Murder at the Gorge is the seventh instalment in the Exham-on-Sea Mysteries series, and whilst I have not read the previous books in the series this book was easily read as a stand alone as there as enough back story for our main characters to make it easy to fit right in and read.

Libby and her soon to be husband Max are both Private Investigators, and they get called in to investigate a series of poison pen letters that several of the Exham-on-Sea residents have been receiving nursery rhymes. At first people didn't know what to make of them and disregarded them, that is until someone who received a letter ends up dead!

This is twisty cozy mystery that left me with a whole list of possible suspects, and I enjoyed Libby and Max's journey to find out just who was behind it all.

5 stars

Cosy crime fans will not want to miss Frances Evesham’s latest novel in her Exham-On-Sea series, Murder at the Gorge.

When the inhabitants of Exham-On-Sea start getting anonymous emails containing seemingly harmless nursery rhymes, the perplexed community do not know whether to dismiss them as a joke or whether there is something far more sinister going on. What could these nursery rhymes possibly mean? Why are they being sent to everybody around town? Initially everyone thinks that they are a harmless prank – until a dead body is found and shockwaves and suspicions begin to reverberate all around the village.

Libby Forrest might be a baker and chocolatier par excellence, but she has also proven herself to be an exceptional sleuth. Exham-On-Sea’s resident private investigator is determined to get to the bottom of this perplexing mystery – even if she has enough on her plate what with the date of her impending nuptials to her beloved Max fast approaching! Libby doesn’t need any more problems or complications in her life – until Max’s ex wife turns up and threatens to ruin their future happiness forever!

With their relationship in jeopardy and their entire community on edge, Libby and Max must work together to catch a killer – before somebody else is murdered. With the assistance of the local historical society, can Max and Libby find the nursery rhyme killer in time? Or will the body count in Exham-On-Sea just keep rising and rising?

Frances Evesham’s Murder at the Gorge is a delightful cosy crime novel that will keep readers turning the pages and on the edge of their seats until the final surprising revelation. Libby and Max are such a terrific double act and readers will not only enjoy seeing them untangling the twisted threads of this baffling mystery, but will love the sparks and banter between the two of them and hope that they will not let anyone or anything keep them from walking down the aisle and spending the rest of their lives together.

Full of bucolic charm, small town intrigue, delicious cakes and bakes and red herrings galore, Murder at the Gorge is a nail-biting traditional British mystery from an immensely talented writer: Frances Evesham.

Thank you to the author, Netgalley, and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for honest feedback. This review will be cross-posted to Goodreads.

I found this book as a result of browsing through NetGalley and thought that the description sounded right up my alley. I really like books set in England, and I also love mysteries! So, this book was a perfect fit for my inclinations. I didn't know when I requested that the author had written some others in this similar vein. I don't think I would've come across these books if it wasn't for Netgalley, so that's exciting! I actually want to suggest them to my local library so that I may read the rest of the author's collection..

One of the strengths of the book is in its twists and turns, as well as its success within the "police procedural" category. The writing is enjoyable. I think I would really linked everything together better if I read the rest of the series because it seems that there is a lot of previous character building going on. I want to someday get around to reading the rest.

Thank you to the author for a series set outside of London by the way. A great representation of the small-town environment for us!

Murder at the Gorge is the seventh instalment in the Exham-on-Sea Mysteries series. The story starts well and I was intrigued even before I had swiped my e-reader to take me to the second page. In this episode, Libby Forest's PI services are required when sinister nursery rhymes are being sent anonymously to Exham-on-Sea residents. When the ex-wife of Libby's fiancé, Stella, emails Max Ramshore, who is also Libby's partner-in-crime and a former banker turned cybercrime investigator, to advise him that she has been receiving similar unpleasant messages, he agrees to meet her in the woods. Whilst there, his sheepdog and springer spaniel unearth a body...

My first read of this series, I dived in headfirst and found I really enjoyed this novel. Frances Evesham has drawn a great character in baker and chocolatier, Libby Forest and I also liked her sidekick and fiance, Max. Libby and Max have a great working relationship and I enjoyed their romantic interludes also.

The plot was well thought-out and there were multiple suspects to home in on to satisfy my armchair detective propensities. I was pleased to meet other villagers and discover their personality traits and life stories. The several twists and turns threw me off-course as I tried to figure out the culprit's identity, alongside Libby and Max.

