I don't like Luke
I also don't want more waiting of them to be together
I will not be continuing with the series
I did like the setting and the post war background info, with the victory gardens and the rationing, those were cool little tidbits

Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the ARC of Death at Lovers' Leap!

Westleham Village 1948 - As Valentine's Day rolls around, Martha Miller finds herself unusually melancholy at the state of her own love life. With husband Stan still missing and with her growing feelings for Vicar Luke still shrouded in secrecy, there’s only one place Martha can go - famous local beauty spot, Lovers' Leap. Legend has it that those with a broken heart throw themselves off the bridge that spans the river, but Martha is certainly not about to do such a thing! But it looks like someone else has had other ideas…. Because there in the river, Martha finds a body. But is this misadventure, a moment of lovesick madness, or is foul play afoot? Martha knows one thing…the villagers of Westleham have another crime to solve!

This was a cute cozy mystery that really focuses on the history of post-WW2 England. This is the third in a series and while I wasn't lost for not having read the prior installments in the series, it definitely would have provided a more fleshed out reading experience if I had. And there are definitely spoilers in here for the prior books. Martha's unique situation makes for interesting agency in that time period while also creating conflict in an unusual way. The cast of characters in the village is also a lot of fun. Overall, if you enjoy cozy historical mysteries I'd recommend looking into this series, but start with book 1.

Death at Lovers' Leap is the third Martha Miller cozy by Catherine Coles. Released 16th Feb 2024 by Boldwood Books, it's 178 pages and is available in hardcover, paperback, audio, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout. For Kindle Unlimited subscribers, this book is currently included in the KU subscription library to borrow and read for free. The other books in the series are also currently available on KU.

This is a well written and whimsy filled historical cozy set just after WW2 in rural England. Life in the village has settled down for "newcomer" Martha Miller, but she's still melancholy about her still missing husband, and her (mostly) secret feelings for pastor Luke. When she finds another body, she and her "Watson" are drawn into another amateur investigation.

It's a fair play mystery, and readers will enjoy evaluating the clues as they come along. The author is adept at providing background story, so although it's the third book in the series, it works fine as a standalone read. There are developments with the characters in the previous books, so readers who choose to read them out of order should expect some minor spoilers.

Four stars, with three books extant it would make a nice mini-binge or buddy read. There's a fourth book due out from the same publishers in first quarter 2025.

The unabridged audiobook has a run time of 6 hours 18 minutes and is expertly read by Alex Lee. She has an even, beautifully modulated RP accent and a surprising facility with the different voices across a range of characters of widely varying ages and both male and female. Sound and production quality are high throughout the read.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

I liked the previous two books in the series and hoped that we will finally deal with the missing husband in this one. That was not to be, and I think that might have coloured my reaction to the book.

This story almost felt like a place holder to show us how complex and troubled the emotions running between the lead pair is. It is hard to think of a suitable way in which the author can spin their tale in the future. Just for that I will be trying the next book at least.

Our leading lady is out of sorts with good reason. She decides to go for a walk when she finds a body ( or rather her dog does). This leads her to get involved in another murder investigation ( or at least she treats it as one).

I found the post- war situation interesting. This also plays into the mystery and the reveal, both of which I had an inkling about, but was happy enough to see turn out the way it did. There's a serious bent to this particular installment with the issues tackled here, as well as the personal issues that Martha cannot be expected to be happy about.

I would recommend this book to fans of the genre. I will definitely be trying the next book in the series when it does come out. I hope it's about the husband this time around. I would not recommend starting this series at this point without having read the previous two books, even if that does not directly affect the mystery at the centre.

I received an ARC thanks to Netgalley and the publishers but the review is entirely based on my own reading experience.

I liked the writing and how the story didn’t stale at all, just kept pushing through and intrigued me with the diverse cast of characters their interactions.

I've read a number of books by Catherine Coles and have adored them all. Death at Lovers' Leap lived up to my very high expectations of this author. Beautifully written, brilliantly plotted. Can't wait for the next one.

Thank you to NetGalley and to the publisher for allowing me to read this in exchange for an honest review.

This is the 3rd book from the Martha Miller series and like the previous two, this book was for the most part enjoyable with a cozy mystery set in the little village of Westleham where family secrets abound and there is yet another killer on loose. Martha and her growing fondness for the vicar, Luke, was given more prominence and Martha is forced to examine her feelings for the vicar when she encounters a situation at her home. I wonder if Stan, her absconding/missing husband, will ever turn up and make things more messier for Martha. The mystery in the plot was simple and not very difficult to guess. Still an easy and enjoyable read which is how a cozy mystery should be.

