When a woman’s mutilated body is discovered in a remote countryside property, Detective Kay Hunter is faced with one of the most challenging investigations of her career.
There is nothing in the victim’s past to explain her brutal slaying and no clues as to how her killer got away.
Then a second body is found in a run-down storage facility, the man’s remains covered in horrific injuries that bear the hallmarks of prolonged torture.
With two families demanding justice, Kay is under pressure from her superiors to deliver a swift result – but there is no evidence to connect the two victims.
When a third victim is found just a short distance from her own incident room, Kay realises that the killer has no intention of stopping – and they already have their next victim in their sights…
A Deadly Promise is the 13th book in the Detective Kay Hunter series by USA Today bestselling author Rachel Amphlett, and perfect for readers who love fast-paced crime thrillers.
Before turning to writing, USA Today bestselling crime author Rachel Amphlett played guitar in bands, worked as a TV and film extra, dabbled in radio as a presenter and freelance producer for the BBC, and worked in publishing as an editorial assistant.
She now wields a pen instead of a plectrum and writes crime fiction with over 30 novels and short stories featuring spies, detectives, vigilantes, and assassins.
Rachel’s stories are available in eBook, print and audiobook formats from libraries and retailers as well as her own shop on this website.
A keen traveller and accidental private investigator, Rachel has both Australian and British citizenship.
She loves hearing from readers and personally replies to every email.
My thoughts: a dark and compelling crime thriller from Rachel Amphlett, who writes some very gripping stuff.
The shocking murder of a young woman in the bathroom of the house she cleans leads the police to more horrific deaths, all of people who turn out to be in debt to some seriously nasty people – loan sharks, but sharks don’t torture their food, these people do.
As the cost of living crisis, rising unemployment and stagnant benefits force desperate people to take money from dubious sources, the police are racing against time to stop the killers and save lives. A chance comment in lock up could hold the key to who these genuinely awful people are.
Gripping, intelligent crime fiction.
*I was kindly gifted a copy of this book in exchange for taking part in this blog tour, but all opinions remain my own
The summer is the hottest yet in the Brittany coastal town of Morranez, but when a new case lands on the desk of the Toussaints detective agency, there can be no time to relax.
As wild fires bear down on the town, the alert goes out for a missing girl. Nineteen-year-old Briony Moorcroft has seemingly been taken from her sleepy Welsh village and brought to France. Her parents are baffled and scared – Briony needs her life-saving medicine or this case will become even more sinister, and with the police dragging their heels, the Moorcrofts are relying on Mila Shephard and Carter Jackson’s sleuthing skills.
Meanwhile there are mysteries troubling Mila’s life too. Two years after the accident that swept her sister Sophie and brother-in-law Charlie away and left their daughter Ani in Mila’s care, new evidence resurfaces that makes Mila doubt everything. Can Carter and Mila find Briony before it’s too late? And is the truth about Sophie and Charlie finally about to be revealed…
Louise Douglas is the bestselling and brilliantly reviewed author and an RNA award winner.TheSecrets Between Uswas a Richard and Judy Book Club pick. She lives in the West Country.
My thoughts: Mila and Carter are tracking down two young women, one critically ill, who have run off to Brittany. But all is not as it seems there.
There’s also the possible sighting of the boat Mila’s stepsister Sophie and her husband Charlie were sailing when they went missing, or at least the remains of it. How will Mila’s niece, Ani, cope with hearing her father’s boat and maybe his remains have been found?
As thunderstorms threaten and wild fires destroy the Breton countryside, Mila must juggle her worries for Ani with the time crucial case, and discovers secrets hidden behind an every day facade.
Intelligent, gripping writing that brings the beautiful but threatened Brittany coastline and villages to life, with a cast of fascinating characters and stories. Sophie and Charlie had secrets too, will finding the boat bring them to the surface and what of Mila’s long distance relationship with fiancé Luke, back home in Bristol? Everything feels very delicate and tense, a delightful and enjoyable read.
*I was kindly gifted a copy of this book in exchange for taking part in this blog tour, but all opinions remain my own.
