This second installment in Salter's Iris Woodmore Mystery series is a nice followup. This is a historical cozy with crime at its center. There is added tension with some contentious development plans.

I didn't enjoy this as much as the first and found it a bit slow to get through. It's more cerebral than your typical cozy but isn't gory and has some token romance and light historical details.

I probably will not look for the third in the series but I understand the appeal.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Though this is the second book in the series, it works well as a standalone. At the same time, series readers will enjoy the new developments for the main character Iris.

The beginning is a little slow, and I took time to get into the book. But soon, the book picks up pace. It drags in the middle a bit, before finally moving ahead to the climax and reveal.

Waldenmere Lake and its surrounding land are the sight of a fight over its use in book two of the "Iris Woodmore" mysteries.

There are three parties with different plans for the green space:
-A railroad company wants to develop it into a 4-storey hotel with various amenities, (pool, etc.)
-The military had used the area up till a few years before as a training area, and local officials want to set up a convalescent hospital there for soldiers.
-The town, with Mrs. Sydons (from book one) intent on getting thre area designated as a nature preserve.

The current owner of the property is killed before the military or the town can proceed with their plans, and the railroad company snaps up the land from the murdered man's heir, a struggling painter located in London.

Iris is furious with the railroad company's unwillingness to listen to the townsfolk, and is shocked by how quickly construction begins. When the crew begins draining the lake, they find a tank within the waters, and even more shocking, a murdered man within the vehicle.

Iris thinks the railroad company may be involved with the first murder, but that doesn't explain the second dead man. She pokes and prods at locals' motives, hoping to find a way to halt the construction and find the murderers.

The story is actually more complicated that it initially appears, as the history between a prominent family and the military facility, and illicit relationships in the past, are also factors in this story.

Iris continues to grow, and is ever more certain that she wants to be a reporter. She's also dealt numerous shocks as she slowly determines the perpetrators of the murders, and a couple of her relationships are tested. The story is engrossing and complex.

Iris is left deeply affected by the end of the book, dissatisfied with much around her. Her decision at the end leaves me wondering what is next in store for her.

Thank you to Netgalley and to Boldwood Books for this ARC in exchange for my review.

A twisty tale of murder and secret relationships in village life post-war England.
I was not expecting this book to pack such an emotional punch but it did. I didn't see one of the murders coming and it took me completely by surprise.
I love Iris' outlook on life and how she wants to live it on her own terms regardless of society's expectations. It is refreshing to meet such a character in this genre and I hope she continues to have fun and doesn't cave to societal pressures anytime soon.
I really love how this series is historically rich in detail. It really feels like I'm in post-war England and can see first-hand the impact the war had on society in general. Shell shock among soldiers is pretty well known and taught in history classes but I had never considered the effects the war had on women who worked on the front line in field or military hospitals.
A fantastic book; an unpredictable and absorbing read.

A murder shocks the small town of Walden. And it’s only the beginning…
Walden, 1921. Local reporter Iris Woodmore is determined to save her beloved lake, Waldenmere, from destruction.
After a bloody and expensive war, the British Army can’t afford to keep the lake and build a convalescent home on its shores yet they still battle with Walden Council and a railway company for ownership. But an old mansion used as an officer training academy stands where the railway company plans to build a lakeside hotel. It belongs to General Cheverton – and he won’t leave his home. When the General is found murdered, it appears someone will stop at nothing to win the fight for Waldenmere. Iris thinks she can take on the might of the railway company and find the killer. But nothing prepares her for the devastation that’s to come. This is an engaging and enjoyable historic mystery. The attention to true detail is impressive here…..especially regarding the suffragette era. While this is the second in a series, this reads well as a stand alone. Thank you NetGalley for the advanced readers copy for review.

Not my usual read at all but this cozy/historical crime mystery was like a breath of fresh air. This is the second in the Iris Woodmore series but reads well as a standalone.

It’s a few years after the end of World War One, Iris is a feisty investigative journalist & her interest is piqued when she hears that Lake Waldenmere is to be redeveloped as a tourist resort. The sale of this land results in murder but how is it also linked to the war?

An interesting plot but a fairly slow pace which distracted from my enjoyment, hence dropping a star.