1948, Martha Miller is feeling blue on Valentine's Day with a missing husband and an unrequited love for the vicar. But things get worse when she finds a young man's dead body...
Death at Lovers' Leap is the third book to feature amateur sleuths Martha and Luke in an English village shortly after WW2. I have previously read and reviewed the first two books in the series: Poison at the Village Show and Daggers at the Country Fair.
A love triangle seems to have caused the latest shock death in the village. Steven died at a place renowned for a tragic past and may have jumped to his death after his girl showed attention to another. Or was he killed by his love rival? Martha and Luke realise something else may be afoot in the village when another person dies. The murder mystery is maintained until the final chapter. I liked the historical details which add to the plot and depth of the characters.
The sleuthing couple have the added complication of the arrival of Luke's father and later his sister too. I feel so sorry for Martha and Luke as they are perfect together and their hopes of a relationship seem as far away as ever despite their obvious feelings. I really want them to find happiness but I don't see how it will happen due to his vocation and her marital history :(
Death at Lovers' Leap is an enjoyable cosy murder mystery.

This book was a letdown for me. The book’s pacing didn’t quite capture my attention and the last 20% was the saving grace since the journey to get there isn’t engaging. I am hesitant about continuing with this series since this experience wasn’t enjoyable. Perhaps the next book might offer a more engaging narrative that will keep me hooked from start to finish.

I am not sure if I will continue with the Martha Miller series. It is always a difficult decision if a series is the right fit or if there is just one bad book. Now, I must decide if it is time to explore new authors and series that better align with my changing reading preferences.

This is the third book in the Martha Miller series, and just like the first two I really enjoyed it. The characters in this series, are fun and quirky, and I have really enjoyed reading about how the relationships and characters have grown over the course of the series. The mystery aspect was in my opinion well written, and it had enough clues that I was able to make a good guess about the murderer, but also contained enough misdirection that it wasn't completely obvious. I think the pacing was good and there was excitement pretty much to the end of the book. I hope there will be more books in this series, and I look forward to reading them when they come out.

I received an advanced copy of this book from Netgalley, all reviews are my own.

Blog tour with Rachel's Random Resources

http://ramblingmads.uk/2024/02/21/blog-tour-death-at-lovers-leap-catherine-coles/

I'm a big fan of Catherine Coles' writing style- deceptively simple, but extremely engaging and full of realistic memorable details. If you are wondering whether you need to read the first two books before embarking on this one, the beginning of the story contains a very useful recap which will bring a new reader up to speed with the series in no time at all.
Martha, despite being quite reserved, is an extremely likeable character who has managed to make quite a few friends in the village. If you've read the second book, you will remember we were left on a cliffhanger as far as her relationship with her sleuthing sidekick the dashing vicar Luke Walker is concerned. Their life circumstances seem to make it impossible for them to be more than friends. Of course, we've all been expecting the third book to see if we are going to get more news about where and why Stan Miller disappeared, leaving Martha desperately destitute and lonely. Luckily, she managed to integrate into the village life, not least thanks to her sleuthing successes. When Martha finds another dead body, the victim's mother, who is convinced it couldn't have possibly been a suicide, asks her to find the murderer of her son. The mystery itself is pretty straightforward and you will probably guess the culprit and their motive quite early on. Still, we get more developments on the romance front and other important relationships and get introduced to a few new characters.
The book has practically no subplots which makes it easier to read, but also makes it appear an interlude. The important thing is that the story never drags and leaves you both entertained and looking forward to the next instalment.
As with the previous books, I really liked the historical details and the bigger context in which the story is set, including the rationing books which play an important part in the story. I would definitely recommend this series to anyone who enjoys historical mysteries.

Martha Miller finds herself embroiled in another murder mystery in Death at Lovers’ Leap, the third title in Catherine Coles’ terrific historical cosy crime series.

Valentine’s Day is just around the corner and Martha’s thoughts naturally turn to her own love life. She cannot help but feel despondent with her husband Stan still missing and her ever growing feelings for Vicar Luke. Needing some time to think and some clarity, Martha heads off to famous local beauty spot Lovers’ Leap. Legend says that those with a broken heart throw themselves off the bridge and Martha is certainly not about to do that. However, it seems that other people might have had other ideas…

Martha is shocked when on arrival she finds a body in the river. Was it an accident? Misadventure? Or could something sinister be afoot? Having already proved herself to be an accomplished detective, it seems like Martha will have to turn sleuth yet again. Can she – and the villagers of Westleham – solve this mystery? Can she get to the bottom of this case? Or should Martha have let sleeping dogs lie?

