Cosy mystery fans will not want to miss out on Mary Grand’s latest crime novel, Death at Castle Cove.

Susan absolutely adores living on the Isle of Wight and she cannot imagine living anywhere else. It gives her great joy to see her young lodger Colette settle in to life by the sea and seeing her flourish after the difficulties she had endured gladdens Susan’s heart. Susan might not lead the most exciting of lives, but she wouldn’t have it any other way. She loves exercising her beloved dog Rocco on the beach and stopping by for a chat with her fellow dog walkers. Susan’s days are all comfortingly routine – until the unthinkable happens and Colette dies in suspicious circumstances at Castle Cove!

An absolutely devastated Susan cannot believe this shocking turn of events. The police might be convinced that Colette died as a result of a tragic accident, but Susan is not convinced. She vows to get to the bottom of this mystery and find out what really happened to Colette, however, her investigation hits rather too close to home when it transpires that one of her dog walking friends could have been the last person to have seen her lodger alive.

There is a murderer roaming around Castle Cove and Susan is determined to stop them before another body is found. Can Susan find out whodunnit and solve this case? Or will her curiosity end up leading her to her grave?

Death at Castle Cove is a very enjoyable cosy mystery that is entertaining, engrossing and so gripping, readers will gobble it up in one irresistible sitting. Mary Grand delivers everything readers could possibly want from a cosy mystery and with Death at Castle Cove, she has written a tense and nail-biting crime novel that kept me guessing.

Perfect for Dee Macdonald and Frances Evesham fans, Mary Grand’s Death at Castle Cove is guaranteed to delight cosy mystery fans everywhere!

This is my first book by this author but it won't be my last. I was absolutely hooked, I couldn't put it down

An OK read, took me time to get into it but eventually completed and found the book an average read. Many thanx to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for allowing me the chance to read and review this book

A fantastic story line with twists that keep you guessing. It was lovely to see the characters interact and develop through the story. I look forward to reading more

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.
Really enjoyable little cozy mystery. Loved the setting. I look forward to the next book in this series.

Susan is a soon-to-be-divorced woman living on the Isle of Wight with mainly her dog walking group as company. She takes in a lodger, Colette, who seems to be fitting in nicely. Colette dies of a seeming shellfish allergy reaction but Susan doubts the official police version of events. believing more what at play. Unfortunately, right before she died Colette confronted the dog walking group about her the purported theft of her deceased grandmother's effects and intimates that she has information on the group members that they wouldn't want revealed. This leads Susan to the unfortunate conclusion that one of the members must have killed Colette. She takes it upon herself to investigate and it turns out they each member in turn does have secrets. Susan places herself in harm's way as she keeps digging and refuses to let Colette become a forgotten woman. I enjoyed the suspense and the mystery, and kept changing my mind about who the murderer was. The setting was wonderful and really elevated the mystery.

From the cover design and description, I thought this looked and sounded like a book that I might enjoy.

I thought this was a beautiful book. It was a murder mystery set on the Isle of Wight. It felt like a cosy mystery, but with a serious undertone that surprised me. The setting came to life while I was reading, so the book felt like an escape. I liked the characters, I cared about what happened to them, and I became emotionally invested. I think I would be interested in reading some more books by this author.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for a free copy to review.

Death at Castle Cove by Mary Grand is a whodunnit mystery set on an island. The book is for amateur detective fans. Thrill starts right from the beginning of the plot. After that it was a roller coaster ride, hunting down the murderer. All the characters come under suspicion and when you think that the climax is finally here, the story takes a steep turn, totally unexpected. I really enjoyed the book.

I would like to give the book 4 stars to the book. Thanks to Boldwood Books and Netgalley for providing me with an opportunity to read and review the book.

Cosy mystery set on the Isle of Wight with really good descriptions of the locales. Susan is in the process of divorcing husband of 40 years, loves dogs and is giving house room to a troubled young woman to supplement her income. They are both in a group of local dog-walkers so there is a lot of discussion about dog walking, poo bags, leads and the like. The young woman has history and accuses said dog walkers of theft, deceit and maybe murder all in relation to her grannie, now deceased. Not surprisingly someone takes offence, death occurs and Susan sets out to disentangle the various threads. An ok read, pleasant enough and, as I said, lovely descriptions of places. Story ok but never that gripping. A cosy read for a wet afternoon with not too much of a challenge. 3.5* rounded up. Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for an advance copy.

“Death at Castle Cove” by Mary Grand is an enthralling mystery novel that will keep readers hooked until the very end. The story is set in the picturesque Isle of Wight, where the residents are shocked by the sudden death of Colette.