With the vivid, credible characters and drama-filled relationships Murder at the Gorge was a compelling and sweet (though certainly not too sugary in spite of all the chocolatey-ness and scrummy cakes) cosy mystery that totally captured my attention once I had started reading, and I didn't want to put it down. Enthralled right until the end, I can't wait to see what treats might be in store in book eight. A gripping read that really worked well as a standalone, it has definitely whetted my appetite for catching up with the earlier instalments in the series. Very highly recommended.

I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from Boldwood Books via NetGalley. This review is my own unbiased opinion.

This is the first book I read in this series and won't surely be the last.
It's an engrossing and enjoyable cozy mystery, well written and plotted.
I liked Libby, Max and the cast of characters, the solid mystery kept me guessing.
Even if the solution felt a bit rush I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

I'm really glad to have discovered this lovely series of mysteries. While it can certainly be read as a standalone ( I really admire the way Frances Evesham put all the background knowledge to make a newcomer feel completely at home in Exham-on-Sea), I am going to go back and read the first six books.
Libby Forest and Max Ramshore are preparing for their wedding, while two seemingly unconnected things happen. Max's ex-wife, a blast from the past, calls him and asks for his help. She has been getting strange e-mails. It appears somebody has been stalking her. On his way back home, Max finds a dead body of Carys Evans. It does seem that Exham-on-Sea has an unusually high murder rate, but who am I to complain, being a life-long reader of mysteries? In the meanwhile, Libby discovers that the village has been inundated with poison-pen e-mails. Since Carys was the first resident to have received one, the villagers feel threatened and ask Libby to investigate.

I loved both Libby and Max, and their mature relationship, based on mutual love and trust. Since this was the first time I've read a book from this series, i was also happy to meet other villagers and learn about their distinct personalities and life stories. While it was exciting to follow the investigations, for me, the most interesting aspect of this book was immersing myself in this fictional world. The pace was just right- it never dragged, but there was enough time for the development of the story.

Overall, it was a quick and enjoyable read with great protagonists. I also liked the way the old theme of poison pen letters was re-invented to fit our modern world. Some things (envy, greed, gossip, gullibility to name just a few) do not seem to have changed that much over the course of human history. On the plus side, other things, such as love, respect, friendship, desire to help the others, and, of course, human curiousity are also going strong. Hope Francis Evesham continues to add more stories to her lovely series.

A great cozy crime mystery with likeable characters. It was easy to engage with the story and the characters - a very enjoyable read.

How have I missed reading the other books by this talented author?!?!? This is the seventh book in this series but the first one that I’ve read and I really need to read the others now!

It is set in the delightful small community of Exham-On-Sea in Somerset where Libby Forest and her soon-to-be husband Max Ramshore live. As their wedding approaches family – and his ex-wife – together with a murder and mysterious, anonymous nursery rhyme emails to a variety of residents leave everyone unsettled but there’s even more to come in this fantastic cosy mystery! It is an engaging page turner filled with an eclectic mix of characters, plenty of suspicions, twists and turns to keep you guessing. I found it an enthralling read and it worked well as a standalone though it has definitely whetted my appetite for reading the earlier stories and more by this author. If you enjoy small community, cosy mysteries with the added dose of romance and family drama, I think that you’ll enjoy escaping into this story, too, I certainly did!

Thanks to Boldwood Books and NetGalley for my copy of this book which I have voluntarily read, thoroughly enjoyed and honestly reviewed.

I read this for a blog tour.

This was a fun, clever read, with entertaining characters and some definite red herrings that it takes till right near the end to clear up.

I hadn't read any of the previous books in the series, and it's not vital to do so, but it will give a lot more background as there were a couple of moments where I went "who is this?" "what are they talking about?" but it does get explained a bit later, so if you can cope with waiting for answers (I have zero patience!) then you'll be fine.

The locations in the book, especially the Clifton Suspension Bridge, become like extra characters, they're so vividly described, and it makes you wonder about the dark side of Somerset, although more drinking of cider is needed! Those West Country stereotypes need reinforcing (my family are from Devon & Cornwall on my dad's side and I like cider and clotted cream and also all the cheese!)