An instalment in bestselling author T. A. Williams’ Armstrong and Oscar cosy mystery series!
A cosy crime series set in gorgeous Tuscany…
It’s murder in paradise!
A secluded villa…
When Dan Armstrong is asked to provide security at a private villa on the outskirts of Pisa, he’s prettysure it will be an easy job. Villa Gregory is remote; the gathered guests are rich – what could possiblygo wrong?A glittering gathering…
Inside the high walls of the palatial villa, Dan discovers the gathered guests are some of the most powerful tycoons in the media world, with plans for world domination. With so much at stake, Danredoubles his efforts to keep everyone safe.A detective under pressure?But when one of the group is found murdered, Dan’s heart sinks – especially considering Anna’s owndaughter is in the frame! When the police arrive, Dan meets formidable Inspector Adolfo Vinci, a man whose main talent seems to be for getting things wrong. It all goes from bad to worse for Dan as the man from the Leaning Tower starts leaning on him. It’s another case for Dan and Oscar to solve, and this one won’t be easy!
T A Williams is the author of over twenty bestselling romances for HQ and Canelo and is now turning his hand to cosy crime, set in his beloved Italy, for Boldwood. The series will introduce us to retired DCI Armstrong and his labrador Oscar, and the first book, entitled Murder in Tuscany, was published in October 2022. Trevor lives in Devon with his Italian wife.
My thoughts: I really like this series, Dan and Oscar are a delightful man & dog detective duo, like some of my favourite TV and book series, Oscar often sniffs out the perp and saves the day. As he does here.
I went to Pisa years ago with my family, and as with much of Tuscany, it’s incredibly beautiful, and the Tower is fascinating. Thankfully I didn’t witness any crimes though, while Dan seems to attract them. He’s playing security guard at a private villa where a top level meeting is taking place and they want privacy.
Until one of the guests is killed, and the police descend. Did someone break in, despite Dan’s patrols or was it one of the other guests? The deceased is not a popular man and has done some properly nasty things both professionally and personally and some of the other guests have reasons to dislike him, but to kill him?
When Anna’s daughter, who happens to be the victim’s assistant, is arrested, Dan is sure they’ve got the wrong person and despite the deeply unpleasant Inspector warning him off, decides to keep digging.
Thankfully the ever vigilant Oscar is by his side as Dan makes himself a target to catch the killer. Otherwise this could have been the last in the series!
I really had fun with this one, and the descriptions of food made me so hungry! Can’t wait for the next adventure for Dan and Co under the gorgeous Tuscan sun.
*I was kindly gifted a copy of this book in exchange for taking part in this blog tour, but all opinions remain my own.
The Isle of Wight has always felt like a safe place to live for keen dog-walker and reluctant sleuth Susan. But after being involved in the investigation of a troubling crime near her old home, Susan decides to move to the peaceful village of Bishopstone. Susan loves the sense of community and immediately throws herself into village life, volunteering at the local primary school and joining the choir of St Jude’s. So, when there is an altercation at the meeting of the choir committee, followed by a shocking accident involving head teacher Lawrence, Susan is dismayed to realise her powers of deduction may be needed again. There is a dangerous criminal hiding in plain sight and with the police reluctant to help, Susan must put together the pieces of the fiendish puzzle to flush out a killer before they strike again. A brand new cosy mystery from the author of the bestselling The House Party. Perfect for fans of Frances Evesham, Faith Martin and LJ Ross.
Mary Grand writes gripping, page-turning suspense novels, with a dark and often murderous underside. She grew up in Wales, was for many years a teacher of deaf children and now lives on the Isle of Wight.
My thoughts: a man falls from the church roof, the keys in his pocket, the doors locked. A tragic accident or murder?
Lawrence was the local school’s headmaster, a popular local figure and head of the church’s choir committee. He and his wife Hazel have lived in the village for years. While some of his recent decisions had caused some upset, was it enough to drive someone to kill him?
