I have been a fan of Faith's for a fair while now. I love the mysteries that she has released with Joffe Books and latterly with HQ. It has been my distinct pleasure to have read and reviewed all of Faith's books to date. I have enjoyed every single one of her books. Her most recent release with Joffe Books is 'The Manor House Murder', which is the third book to feature the amateur sleuth and vicar's wife, Monica Noble. 'The Manor House Murder' was released on 8th November 2019. Faith has done it again and she has written one hell of a book, which I thoroughly enjoyed, but more about that in a bit.
What can I say about Monica Noble? She is the wife of the local vicar and the mother to a teenage girl. Her husband is step-father to her daughter. She takes on the traditional role of vicar's wife but she is also an amateur sleuth with an ability to find out information that the police could only dream of. Monica sounds like a nice lady, who would be impossible to dislike. Yes she is a vicar's wife but she is also a feisty, modern and occasionally stubborn woman in her own right. She sounds as though she would be a good friend to have. If she saw anybody struggling then she would be the first to offer a shoulder to cry on and a therapeutic cup of tea. She became an amateur sleuth accidentally and it's not a role that she encourages. I am not sure that the members of her husband's parish are altogether happy with his choice of wife as they seem to look down on her far too much for my liking.
As with all of Faith's books I was drawn into the story from the first word on the first page and that was it, I was hooked. Reading 'The Manor House Murder' became addictive. I just couldn't get enough of the story. I seemed to race through the book as my desperation to find out how the investigation panned out steadily grew and grew. This book isn't particularly long and so it didn't take me all that long to finish reading it. Once I started to read the book, I lost all track of time because I was concentrating so hard on the story.
'The Manor House Murder' is well written but then so are all of Faith's books. I find that she has a writing style that is easy to get used to and easy to get along with. She draws you in and once she has your attention, she will not let it go until the moment you close the back cover as it were. Faith has a way of making you feel as though you are part of the story yourself. That's how I felt at any rate.
In short, I thoroughly enjoyed reading 'The Manor House Murder' and I would definitely recommend it to other readers. I will definitely be reading more of Faith's work in the future. The score on the Ginger Book Geek board is a very well deserved 5* out of 5*.

This book didn't measure up to the other books in the series. It felt like it was written as an afterthought, as the plot wasn't as exciting and the characters didn't seem to become any more developed. I wanted to enjoy this as much as the others, but just couldn't get into it.

Thank you Net Galley. I like the Monica Noble series by Faith Martin. This installment is the best so far. I feel that it focused more on the "murder mystery" and did not get bogged down in irrelevant happenings. Perhaps it helped that the perpetrators and victims were not residents of the village. I look forward to reading future installments.

This is the 3rd story of Monica Noble who is the wife of a local vicar but is also drawn into being an amateur detective.
Monica and husband Graham are to attend a local church conference at the village manor owned by Sir Andrew Courtenay.
A nut allergy will cause the first murder but there are many suspects amongst the clergy and even Sir Andrew could be a suspect.
With many characters at the conference there is no shortage of suspects or red herrings in this story. Monica is willing to let the police do their duty until her husband becomes a suspect. She must use all her skills to save the day. A good amateur Miss Marple mystery will keep you entertained.
I was given an ARC of this book by Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Monica and husband Vicar Graham attend a clerics conference at a manor house. A cleric who mentioned a nut allergy dies after eating a dessert infused with peanuts. The chef is appalled someone tampered with his dessert. Monica, convinced Chief Inspector Jason is on the wrong track, begins her own investigation. We see more of Jason's investigation than Monica's. Too many characters and dull writing make this a struggle to read. A few places showed promise but the narrative's flatness returned too quickly. I did not read previous installments in the series so it's possible that affected my enjoyment as well. I received an advance review copy through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Another great book by Faith, a murder mystery full of twists which kept me guessing till the end. I'm looking forward to the next book .

This is the third and final book in the new Monica Noble series and was originally published as "An Unholy Shame" under Faith Martin's pen name Joyce Cato. It is a short series but I suppose the options for Monica to get involved with murder enquiries are more limited than for this author's other characters. In this story a big church conference has been organised at the local manor house turned conference centre, and Monica's vicar husband Graham is one of the guest speakers. Lots of prestigious clergy are there, looking forward to some lectures and slide shows, viewing a rare religious document on loan from a museum and sampling the excellent cuisine that the manor house is famous for. Unfortunately that excellent cuisine gets a helping hand from a killer and an ambitious female reverend dies from a peanut allergy. It's made to look like an unfortunate accident, but when the police arrive, led by DCI Jason Dury and DS Flora Glenn, it doesn't take them long to decide this is a case of murder. It appears that the lady in question has upset more than one person prior to her death, and even Graham finds himself on the suspect list. But surely vicars don't kill other vicars, do they? This time Monica finds herself working in parallel to the police enquiry as she believes the only way to clear her husband's name is to find the real killer. Despite the well described characters and lots of scene setting I found this plot a little weaker than previous ones. My years of living with a nut allergy sufferer has taught me that they are super vigilant in warning people and they never venture out to eat without medication very firmly to hand, so it made me feel the manner of killing was a bit implausible, but then this is fiction and the rules can be bent a bit to give a good story. Also I believe a deacon is less senior to a vicar or priest but in the story it's the other way around which I found confusing. And all the red herrings must have worked - I guessed a few parts of the ending but not the identity of the killer this time. An entertaining read. 4*

This is my favorite Faith Martin's series so far and I loved this instalment.
I love the solid mystery, the well crafted plot, the humour and the fleshed out cast of characters.
The mystery kept me guessing and was really interesting.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.

