job!
We, of course, know this isn’t true! as this is the first book in the series.
Beth takes it upon herself to ‘poke around’ and find out ‘whodunit’!
This story was an enjoyable read and since Books #2 and #3 are already out- I won’t have to wait to read Beth’s next adventures.

Want to thank NetGalley and Bookouture for this early re-release eGalley.
Publishing Release Date scheduled for August 22, 2022

Beth Haldane and her young son have moved to Dulwich Village for her new job at a private school. During her lunch break on her first day, she stumbles across her new boss’ body. What a way to start a new life.

Without the snooty, status conscious mothers whispering that Beth may have done it to get her boss’s job, she knows she needs to figure out what happened if she wants to keep her job. Not knowing her colleagues yet, she isn’t sure who to trust, but she’s going to do everything she can to make her new life work for her and her son.

This was a quick read and a great start to a new series. The humor and pokes at the status conscious folks, along with red herrings and solidly developed characters makes this a series I'll be following moving forward.

A quick fun read. On Beth Haldane's first day of work as the new historian's assistant, at her son's school, she finds her new boss dead. Can an average mother crack the case open? Great characters. Fun first in a series! Thanks #netgalley and #Bookouture for the eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are mine.

“The Murder Mystery” is the first in a series of cosy crime books a “Beth Haldane Mystery” Beth is a widowed mother living in Dulwich, where most mothers seem to be stay at home parents or working as volunteers or in showy part time jobs - described as the kind of mothers who make their child’s perfect school projects for them, ferry them to and from daily after-school activities and enjoy a good gossip, full of innuendo & judgement without saying a word! Beth lives in this world but seems much more down to earth, although her pride & aspirations for her son are still paramount.

The story sees her taking on a new job as assistant archivist at the exclusive school Wyatts. On day one she finds her boss slumped between two large bins dead. Beth finds herself anxious to find out who would hold a grudge large enough to kill him. She fears for her safety as she is yet to know her new colleagues well enough to trust anyone. Hiding away potential clues to help her solve the mysteries & secrets of her boss & colleagues she tries to solve the murder, sharing knowledge with the investigating Police officer but not always averting further trouble.

This is a fun mystery for lovers of cosy crime. Beth is a normal, down to earth person who falls into an interesting situation. The story isn’t gory or scary but is full of clues for the reader & Beth to contemplate. The Dulwich way of life is heavily described and is far from the reality many live. Beth is a breathe of fresh air in the descriptions and seemingly more realistic. The school setting and the colourful staff we meet add to the intrigue.

Thank you to Netgalley and Bookouture for an ARC of this novel.

I have only read the first book in this series which has been renamed The Murder Mystery Ne: Death in Dulwich.
Thirty-something single mum Beth Haldane takes a job as a historical researcher at the local boy's school for those parents who can afford the fees for the private school.
She really needs the money and lands the job just in time.
On her first day, Her playboy boss who hits on everything in a skirt is killed. And Beth finds the body, and now has to try and solve the murder before she is blamed.

Pro's:
Developed characters, with some humor and several red herrings.

Con's:
The entire premise missed, as Beth was never seen as a suspect.

Other than that it was an entertaining read and I will probably read the next in the series.

I'd like to thank Bookature for the opportunity to read this renamed story.

This ARC was provided to me via Kindle, from Bookouture and #NetGalley. Thank you for the opportunity to preview and review. Opinions expressed are completely my own.

Brilliant cozy mystery series in an idyllic setting, you'll want to read the next one as soon as you finish the one you just finished.