Susan doesn’t think so, but Hazel asks her to dig into the events and people around them to see if anyone, the choir director, his deputy head, the vicar, had it in for him. Lots of people seem to have secrets of their own, and Susan has to reveal them to see if a murderer is hidden in the village.
Clever and entertaining, this is an enjoyable whodunnit with a nice little twist in the tale.
*I was kindly gifted a copy of this book in exchange for taking part in this blog tour, but all opinions remain my own.
When local crime reporter Emma Fletcher is asked to help identify her friend’s blackmailer, she discovers a link to the recent death of a teacher at Allensbury Dance and Drama School. Meanwhile, a police investigation is uncovering some dark secrets, and it is clear that someone is seeking revenge for past wrongs. As Emma’s list of suspects continues to grow, the discovery of a second body puts her in the killer’s sights. Warned off the investigation by the police for her own safety, Emma decides the best way to save herself is to find the culprit first. With the help of fellow news reporter Dan Sullivan, Emma must work out who is targeting Allensbury Dance and Drama School before the killer strikes again.
LM Milford is a crime fiction author who writes the Allensbury mysteries, covering the exploits of local newspaper reporter Dan Sullivan. A former newspaper journalist, Lynne’s experience has influenced her work, although her stories were never as exciting as Dan’s. Lynne was born and brought up in the north-east of England, but now lives in Kent with her husband and far too many books. She loves cooking, baking and holidays in Spain. She’s partial to a good red wine and plates of cheese.
My thoughts: ballet school has never been so dangerous. Blackmail, murder, and secrets lurk in the halls of Allensbury Dance and Drama School.
Journalist Emma is digging into the situation and turning up some dark and worrying things buried beneath the elegant facade of ballet. With the help of colleague Dan, she’s determined to find the truth.
A smart and enjoyable crime novel, with lots of twists and some pretty unpleasant people, they can’t all be suspects but it’s hard to parse the truth from the lies.
*I was kindly gifted a copy of this book in exchange for taking part in this blog tour, but all opinions remain my own.
Maggie and Sam take a break from the murder and mayhem of Bishops Well and embark on a relaxing mid-winter cruise across the northern seas. The brochure promises smooth sailing, good food and dazzling entertainment. Sam is hoping to sprinkle the mix with romance. But nothing goes to plan. Maggie runs into an old lover, the mesmerising Benedict Rawbotham, who goes out of his way to sweep her off her feet. Sam is left seething with jealousy. A mayday signal sent by a fishing boat forces the cruise liner off course. But there is something fishy about the rescued crew and Maggie insists that two young women have died on that boat. Alas, no one believes her. Soon one of the alleged fishermen is also dead and so is one of the cruise passengers. Cordelia Conti Lang, nicknamed the Bitcoin Queen, with links to London’s criminal underworld, is found in her cabin, stabbed to death. In pursuit of the killer, Maggie hurtles from one disaster to another and Sam begins to fear for her life. Has he taken her on a cruise to hell?
Although she writes in a wide range of genres, Anna Legat is best known for her DI Gillian Marsh detective series and The Shires, her cosy murder mysteries. Anna is also the author of the historical thriller, Buried in the Past. She lives near Bath.
My thoughts: another cracking case for the Bishops Well duo of Maggie and Sam. At least, Maggie is keen to investigate and all Sam wants to do is declare his love for her, and it’s a winter cruise to St Petersburg, not the village this time.
I went in April and it was cold then, I can’t imagine how unpleasant it must be in December, beautiful yes, but horribly cold. Sam would rather have gone to the Caribbean, but Maggie has her heart set on this one. Unfortunately there’s a murderer on board.
Maggie herself almost becomes a victim after being taking hostage, except that her kidnapper is a drug runner, not a killer, except in self defense, but it throws the other murderer a clever defense. If it isn’t the bewildered Latvian in Maggie’s cabin, then who could it be?
The victim isn’t a very nice or popular person, widow of a gangster, Bitcoin millionaire, even her own son isn’t keen. And it seems there’s a few people on board with reasons to want her dead. Maggie struggles to make sense of it all. Was it the son? His girlfriend? The ship’s security chief? It’s all a bit confusing, and she seems to be losing time and it’s a bit foggy.
