I enjoyed this first book in a new series by Mary Grand. Set on the Isle of Wight, it features Susan, nearly divorced, who is one of a group of people who meet on the beach with their dogs for regular dog walking sessions. But when one of the group turns up dead, Susan is desperate to find out if it is murder, or just an accidental death as the police believe.

I liked this mystery, there's elements of thriller and of cozy mystery and they works well together.
It's the start of a promising series and I can't wait to read other books in this series as I loved the setting and Susan.
Susan is a fleshed out and relatable character that grew on me and I liked even if she's a bit too reckless at time.
This book made me wish I could visit the Isle of Wight soon as there's excellent descriptions of the places and it must be lovely.
The mystery is solid and full of twists and turns. It kept me guessing and I liked the solution.
This is the first in a series and the book where the characters and the setting are introduced. I'm sure the next one will be even more entertaining and compelling.
Recommended.
Many thanks to Boldwood Books and Rachel's Random Resources for this arc, all opinions are mine

Set on the Isle of Wight, this atmospheric murder mystery has a cast of complex characters, a twisty plot and an underlying sense of menace that keeps you engaged and turning the pages. Susan's investigation into the unexpected death of Collette, her recent lodger, is immersive and uncovers surprising secrets and motives for murder. Still, something out of reach always puts her in danger and gives the reader constant suspense. A vibrant setting and vivid characters make this an enthralling, well-paced mystery read.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher.

I loved the setting of this novel. It was delightful to spend time on the Isle of Wight, even if murders can happen there.

Susan has lived a fairly quiet life here. One of her favorite companions is her dog, Rocco. Together the two are part of a dog walking community on the island.

Susan is relatively self-contained but nonetheless she welcomes a boarder to her home. This is Colette. What has led her to Wight? How is her murder related to some thefts and/or a deceased relative?

Susan wonders if one of her fellow dog lovers is the perpetrator. Is she right? Read this traditional mystery in order to find out.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for this title. All opinions are my own.

I found Death at Castle Cove to be an ok read. I love the fact it is set on the Isle of Wight as it brings back childhood memories for me. I found the pace of the story to be a bit slow for me but there were also a lot of characters to get straight in my head.

Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for my ARC.

Firstly, let me just say - that setting. The Isle of Wight is such a beautiful and atmospheric setting for all of Mary Grand's books that it often has me googling for places and landmarks to look up so that I may see them for myself. I firmly believe that the setting is the key to a good mystery or thriller and the Isle of Wight is the perfect place.

We meet Susan, a soon-to-be divorcee, has lived on the Island for all of her life and in the same house for the past forty years that she had shared with her soon-to-be ex-husband Steve before he left her after four decades of marriage. Her daughter Zoe lives on the mainland with her partner and has some big news she wishes to share with Susan, making her promise to visit the following weekend.

Every morning Susan walks with a local dog walking group most of whom she has befriended over time and together they enjoy friendship whilst walking their dogs on the beach...whatever the weather. Life is good now.

Recently Susan opened her home to a lodger, Colette, whose grandmother had lived in a nursing home on the Island until her death recently. Colette has come over from the mainland to gather her grandmother's possessions but soon finds that she likes it there and decides to stay. Hence her taking a room at Susan's home, and the two women become friends. One night Colette confides in Susan that when collecting her grandmother's belongings, she had discovered some of her grandmother's "treasures" she kept hidden in a secret drawer of her jewellery box had gone missing. A locket with a photo of her and her grandmother along with a diamond and ruby brooch and children's book gifted to her by a former employer many years ago.

Colette is determined to uncover the thief and lays a trap for them...to her detriment. One night, she goes down to the beach alone and doesn't return. Her body is found the following morning by a dogwalker and her death treated as suspicious...until a post mortem reveals she had in fact died of anaphylaxis. A deadly reaction to a severe shellfish allergy. But Susan is convinced that the death is in fact suspicious. Colette was very careful about what she ate due to her allergy and always carried an EpiPen with her in a red velvet pouch that was very precious to her. But it was not found at the scene. The police, however, believe it to be an open and shut case, their focus shifted to the bigger case at hand of people trafficking.

