Thanks Netgalley and the Publisher. I have enjoyed all this authors books and this was no exception. Fast paced, great storyline and would recommend to other readers.

What does a sixteen-century dead monk have to do with attempted murder at Cleeve Abbey? That’s what private investigators, Max and Libby, want to find out.

The delightfully eccentric group of people who make up Exham-on-Sea’s History Society inject some excitement into the quiet village when they chance upon a historical find.

From then onwards, it’s a heady mix of archaeology, history, and even some paranormal investigations. I loved every bit of it. It was deeply interesting to learn about Henry VIII’s dissolution of the monasteries in England using the Court of Augmentations, driving monks out of their homes in the process.

The author has put in extensive research not only into the historical background of the story and how archaeological finds are interpreted but also into the intricacies of human psychology and behavior.

Also, the book casts aside the typical notions of people over 40 as old and infirm and instead portrays them as full of life, curious, and raring to seize every opportunity they get to do interesting things. I couldn’t help but draw comparisons between the young and not-so-young couples in the story, and I feel that youth may not be as great an advantage as people think.

Of course, a book that has not one but two dogs in it cannot be anything less than fun. The adorable creatures play their own important part in solving the mystery of the murder at the abbey.

Overall, Murder at the Abbey is an interesting crime story written beautifully, portraying various facets of human emotions and motivations.

(I received a free e-copy of the book with a request for an honest review.)

This is an atmospheric and engaging murder mystery with historical and local details that add authenticity. Libby and Max, a familiar amateur sleuth duo for followers of the series, investigate a historical murder that seems to have present-day relevance.

The characters are vibrant and exhibit traits commonly found in rural villages. The ruined Abbey setting gives the story a ghostly element that proves to be significant. There are lots of suspects. There is the added complication of familiarity as most are acquaintances or friends of Libby and Max.

This is an entertaining read with believable characters, a sinister ethos and a vividly portrayed setting.

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

I really wanted to like this book but it was a miss for me. It appears to be a current day story told in dialog of another time. If there were dates involved I missed them. The setting of the twelfth century Cistercian Cleeve Abbey located in Somerset, England was a definite plus and since everything revolved around it also necessary. The many prosaic descriptions somehow didn’t fit with this murder mystery. Everything felt off and the story never truly held my attention. This wasn’t a book I was rushing back to pick up nor did I finish it quickly. However, whenever I walk away from a book with interesting information it gets marked as time well spent so I am rounding up from a solid 3-1/2 stars.

Thank you NetGalley and Boldwood Books for a copy.

It has been a while since I read a book in this series and it was exciting to return.
This series and in fact this book has something for everyone.

Our main characters are mature with interesting histories of their own. The people they have around them are interesting and entertaining. As with any unofficial investigators, they have a mixed experience when dealing with local authorities.
However, they are valued by those who have seen what they can do to aid an investigation.

The historical society is enjoying a picnic when bones are discovered in the river.
There are many plausible reasons for them being there, yet it is enough of a mystery to attract the curiosity of several group members. I loved learning the history as the clues were investigated.

It so happened that permission had been given for a paranormal investigation to be given at the site, and fortunately the historical society members and investigating team were allowed to be present for that. Well, fortunately until one is attacked, making them all suspects.
So the question is, what provoked the attack? Are the curious aspects of the plot related?
And why does a loud mouthed, trouble seeking individual from their past seem to keep turning up?

This is a page turner, a well paced exciting read.
You may find some of the information easier to digest if you had read previous books in the series but it is not necessary to enjoy this book alone.
The characters are well developed and grow with the series.
The dialogue feels realistic and includes humorous moments as well as tense moments.


Overall an excellent read and I can't wait to go back and enjoy the books in this series I have missed.

Murder at the Abbey by Frances Evesham.
This was a very good read. I liked the story. Characters were OK. I didn't have a favourite. I liked the cover. 4*.

