This is book nine in this cost mystery series. This has a good plot. It has plenty of twists. It is well written. I liked the locked room setting. A good mystery

When Eve is asked to cater Founders’ Day at Southwood School, she is excited to see what the most secretive school is all about. However when and ex-pupil is found dead in a locked room, Eve starts to investigate.
A good cozy mystery with plenty of twists to keep you interested. I enjoyed the overall feel to the tale and would happily read more of this series.

Mystery at Southwood School, the ninth book in Clare Chase’s Eve Mallow mystery series, is yet another clever whodunnit set in the quaint English countryside. With a complex and compelling plot, an intrepid sleuth, colorful characters, and a slew of suspects, this book is thoroughly entertaining.

Obituary writer Eve Mallow is taking a break from writing to help her friend (and boss) Viv cater the Founders’ Day celebration at Southwood School. The school has a special connection for Viv as her (former) mother-in-law is an alumnus. The guest of honor, Natalie Somerson, has a long familial history with the school, but has gained a nasty reputation for her cutthroat interviews on her television show. Not surprisingly, she winds up dead, and there are suspects everywhere. Suspicion, however, falls on Eve’s secret boyfriend, Robin, who is acting as gardener for the school.

Like a fine wine, this series just keeps getting better and better. Eve’s ever-inquisitive nature is coupled with logic and common sense. Her friendship with Viv is heartwarming, and her relationship (albeit secret) with Robin gives her the impetus to brave dangerous situations to clear his name. Clare Chase knows how to weave a story, and this one sparkles. There are numerous clues and red herrings, twists and turns, and the suspense is heightened with each page. Just when you think you have figured it out, everything shifts.

In Mystery at Southwood School, Ms. Chase has penned a charming and delightful cozy mystery that lives up to the high standards set by its predecessors. I am so looking forward to the next book in this venerable series.

Note: I received an ARC of Mystery at Southwood School from NetGalley and Bookouture. The above is my honest review.

This book was great. Its filled with suspense and action. I thought the characters were pretty realistic. The twists in the plot blew me away. I wasn't expecting that. I loved it

Mystery at Southwood School is a cozy mystery with a prep school setting. Make note that the primary characters are not students but women known to this series. I recommend having familiarity with the series, as starting here I felt out me at a disadvantage in terms of connecting with our lead character Eve.

If you like murder mysteries with a signature female character and plenty of books to turn to, this is a series for you!

This is one of my favorite series. Eve is an excellent protagonist. She's loyal, tenacious, and an obituary writer to boot. The book has enough red herrings to keep you guessing and once again I wasn't sure who the killer was. I enjoyed the trip into the school, and I look forward to the next book in the series.

Mystery at Southwood School by Clare Chase. Eve Mallow is one of my favorite sleuths. A middle aged, obituary writer, of all things! Well, not regular obituaries but high-end ones for national magazines. They are not always straightforward and give real insight into the person who has died. Sometimes that is a good thing, sometimes, not so much. In this case Eve is there at the right time, Natalie Somerson is to be at Southwood School, which she had attended as a young person. Viv had also attended so they had been asked to provide refreshment for a ceremony anointing Natalie as this year’s Founder’s Day Champion. It was a great honor. Natalie was a television talk show host known for being viscous after she had lulled her guest into a false sense of security. She loved to dig dirt and put it on display for the world. She had hated Southwood School so why was she here? Viv’s former mother-in-law was also an alumnus and there to do nothing more than make Viv’s life miserable.

As one would expect, Natalie ended up dead. The problem was there were too many suspects. No one liked her. In addition, Robin had been working there for a few days as a gardener. She had recognized him but had yet to place him. Someone had seen them talking, her trying to trap him, and so now he was a suspect. Eve was beside herself. There were so many possibilities and with Robin at stake she took chances she should not have, sneaking around the school at night and such. It was a good plot with an interesting resolution. Eve is a well-written character with new facets of her personality emerging in every book. Her support cast is developing well, too. The crimes in this series are always complicated with plenty of clues left for the reader if one is astute enough to catch them. It is always a good read, just different enough to make it interesting.

