The bag of secrets by Joy Ellis.
DCI Matt Balkard book 6.
Matt and Liz may have retired from the police, but that doesn't guarantee a quiet life.
An abandoned carpet bag full of mysterious handwritten notes. A body in a marshy lagoon.
Matt is intrigued when his partner Liz brings home an old carpet bag she found dumped in the local library. It contains a pile of mysterious handwritten notes. Liz is convinced the bag belongs to Old Molly, a local woman who lives on the streets.
The following day, a body is discovered in a marshy lagoon. It's Old Molly. Suffocated with an expensive men's handkerchief.
I really enjoyed this book. I do love this series. Liz and Matt are a great team. Twisty and gripping. I'm looking forward to the next book. 5*.

My thanks to Net Galley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book. Joy Elis is A new author for me, and I loved it. The author does a great job creating a read from a series that doesn't make the reader feel they missed out on anything. I loved the cast of characters, and the story was so good. I will definitely be reading more of hers in the future.

Unusual plot but very gripping. Brilliantly written and can be read as a stand alone book. (I haven't read the others but certainly will be catching up with them) thank you netgalley for the advance copy

Private detectives ex-DCI Matt Ballard and his partner in everything ex-DS Liz Haynes, working at Cannon Farm in Tanners Fen, already have their hands full with two cases, shoplifting and a missing teenager Liam Cooper, when Liz is given an old carpet bag left at the library. Retired copper and now librarian Chris Lamont is convinced it was left behind by Molly the Bag Lady for him to find and has passed it onto a very intrigued Liz. It contains a mass of bits of scrap paper on which Molly has made some very disturbing notes. A puzzle perfect for Liz’s nephew David, especially as his holiday has fallen through and he’s at a loose end, and David is more than happy to help. A dog walker discovers a body washed up by the river and PC Jack Fleet (Swifty) recognises Molly. Unfortunately it’s soon shown to be a case of murder and Molly’s friend Smokey Joe is also missing. Could Molly’s bag hold the key to her death and possibly something much older and darker? While Matt concentrates on finding Liam, concerned that the boy is in real trouble this time, Liz and David, together with some unofficial help from their old friend the absolutely wonderful pathologist Prof Rory Wilkinson and less help from their official contact, DC Darren Norton, probe into Molly’s life and soon discover that an item left for safe keeping with a homeless veteran has been stolen, leading them to wonder if another life is in danger. Meanwhile some other residents of the marshes are also very worried about their situations and the secrets they are keeping. And then a second body is discovered.
The Fenland setting is perfect for this murder mystery, full of remote insular villages, hard to find locations and buried secrets. Matt and Liz are not only a really lovely couple but also were highly respected experienced and intuitive officers, so it’s no surprise that they have so many great links in the community and that the majority of serving officers in the Fenland Constabulary positively welcome their help with active cases. These and other beautifully crafted characters, such as Tilly, Hazel, Swifty, Joe, Clem and Jeff, are effortlessly created by the author in an intricate web of strands that are cunningly woven together until the whole dark horrific picture is displayed in a superbly clever story simply brimming with tension and twists. Of course, the star for me is Gunner! Another surefire hit for this master storyteller!

A new author for me and I loved it. It didn't matter that I hadn't read any of the others in this series as it read as a stand alone book. I loved the affection between the two main characters and the story was so good. I will definitely be reading more of hers in the future. My thanks to netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.

Matt and Liz may have retired from the police, but that doesn’t guarantee a quiet life. An abandoned carpet bag full of mysterious handwritten notes. A body in a marshy lagoon. Another entry in the Matt Ballard series, this one does not disappoint. The portrayal of the fenlands is interesting and the plot is compelling. I highly recommend this series.

Thank you to NetGalley and Joffe Books for my copy of The Bag Of Secrets by Joy Ellis.
Old Molly goes everywhere with her old carpet bag as she travels around the fens, sleeping where she can.
So when it is found in the library and no sign of Molly Liz brings it home.
Liz and Matt may have retired from the police but with their private investigation firm they still relish a puzzle.
I don’t want to spoil the story but this book is definitely worth reading. It can be read as a standalone but the series is so good it would be a shame not to read them all.
Another great tale from the wonderful Joy Ellis.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thanks NetGalley. Liz and Matt are staying busy with the private Detective business. Liz has stopped in the library and there is a bag of papers and writing all over them, Chris who works in the library thinks it might have been left by the bag lady Molly and was meant to be found by him and that why it was pushed up against his desk. Liz takes them home and has David her nephew come on his break from school to find out what their about. Matt is looking for a missing teen. Little do they know it will lead them to the same spot. Molly saw something she shouldn't have and was running scared ever since until they killed her and in trying to protect her friends she never would tell them the whole story.