It seems Colette was right. That she was the type of person to leave a room and would be quickly forgotten. No one cared enough to remember her or believe that her death was not an accident. No one, except Susan. Who will stop at nothing until she uncovers the truth about Colette's death.

This is I think the third book I've read by Mary Grand and, while I enjoyed it, I do prefer the thrillers. But I guess that's just me and personal choice. Cosies are not really my thing as a rule and I'm really fussy about them. The characters are an eclectic mix and sometimes not entirely likeable. In fact, I'm sure there are times the reader would suspect just about every one of them...in true Agatha Christie form.

For once I was completely hoodwinked and had no idea who the killer was or why. There were plenty of clues but also plenty of red herrings. With so many twists, DEATH AT CASTLE COVE is bound to keep readers glued to the pages until the very end.

I believe this is the first in a new series by Mary Grand. I do enjoy her storytelling though I much prefer thrillers, but if you are looking for a good cosy mystery that is atmospheric and will keep you guessing, then why not try DEATH AT CASTLE COVE.

I would like to thank #MaryGrand, #Netgalley, #BoldwoodBooks and #RachelsRandomResources for an ARC of #DeathAtCastleCove in exchange for an honest review.

This review appears on my blog at https://stinathebookaholic.blogspot.com/.

This is cute and wholesome but I had trouble staying focused. This isn't a reflection f the author. It's all on me.
Anyway, super wholesome. I would read it again.

Welcome to the Isle of Wight and Ventnor there,
Where Susan lives near friends who care.
Her young lodger, Colette, has settled well
But has secrets she's about to tell.

Colette is searching for any clues to help discover
What happened to some things she wants to recover.
A locket, book and possibly precious jewellery, too,
When her Gran died all vanished from view.

What happened to these things Colette wants for find out
And uses her cleaning roles to search about.
The dog walking group includes her chief suspects, too,
But when they discover her plans, what will they do?

Accusations, blackmail threats, theft and more
All help to spoil the ambience and add intrigue to the score.
When Colette dies, it comes as a huge surprise
Susan thinks not naturally as alternative causes she begins to surmise.

A story where friendships are put to the test,
Where it seems they don't know each other as well as the rest.
This intriguing story has you turning the pages enthralled
As snippets from the past need to be recalled.

A great cosy mystery with a mix of characters who're flawed
You're never quite sure who should be trusted or ignored!
A fascinating story that kept me guessing right till the end
Read it for yourself is what I highly recommend!

For my complementary copy, I say thank you,
As I share with you this, my honest review.

A very enjoyable and fun cosy crime caper if that is the word for a story where someone is murdered! Loved the location as the Isle of wight is somewhere I don't know and would love to go. Rocco the dog!!! Ah I want a dog now. Some lovely characters here and some great cosy moments.

A stand-alone cozy crime novel set on the Isle of Wight. There are lots of dogs, I mean lots, in this book, which is always a bonus if you are a dog lover! I am. There are quite a lot of characters in this but there wasn’t one I liked a lot apart from maybe Susan, who was determined albeit a bit foolishly so, which made it all the more difficult to work out if there was a killer and if so who it was. I also though Susan was naive when she kept telling the suspects what she thought and what she’d found, very dangerous.

Briefly, after her husband left her Susan’s life revolves around walking her dog Rocco and meeting up with a motley group of dog walkers on Ventnor beach. Recently she befriended Collette and offered to let her stay with her in her home. When Collette dies in mysterious circumstances, and the police don’t seem minded to investigate, ruling it accidental, Susan is determined to investigate herself as she is convinced it was murder, and one of the dog walking group the killer.

A steady paced read with plenty of red herrings that had me changing my mind repeatedly about who I could trust and who I couldn’t. I’m sure the clues were there but I must have missed some! A good cozy mystery, very descriptive with a touch of romance made for a satisfying and enjoyable read.

I really enjoyed this, not quite a cosy mystery but set on the Isle Of Wight where I spent many summers as a child so was great to reminisce whilst reading. Plenty of dogs in this one too 🐶

The main character, Susan, really was like a dog with a bone once she got stuck into searching for Colette’s killer after not being convinced that the police had come to the right conclusion. There were times where she did get a bit annoying, missing things that were blatantly obvious and then bumbling her way through and accusing anyone that made a comment. She is a lovely lady though in other ways and at other times, I did feel sorry for her, especially in the situation with her daughter.