Most of the regulars from the previous seven stories are here and will be familiar to followers of this series. There’s Libby Forest and Max Ramshore, a former financial advisor, now married for six months and who comprise the Ramshore and Forest Private Investigation agency. Libby is also a baker and chocolate maker. Libby’s best friend Angela is now running the café, Crusts and Crumbs, attached to a new bakery in extended premises bought by her boyfriend Owen, and Libby and her assistant Mandy are performing culinary miracles in the kitchen at the back. Mandy is now living in Hope Cottage, the home Libby bought when she first moved from London to the seaside town of Exham-on-Sea in Somerset and Mandy’s boyfriend is musician Steve, Angela’s nephew. Libby and Angela are regulars at the Exham History Society, lucky to have amongst their number Quentin Dobson from the Watchet museum, Dr Archie Phillips, librarian at Wells Cathedral and retired school teacher Jemima Bakewell. Max and Libby have already been through some pretty hairy adventures together, especially when called upon by DCI Morrison who pays them a small retainer to help with local cases from time to time.
The History Society’s picnic to local twelfth century Cleeve Abbey turns out to be an exciting one when bones are found in the river. Thanks to the help of Charlie and Rory from Bristol University, it turns out that they belong to a sixteenth century monk, and tests show he was likely murdered. At the next meeting, they are joined by local farmer Tom Reeves with his hatred of ex-con and fraudster Chesterton Wendlebury who is now trying to build a housing estate on his family’s ancestral land, Tom’s timid wife Winifred and her sister, the tv paranormal scientist, Rosalind Barnstaple who has gained permission to hold a ghost hunt at the abbey and invites some of the members to come along. But when one of the group is attacked at the night-time vigil, it certainly wasn’t by a ghost! DCI Morrison asks Libby and Max for help and once again, the pair find themselves doing more than tracing kidnapped pets. Is there a connection between a murder and an attempted murder centuries apart? Did the victims know more than was good for them? And is anyone else in danger?
Once again, this is a very engaging cosy mystery with lots of twists and red herrings, perfect for any reader. The story features a whole cast of well-drawn and distinctive characters, some a little eccentric and all very likeable, especially Bear and Shipley with his special precious talent, 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*

It was only fairly recently that I discovered how good Frances’ books are. I haven’t quite caught up with everything that she has written but I am gradually getting there. ‘Murder At The Abbey’ is the eight book in the ‘Exham-on-Sea’ mystery series. It’s another cracker of a read, which I thoroughly enjoyed reading but more about that in a bit.
I was drawn into this story from the very first word of the synopsis. Within a short space of time, I knew that I was going to become addicted to reading ‘Murder At The Abbey’ and that it would be pointless to plan on doing anything else for the rest of the afternoon. I was spot on too. I picked the book up only intending to read a couple of chapters to fill in a spare half hour but I became so wrapped up in the story that I lost all track of time and also lost track of just how quickly I was getting through the story. The first time I looked up to check on my reading progress, I was staggered to realise that I had read over a third of the book in one go. It didn’t take me long to get through the rest of the story. I found ‘Murder At The Abbey’ to be a gripping read, which certainly kept me guessing and kept me on the edge of my seat.
‘Murder At The Abbey’ is well written. The author has one of those writing styles that is easy to get used to and easy to get along with. For me, the story hit the ground running and maintained a fairly steady pace throughout. I love the way in which Frances describes her characters and it’s clear to see that she cares about the characters she uses. I wouldn’t say that this is a particularly scary or gruesome story but there was a fair bit of tense drama within the story and there were also lots of twists and turns to the tale. I loved the way in which Frances makes the reader feel part of the story and at the heart of all of the action.
In short, I thoroughly enjoyed reading ‘Murder At The Abbey’ and I would recommend it to other readers. I will certainly be reading more from this author in the future. The score on the Ginger Book Geek board is a very well deserved 5* out of 5*.

Exham-on-Sea Murder Mysteries is one of my favorite series when I want to travel to Somerset, visit lovely places and read about mouthwatering food.
I had a lot of fun in reading this compelling and entertaining cosy mystery as it's full of twists, red herrings and possible suspects.
It's always a pleasure to catch with Libby, Max and the people of Exham. They're well written and likeable characters.
I always fell in love with the descriptions of Somerset, one of my favorite place in the world, and I learned something new about it's history.
The mystery kept me guessing and the solution came as a surprise.
Even if it's the 8th in a series it can be read as a standalone because there are references to back cases but they aren't relevant to the solution of the mystery.
A good story that I strongly recommend.
Many thanks to Boldwood Books and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

Another gripping instalment of this top notch series!