The detective agency have two cases, the first occurs when a carpet bag dumped in the local library full of paper covered in writing is found. Liz thinks that it belongs to Old Molly. The next day Old Molly is found day, suffocated. What was Molly trying to tell, what was she afraid of. Meanwhile Matt is looking for runaway Liam Cooper, missing for 10 days. Neither seem to be a straightforward case for the agency.
An entertaining and well-written modern mystery with its cast of likeable and varied characters. Another good addition to this enjoyable series which can be read as a standalone story.
An ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Another brilliant read from the pen of this multimillion selling author.
A real mystery unfolds when a bag is left in the library and private detectives Matt and Liz are charged with discovering its secrets. A gripping read with a very unusual plot and lots of new characters which I really hope we will meet again the next time we visit the Fens

I'm a bad person who doesn't always practice what she preaches! But hey... we all got to be rebels sometime - innit!?
So, this is book 6 in this series featuring retired police Matt and Liz, and, where I am fully up to date with this author's Jackman and Evans series and playing catch-up with the Nikki Galena one (currently on book 4) I have to admit that this is my first in this series. I know... :( But, although I will go back and read/listen to the previous ones, I have to admit that I absolutely loved this book, despite going into the characters cold. I think it helped that it is set in the same world as the other two and does have a bit of a crossover with the inclusion of a familiar well loved character...
So... Matt's interest is piqued when Liz brings home an old carpet bag that had been abandoned at the local library. It belongs to Old Molly, a local street woman who everyone around is familiar with. But why has she abandoned her bag. And, more importantly, where is she? On investigation, the bag contains lots of handwritten notes on various bits of paper, some pristine, others just scraps she must have found. When Molly's body is soon discovered suffocated, the interest steps up a gear and Liz calls in her nephew David to help. She needs it as Matt has a case of his own - that of serial runaway Liam Cooper who has excelled himself this time...
And so begins a double investigation, both of which really did hold me captive throughout my time with the book. Switching between seamlessly even with the two rather convoluted plots...
As with the other two series that I am more familiar with, this book exceeded all expectations. The plots are tight and well executed and contain all you need for this genre book. Secrets, lies, red herrings, twists and turns. But the plot would be nothing if it didn't have the characters to play it out and here the author also does a bang up job! Pacing is consistent and matches the narrative all the way through, ramping up towards the end, which also left me satisfied. And with scant waffle or padding it gets on with itself very well. All in all another cracker from an author who despite me only discovering recently has catapulted herself into my top 10. My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.

Many thanks to both Joffe Books Ltd and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review a copy of The Bag of Secrets. This book is #6 in the DCI Matt Ballard series.

"Molly clearly knew something that got her killed. Liz believes she was trying to tell them something important. She calls on her nephew David to help decipher the carpet bag notes."

I jumped into this series with #6 but I feel it can be read as a standalone. When I first started The Bag of Secrets, it felt like a bit of a folksy, slow burn of a novel. However, the more I read, the more I found myself caring about all of the characters. I also found England’s rural fenland to be a fascinating place, with its never-ending fields and winding tracks.

The Bag of Secrets is a puzzle, and one that is loaded with mysterious clues!

"The Bag of Secrets" unfolds a riveting mystery that pulled me into a world where retired detectives Matt and Liz are drawn back into a whirlpool of suspense and intrigue. It initially began with the innocuous discovery of an abandoned carpet bag filled with cryptic notes that quickly escalated into a haunting series of events. Joy Ellis blends the ordinary with the extraordinary.

The discovery of Old Molly’s body in the marshy lagoon sparked a chain of events, signaling danger and the urgency to decode the secrets concealed within the bag. Ellis constructed a narrative labyrinth where the pieces of this cryptic puzzle seemed to converge and diverge simultaneously. The stakes heightened as Matt was faced with the task of finding the missing teenager, Liam Cooper.

As the investigation progressed, each revelation deepened the intrigue, leading Matt, Liz, and her nephew, David, down a trail of clandestine notes and hidden truths. The atmosphere Ellis created is thick with suspense, suspicion, and eerie undertones. The remote village of Marshdyke-St-Mary is the setting for a sinister series of revelations, unveiling a hidden past shrouded in secrecy.

Ellis immerses readers in a world where every twist and turn uncovers another layer of the chilling truth. The unraveling of secrets kept me engaged, creating an irresistible allure that gripped me from start to finish.

"The Bag of Secrets" captivates with its well-drawn plot and an intricately constructed puzzle of mysterious clues. Ellis was successful in keeping me on the edge of my seat, eagerly unraveling the web of secrets, and yearning for the next revelation. This book promises a journey through a labyrinth of secrets and suspense.