Overall, a quick read that only took me a few hours, will look out for more by the same author as I loved the easy to read writing style and the twists that were inserted throughout.

Another well woven mystery thriller based on the Isle of Wight. As a resident of this wonderful Island I just love reading Mary Grand’s portrayal of this special place. With the advantage of having the images of the various towns and villages in my mind, I thoroughly enjoy my journey of the Island through Mary’s eyes. The story, as in previous books by this author, involves murder and many suspects. Each character has its own unique personality and garners suspicion and sympathy in equal measure. Collette is a good hearted young lady who has had a tough life and is befriended by Susan who supports her by giving her a home. She works at a local hotel where several of the staff regularly join Susan for dog walks on Ventnor beach. A few neighbours also join them each day and after a gathering of them all at Castle Cove one evening, Collette is then found dead the following morning. Susan is distraught and despite many believing she died as a result of a tragic accident, she is not convinced and believes someone close to them is responsible. Suspicious of all her dog walking friends, Susan sets about uncovering long buried secrets, lies and motives for murder. At the risk of alienating everyone she holds dear, she does not let up and finds herself in increasing danger. I sometimes couldn’t believe the audacity of Susan who seemed to accuse everyone of murder to their faces. Once again I didn’t guess the culprit and always appreciate a book that completely confuses the reader as to the final conclusion.

Death at Castle Cove is an intriguing, engrossing and entertaining cozy mystery. I loved the setting, the plot-to-story development, multiple red herrings, twists and turns, and the characters. Almost every character in this story owns a dog or two - dog lovers might love this particular inclusion.

The only niggle I had with this story was that Susan was too trusting. She openly tells her dog walking friends about her suspicions (that Colette's death was no accident) and evidence she's gathered along the way.

I loved the murder mystery. The police aren't looking into the case, but Susan is sure Colette was murdered. As she digs deeper, the killer knows she's onto them. They threaten her, not once or twice, but many times. Still, Susan doesn't take no for an answer.

I couldn't identify the killer before Susan did. The clues were all there but hidden under multiple red herrings. Twists and turns were plenty - some of which were shocking and unexpected. I loved the side stories of the characters. I also loved Susan's side of the story - her personal life, her struggles with separation, and much more.

Excellent storytelling. Likable characters. A murder mystery to keep one guessing till the end. I enjoyed reading Death at Castle Cove by Mary Grand. If you are looking for a cozy read with a charming setting and a charming main character, I suggest Death at Castle Cove.

I received this book from Netgalley. The title and cover of this book both appealed to me so I was excited to start reading it. While I found the book interesting in parts, there was just too much happening and not enough happening at the same time. Susan plays detective very well, but at the same time seems to have very little regard for people who are supposed to be her friends. She throws awful accusations at them and doesn't seem interested in their reasons. All for a girl that she barely knew. Now, she wasn't doing the wrong thing, but is that the best way to go about it?

A lot happens throughout the book, but I felt it didn't always add to the story. For me, the book was a bit too long and the ending wasn't altogether surprising.

This is Mary's best book yet. Her writing is going from strength to strength and Death at Castle Cove has everything - setting, intrigue, tesnion and great characters. I recommend this one. It will stay with you long after you've read it.

Set on the atmospheric Isle of Wight, Death at Castle Cove is the first in a series featuring newly single sleuth Susan. She’s lived on the island for forty years and has a close group of friends. Recently she has opened her home to Colette, a young woman who is now working as a cleaner at a local hotel. Colette has seemed to fit into the group and joins them for their morning dog walks. However, after Colette reveals a secret to Susan and she confronts her friends, the mood changes. Colette’s beloved grandmother died in a nursing home on the island and, after her death, a locket, book and valuable brooch were missing. Colette is convinced that a member of the dog walking group is responsible. The accusations are not taken well and with hours, Colette is dead. Susan decides to investigate. The case is more complicated than it appears. Can Susan find the murderer before her own life is threatened?

Death at Castle Cove is a perfect cozy mystery. Susan is a strong female character, as are the other dog walkers. The location is beautiful and will make you want to plan a vacation! The plot is detailed and well-written. And who doesn’t love dogs? 5 stars.