Monica is a vicar's wife with a teenage daughter from a previous relationship.

Carol Ann is studying for exams that will pave the way to university but she also aspires to be a model. She wants to hate her stepfather, Graham, but really likes him although she will never admit it. She brings a little humour to the book as we read of Monica's struggles to keep her under control.

Monica wants a quiet life and is happy just being a Vicar's wife but she usually finds herself tangled up in murder cases much to the annoyance of DI Drury.

There is a conference and the local Manor House is full of people who have dedicated their lives to worshiping God so nothing could possibly go wrong could it? Well that would be very boring and life where Monica Noble is is never boring.

When a clergywoman dies everyone is under suspicion and there are several secrets to be uncovered.

This is a gripping read full of twists and turns all the way to the shocking conclusion.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers: Joffe Books for the advance copy. This is my unbiased review

I like the basic set up of this series by Faith Martin. Monica is married to the older Graham Noble, the vicar in a small Cotswold village. They and Monica's teenage daughter make believable characters who become (less believably but, hey, it's fiction!) involved in a number of murder cases. The Manor Hose Murder is set at a conference for Anglican clergy and takes place over a long weekend. It isn't great literature but it's fun and engaging.

Monica Noble and her husband, Graham, a vicar, have been invited to a church conference, where many big timers will be. Some will be friends. Some will be enemies. As the event begins, just as dinner is getting going, a female cleric, Celia Gordon suddenly dies. It is an apparent allergic reaction, but it does not take time for Jason Dury, Chief Superintendent...and Monica, to realize that it was murder.

Furthermore, Graham is the prime suspect. Monica works fast and feverishly to clear his name. She knows her gentle, loving husband could never harm anyone. As things progress, there are other suspects. Monica has a fabulous ability to get to the bottom of things, even if it means placing herself and her loved ones in danger.

As always, this series has delivered another hit in The Manor House Murder. Monica and Graham are a wonderful couple, and that is a sweet addition to a wonderful cozy mystery series. For a quick read, be sure to grab this, as well as the first two books in the series, The Vicarage Murder and The Flower Show Murder.

Many thanks to Joffe Books, Books n All Promotions and to NetGalley for his ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.

Please note this book was first published as “AN UNHOLY SHAME” under Faith Martin’s pen name JOYCE CATO.

There's a huge church conference in the area and Vicar Graham Noble has been asked to speak at one or two of the seminars as it is taking place in his backyard, so to speak. Attendees are coming from a large area and consists of vicars, bishops, all types of clergy.

Female cleric, Celia Gordon, attends the nightly dinner, only this time she falls to the floor, grabbing her throat. She is rushed to the hospital where she dies ... of peanut allergy.

Chief Superintendent Jason Dury is called to investigate. He rapidly discovers it is a case of murder .... and Vicar Graham Noble is his prime suspect. He was seen eating peanuts earlier that day.

Celia Gordon was not well liked and there were several who had a motive for wanting her dead. She had made a play for Noble, and his wife was not pleased ... an eminent bishop ...an archdeacon opposed to female clergy ... the wife of a man she had a previous affair with .... and a man she accuses of another crime ... or is there another motive no one knows about?

With law enforcement considers her husband for the death. Monica must once again go looking for the killer herself in order to clear her husband's name. Once again, she finds herself over her head and in danger of losing her own life.

Though third in this series, this is easily read as a stand alone. I would recommend starting at the beginning for a little of the back story of Monica's relationships with her husband and with Jason Dury. The crime is puzzling and well thought out. I really enjoy how all the characters interact with each other. It's like a small village filled with unique, sometimes quirky, people who know everything that goes on.

Many thanks to the author / Joffe Books / Books n All Promotions / Netgalley for the digital copy of this crime fiction. Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.

England, cosy-mystery, Church-of-England, murder, law-enforcement, amateur-sleuth, women-sleuths

Excellent protagonists and all characters are engaging and interesting! Delving into the hierarchy of The Church was a bit daunting at first, but probably because I skipped the cast of characters at the very beginning. Excellent plotting and sleuthing despite obstacles from other characters. Loved it!
I requested and received a free ebook copy from Joffe Books via NetGalley. Thank you!

Monica Noble #3

Monica and her husband, Graham attend a church conference. Graham is a vicar. While they are there, there's a murder. Graham is a suspect. Monica on e again tries to solve this case and clear her husbands name.

This is the third book I this cozy murder mystery series. They're the type of book that's just right for reading on these long dark cold nights. There's something of a timeless feel to these stories. There are plenty to of redherrings in this story to look out for. Chief Superintendent Jason Dury is also on the case but who will be the first to solve this case? There are numerous suspects. These are easy books to read and the writing flows effortlessly from the pages. Will you guess who the killer is? I didn't. This is a really enjoyable series.