Catherine Coles’ Death at Lovers’ Leap is another enjoyable Martha Miller mystery readers will find engaging, engrossing and difficult to put down. Full of wonderful characters, superb period atmosphere and plenty of red herrings to pull the rug out from under readers’ feet, fans of the genre will not want to miss Catherine Coles’ Death at Lovers’ Leap.

Really interesting book, twists and turns along the way. Keeps you intrigued right to the end, book three but can be read as a stand-alone. Although I recommend you go back and enjoy the others. Thank you netgalley for the advanced copy

I enjoyed picking up the threads of this cozy crime series and seeing what Martha Miller was up to now. Inevitably, a dead body enters the story and she is drawn into yet another village mystery. There are some satisfying links in the story to the recent war and its continuing effect on the community. Martha is feeling somewhat dissatisfied with her life, waiting to find out what happened to her husband and unable to move on as she longs to. There is a great mixture of historical detail and mystery and this time, her feelings for the local vicar seem to be growing. The social mores of the era are forcing her to try to put a distance between her and Luke but their investigations draw them closer.

You get to find out quite a lot more about Luke's family in this story and to meet some of his relatives. He does not have an easy relationship with all his family and you can see how torn he is. I also enjoyed some of the secondary characters, particularly Martha's friends who are all agog to see if she can solve another murder. The series continues in good heart and by the end, you do feel that Martha's life might be moving on a little. The murder is expertly uncovered, with all the hallmarks of a classic crime novel.

In short: tantalising clues and a touch of romance

BLOG TOUR REVIEW


Review for 'Death At Lovers' Leap' by Catherine Coles.

Read and reviewed via NetGalley for Catherine Coles, Rachel's Random Resources, Book And Tonic, Boldwood Books, Poison & Pens and The Bold Book Club

Publication date 16th February 2024

This is the first book I have read by this author but it most definitely won't be my last!!! It is also the third book in 'The Martha Miller Mysteries' series but can be read as a standalone.

This novel consists of 15 chapters. The chapters are short to medium in length so easy to read 'just one more chapter' before bed...OK, I know yeah right, but still just in case!

I must admit that I am always a bit dubious with books based historically as I worry about not being able to 'deal' with the language used but I absolutely love how Catherine has written this book. The language used is perfectly suited to the era whilst being easy to read and making it quite humorous on several occasions. The atmosphere and descriptions were perfect. The synopsis and cover also suit the storyline.

I absolutely LOVE this book and have become so invested in it as a series!! I absolutely devoured it in several hours!

OMG!!!!! I absolutely loved this funny, emotive, crime packed page turning cosy murder mystery!!!! I had to actually go back to see if I had read any of the previous books in this series as when I started it, it felt like I was coming back to a favourite village with amazing characters I already knew but I have never read a single book by this fantastic author!! I mean where have you been all my life Catherine?!?! I absolutely LOVE, LOVE, LOVED this fantastic book in what is absolutely guaranteed to be an amazing and favourite series for me if this page turner is anything to go by!!! This book has been set in the stunning location of Westleham, which although it is fictional Catherine ensured the village came to life in front of my eyes. She has created a fantastic setting for a crime series and portrayed life in a small village absolutely perfectly!! I live in one myself and you can't sneeze without half the place knowing and talking about it!!! Catherine's amazing and evocative writing skills really has brought everything to life all throughout this fantastic book and I have loved every moment. The storyline is ram packed with crime, humour, friendship, romance, forbidden love, family drama and absolutely everything you could ask for in an absolutely fantastic page turner!!! There was no way I could finish just one chapter as even though I kept telling myself I would and then go to bed each chapter ended in a way where I just HAD to know what happened next and before I knew it I had devoured the whole book in one sitting in a few hours!!! The storyline was realistic which I always prefer as it makes it more enjoyable to read when you can see that it is something that could happen. This book is well constructed and traditional and what starts off as one murder becomes quite multi layered with all the characters backgrounds coming out. It was a very compelling read. I would never have guessed who did what and I was completely shocked by the mega twist. An absolutely fantastic read filled with suspense, mystery, twists and much more (I can't say much more as I don't want to spoil it for future readers) Congratulations Catherine, it is getting harder and harder to surprise me and you did just that!!! This is one of those fantastic books that you could get completely lost in whether you are curled up on the sofa with a hot chocolate or laying on the beach with a cocktail. I also want to add that Catherine has included a character list at the start of her book which is an absolutely fantastic idea and one I wish more authors would do as It makes a brilliant reference point especially if the book is in a series and you start at any that isn't the first in the series. Well done Catherine and thank you for this fantastic thoughtful input! It is a fun easy to read book filled with laughter out loud moments and sweet forbidden romance you will get completely lost in the pages. If you have never read any books by this brilliant author then pick up your copy today!! Well done Catherine on a fantastic, addictive and gorgeous page turner!!!