I was invited to read a free e-ARC of Mystery at Southwood School by Bookoutre, though Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #Netgalley #Bookoutre #ClareChase #MysteryAtSouthwoodSchool

I have to say I have a hard time rating this one because I haven’t read the previous books in the series. I would say that none of the characters seem very nice. This book throws you into a British prep school environment, which I personally am unfamiliar with. Eve comes off as kind of drippy, surrounded by bullies. Not that into it.

‘Mystery At Southwood School’ is the ninth Eve Mallow mystery by Clare Chase. Eve is at the school helping her friend Viv provide catering to ‘The Coven’ who run the school. Founders Day is upon them, and ex-pupil and celebrity, Natalie Somerson, is to be the Founders Day Champion. Much to the chagrin of certain members of staff. Professional gossip-monger, Natalie made many enemies whilst a pupil and since. When her speech hints at a secret lover affair from the past, little does she know the trouble she has stirred up. The discovery of her body the next morning puts suspicion on Eve’s boyfriend Robin, compelling her to find out who really had a motive to kill Natalie. Will she find out in time? Or has her investigation put her in danger?

This is the second book I’ve read in this series and I am becoming increasingly fond of Eve and her friends. Eve is kind, loyal and determined. She’s exactly the type of friend you want on your side. I think a lot can be said about writing characters your readers will connect with. The author has done this with Eve Mallow. She’s easy to like.

I loved that the story was based in a boarding school. It took me back to my days of reading Mallory Towers and the like. A mystery in a closed setting works so well, and this is no exception. I was hooked.

I was given this ARC for review.

Another really good cozy mystery in this series featuring obituary writer Eve Mallow and her gorgeous dachshund Gus.
Eve arrives at Southwood School to help her friend with a catering event but before long one of the famous alumni is found murdered. Natalie Southwood was one of the guests of honour at the event but harboured a hatred of the school. Before long suspicion is cast on Eve’s secret love Robin. Can Eve write Natalie’s obituary by solving the murders and cast suspicion away from Robin?
Easy to read, well written and more build up of the characters that have become familiar in the series.
Thanks to Netgalley, the publisher and the author for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

Clare Chases' Eve Mallow booksxqre a joy to read and this was different. She creates interesting and well developed characters and you are always left trying to work out the who done it and so far I've never been correct.
In this book the history surrounding both Viv and Robin is explored further and this works well.
Lots of suspense and guessing games.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this copy in exchange for an honest review

This wasn't really my favorite out of the mystery books that I have read recently, but I would be willing to give it another try or even read some of the author's other books.

I have read and enjoyed previous books in this series. Unfortunately I just couldn't get into this one. The pace was glacial and nothing much was happening. After every interview Eve and her friend hashed over what they had learned. Eve was driven by her fear that Robin would be discovered and that was mentioned ad nauseum. I jumped to the end to see who the culprit was!

This was a typical cozy mystery and one I'm sure the fans of Eve will enjoy There was intrigue and many a twist as well as a few red herrings.. For me, once again, it's the village and characters that add so much to the overall story. I love what each one brings (including the busy body) Lovely to see the romance move along as well....
Its four out of five for me!

With thanks to #NetGalley, Bookouture and the author, Clare Chase, for my free advanced reader copy to review in exchange for an honest opinion.

In mystery at Southwood Eve and Viv are catering at Viv's old school, a boarding school for girls. As usual after a couple of cakes the first body turns up in a hidden room. The victim, Natalie, a former pupil of the school, is a quite vicious talk-show host as well as a descendant of one of the schools founders. Furthermore she is not much loved by almost everyone at the school.
Outercourse Eve is asked by Icon to write Natalie's obituary, which gives her the chance to not only interview all the people involved for input for the obituary but also to get interesting information to help her find who murdered Natalie. This time Eve has an extra incentive because her boyfriend Robin features high on inspector Palmers list of suspects.

Of-course Eve manages to solve the mystery and exonerate her lover, but not before an other murder occurs. In this episode there also are some interesting developments in the relation between Eve and Robin.

I loved the developments in Eve's private life and of-course the cosy settings but found the plot a bit overly complicated and not very creditable. So 3 stars this time.

Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

Eve returns in book nine of the Eve Mallow mystery series I have read several of Eves adventures with her delightful companion Gus.

Set in the idyllic village of Saxford St Peter's amateur sleuth, obituary writer, tea shop worker Eve stumbles across another murder and tasks herself with the challenge of unearthing the killer.

Another delightful edition to this well written cosy murder mystery series.

Mystery at Southwood School by Clare Chase is book 9 in the Eve Mallow Mystery series of books but could easily be read as a standalone. As with the previous books in the series, it is a warm and engaging cosy mystery and a book that I thoroughly enjoyed from beginning to end. The gorgeous writing and gentle storytelling once again drew me into this murder mystery tale, with the twists, turns, shocks and surprises that this author does so well keeping me on my toes throughout.

This time the book is set in Southwood School as Eve Mallow joins in the hunt for whoever is responsible for the death of ex pupil and professional gossip Natalie Somerson, after her dead body is found in a locked attic room. But this time the case is personal as Eve’s boyfriend Robin becomes the prime suspect. Determined to prove his innocence, Eve begins to investigate anyone with a stake in the school, from the prudish principal to the head girl who seemed to adore Natalie one day and then hate her the next. But then, as is so often the case, Eve’s own life is put in danger as her investigation begins to creep ever closer to the truth of what really did happen to Natalie. Will Eve ever be able to get to the bottom of what happened to Natalie so she can clear Robin’s name and unmask the real killer?

Along with a strong cast of supporting characters, Eve Mallory is a protagonist I’ve grown to like more and more with every story. And in Mystery at Southwood School we learn even more about her relationship with Robin and his place in her life than ever before, which in turn begins to reveal more about the man himself, which was an aspect of the story that I loved.

A gifted storyteller, Clare Chase has once again brought these people and their stories vividly to life, this time in a story set against the backdrop of Southwood School. I loved this latest installment of the series and can’t wait to read whatever the author has in store for the wonderful Eve Mallow next!

An atmospheric and intriguing read, Mystery at Southwood School is pure escapism at its very best and is a gorgeously written cosy mystery tale that I would highly recommend.

I love this series. I find the mysteries engaging and the characters interesting.

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

Mystery at Southwood School is the 9th book in the Eve Mallow series. I have not read the previous books and I had no problem following this story. The mystery is contained in the book, but there is some backstory about one of the characters that I was missing. Having said this, I will go back and start this series from the first book. Eve is an obituary writer and also works with her friend Viv in her bakery. She is seeing Robin, a man with a mysterious past. Viv and Eve are preparing cakes for Southwood School's Founder's Day celebrations and are staying at the school while baking. Each year there is a special guest and this year it is Natalie Somerson, ex-pupil and rather nasty talk show host. When Natalie ends up dead, Robin is the main suspect as he had been seen arguing with Natalie. Not only to get him off the hook, but to keep his past secret, Eve is working overtime to find the real killer.

My one complaint is that the build up was quite lengthy, but once Natalie was found dead, I was pulled completely into the story. The mystery was quite detailed and had several suspects. The clues were scattered and there were also a few red herrings which kept me from guessing who the culprit was. Eve is a great character. She is a smart investigator, even though she is only an amateur sleuth. She is well liked and has a lot of friends who will help her do whatever she needs. Viv is her Dr. Watson and I would love to see more of her. I liked how the characters were developed and multi-dimensional, so I felt like I knew them. This was a quick moving mystery, with several twists and a big surprise regarding the motive and the perpetrator. I recommend this book to those who enjoy a good cozy mystery.

What a lovely and cozy mystery read this has been. I started reading and couldn't put it down. It's absolutely delightful and a proper page turner
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Although this is the ninth book in the series, I wasn't confused or out off at all. The story cam easily be read as a stand-alone. This doesn't mean that I won't read the rest soon enough because I will
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The plots and twisted flowed perfectly and intertwined making it all hard to guess. I thoroughly enjoyed the writing style and the characters felt so real. It gave me such Agatha Christie vibes and I can't wait to read some more of the author's work