I would like to thank NetGalley Joffe Books and the author Faith Martin for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The best of the Monica Noble series yet! When a prudence of clergy are gathered at an old mansion house for a weekend conference at which Monica and her vicar husband, Graham , are guests, you know that murder must follow! Throw an assortment of women clergy and misbehaving bishops into the mix and the handsome chief inspector Jason Dury into the mix and you have all the ingredients for a delicious mystery! The characters of Monica Noble, former business woman and now devoted parochial vicar's wife and her naughty, delightful teenage daughter (by her dead first husband) and the handsome Graham, her adoring husband , are fleshed out and developing nicely. Also that of blond Adonis C.I. Jason Dury who continues to be bewitched and bothered , if not bewildered, in the presence of the gorgeous Monica and her bright,blue eyes! Once again, Monica's prescienciently deducts that Jason has arrested the wrong man and also that her beloved husband might be under suspicion, so decides she must use all her powers to tease out the truth in her own inimitable way. I love the smouldering , simmering frisson between Monica and Jason, which, though totally chaste hints at possibilities-not unnoticed by reticent Graham. I love this series. It has an innocence about it despite the ubiquitous murders and a charm that hints of a gentler age even though it is written in contemporary times. Faith Martin always has a lovely eye for nature and I love her inclusion of descriptive passages celebrating the beauty of our natural surroundings. I highly recommend his series and can't wait for book 4!

‘The Manor House Murder’ is the third of Faith Martins new Monica Noble series.

I had read the first one a few months ago but it’s very easy to pick up any of these books and not feel as if you are missing out on information as they could all be stand alone books.

Monica Noble is a vicars wife in a small village in the Cotswolds and a bit like in Midsomer lots of people die in weird and wonderful ways!

This time there is a conference at the local Manor House hotel for the clergy, with over fifty vicars and bishops. A very loud and opinionated female vicar get murdered and of course Monica pokes her nose in and figures out who has committed the crime!

Now these types of crime fiction are definitely classified as ‘cozy crime’. There is something timeless about this series and there are so many nods to the crime greats like Agatha Christie and G. K. Chesterton. You could pick up this story and plonk it in the 1920s and it would still work as a premise.

The narrative flows easily and it’s the type of book to be read in the rain whilst snuggled on the couch with a cup of hot chai! It makes you feel warm inside. I will definitely be back for the fourth book in the series.

The Manor House Murder is the third book in Faith Martin's Monica Noble, vicar's wife and amateur sleuth series. Whether Monica and her husband Graham are at home, at work, or at play, it seems that murder has a way of landing right in front of this couple. Graham is speaking at a conference held at a local hotel. Monica is invited to join Graham for dinner on Saturday night, and even though there is a tremendous amount of tension between some of the clerics, no one suspects that murder would be served with dessert.
Unfortunately, Celia Gordon seems to succumb to an allergic reaction to peanuts, a tragic accident at first glance. But when the police arrive, Chief Superintendent Jason Drury discovers that a clever murderer had a hand in Celia's demise. Can the police figure out this baffling crime or will Monica be called on once again to determine whodunnit and why?
Another enjoyable cozy mystery on a lazy Sunday afternoon. There are numerous potential suspects, including Graham. It took me a while to figure out the relationships among all the conference attendees, and I felt like I was missing some obvious clue. Indeed I was as the reveal arrived before I had settled on a suspect. My record with this series stands at one killer guessed, and two to Monica Noble! Maybe I will even the score when the next book is released!-
I received a DRC from Joffe Books through NetGalley.

Another great story in a wonderful cozy mystery series. When Monica goes with her vicar husband to the Manor House, which has been converted into a hotel, she is surprised to meet an old an old acquaintance, who also had a crush on her husband. When that same woman ends up dying at the dinner, in reaction to a peanut allergy, murder is suspected. A great bunch of red herrings keep the reader going, but I wasn't surprised by the identity of the killer. Highly recommend this book and series. Fun author.

This is the 3rd book in this series and it's just as enjoyable as the first 2. This is the perfect cup of tea, rainy fall afternoon book. The story is well plotted and Monica and Graham are thoroughly engaging. I'm looking forward to a book 4.

“The manor house murder” is the third installment in the Monica Noble series and if you’ve read the previous two titles in the series you know exactly what you’re in for. And I say exactly cause this book could be a carbon copy of the previous one, just changing the setting and the identity of the dead body.

While being an entertaining murder mystery, perfect for a sunday afternoon, I think the main characters aren’t showing any development at all, and when you’re writing a series, character development is fundamental cause if not you’re at risk if readers thinking they’re reading the same story over and over again. We already know Chief Superintendent Dury likes Monica, but the story needs for that idea to go somewhere or get nipped in the bud, cause it’s getting tiresome reading that and he not doing anything about it. Thankfully Carol-Ann wasn’t as annoying as in book 2. I didn’t guess the murderer this time, so good job Ms. Martin!

Thanks to Netgalley and Joffe Books for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.