Clear your schedules and pick up this fantastic and page turning book in this absolutely promising series!!!

Although this is the third book in the series I had absolutely no problems reading it without the others. Any details or events that have previously happened are mentioned in just the right amount of detail to let a new reader know what has happened and yet not too much to bore a previous reader.


I loved meeting all the characters again who are a delightful mix of personalities with intriguing backgrounds and each one was very compelling. They very quickly became like friends to me. I actually had to go back and make sure I hadn't actually read any other books in this series as immediately it felt like I had met them before and I was even pleased to meet them again as it just felt like I knew thim. This has got to be a first for me and although it was a very strange experience it was really nice to feel like I already knew characters that I had never actually met before!!! I absolutely loved the main characters of Martha and Luke who both had such brilliant personalities and worked perfectly as individuals and together. I would absolutely love to see them in a relationship and it is so heartbreaking that due to her husband missing and him being a vicar that in those times it just was not possible. I adored watching their interactions and they are definitely two characters I will be rooting for regardless of how they should or shouldn't be!!! There were so many brilliant characters in this book including Maud, Ruby, Ada and Ben to name a few that I could go on and on about them but I'll try not too!!! I loved that each of the women had such strong personalities and were determined to get to the bottom of the deaths. Maud made me laugh with her blunt attitude, Ada is sweet and I adored Ruby and Ben and am looking forward to seeing their next chapter. I am just absolutely landed that I can not only look forward to meeting these amazing characters again in Catherine's future books but I can also go back and read the previous ones in this fantastic series while I'm waiting!!! Catherine's evocative writing skills really have brought each of these characters to life throughout this book and I am looking forward to continuing my new found friendship with them all!! One of the characters that I have got to mention and that I also loved is Lizzie (Martha's dog). I am a huge animal lover so any books that contain animals as part of their plot are always a huge hit for me and Lizzie is definitely a main character and another one I cannot wait to meet again!! An amazing group of realistic, strong and unique characters that I have loved getting to know in this amazing book and that I cannot wait to meet again and again!!!

Congratulations Catherine on an absolutely addictive and unputdownable cosy crime book, an absolutely perfect start (for me) to what promises to be one of the best cosy crime book series' that I have come across. I would love to welcome you to my favourite cosy mystery author club and here's to your next success 🥂!!!

Make sure you read to the very end of the book to read the prologue and first chapter of Catherine's 'Daggers At The Country Fair' which is the second book in this fantastic series and which promises to be just as addictive as this book. It is one I'm definitely looking forward to reading myself!!

210 pages.

This book is just £2.99 to purchase on kindle, free with kindle unlimited and £9.99 in paperback via Amazon which I think is an absolute bargain for this book!!!

Rated 5 /5 (I LOVED it ) on Goodreads, Instagram, Amazon UK and Amazon US and on over 30 Facebook pages plus my blog on Facebook.

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Catherine Coles - Death At Lovers’ Leap.

(The Martha Miller mysteries book3)

Catherine Coles is a new author to me, so I hadn’t read books one or two in this series.
There is however, enough background information given, that this book was easily read as a stand alone story.

This is a cosy mystery/crime set in 1948.

While out for a walk, Martha and her dog come across the dead body of a young local man.
Was his death an accident? Was it suicide? Or is there a murder to be solved?
Martha and Luke (the local vicar) along with a motley crew of friends and neighbours begin their investigations to find the truth. With a little help from the police of course!

I liked Martha and Luke. They made a sweet pair, but with Martha’s husband still missing, their relationship must remain platonic.