"A gripping and atmospheric mystery that keeps you guessing until the very end."

"Ellis spins a web of intrigue and suspense, drawing readers into a world of hidden secrets."

"An intricately woven tale of cryptic clues and sinister revelations."

"Immersive and chilling, a compelling journey through a landscape of suspense."

"A masterful blend of ordinary lives entangled in an extraordinary mystery."

"With palpable tension and eerie undertones, Ellis delivers an unforgettable mystery."

"A captivating narrative filled with suspenseful twists and haunting discoveries."

"Ellis crafts a labyrinth of secrets that will keep you hooked from start to finish."

"Enigmatic and compelling, each revelation deepens the mystery's allure."

"A gripping whodunit that unfolds against a setting of hidden truths and suspense."

Matt has a case where a young boy has gone missing. It has happened before, but this time he seems to have disappeared. Meanwhile, Liz has been given a bag of papers which were left at the library by Molly, a bag lady. They seem to be about missing people. When Molly is found dead on the fens, the police don't seem to have time to do anything. Liz's nephew David comes to help them, and then Jeff, David's friend. Something seems to be happening at the bunker which appears at first to be a place where young folks with problems can come and exercise and learn.

When another person, a homeless man, is found dead on the fens, Matt and Liz know they have a very difficult case. The police man who is supposed to be a liaison to the police is pretty useless, but Liz and Matt with with an old friend of Molly and another ex police woman all get together, clues gradually appear.

This book is a great addition to a very exciting series.

The first time I have read this Author but I enjoyed the style of writing. A solid four star read. Great premise. Good characters. Page turner. Plenty of suspense to keep me guessing Would definitely read the next novel. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the chance to review it.

Thank you very much to Joffe Books and NetGalley for providing this ARC in exchange my review.

This book is an engaging and suspenseful crime thriller. The story centers around a murder investigation and is full of twists and turns. Rowan and Marie must piece together the pieces of the puzzle to find the killer and discover the truth behind the death. The characters are vivid and engaging. Joy Ellis really brings the characters to life. The plot is fast-paced and suspenseful, and the story has just enough twists and surprises to keep the me hooked until the end.

Overall, I highly recommend this book to crime fiction lovers. Joy Ellis has created an entertaining and compelling crime mystery that will keep you guessing until the very end. It is well-written, thoughtful, and clever, and you will find themselves quickly turning the pages as they get drawn into the mystery. Highly recommended!

I have just finished The Bag of Secrets by Joy Ellis and I have to say this is one of the best books yet, it’s an interesting story with great characters and even though this is book 6 of the Ballard and Haynes series it would work equally well as a standalone, Matt and Liz have retired from the police force and now have their own detective agency and what starts off as a seemingly normal case of a missing teenager could have a more sinister reason. As with every book though the best bits are when the flamboyant pathologist Rory arrives to steal the show.

I thoroughly enjoyed this latest installment in the Matt Ballard series. As usual, there’s a lot going on and it’s all fabulous! The focus of the story involves a bag lady named Old Molly, well known around town, whose body is found washed up on the shore. There are signs of foul play, but everyone knows how low this will be on the police’s list of inquiries. But our favorite PI couple has put her right at the top of their list!

Matt and Liz are eager to investigate the case, as just the day before, her carpet bag was left in the library, almost as if she knew something was going to happen to her. It was stuffed full of scraps of paper with notes, every piece she could find was used to keep a written record of something of great importance to her. It’s no coincidence that she left the bag at the library, as she knew one of the workers was a retired officer. But what caused her to fear for her life? Matt and Liz realize they know nothing of her life before she took to the streets, and what they discover is completely unexpected!

They are also on the case of a missing teenager named Liam. A habitual runaway, his case isn’t being taken too seriously by the local police, but his parents are at their wit's end, certain that this time, something dangerous has actually happened. Matt can’t bear to let Liam’s parents down, as any missing child is important in his eyes. They try to balance working on both cases equally and it helps that Liz’s nephew, David, comes to stay with them and helps pitch in.

It's a really engaging story and even though there’s quite a bit happening, it’s easy to keep track of everyone involved. Every book of this author’s is a guaranteed page-turner and I already am looking forward to the next one!

I love when a new Joy Ellis book comes out as it just feels like home when you start reading.This book is no exception with a wonderful plot and fascinating characters. It has lots of action right to the last page and it was a pleasure to read. Looking forward to the next instalment.

Even though this is part of a series that I had not read before I enjoyed the story which was engaging, fast paced and unexpectedly feel good because of the way that the community engages with the case. I enjoyed the characters, and especially the pathologist, and the clues contained in the bag of secrets, as well as the twists and turns of the two intertwined plots. I shall be reading the rest of the series.