It was such a treat to return to Iris’ world and the beautiful setting of Waldenmere! I have fallen head over heels for this series and I thoroughly enjoyed this outing for Iris and the gang. This is the second book in the series but it can be read as a stand-alone but I would encourage you to read the first book as it was a corker and it was always good to get in at the start of a series. Especially, one I can see being here for quite a while. I have banged on before about how much I love this little subgenre of strong independent women between the wars, maybe as this was what I studied at uni but I love it and the Iris Woodmore Mysteries are a brilliant example of it!

Iris Woodmore lives in the picturesque town of Walden and especially loves the local lake Waldenmere. When the plans of a railway company are announced, the whole town is up in arms. They want to build a huge lakeside hotel and beach club. But there is a spanner in the works as the house and land they want to use is owned by General Cheverton and he refuses to leave! The army also wants to build a rehabilitation centre for convalescence for the armed forces but is struggling to raise the money. But when General Cheverton is found murdered it seems someone is determined to make sure their plans to develop Waldenmere succeeds! Iris is on the case to find out who…

Iris is thrown a lot to deal with in this book and I loved how her character developed. I especially loved her radical thinking in a certain area and her feminist leanings. Also, it was historically accurate as this generation of women did do a lot more of this (trying to word it so I don’t spoiler myself here) than what is the general consensus! The historical details were spot on throughout the book and I loved learning about the movement for national parks. It’s always the sign of a good piece of historical fiction if you start Googling and in this case I did!

Roll on book three - I can’t wait!

I am a huge fan of world war fiction and this was a good pick. I thoroughly enjoyed the setting of an idyllic village facing the repercussions of the war. The beautiful scenery came through well. I liked the independent nature of Iris and the details about the suffragette movement and I look forward to learning more about her adventures and her relationship with George. And I really didn't see the end coming!

I read and reviewed the first book in the series, Death at Crookham Hall, back in January, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. So I was excited to check out the second book in this new murder mystery series – and I was not disappointed.

After the end of the Great War, the British Army needs funds, urgently, so they're planning to sell off lands they'd used during and after the war – which are they now no longer need. As Waldenmere Lake is part of their property, negotiations are under way to sell it off. A large railway company is interested in building a hotel and lakeside resort in place but an old manor previously used as a training base is in the way. Its owner, General Cheverton, refuses to budge. When he is found dead, and his cash-strapped nephew inherits the large house, the company owner finds a way in.

But he hasn't counted on the local opposition, led by intrepid local councillor Mrs Siddons, who wants the council to buy the property. But things turn ugly when the army appears to accept the company's offer, as does the general's heir. But Mrs Siddons doesn't give up, nor does Iris.

Is there a way of saving Waldenmere Lake from being turned into a theme park for the rich, its flora and fauna trampled into the mud?

A tricky case for our reporter sleuth, Iris Woodmore, who goes off to investigate the general's murder, with the tacit approval of her boss. But her father has arrived home from his latest journey, and he's not happy at her actions. The rift between them grows, as the case gets murkier.

Then another murder happens that throws Iris’ world into turmoil, and she is more determined than ever to find out who's responsible. Is it the railway company, ruthlessly picking off opponents, or is there something else afoot?

I really like Iris. She's a young, independent woman, not afraid to ask uncomfortable questions. But she is also a woman of her time, frustrated at the inability of doing certain things of her own accord. Whilst her father would prefer her home and safe, she fights the injustice she sees around her with the help of her columns in the local paper. Her social conscience remains staunch throughout, but she has to realise sometimes that she needs help. And that's something she finds tricky.

In many ways, Iris resembles her late suffragette mother, whose unexplained death is covered in Death at Crookham Hall. She just doesn't quite realise it yet.

The murder plot is intriguing, with several possible suspects, including some characters close to Iris. The expansion of the railway companies, and their power at the time, are very well portrayed. As is the local opposition to ’modernity’. It's a tricky subject that the author deals with very well.

I had an inkling about one of the strands, and was proved right in the end, but Murder at Waldenmere Lake remains a gripping and very engaging murder mystery.

The Iris Woodmore Mysteries is fabulous new series, set in rural southern England, with a very likeable heroine. I'm looking forward to reading the next instalment, later in the spring.

A highly recommended read!