Max and Libby were interesting figures and I wanted to know more about the History Society and Libby's chocolate making business, as well as the canine and feline supporting cast, they need their own book! So I'm going to be reading the rest of the series over Christmas.

Murder at the Gorge is number seven in the series, but the first I’ve read. It worked well as a stand-alone, but I feel like I might have been more invested in the relationship between Max and Libby and their wedding preparations if I had read the series from the beginning. Max Ramshore, a former financial advisor, and his fiancée Libby Forest, a baker and chocolate maker, have formed a private investigation agency and are sometimes called upon by the police to assist in local inquiries. They met later in life, both having been married with families before, and now are looking forward to their wedding in a few weeks’ time. Then Max gets a call from his ex-wife, who he hasn’t talked to in years. She wants his help; she thinks she’s being stalked. Of course, Max agrees to meet her at a local park and then, on his way back to his car, he finds a dead body. Turns out it’s Carys Evans. Turns out Carys was the first of several villagers to receive odd nursery rhyme e-mails. DCI Morrison is in charge of the investigation and enlists help from Max and Libby. As more and more people are targeted by “The Rhymer” and another body appears, it’s a race to find the killer before someone else gets hurt.

This is a good mystery, somewhere between a cozy and a police procedural. This story is set in a fictional coastal village in Somerset. The small-town atmosphere felt genuine, with well-drawn characters who are not above sharing gossip. The plot has several twists and multiple suspects; the key is finding how everything is connected. Overall it’s an enjoyable mystery, but for me it’s not outstanding. Maybe I would have cared more if I had followed the series from the beginning.

Murder at the Gorge by Frances Evesham is the seventh book in this series. It works great as a standalone, but as with a series, it whets your appetite for the rest be warned! It is set in Exham-On-Sea and the main characters are Libby, and Max who is a former banker turned cyber crime investigator. They are now both Private Investigators and are planning to get married and Libby is, you would think, run of her feet with it all. She goes to a local history society meeting and before the meeting can even begin someone mentions that a resident of Exham, Carys Evans has received a poison pen email, with a strange nursery rhyme contained in it. Max then received an email from his ex wife who has received a piison pen mail too. He plans to meet up with her in woods by the Avon Gorge. He takes his dogs walking there, when the dogs sniff out a body and it turns out to be Carys, Max realises there is more going on than meets the eye.
A brilliant cosy mystery to curl up with of an evening. Very addictive reading, the twists and turns of the investigation makes for a very interesting read. I really liked Max and Libby they work so well together and get the job done and done well!
Another great book from Frances Evesham and I am looking forward to my next instalment with Max and Libby.
Thanks to Rachel's Random Resources and NetGalley for the book to give my thoughts today.

As I haven't read any books in this series, I can confirm it reads well as a standalone. There are sufficient backstory and character details to immerse a new reader in this tale of murder. Amateur sleuths Libby Forest, and Max Ramshore, have their wedding plans sidelined when poison pen letters turn to murder and Max's ex-wife infiltrates his life.

This story is set in Exham-On-Sea a fictional coastal village in Somerset, which has a vibrant community and a penchant for murder. The plot is full of twists with numerous suspects and historical connections to be investigated. The characters are well-written and draw the reader into the village. The village ethos is believable and gives the murder mystery authenticity.

This is something to escape with for a couple of hours, and I plan to read the whole series.

I received a copy of this book from Boldwood Books via NetGalley in return for an honest review.

This is an enjoyable, absorbing read, very much character-driven but with a strong sense of setting and a plot that's complex and clever. You need to keep your wits about you because there's a lot more happening than you might think. Murder at the Gorge is a deceptively simple.

Max and Libby are both very likeable characters, both empathetic and sympathetic. They make a good team with a variety of strengths between them. However, Stella's resurfacing - she's Max's ex-wife - threatens to throw a very big spanner into their smooth-working machinery.

There's a good cast of supporting actors, with plenty of action to interest the reader all the way through. It's well written, and makes for a rewarding read.