Sam is exasperated as ever, Maggie on a ship is almost more chaos than Maggie at home, and he can’t seem to find the right moment to tell her how he feels.
Tremendously fun and very tangled, takes the amateur sleuths a while to figure it all out, and put the pieces together, all while exploring wintry Europe from sea.
*I was kindly gifted a copy of this book in exchange for taking part in this blog tour, but all opinions remain my own.
When a neighbour from hell comes to a sticky end, a plucky cop refuses to accept the obvious. Miles Kenworth loves to play his rock music at a deafening volume. The other residents of his apartment block are not so keen.One day, after hearing a commotion, Miles’ next-door neighbour discovers his body lying in a pool of blood. Standing next to the corpse is Jake, the man who lives upstairs. It should be an open and shut case for DS Sunita Roy. But with Jake vehemently protesting his innocence, she decides to dig deeper.Most of the residents wanted Miles shut up for good. But was it really Jake who flipped, or was he just in the wrong place at the wrong time?
SEAT 97 is his fifth novel to be published by The Book Folks, an independent London publisher specialising in crime fiction. The previous four books were all part of Tony’s Midlands series which feature Detective Chief Inspector Gavin Roscoe, an experienced detective and family man, and his sergeant, law graduate and resourceful problem-solver Sunita Roy.
The most recent book in this series, Out For Revenge (Book 4), was published in October 2022. It concerns notorious gangland boss Tadeusz Filipowski – a man with numerous enemies who plans to expand his Midlands drug empire on his release from jail. Among his detractors is a corrupt detective who has in the past helped the drug baron keep one step ahead of the law. When Filipowski is found dead, it presents DS Sunita Roy from Heart of England Police with a tough case to crack. For so many had a grudge against the dead man that she is overwhelmed by suspects. She could normally count on the full support of her boss, DCI Gavin Roscoe, in her investigation into the criminal life of Filipowski. But he has been tasked with an equally crucial investigation – gathering enough evidence against the corrupt detective to bring him to justice. Eventually, it becomes clear the two inquiries are inextricably linked. But, as the two detectives pursue events, they realise someone has been plotting a brutal revenge. A revenge that threatens to put the lives of one of the detectives in great peril.
The previous novel, Murder Of A Doctor (Book 3), was released in May 2022. It was the third mystery tale in the series. This book concerns a well-respected family doctor who sets off on a morning run and is later discovered dead in woods near his home in Warwickshire. Ambitious young detective DS Roy is determined to solve the case. But the only clues are an expensive necklace and a bus ticket, andthere are many suspects.
Murder On Oxford Lane (Book 1) and The Crossbow Stalker (Book 2) were published in the spring of 2022. Murder On Oxford Lane is about the disappearance of a property tycoon from a sleepy Warwickshire village. Middle-aged DCI Roscoe and his sergeant, DS Roy, are confronted by suspicious deaths as they struggle to uncover what has happened to the businessman.
The Crossbow Stalker concerns a man being targeted in a hate campaign who begs police for help.Then he is shot dead with a crossbow bolt and a handkerchief embroidered with the letter C found stuffed in his mouth. The detectives face an uphill battle to catch the killer.
Tony is currently working on a fifth book in the Midlands series which concerns a man from a wealthy family found dead in his flat after a row with neighbours over his loud music. Tony decided to set this string of novels in Warwickshire and Worcestershire after spending many happy years working as a newspaper reporter in Worcester.He first developed a love of writing at the age of nine when he and a friend produced a magazine called the Globe at their junior school in Sevenoaks, Kent. When he reached his teenage years,growing up in Tunbridge Wells, his local vicar staged one of his plays about Naboth’s Vineyard.
Tony was named student journalist of the year in 1971 in a competition run by Time-Life magazine and went onto become a national newspaper journalist, mainly working for the Sunday People in both its newsroom and investigations department. His very first book to be published, the crime novel Smile Of The Stowaway, was released in December 2018. It concerns a Kent couple who harbour a stowaway and then battle to clear his name when he is charged with murder.