Note: I received an ebook copy of the book in exchange for an honest review. All views expressed are my own.

Michelle Salter’s Murder at Waldenmere Lake is the second nail-biting historical cozy mystery featuring local reporter Iris Woodmore.

Iris is determined to do whatever it takes to save her beloved lake, Waldenmere, from destruction. But it’s proving to be an uphill battle due to the British Army no longer able to pay for its upkeep. With the Walden Council and a railway company determined to get their hands on the lake, it looks like Iris will have a challenge of gargantuan proportions on her hands – not that she is the slightest bit deterred by it! With an old mansion that is used as an officer training academy standing where the railway company plans to build a hotel, the only fly in the ointment for them is owner General Cheverton – who won’t leave his home and who refuses to sell up. However, when the general is found dead, it becomes increasingly obvious that something sinister is going on at Waldenmere…

Clearly somebody is willing to go to great lengths to get their hands on Waldenmere, but they haven’t counted on tenacious Iris Woodmore. The reporter is adamant that she will move mountains to find out who killed the General and keep her beloved lake from being completely and utterly destroyed by greed and avarice. But is she ready for what she’s about to uncover? And for the devastation that’s to come?

Murder at Waldenmere Lake is a terrific historical cozy mystery that will keep readers gripped and eagerly turning the pages. With a strong sense of place, a wonderful ability to make the past come vividly to life and plenty of tension, intrigue and suspense, Murder at Waldenmere is an addictive historical cozy mystery by Michelle Salter perfect for Anne Perry and Verity Bright fans.

I was interested in this, having enjoyed the previous book in this series that I read.

This was a cosy mystery set in the 1920s. I remember that I liked Iris as a protagonist in the first book, so it was nice to read about her again, and about some of the other characters that I remember from last time. It was a light, entertaining read.

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

This is a 1920s murder mystery,
Sharing events set back in history.
This time journalist Iris is hoping to make
Safe the Waldenmere Lake.

However, her plans seem destined to fail
As the council can't battle those from rail.
Plans for a convalescent home or a hotel there
Can she protect the lake, getting others to care?

With a battle to save the local lake
Iris is wondering what it will take
Getting the local MP and nature lovers, too,
Should help, she thinks, so that's what she'll do.

However much the fight is on
If the rail company win, the lake will be gone
What will it's draining reveal?
Just what did the water conceal?

Get ready for murders and mystery
In this brilliant cosy crime thriller set back in history.
There are twists galore
And clues too easy to ignore!

A fascinating read to keep you turning the page
As secrets, family dramas and tempers rage.
Who could the perpetrator be?
Read it for yourself and then you'll see!

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

This is such an enthralling mystery, I was pulled in quickly and read it in just a few hours. The twists had me guessing til the very end. I love the multiple strands in the novel, the murder mystery and historical fiction are entwined together to make the perfect story and i hope there will be a third installment.

(An Iris Woodmore Mystery, Book 2 in the series, but easily read as a standalone.)
The story starts in Walden, Hampshire in 1921. It is written in the first person, from the view of Iris Woodmore, who is a reporter at The Walden Herald.
The lake, Waldenmere, is under threat from developers, but Mill Ponds – occupied by General Cheverton – is in the way of the suggested hotel that the railway company want to build. When Iris and her journalist colleague Elijah go to the mansion to ask the General for his thoughts on the matter, they find his lifeless body on the floor.
The book has a very authentic 1920s feel to it - and lots of smoking! Iris is a modern woman for the time with her fashionable short hair, wearing trousers and having a secret boyfriend. But we also see more traditional women characters like Alice who live at home with their parents and are discouraged from forming relationships with the opposite sex, especially if the young man is from a different class.
There’s an interesting environmental angle to the story too. As one side try to save the lake, they are helped by people from the Society for the Promotion of Nature Reserves to stop them being built on. There’s also the issue of mental health raised, particularly in relation to soldiers and what would probably be described as PTSD nowadays.
I enjoyed the story and didn’t guess “whodunnit” so it held my interest throughout. I really liked getting to know the characters and I feel Iris Woodmore is a great series heroine.

I do love historical mysteries, and this is definitely a new series I’ll continue with. Iris is tenacious and fierce, and I enjoyed the relationship with her boss Elijah being more of a father figure than her actual father. This book touched on many things, and I think sensitively handled the issue of the damage war did to many men and women back then. Definitely recommend.