The author’s writing style is engaging and descriptive, allowing readers to vividly picture the beautiful seaside setting and the complex characters that inhabit it. The plot is well-crafted, with plenty of twists and turns that keep the reader guessing until the very end.

What sets “Death at Castle Cove” apart from other mystery novels is the way the author delves into the characters’ motivations and relationships, creating a rich tapestry of interconnected stories that culminate in a surprising conclusion. The characters are all well-developed, and their flaws and insecurities add an extra layer of complexity to the story.

Grand’s attention to detail and her ability to create a sense of tension and suspense make this book a page-turner. The mystery is well-constructed, with clues and red herrings that keep the reader guessing until the very end.

Overall, “Death at Castle Cove” is a gripping and well-written mystery novel that is sure to please fans of the genre. The author’s attention to detail, well-crafted plot, and engaging characters make this a must-read for anyone looking for a captivating mystery novel. Highly recommended!

The story begins in October. We meet Susan, who is 62 and lives on the Isle of Wight with her cocker spaniel dog Rocco. Every morning, she takes Rocco for a walk, with her young lodger Colette (23) and her dog Libs. They meet up with a group of other dog walkers Susan has come to know well over the months – Nikki, Nathan, Trystan, Torri, Beatrice and Robert.
Later, Colette is found dead at Castle Cove and suspicion falls on the group of dog walkers, who were the last to see her alive.
Susan is such a great character, you really have to admire her. She isn’t happy with what she hears from the police and decides to look into Colette’s death herself. Even though she didn’t know her lodger for long, she feels a sense of duty and really wants to get to the bottom of how her young friend died.
Like any good book in this genre, you follow along with Susan, trying to pick up clues to see if you can work out who killed Colette and why. It seems even though their community is quite a small one, everyone has secrets and things they would rather keep hidden from other people. But who would kill, to protect their secrets?
The characters are a varied and interesting bunch. I kept changing my opinions on the dog walkers, as more things came to light. I was always on Susan’s side and hoping she could solve the mystery.
I enjoyed reading a novel with lots of dogs in and the canine companions in this book are such a lovely mix, though Libs was my favourite.
The setting of the Isle of Wight is really well brought to life. I used to live in Portsmouth so went to the island several times in the 1980s and 1990s and it was good to revisit the area, if only via the pages of a novel.

I absolutely loved this book, I was hooked from the very start flying through this in just a few hours. I loved the picturesque, cosy element to this. This twists and had my head spinning. I also loved that every character seems to be to be suspicious and have a motive for murder @marygrandwriter is now one of my go to mystery writers.

I have read and thoroughly enjoyed several of Mary’s books now. When I read the synopsis of ‘Death At Castle Cove’ it certainly sounded like the sort of book I have come to expect from Mary – a gripping story with more than a few twists and turns to it. Well it was certainly that an so much more. I thoroughly enjoyed reading ‘Death At Castle Cove’ but more about that in a bit.

I was drawn into this story from the synopsis alone and as soon as I started reading the story itself, I knew that I wasn’t going to be doing anything other than reading for the rest of the day. It was as if the book had developed a hold over me and it was a hold that I wasn’t willing to break. I can’t say that I particularly warmed to any of the characters but that could be because I have read a lot of crime fiction and I believe nobody and suspect everybody. It just seemed to me that most of them were acting in a shifty manner and trying to keep something hidden. I had my own suspicions as to what was going to happen so I had to keep reading to see if I had guessed correctly or if I got the wrong end of the stick. The more of the book that I read, the more I wanted to read and the quicker the pages seemed to turn. All too quickly I reached the end of ‘Death At Castle Cove’ and I had to say goodbye to Susan and the rest of the characters. I found ‘Death At Castle Cove’ to be a gripping story that certainly kept me guessing and kept me on the edge of my seat throughout.

‘Death At Castle Cove’ is superbly written but then I have come to expect nothing less from Mary Grand. Mary has an easy going writing style that is easy to get used to and easy to get along with. She certainly knows how to grab the reader’s attention and draw them into what proves to be one hell of a story. For me, the story hit the ground running and maintains a steady pace throughout. Mary describes her characters so well that they seem just as real as you and I. I loved the way in which the characters interacted with each other. This was one of those reads that had more twists and turns to it than you would find on a ‘Snakes & Ladders’ board. I love the way in which the author makes the reader feel as though they are part of the story and at the heart of the action.

In short, I thoroughly enjoyed reading ‘Death At Castle Cove’ and I would definitely recommend this book to other readers. I hope to read much more of Mary’s work in the future. The score on the Ginger Book Geek board is a very well deserved 5* out of 5*.

Set in the picturesque Isle of White Susan is tasked with finding out what really happened to her friend and lodger Collette after she is discovered seriously injured at the cove, which subsequently leads to her death.