Then, in March 2020, the spy novel The Lazarus Charter was released. It involves foreign agents operating in the UK. The book has kindly been endorsed by Marina Litvinenko, widow of themurdered Russian dissident Alexander Litvinenko, and by Stan and Caroline Sturgess, parents of the innocent mother-of-three poisoned with novichok in Salisbury in 2018.Tony, who has written several other novels which are as yet unpublished, has five grown-up children. He is a Life Member of the National Union of Journalists. He lives in South-East London with his partner Lin.
My thoughts: We’ve probably all had nuisance neighbours who play their tvs, or in this case, music too loud. However I’ve never gone storming round with a cricket bat in hand to sort it out. The neighbour who does in the opening of this book, definitely regrets it when he finds the nuisance downstairs dead in his flat with an axe in his head.
But he’s not the killer, and the murder case is much more complicated than it might seem, it takes in another murder (or possibly two), blackmail, secrets and a nasty attempt to steal a fortune.
Luckily the team under the leadership of DCI Roscoe, and especially clever DS Sunita Roy, don’t go for the obvious and keep digging, though their boss might not be impressed by the cost of this investigation as it includes a trip to Spain to get some very useful answers.
A clever and knotty case with plenty of twists and turns to keep the reader hooked.
*I was kindly gifted a copy of this book in exchange for taking part in this blog tour, but all opinions remain my own.
When Milla Graham returns to her childhood home of Raven’s Edge after eighteen long years away, she finds the perfect English village looks much the same – all rose-covered cottages, nosy neighbours, and quaint teashops full of scones and gossip.
But her nostalgic visit takes a dark turn when the body of a local woman is discovered in an abandoned manor house on the edge of the forest. The murder scene is chillingly close to that of Milla’s own mother, whose death was never solved. As she begins to investigate the connection, Milla realises this adorable village is guarding some dark secrets.
Handsome, grumpy local police detective Ben Taylor doesn’t believe in coincidences, and he doesn’t think mysterious newcomer Milla Graham is as blameless as she seems. Why is she really here in Raven’s Edge, and how come she keeps turning up at his crime scenes, causing trouble? Can he solve this murder case without losing himself – or his heart – to the rather distracting Ms Graham?
When another body is found, everyone becomes a suspect – from the barmaid at the local pub to Milla Graham herself. It seems that in Raven’s Edge, not everybody is as friendly, or as innocent, as they first seem.
This picture-perfect English village is full of rumour, romance… and murder! A gripping, funny, absolutely unputdownable murder mystery, which is perfect for fans of Faith Martin, Fiona Leitch and M.C. Beaton.
Pre-order Links
Publication Date: 7th May 2024
Murder at Ravenswood House
(An English Village Mystery Book 2)
A gruesome murder in charming Raven’s Edge sends Milla Graham sleuthing to catch a killer, win back her detective ex, and dig up a decades-old secret along the way…
When a shocking murder rocks the picture-perfect English village of Raven’s Edge, erstwhile amateur detective Milla Graham finds herself right at the centre of the mystery. Still reeling from her recent breakup with local police officer Ben Taylor, Milla sets her sights on solving the case, hoping to win Ben back.
But when the evidence begins to point to Milla’s old friend and former paramour Lorcan Black, she must choose between her loyalties to the past and the possibilities of the future. Meanwhile, Ben is on a different trail – he’s begun to suspect that the murderer could be someone from his own family’s dark history.
Further complicating matters are Milla’s meddling grandmother, Ben’s no-nonsense police partner Harriet, and David the surprisingly young and sexy new vicar. With shocking twists around every cobblestone corner, the truth refuses to stay buried for long in this quaint village, whose picture-postcard façade hides decades of buried grudges, plots, and betrayal.
Will Milla solve the mystery in time to rescue her relationship with Ben? Can Ben face the skeletons in his family’s closet before one of his own relatives meets the same bloody end?