Thank you yo NetGalley, Boldwood Books and Mary Grant for this ARC.

I received this advance reader copy via Netgalley and the publisher, in return for an honest review. A combination cozy and thriller story, set on the Isle of Wight. Cleverly built story of a group of friends who meet to walk their dogs together every day. When a member of the group is killed, the protagonist believes there’s more to the story and seeks justice. The use of this tight-knit setting allows the author to set the stage and make the links between the various characters in a believable way. The murder device is clever. The story dragged a bit to me and, because there were so many sets of characters whose names started with the same first letter, it required a deliberate mental exercise to keep them all straight.

This is the second book I’ve read by Mary Grand and, as before, I thoroughly enjoyed it. I’ve never been to the Isle of Wight, though I recall my mum having fond memories of it. The author really brings it to life, showing off its history and tourist attractions. With some beautiful autumnal woodland scenes a well as the windy beach setting, it’s no wonder Susan, the main character, and her dogs love their daily walks.

Susan is getting used to her husband’s rapid and rather insensitive departure, and has taken a lodger – Colette – for company. She's delighted that Colette is fitting in so well, especially with her dog-walking group. So, when Colette is found dead at Castle Cove, Susan feels bereft once more. And she finds it difficult to accept the police’s report of accidental death – she knew Colette too well to believe the conclusions the police come to. Nor does it help that only hours before her death, Colette had confronted the dog-walkers with some very serious allegations regarding missing valuables belonging to her Gran. Many of the group had worked at the care home where Colette’s gran lived, and they don’t take lightly to being accused of theft. But is that all Colette is implying? She infers she has “information” on each of them that could implicate them in the theft.
But surely, no-one in the dog-walking group could have killed Colette to silence her could they?

Try as she might, Susan cannot simply ignore a comment of Colette’s – that she would be forgotten easily – and makes it her business when sorting through Colette’s belongings to make sure justice has been served.
Needless to say, the other dog-walkers are not as interested in Susan’s theories, suggesting she move on. Could it be they have something to hide? Susan will not rest until she knows for sure what happened to Colette that night.

Each member of the dog-walking group comes under suspicion as Susan investigates, and she discovers lot of facts about them that they wouldn’t want to be made public. However, the pieces of the puzzle don’t seem to fit, and Susan makes mistakes that put her in danger. Nonetheless, she grows ever more determined to get to the truth.

Running alongside her investigations, Susan’s family life has its own dramas – her divorce from Steve comes through, and her daughter wants her to leave the island and move closer. These family matters have their own impact on Susan and do their part in influencing her actions. She won’t be told what to do by the man who left her, and nor is she ready to play the part of the little old lady on the hill as her daughter seems to think she is.

This is a well-paced novel, with many twists and turns that had me second-guessing my own conclusions, as well as shouting at my Kindle for Susan to be safe. It’s a story of many parts – a new start for Susan as a single woman with her dogs, a tale of a sad and damaging childhood, a community of people with secrets, and of bonds that though fragile at times are stronger than they seem. Added to that, it’s an engaging and satisfying mystery with a stunningly atmospheric setting.

(Can I just add that as, a furmum, it was wonderful to see the dedication of the dog-walking group to their furry families – so many stories use animals as props, forgetting even their basic needs. Not here, Susan’s dogs are as much a part of the story as their human counterparts)

Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for an advance reader copy, which I have read and reviewed freely.

Colette was a lodger at Susan’s house and they’ve become friends too. They belong to a dog walker group that meets almost every day. Colette died unexpectedly after making accusations to everyone in the group regarding her Grandmother’s old jewelry box and what was missing from it.
Susan is determined to find out what really happened. The police think it was an accident but Susan believes it’s much more. It’s a good mystery, it kept me guessing. I will say I didn’t really care for any of the characters too much. Susan was ok.
Thanks to the publisher and Rachel’s Random Resources for the early copy

I enjoyed this book but I found it a little slow to start and a little slow and repetitive at times.

I enjoyed the characters especially the dogs, but I was a little concerned that Susan was putting herself in danger time after time which seemed to drag the story out a bit.

The list of suspects were all dog walkers and friends so I was a little intrigued how the killer would be discovered and how the story would end.

A good read not a great one.