We are given a lot of insight and little tidbits throughout the story that allows us to speculate who could have harmed Collette, I seriously suspected someone and was 100% sure I was on the right track but boy was I wrong! And I loved that I was wrong, as when it was revealed I had one of those ah ha! moments. I loved Susan as a character and of course her dogs, and how she was determined to make sure that Collette’s death would be investigated fully. I really loved the story and the setting that Grand gave us, and can’t wait to delve into more of her books.

Dogs dogs and a few more dogs, murder, more dogs, walking in the beautiful surroundings. dogs, beaches oh have I mentioned dogs?

Mary is the Master (Mistress?) of crafting a great mystery thriller with plenty of suspects to keep you wondering who on earth is the killer. I am not going to lie I actually got a pen and paper and wrote down all the clues, well the ones that I perceived to be clues so that I could join the audacious Susan on her sleuthing journey. I have been caught out by Mary and her red herrings before, so I thought “not this time Mary” I was so convinced I was on the right track, turn the page, oh great nope not my prime suspect at all. Mary certainly knows how to lull you into a false sense of sleuthy security then she switches it all up a notch and your murderer is not who you were so sure it was. I have no idea how she creates such masterful plots with characters that just draw you in right from the off.

Susan is a beautifully caring person and will not let Colette’s murder go unsolved. After all Colette utters probably some of the saddest words that I have ever read “no one cares about the likes of me. I walk out of a room and I am forgotten” Susan is not ever going to let Colette be forgotten. I must admit I did find myself shouting at Susan, telling her to stop telling the dog walking group members her suspicions, these are the very people she feels that one of, could be responsible for the death.

All the characters are created vividly and you get a real sense of the joy that they all feel living on such a beautiful Island. Worlds are about to be turned upside down. Lives will change irrevocably but will Susan solve the mystery and make sure Colette is never forgotten? There’s only one way to find out and trust me you will not be disappointed.

3.5 Stars
One Liner: A decent mystery

Susan loves living on the Isle of Wight with her darling dog, Rocco. She is a part of the local dog walkers group, a bunch of people who are different from each other but share a common love for dogs. Colette is a young girl and a new addition to the group. Susan takes her under her wing and into her home.
However, when she digs into her gran’s past on the island, she creates unrest and uncertainties in their lives. When Colette dies under suspicious circumstances at Castle Cover, Susan is determined to get to the bottom of the truth, no matter how uncomfortable the situation is.
With danger taking over her peaceful existence, can Susan fight for justice?
The story comes from Susan’s third-person POV.

My Thoughts:
I like mysteries set in small towns and islands with picturesque settings. This one has a beautiful backdrop used well throughout the book.
Dog lovers are in for a treat as the book has many fur babies. All of them are darlings and hardly cause any trouble.
The characters are all different and easy to identify and track. This makes it easier with the constant interactions between them. There’s no confusion about who is who.
The case is well done. There are enough twists and develops to keep the pointer moving from one suspect to another. It drags a bit in the middle but manages to pull back in the last third.
Susan is already going through a rough phase in her personal life but is determined to find out what happened to Colette. However, she is annoying at times. In the first half, she is reluctant to believe that someone she knows is the killer. Once she accepts it, she repeatedly puts herself in danger in the second half.
Though I know Susan is no sleuth, she is supposed to be a smart and capable 62-year-old woman. Not someone jumping to conclusions and accusing/ confronting potential murderers. I was half-afraid she would end up with a broken neck.
That said, I like how she puts her foot down when her people try to make decisions for her or pressurize her to do something she doesn’t want to. I like how she doesn’t hesitate to draw lines when necessary. If only she does the same when sharing information with others!
Alice is an interesting character, and I hoped she would have a bigger role in the book. A little disappointed that she doesn’t appear often, but the scenes with her are vital and nudge Susan in the right direction.
The epilogue ties up the loose ends and provides a satisfactory ending. The book is standalone, though I won’t be surprised if there’s a sequel. In fact, I would look forward to one as it appears that Susan will be in a better position to handle a case without risking her neck or making the same mistakes (or so I hope).

To summarize, Death at Castle Cove is an intriguing cozy mystery set on a beautiful yet dangerous island. With past secrets and flawed characters, it is worth a read on a lazy afternoon.
Thank you, NetGalley and Boldwood Books, for the eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
****
Amazon review rounded up to 4 stars

This was a new author for me and she didn’t disappoint. I know the Isle of Wight very well so all the way through this book I could picture the beaches and the twisty, winding streets. This was a great mystery book and I enjoyed trying to figure out who did the murder. Five stars for this one. My thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.