#DeathAtLoversLeap is a fast paced, engaging and well written cosy mystery.
There is a great bunch of characters and a plot that will charm you and keep you gripped.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I first discovered Catherine and her amazing books when I had the good fortune to pick up a copy of the first book in the 'Martha Miller' mystery series which is called 'Poison At The Village Show' and was released in 2022. I thoroughly enjoyed the first in the series and also the second book in the series called 'Daggers At The Country Fair'. When I heard that Catherine was due to release another book in the series, I knew that I had to grab a copy and read it at the earliest opportunity. Well ladies and gents the wait is over because the third book in the series is called 'Death At Lovers' Leap' and it was released on 16th February 2024. It's another cracking addition to a cracking series. I thoroughly enjoyed reading 'Death At Lovers' Leap' but more about that in a bit.

It took me next to no time to get into 'Death At Lovers' Leap'. In fact by the time I got to the end of the few pages, I felt as though I had reunited with an old friend in the form of Martha. I had initially picked the book up intending to read a chapter or two but I became so wrapped up in the story and in the lives of the characters that I was still sat there a couple of hours and several chapters later. From then on, it's safe to say that I became addicted to the story and that I wasn't going to be putting the book down any time soon. My Kindle wasn't exactly glued to my hand but it might as well have been because it travelled everywhere with me. I couldn't bear to miss a single second of the story. Besides, I had formed my own theories as to what was going to happen and how the story was going to pan out so of course I had to keep reading to see if I was on the right track or if I had wandered off in the opposite direction. I was so wrapped up in the story that I lost all track of time and just how quickly I was getting through the book. All too quickly I reached the end of 'Death At Lovers' Leap' and I had to say goodbye to Martha and the rest of the characters. I found 'Death At Lovers' Leap' to be a gripping cosy mystery, which certainly kept me guessing and kept me on the edge of my seat.

'Death At Lovers' Leap' is superbly written but then I have come to expect nothing less from Catherine Coles. Catherine certainly knows how to grab the reader's attention and draw them into what proves to be one heck of a story and then some. Catherine's love for her characters shines through in the very vivid and realistic way in which she describes them. Her characters seem just as real as you and I. In fact characters such as Martha ended up feeling more like friends rather than characters in a book. For me, the story hit the ground running and maintained a fairly brisk pace throughout. There were several twists and turns to this story - some of which I spotted and others that I didn't. I love the way in which Catherine makes the reader feel as though they are part of the story and at the heart of the action. That's how I felt anyway.

In short, I thoroughly enjoyed reading 'Death At Lovers' Leap' and I would definitely recommend this book to other readers. I will certainly be reading more of Catherine's work in the future. The score on the Ginger Book Geek board is a very well deserved 5* out of 5*.

Catherine Coles delivers another delightful mystery with “Death at Lovers’ Leap,” set in the quaint village of Westleham in 1948. This cozy whodunit captivates from the first page to the last with its blend of small-town charm, romance, and suspense.

Martha Miller, the endearing protagonist, finds herself entangled in yet another perplexing case as Valentine’s Day approaches. Still grappling with the mysterious disappearance of her husband Stan and her clandestine affection for Vicar Luke, Martha’s melancholy takes her to the iconic Lovers’ Leap, where tragedy strikes anew. The discovery of a body in the river plunges Martha into a tangled web of secrets, lies, and long-buried emotions.

Coles masterfully weaves together elements of romance and suspense against the backdrop of a tight-knit community. The vividly depicted setting of Westleham adds depth to the narrative, immersing readers in its idyllic charm while concealing dark secrets beneath its surface.

The author’s skillful storytelling keeps readers guessing until the final revelation, with plenty of twists and turns along the way. The dynamic between Martha and Luke adds an extra layer of intrigue, enhancing both the mystery and the emotional depth of the story.

“Death at Lovers’ Leap” is a must-read for fans of cozy mysteries, offering a captivating blend of suspense, romance, and village charm. Catherine Coles continues to enchant readers with her Martha Miller series, and this installment is no exception.

Death at Lovers’ Leap is Book three in this delightful cozy mystery series. It follows Poison at the Village Show, and Daggers at the Country Fair.

This title can be read on its own but readers may also want to go back to enjoy the first two books. This way they will see more of the characters ‘ relationships and how they evolve.

This book is published in February which is, of course, the month with Valentine’s Day. The book’s protagonist and amateur sleuth Martha is thinking about her own love life, or lack thereof. She is just in the mood to go to her local Lovers’ Leap. What she finds there will send her on a hunt for a murderer.

This historical, traditional mystery offers a pleasant diversion. The pages turned swiftly. It will be enjoyed by fans of the genre.

Many thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and Rachel's Random Resources for this title. All opinions are my own.