When the members of the Exham-on-Sea History Society set out for their annual picnic in the grounds of Cleve Abbey, the last thing they expected was to discover human bones – but that’s exactly what happens. With the suspicion that the bones are historic, an overnight visit to the abbey is organised to find out if it is, indeed, haunted – although not all those present are entirely at ease with the thought of ghosts. Sometime sleuth Libby Forest is one such person, and when one of the party is attacked she is both angry and upset and, along with her husband and their two dogs, sets out to get to the bottom of things. What is the connection with the bones – and who can they trust?

Frances Evesham’s books are wonderfully detailed; there is an awful lot going on but it is all carefully plotted and the multiple threads are cleverly entwined. With a fine cast of characters, it was really difficult to try to sort out what was happening and, more so, to see who could possibly be responsible but, as with all good mysteries, it’s just a matter of following the clues! This is a smartly composed story, easily combining past and present into a flawless, twisted mystery. Beautifully written into an easy read, I loved everything about it from beginning to end; my mouth even watered every time cakes were mentioned! I have no hesitation in recommending this to all lovers of a really good mystery, and happily give all five stars.

My thanks to the publisher for my copy and to Rachel Gilbey for my spot on this tour; this is – as always – my honest, original and unbiased review.

“‘There’s more.’ Jemima was triumphant. She scraped away more mud as the others gathered round. Slowly, under her fingers, a smooth, rounded bone appeared.
Libby recognised it. ‘Wait,’ she called. ‘I don’t think we should disturb it. You can see – it’s –‘
Max put his arm around her shoulders. ‘It’s a human skull.’”

In “Murder at the Abbey” by Frances Evesham, we re-join the inhabitants of a not-so-sleepy seaside town for the eighth book in the Exham-On-Sea Murder Mysteries; set in the author’s home county of Somerset.

Max and Libby, the two halves of Ramshore and Forest, Private Investigators, are settling into married life together. Libby also works at the Crusts and Crumbs Café, as Innovation and Development Consultant, and master of all things chocolate and cake.

Both are members of the local History Society (Libby an enthusiastic member, Max less so…), and the book begins with the group making the most of a glorious English summer’s day on an outing to nearby Cleeve Abbey.

Things take an exciting turn when fellow society member Jemima discovers ancient-looking bones in the river running past the abbey – could these be the remains of one of the abbey’s former monks? Following the suggestion that the abbey might be haunted, the whole society is keen to investigate further…

But what first seems a bit of fun – an overnight vigil at the abbey to try and spot a ghost – has dramatic consequences when one of the group is attacked and left for dead, and the case of the (possibly) murdered monk, although hundreds of years ago, becomes unexpectedly entwined with the present day.

What follows is a great twisty mystery (with plenty of cake!), taking in attacks, murders and even Henry VIII, which I really enjoyed! The author does a great job creating a cast of interesting characters (some more likeable than others!), and I really warmed to the lead characters of Max and Libby.

One of the great things about this mystery was the unlikeliness of the first victim; there are plenty of characters who deserved a knock on the head (!), but it’s hard to think of a motive for harming Libby’s friend and colleague, the well-liked Mandy. There were plenty of twists and turns to keep me turning the pages, and I really enjoyed the parallel story of the discovery of the monk’s remains.

I’d recommend this book to all fans of cosy crime novels, as this one really keeps you guessing!

Book Review “Murder at the Abbey” by Francis Evesham
NOVEMBER 11, 2021 ~ NIKIPRESTON

SYNOPSIS/BOOK BLURB

Murder at the Abbey

The Brand NEW instalment in the bestselling Exham-on-Sea series.

An unsolved murder echoes down the corridors of Cleeve Abbey for years.
The Exham-on-Sea’s History Society’s annual summer picnic comes to an abrupt end when human bones are discovered in Washford River, beside historic Cleeve Abbey.

Thrilled to find evidence of a possible centuries-old murder mystery, the members of the society organise a ghost-hunting night in the ruins of Cleeve Abbey, despite amateur sleuth Libby Forest’s reservations.