It was only when I finished this book – and I so enjoyed it! – that I noticed the publishers were calling it a “cosy mystery”, and it did send me down a bit of a Google rabbit hole. I’ve never been much of a one for violence and gore, but I do like a bit of tension and atmosphere which is something the author always reliably delivers. And I was interested to see that the distinction tends to be between “cosy” (I can’t bring myself to write it with a “z”!) and “hardboiled”: originally coined for Golden Age detective fiction, “cosy” generally means (with thanks to Wikipedia) that any sex and violence occur off stage, the detective is an amateur, and the crime and its detection take place in a small, socially intimate community. So yes, this book certainly is, by that definition, a “cosy” – but interpreted in a way that has become entirely the author’s own.

I always particularly enjoy the Isle of Wight setting – this time, we find ourselves in Ventnor – and the author’s descriptions of various locations around the island only make me want to visit it more, whether it’s the coves and beaches, the winding backstreets or the wide open spaces. And another element I always love is the author’s talent for characterisation. Our amateur sleuth Susan has a sympathetic and in depth back story – the shock of her husband leaving her, her daughter’s concern about her isolation (perhaps with a touch of self-interest too), and the friendships she’s built while walking her dog Rocco on Ventnor beach each morning. Taking in troubled Colette as her lodger eased her own loneliness – and when she’s found dead at Castle Cove, and the police seem content to write off her death as an accident and move on, Jane becomes determined to uncover the truth.

Colette’s death follows a bit of a confrontation (and I really mustn’t spoil the story…) and Susan reaches the unavoidable conclusion that one of the dog walking group must have been responsible. And it turns out that every single one of them has a past life and a few secrets they’d prefer remained that way – and the harder Susan digs for clues, the more the threat comes closer to home. Every single member of the group is quite wonderfully drawn, and the finger of suspicion points to each of them in turn (and sometimes moves away – only to move back again…). I really shouldn’t have favourites, but I was particularly engaged by Beatrice – my goodness, she had a past you wouldn’t ever have imagined. And poor ex-policeman Robert, who Susan keeps strictly at arm’s length when he just wants to look after her… or then again? Alice is a quite wonderful character too – a nursing home resident who’s certainly still in possession of every one of her marbles, frequently making me smile, and the perfect foil for Susan as she debates and considers her next steps.

The whole story is so well told, Susan refusing to let things lie, the suspects shuffling for position, the atmosphere thickening, the tension steadily building – and when the pieces finally fall into place (with more than a touch of real drama), the author once more had me facing in totally the wrong direction. And I must add that I really liked the emotional content to this one too – although Colette’s life was brief, there’s no possibility at all that she will be forgotten, and that most definitely brought a tear to my eye.

I really thought this was the author’s best book yet – I certainly couldn’t put it down, and read well into the early hours to get to its unexpected, but totally believable, outcome. And I do hope we’ll see Susan and Alice joining forces again – more please Mary! This is one I’d highly recommend to all – whether you’re a crime fiction reader or not, and whatever your preferred flavour.

'Death At Castle Cove’ by Mary Grand is set on the picturesque Isle of Wight. Susan’s life revolves around walks in the country with her dog and meeting her fellow dog lovers for strolls along the coastal paths. Her young lodger, Colette, seems to be fitting in well, after a difficult start in life. But when Colette dies in suspicious circumstances, Susan realises that her dog walking pals were the last to see her alive. She has to face the disturbing fact that one of her friends may be responsible. The local police put it all down to an unfortunate accident, but Susan is not convinced. As she looks in to the mystery, she finds out that her friends have much to hide - and one of them must have killed Colette.

I loved the Isle of Wight setting for the story. It was beautifully described and played an integral part in the mystery. I could see why Susan was so keen to stay. She was determined to keep her independence, even as her life became more and more difficult. 

Susan felt compelled to find out what happened to Colette, even when others were encouraging her to back off. She took risks, and I worried for her on more than one occasion. She put herself in potentially dangerous situations. Mary Grand ramped up the suspense perfectly. 

I especially liked how the author gradually peeled back the layers . Layers of secrets and lies. I don’t know how many times I changed my mind about who the killer was. It was so well done, and I didn’t guess whodunnit until the reveal. I really enjoyed it and plan to read more from this author in the future.

Finished ✔️ Death at Castle Cove by Mary Grand
4 ⭐️’s
Publish Day: May 8th, 2023
Kindle Unlimited: Yes
Intriguing mystery set in a beautiful location
Deliciously menacing undercurrents
Takes place on an island
Masterclass in story-telling
Every character acting suspiciously
I did not figure the twists out
Also didn’t figure out the ending
Enjoyable murder mystery
Intelligently plotted
Characters are well created with distinct voices and personalities
Such a satisfying read
Cleverly written
Perfectly executed
Yes, I’d recommend
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