Beth and Harry need a larger home now that he’s moved in with her and her son. So it’s up to Beth to do some house hunting. Eager to see the inside of one house. She’s greeted by a body as she looks around. NOT a feature she was expecting to find in a new home.

Now Beth’s. not only hunting for a new home, she’s also hunting for clues as to who killed the man. Can Beth find the murderer before she no longer needs a new home, but rather a casket?

Another solid entry in the series. I’ve read all seven books so far and can’t get enough. The characters are well developed and the whodunit well thought out and full of red herrings. I’m glad they revamped the series for an international audience and republished them.

Publication August 22, 2022

Beth Haldane is house hunting in this installment of the series. Initially, it's about the last thing in the world Beth wants to be doing. She loves her current home, albeit admits that it's crowded now that her detective boyfriend Harry York is moving in permanently. It's Harry that has been prodding her to look at larger homes, something she's resisted doing as much as possible, then finding fault with the houses she does check out. It won't come as any surprise to those who've been reading this series all along that while Beth doesn't find the house of, well, Harry's dreams, she does find a dead body. It's also no surprise that Beth being Beth, also feels a responsibility to the dead man, who she had never met, btw, to investigate his death. Harry is, well, less than pleased. Beth has the tendency to not only find dead bodies but put herself in danger in the process of trying to figure out whodunit.

I adore author Alice Castle's flowing, descriptive writing style, putting us in character's heads as they ponder both important and completely unimportant things, and Beth has become a favorite character. I can definitely relate to both her best and worst tendencies, such as procrastination, day dreaming, and stubborn desire to be in control. She is a flawed character, smart but often naive, driven but prone to go off on tangents that lead her in other directions, and wanting the best but not always willing to do her job. I mean, how does she keep her job? I asked myself this several times in his book, I must admit. This go-round, she is even sneaking the sweet ol' dog Colin into her office space. What really got on my nerves most, however, is the almost disdain, or at least lack of respect, she shows toward Harry's difficult job of dealing daily with evil doers. At one point she almost smugly seems to overestimate her own sleuthing abilities, which tend to be hit-or-miss, while snidely wondering what Harry and his team are doing at the police station to sweep the discovery of the young real estate agent's body under the rug.

Of course, all that said, I still thoroughly enjoyed the book. Beth's flaws make her unpredictable, ie realistic, and it's hard to dislike someone who, despite her lack of focus and tendency toward fanciful thinking, she is someone that I'd like to think would be a friend. Even having never met the young realtor's agent, she feels a responsibility toward him, a responsibility that, predictably, gets her into hot water with Harry and danger from those who'd prefer she not keep digging for the truth. Who knew realty could be so corrupt? Why did it appear someone was living in the supposedly unoccupied home-for-sale? Why is Beth, who doesn't want to move, suddenly so determined to keep house shopping? Will Nina be helpful or a mere distraction? Will Beth eventually come to accept Harry and his boxes and boxes of books? She does admit to enjoying the physical presence of a book in her hand, after all.

Will Beth ever go to work on time? Heck, let me rephrase that. Will Beth ever put her job, the one that will help pay for her son's expensive education, first? Will she ever get that book done that she promised to write for the school? Uh, maybe. How are canine Colin and feline Magpie getting along? What would Beth do if she put even one of them in danger with her snooping, er, asking of questions? What is going on with Janice and husband Dr. Grover? If they can't make it, is there hope for Beth and Harry? Who.....oh, way too many teasers but I've barely touched the surface. If you enjoy wonderfully written plots with a main character that will both intrigue and irritate you with her realness, give this one a read.

Thanks #NetGalley and #Bookouture for inviting me over to shadow Beth while she was house hunting. Somehow I knew a body would be involved but it didn't stop me from enjoying the ride.

Another great book in this engaging series. I love these characters and was pleased to catch up with them again. Great motive for the murders in this book, something I’ve never come across before.

I really enjoy this series and just love the new book covers. I hope there will be more Beth and Harry to enjoy. Whole series so far top points.📖📖📖

Book seven in the series…book four for me, but I caught up quickly…tell me there will be more…I like reading about Beth and her mishaps…her career…her son…boyfriend…mom…friends…escapades…imagine this woman discovering bodies wherever she goes…mystery and murder…I like this series so much…I really like these books…this author is talented at writing a cannot put down novel. Thanks to a Netgalley and the publisher for the electronic copy for review.

Another Body…!
The seventh in the Beth Haldane series of mysteries finds Beth deep in death once again when a house viewing turns to murder. A body in a built in wardrobe is the last thing she expected when viewing the potential new home. And so, the investigations commence but is Beth herself at risk? It seems that it’s highly likely. Another delightful murder mystery in the cosy vein with a likeable protagonist in Beth, a well placed setting with an entertaining narrative and a nicely crafted supporting cast of characters. Another worthy addition to this enjoyable series. (Note that this was previously published as The Slayings in Sydenham)