Murder at the Gorge by Frances Eversham is 7th in her popular Exham-On-Sea Murder Mysteries series, which are set in her own county of Somerset.
This cozy mystery gives us plenty of surprise twists, an eclectic cast of characters, as well as, murder, naturally. It is also interwoven with the normal complications of family dynamic, the value of community, a look at the importance of an equal partnership in sleuthing, as well as, life. Throw in two dogs and a cat and you have the makings of a great rainy weekend read.
Libby Forest, a baker/chocolatier was happily anticipating the opening of the new café-bakery that would feature her work, as well as, her upcoming marriage to Max Ramshore, and the wedding was a little over two weeks away. And, as if she did not have enough on her plate, there was the murder. Max was also happily anticipating his and Libby’s impending nuptials, when he got a surprising call from his ex-wife pleading for his help. And, as if he did not have enough on his plate, there was the murder. But considering they had met over murder, maybe this was not so surprising.
In this modern electronic age, the “poison pen” letter of snail-mail days has become the “anonymous e-mail”, and when the citizens of Exham begin receiving them, Libby and Max can not help but get involved to help their friend and eventually themselves when they become targets themselves.
While the book tends to follow the cozy mystery “formula” very closely, I genuinely enjoyed it and I give it four stars.

a mystery set in Exham-on-the Sea where Max and Libby are investigative partners and are also getting ready to get married. Max is called by his ex-wife, Stella, to meet as she is getting weird emails. Max’s dogs finds a body after their meeting. At the same time Libby is at the local Historical Society meeting and one of the members tells about a resident, Carys, that received a very weird nursery rhyme email. I’ll give you one guess whose body Max found.
Other residents start getting anonymous emails- will they become victims as well? Max and Libby have a lot on their plate and catching a killer is at the top of the list!

This is the 7th book in the series. I haven’t read the others and you can certainly enjoy this one as a solo read!

My thoughts- First of all, I love Libby- she investigates with her man, she is a successful baker and chocolate maker and she has adult kids!! She is my hero! I loved all the characters quite honestly and their dynamics and how Max and Libby vibe together (even though he doesn’t want to tell her about the meet and greet with his ex).
The mystery itself is a really interesting mix between cozy and something a little more hard core. I love the animals in the story and I love the fact that these characters have grown kids and have challenges that relate to those dynamics. A great read and fascinating mystery!

I had the pleasure of reading and reviewing another of Frances’ books called ‘A Village Murder’ a little while ago. I really enjoyed reading it so when I was invited to take part in the blog tour for ‘Murder At The Gorge’, I grabbed the chance with both hands. ‘Murder At The Gorge’ is actually the seventh book in the Exham-on-Sea Murder Mysteries series. I couldn’t wait to start reading and so I jumped straight in with both feet. Oh boy, ‘Murder At The Gorge’ is another fabulous read from Frances Evesham but more about that in a bit.
It didn’t take me long at all to get into this story. In fact, I was sold on this book the moment I saw Frances’ name on cover. I had a feeling that I was going to be in for one seriously addictive book and I was spot on! I made the fatal mistake of starting to read the book shortly before I went to bed. Let’s just say that bedtime was delayed as I couldn’t put the book down. My Kindle wasn’t exactly glued to my hand but it might as well have been because it travelled everywhere with me. I had only intended to read a chapter or two to say that I had started to read the book but I became so wrapped up in the story that I lost all track of time and just how quickly I was turning those pages. ‘Murder At The Gorge’ isn’t a particularly long story and so it didn’t take me long to get to the end. I had mixed feelings about finishing the book. Don’t get me wrong I wasn’t dissatisfied with how the story concluded but I had enjoyed the characters and the storylines so much that I just wanted the book to continue. I soon cheered up when I realised that I had the six previous books to catch up on.
‘Murder At The Gorge’ is really well written. Frances certainly knows how to create a storyline that will grab and keep your attention from start to finish. I love the way in which she describes the characters so realistically and vividly that they seem to jump off the page as it were and they seem just as real as you and I. The story isn’t that gory and can best be described as a cozy mystery, which means that it is suitable for crime fans of all ages. There were twists and turns aplenty with the covers of the book. I really did feel as though I was part of the story myself and that’s thanks to Frances’ very vivid and realistic storytelling.
I found ‘Murder At The Gorge’ to be a gripping read that held my attention throughout and kept me on the edge of my seat. I would have no hesitation in recommending this book to other readers. I will certainly be reading more of Frances’ work in the future. The score on the Ginger Book Geek board is a very well deserved 5* out of 5*.