Brimming with drama, intrigue, romance and quirky characters, this addictive tale will have cosy mystery fans racing through the pages long into the night. Fans of M.C. Beaton, Faith Martin and Fiona Leitch will love this book!
Pre-order Links
Publication Date: 7th May 2024
Louise Marley writes murder mysteries and romantic comedies. She is lucky enough to live in a village where there is a famous library and TWO ruined castles. (Her husband still thinks they moved there by accident.)
Her first published novel was Smoke Gets in Your Eyes, which was a finalist in Poolbeg’s ‘Write a Bestseller’ competition. She has also written articles for the Irish press and short stories for women’s magazines such as Take a Break and My Weekly. Previously, Louise worked as a civilian administrative officer for the police.
Welcome to the tour for Shaken but Not Stirred, a new cozy mystery by Lana McAra. Read on for more details!
The Englewood Medium: Shaken But Not Stirred
Publication Date: January 10, 2024
Genre: Paranormal Cozy Mystery
When Haley Meyers opens a new chapter in her life with a move to the charming town of Englewood, Pennsylvania, everything seems perfect: her freshly remodelled apartment, easy access to her therapy practice, and a handsome downstairs neighbour to boot. The very last thing she expects as a housewarming gift is the sudden appearance of her long-deceased father.
Her idyllic image of the small town disappears when Haley finds herself the target of an unknown stalker who goes on a campaign of terror and destruction. She puts her newfound psychic talents to good use, but will she be able to discover who is after her before someone gets hurt? When her client is the victim of foul play, Haley can’t help but wonder: Will she be next?
Lana McAra is an award-winning, international best-selling author and ghostwriter of 44 titles through traditional publishing with a million books sold, many under the name Rosey Dow. She has been teaching how to write fiction for 20 years. She currently serves as the president of the Northeast Florida Chapter of Sisters in Crime and is the host of The Fiction Writer’s Podcast.
Writing under the name Rosey Dow, she won The Christy Award, The Book Excellence Award and The Literary Titan Silver Book Award for her historical novel Reaping the Whirlwind by Rosey Dow and her mystery series, Colorado, sold more than 250,000 copies. This year she released the paranormal cozy mystery, Shaken But Not Stirred by Lana McAra.
Where there’s a body in Malvern End, there are secrets to be uncovered…
Jude Gray has worked hard to bring a steady equilibrium to life on Malvern Farm and things are going well.The only fly in the ointment is the foul addition of a new face in the village: staunch townie and chauvinistic sleaze, Des Smith. Jude has nothing but sympathy for his caring, patient wife, Loretta, who has become a regular visitor to the farm for a cup of tea and a chat. But things take a turn for the worse when a hit and run outside The Lamb brings death once again to the village. Is it an accident or is something more sinister afoot?
Perhaps the answer lies in the stranger with red trainers who’s been seen wandering through the village and through Jude’s fields at night. Following the clues, Jude desperately hopes she will find the right answers because the murderer being someone she knows is unfathomable…
Kate Wells is the author of a number of well-reviewed books for children and is now writing a new cosy crime series set in the Malvern hills, inspired by the farm where she grew up. Boldwood will publish the first title, Murder at Malvern Farm, in August 2023.
My thoughts: This might only be book two, but I really like this series and the characters of Jude and her friends and family. Sebbie, her nephew, is delightful and very cheeky. Noah, the hunky shepherd continues to be a quiet, comfortable presence in the pink house. Even her sister, who I didn’t love so much before, is growing on me. And Jude’s detective friend Biddie is great, too. Plus, there are puppies and lambs, and if I wasn’t quite so allergic to the countryside, I’d want to move here. Minus the murders, obviously.
This time it all ends very close to home as first new friend Loretta’s rather horrible husband is killed and as the police investigate, Lucy gets arrested as a suspect. But why would she kill Des? There are plenty of other people who didn’t like him.
As Jude tries to connect the dots and save her sister from being charged for a crime she can’t have committed, things take some twists and turns, but Jude’s family is always her priority.
*I was kindly gifted a copy of this book in exchange for taking part in this blog tour, but all opinions remain my own.
ramblingmads 