Libby is a woman of many talents, a baker, chocolatier, even a reluctant sleuth, but she’s no fan of the supernatural.and her doubts are justified when a friend is attacked under cover of darkness at the ghost-hunt.

Distressed and angry, Libby sets out with her new husband Max and their two dogs Bear and Shipley to uncover the connection between the murder of a sixteenth century monk and a present-day attack in picturesque Somerset.

With friends and neighbours as suspects, Libby and Max close in on the culprit only to find that others are still in danger.

There’s no time to lose as the sins of the past threaten lives in the community.

Murder at the Abbey is the eighth in a series of Exham-on-Sea Murder Mysteries from the small English seaside town full of quirky characters, sea air, and gossip.

Purchase Link – https://amzn.to/3BJyYn1

REVIEW ~ NIKI PRESTON ~ 5 STAR

A lovely cosy, proper whodunnit style book and I loved it. Really gets your grey matter working. Plenty of twists and turns and full of quirky characters and the odd irritating ones too, as you would expect in a this genre. I laughed and I gasped at some of the goings on. I’d love to say I figured who did do it but I didn’t! That is the sign of superb writing, leading you to believe one thing then wham turning on a sixpence and it’s the one person I was so sure it wasn’t.

The setting is beautifully idyllic with plenty of atmospheric old buildings. The abbey and it’s spooky ghost hunt that proves to be a killer, well almost. I was totally drawn into the plot, the characters, the bones, the bodies, everything! I loved it. I know I have said it already but I really did love it..

This is book 8 I believe in the series but the first one for me. Although I initially had a bit of a problem sorting out who was who it really didn’t take me long and I believe it works well as a stand alone. I am definitely going to read the others though. This genre is right up my street. The nights are drawing in, it’s getting chilly and what better way to spend a few hours immersed in a really great Agatha Christie style novel that has a strong plot, paced just right to keep you reading. If like me you are an avid armchair sleuth then this book is one for you. I loved it!.


Author Bio – Frances Evesham is the author of the hugely successful Exham-on-Sea mysteries set in her home county of Somerset. Boldwood has republished the complete series. Frances has also started a new cosy crime series set in rural Herefordshire, the first of which was published in June 2020.


Social Media Links –

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The Exham-on-Sea’s History Society's annual summer picnic comes to an abrupt end when human bones are discovered in Washford River, beside historic Cleeve Abbey. Thrilled to find evidence of a possible centuries-old murder mystery, the members of the society organise a ghost-hunting night in the ruins of Cleeve Abbey, despite amateur sleuth Libby Forest's reservations. Libby is a woman of many talents, a baker, chocolatier, even a reluctant sleuth, but she's no fan of the supernatural so her doubts are justified when a friend is attacked under cover of darkness at the ghost-hunt. Distressed and angry, Libby sets out with her new husband Max and their two dogs Bear and Shipley to uncover the connection between the murder of a sixteenth century monk and a present-day attack in picturesque Somerset.
This is the eighth book in the series & I’m totally hooked. I loved that Libby is a mature woman & I love how her relationship with Max has grown & changed throughout the series & they are now married. Of course I also love Bear & Shipley. Another well written cosy mystery which I read in a sitting, there are twists & turns plus red herrings & I was kept guessing as to who was guilty but I enjoying guessing whodunit only to be proven wrong! I look forward to more in the series
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read

There were a lot of things to like about this book:

First of all, I loved that the main characters are an older couple who found each other later in life. With combined families that consisted of grown children, they were still learning how to navigate those waters. as well as how to adjust to each other.

Next, i liked the characterization. The characters have been developed so well that they were brought to life in a way that made me feel as if I knew them.

Last of all, the mystery was intriguing; combining a murder that happened hundreds of years before with one that happened in the present and having it all mesh together so perfectly that it was believable.

Five stars!

*3.5 Stars!!