When several people in the village receive e mails containing nursery rhymes, everyone just thinks it’s spam or a prank. But when Max & Libby find out the two cases they have started to look into also received them, it’s not looking so innocent after all!

But with the opening of a new cafe and their upcoming wedding to organise, things become strained and stress starts to build.

This was a lovely quick read with some delightful characters. Max and Libby are wonderfully described and I adored the inclusion of Max’s two dogs Shipley and Bear. This is a village mystery type read but with Max’s expertise in fraud and computers, and their contacts to the local police force, there is also a modern, more practical story running through it. I also liked the way the novel addresses Libby and Max’s relationship and the ups and downs of what is a second marriage in later years for both of them.

The many references to Libby’s chocolate making and baking, I must admit, had me reaching for the biscuit barrel a number of times whilst reading this book! Oh well, another few pounds added to the ever growing lockdown weight gain.

A lovely village crime story with a modern twist. I look forward to ‘munching’ my way through the other six now!

I would firstly like to say a very big thank you to Rachel’s Random Resources for forwarding me a copy of this book, in return for an honest review.
This book is actually book seven in the ‘Exham-on-Sea Murder Mysteries’ series and although I hadn’t read any of the previous books I could still follow what was going on! At some point I think I will go back and read the others, so that I can find out what has previously happened.
I loved this twisty, cozy mystery, it had a great plot and wonderful and interesting characters.
I was kept guessing until the very end about the identity of the killer and it was great to curl up and escape with.

This is number seven in the series and the first of these I have read. It worked fine as a stand alone, although I have to say I am now eager to read more about all the previous cases that were mentioned. The story features Max Ramshore, a former financial advisor, and his fiancée Libby Forest, a baker and chocolate maker, who together have formed a private investigation agency and are often called upon by the police to assist in local enquiries, with a few notable cases under their belts already. They met later in life, both having been married with families before, and now are looking forward to their wedding in a few weeks' time. It’s all change on the baking front too, as Libby’s best friend Angela will be running a café attached to a new bakery in extended premises bought by her boyfriend Owen, and Libby and her assistant Mandy will be performing culinary miracles in the kitchen at the back. With the café/bakery opening very shortly, it’s an exciting and busy time for everyone in Exham-on-Sea in Somerset. Max certainly does not need a call from his ex-wife Stella asking for his help, after all he hasn’t even seen her for years. Surely his son Joe, a Detective Inspector, or her rich toy boy would be a better choice. Against his better judgement he meets her in Leigh Woods near the Avon Gorge. She tells him she has been receiving strange anonymous emails and fears she has a stalker. Reluctantly Max agrees to look into it and then promptly discovers the dead body of a woman on his way back to the car! Meanwhile when Libby and Angela attend the Exham History Society’s latest meeting, the main topic of conversation is a lady called Carys Evans, sister of Gladys, the town’s florist. Carys has received a strange email too, but hers is a silly nursery rhyme, possibly alluding to the way she has conducted her life. Most people think it’s just a daft prank but Libby is intrigued and wants to know more, so she visits Gladys to learn all about her sister’s past. When the murder victim in Bristol is found to have links to the emails and to Exham, DCI Morrison takes over the investigation and enlists help from Max and Libby who are well placed to discover all the local gossip. Could there be a link between the apparently harmless emails and Stella’s more sinister ones? As more and more people are targeted by “The Rhymer” and another body appears, it looks like the race is on to find both a twisted writer and a killer. With no apparent motives or suspects, maybe it will require the combined expertise of the Exham History Society’s members to look at things from another angle before anyone else gets hurt.
This is a very engaging mystery without violence and swearing, perfect for any reader. The story features a whole cast of well drawn and distinctive characters, some a little eccentric and all very likeable, set in a seaside town where gossip abounds but there is still enough crime to keep Libby and Max in business! I thoroughly enjoyed it! 5*

Despite not reading any of the previous instalments of the Exham-on -Sea murder mysteries, this was a great, easy to read story, with characters and previous events explained when necessary.
Private investigators Libby and Max were great main characters, and the interaction they had with each-other and other characters in the story was very realistic.
The twists and turns in the mystery kept me guessing until the very end.