I received a free ARC copy of this via NetGalley and the publishers in return for an unbiased review.

Despite being the second book in the Iris Woodmore mystery series, this can be read as a standalone novel too. If this is your first encounter with Iris, you will want to pick up the first book. If, instead, you have already made her acquaintance, you will greatly enjoy the new developments in her life. Unexpected plot twists, an evocative setting and a good ending make this an enjoyable read overall.

Three words to describe it. Engrossing. Entertaining. Original.

Do I like the cover? Yes, it’s elegant and looks gorgeous next to the first book in the series.

Have I read any other books by the same author? Yes, I’ve read the first Iris Woodmore mystery, Death at Crookham Hall.

#blogtour

Murder at Waldenmere Lake is book two in the Iris Woodmore Mystery series set in the very early 1920s onwards.

Book 2, Murder at Waldenmere Lake, begins not soon after the events of the first book, and it's good to see some familiar characters return to Walden. As with book 1, the mystery is firmly rooted in the concerns of the period, recovering from the events of World War 1 while contending with changes in society. I really love how well-researched the two novels are. I love a cosy mystery, but I adore it even more when the author goes that one step further and adds so much more authentic settings to the novel.

As with book 1, there's a murder fairly early on in the novel, which seems impossible to solve, and events more quite sedately until there is another murder and events really begin to move at pace. And yet, even with the devastation Iris feels at the murder, she can't seem to work out who was responsible, and indeed, some personal betrayal strikes her low as well.

The mystery, when it is eventually solved, is delightfully nuanced. Looking back, there might have been some hints I should have read more into, but I didn't, and so, as with book 1, the big reveal is a surprise but a really well-constructed one. I adored this book. Iris is a great character, as is Percy and the people she interacts with.

A fabulously well-researched historical cosy mystery, and I can't wait for the next book in the series.

‘Murder At Waldenmere Lake’ by Michelle Salter is a cosy mystery set in England in the 1920s. Iris Woodmore is a journalist on the local newspaper, the Walden Herald, and has become involved in the fight to save Waldenmere Lake from development. The army has been using the area since the war and would like to build a convalescent home on the grounds. The local council wants to keep it as it is for the people, but a powerful railway company has plans that would ruin it as a nature reserve forever. General Chevron lives on the land in an old mansion and plans to stay put. When he is murdered, Iris investigates. Who stands to gain from his death? Can she find out who killed him before anyone else is hurt?

Iris was a formidable character. She held down an important job at a time when young women were expected to get married and leave to workforce. Their contributions during get war were not given the credit they deserved, and they were expected to make way for the men returning from the front. Iris defied all expectations.

As Iris delves deeper into the goings on at Waldenmere, it becomes apparent that people having been hiding things, and agendas were not always what they seemed. Who can she trust? I enjoyed the mystery just as much as following the life of a young woman in the early 20th Century. Iris’s status in life at that time impacted on her ability to access the people and places she needed to.

The story was well written and cleverly thought-out. It had many strands, all of which were beautifully brought together at the end. I like Iris and am keen to follow her investigations in the future.

I was given this ARC to review.

The lake, Waldenmere, is the target of a railroad company for development as a tourist destination and with it the destruction of wildlife and the town feel the locals love. General Cheverton, owner of the house standing in the way of the development, is found murdered in his home. More murders follow. Small newspaper reporter Iris Woodmore is determined to find out who is responsible before more die...including her.

This is not your typical frothy 1920s historical mystery. WWI and the horrible repercussions on both soldiers and the civilians who helped behind the lines in hospitals play a big role in this book. The restrictive role women were expected to live, the expectation of families who didn't necessarily see how the world was changing, and all the emotional burdens that come with it are interwoven into this story along with a mystery that will keep you guessing until the end.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Historical mysteries are now my very favorite and I was excited to read this second installment of this series.

Set om 1921 after the end of WWI tensions are still high and the army wants to take over a local lake and the locals want to keep it and build a convalescent home on its shore.

Feisty reporter Iris is determined to save that lake but when a murder occurs, the focus changes.

A wonderful mystery full of historical tidbits and although some sadness, overall great!