When newlyweds Libby and Max attend the annual picnic for the History society they expect to have a nice relaxing time with friends and some talk about history of course, but what they don’t expect was to find human bones in the river. It’s quickly deduced that they most likely came from one of the graves in the nearby abbey. The now excited History society decide to have an overnight stay at the abbey to see if they can spot any ghosts from the 16th century. However during the ghost hunt one of their own is attacked and left for dead, soon another murder follows leaving Libby and Max to investigate to see if these events are related to the unknown monk they found.

This book is the 8th book in ‘the Exham-on-sea Murder mysteries’ series but the first one that I’ve read, it does contain some spoilers from the previous books as expected and shows how some of the relationships between some of the other characters was formed but doesn’t go into to much detail so you can still go back and read earlier books in the series without knowing everything that going to happen.

I really enjoyed this book and looking forward to reading the others in this series, really want to see how Libby and Max came to be together as they seem to be a really sweet couple.

What I found that I didn’t like was the reason behind the attacks and killings it felt very juvenile and it was a very longtime to hold a grudge. Also it seemed to me that Charlie wasn’t punished for her actions which led to the first attack.

*I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in return for my honest review.*

The discovery of human bones most likely being 16th century and belonging to a Monk from the nearby abbey leads the Historical team to organise an overnight Ghost hunt

Following the attack of one of the team Libby needs to uncover the perpetrator of the assault

Although part of a series it can be read without prior knowledge of the rest of the series

Somerset is enjoying a particularly lovely June with little rain, plenty of sunshine, lovely temperatures, and gorgeous blue skies, which makes a perfect setting for the History Society’s annual picnic which is being held at the ancient Cleeve Abbey this year. Libby Forest and her new husband Max Ramshore have brought their very energetic dog, Shipley, and are thoroughly enjoying the surroundings and the company. At least they are until retired, unmarried schoolteacher, Jemima Bakewell finds a bone in the nearby Washford River. Soon, the attendees unearth a human skull. Are these ancient bones from the Abbey graveyard or are they more current?

When anthropologist Charlie Foxglove and her assistant Rory get involved with dating the bones, and a want-to-be TV ghost hunter personality stages a sleepover ‘event’ at the Abbey, things really begin to heat up. There is a brutal, near-fatal attack as well as thefts and murder. What ties them all together? Is there a relationship between the ancient bones and the current crimes? Never fear, Libby and Max are on the case.

As always, there are lots of other things going on in the story – just as there would be in real life. We learn more of the backstories of several characters – old and new – and we get fun time with Bear, Shipley, and Fuzzy.

It was interesting to see how the ancient bones and the new crimes were/weren’t connected. The perpetrator was unexpected and the motives were convoluted and a bit muddled. I enjoyed the read and can recommend it.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

There is no one thing which can be called out as the champion of this book as it is such a strong blend of so many great ingredients. The setting is sublime, the characters (major and minor) are all extremely engaging and well developed and the author has a knack for injecting the feeling of a scene very strongly into the dialogue and character relationships.

A murder. A mystery. A little village in the UK.
I could not have asked for a better setting.

This cozy little book is the perfect weekend read for anyone who enjoys mysteries.

I admit there were numerous characters and I had to retrace my steps a few times and reread to keep track, but I believe that was because I am unfamiliar with the series.

Overall I found Murder at the Abbey and pleasant and enjoyable read.

Libby and Max are now married. Mandy is still living at Hope Cottage. Mandy and Steve tell Libby and Max that they will be going to London to live together. The Historical Society picnic is held at the Abbey, and during the picnic, Jemima finds bones with Archie and Quentin at the river. The police are called in as well as a professor/anthropologist from Bristol. The bones are soon determined to be from the time of Henry VIII and the dissolution of the monasteries and the monk was probably murdered.

Later, a group gets permission from the Abbey to have folks spend the night and do a "ghost watch". During the watch, Mandy goes out to the gatehouse, and is attacked and knocked out. She is in a coma and hospitalized for several days, and Libby and Max are helping the police find out who attacked her and whether or not her attack was related to the attack on the monk. It was a relatively small group at the ghost watch, and no one had a reason to dislike Mandy enough to try to kill her. A local family is still upset about the purchase of land which had belonged to the abbey by the Wendelbury family, but that had nothing to do with Mandy.

Libby and Max still have their magic touch, and they finally figure out all. This is a fun read in the Somerset countryside.