Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read and review an advanced copy of this novel. I highly enjoyed it and will be recommending it.

A Trace of Hares is the fifth book in the Dr. Nell Ward cozy mystery series by Dr. Sarah Yarwood-Lovett. Released 27th March 2024 by Bonnier on their Embla Books imprint, it's 300 pages and is available in 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 previous books in the series are also currently available on KU to borrow.

This is a diverting series featuring an intelligent female ecologist who is again drawn into amateur sleuth mode when her attendance at a destination wedding in Ireland turns up a recently deceased body in a peat bog. Although it has the bones of a cozy mystery, there are elements of procedural and some slightly more graphic violence and descriptions than are usually present in cozies.

The main protagonist is a conservation ecologist and it's a profession which she shares with the author. It's an oft-said proverb that authors should write what they know, and Dr. Yarwood-Lovett has done just that; describing the realities of crawling through muck, and some of the less salubrious aspects and realities of field work.

The book is full of science tidbits and trivia and that's one of the big highlights. Without being pedantic or lecturing, the author pulls back the curtain on tantalizing bits of nature most never see. There are technical terms bandied about, and there are some places which require a little more attention on the part of the reader - but they're relatively few and far between and I think most readers will have no problem understanding the jargon from context.

Four stars. It does move slowly in places, but the author does a thorough job of building up the characters' back-stories and settings. This book has a self contained mystery arc, and so it works well enough as a standalone. With five books extant currently, and a 6th to be released in 1st quarter 2025, it would be a good choice for a binge/buddy read.

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

I am fan of cosy mysteries and have love this series. It was great tk read about Dr Nell and co again! An easy and enjoyable read.

This installment finds Nell, Rav, Conor and the rest in Conor’s native Ireland for his and Sylvia’s wedding. Of course nothing goes to plan, and there is bad blood between brothers, a twenty-year old missing person mystery, and a new family member to welcome. The ecology in this one surrounds the Irish bogs and what it is that preserves whatever is buried in them - sphagnum moss!

Like the previous book, a slightly grimmer lean in respect of the deaths and murders, and I had an inkling of the murderer(s), but it was cleverly done and thoroughly enjoyable! The characters are what keeps me with this series; they’re so well done.

Recommended for clever mysteries and a unique and interesting theme.

Thank you to NetGalley, Embla Books and the author for the opportunity to read this in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.

I am such a fan of these books and have read them in sequence from the beginning and look forward to each character evolving each time. This time, we got to see a lot more about Conor and his early life and it didn't disappoint. He has always been a strong and silent character - dependable and endearing and this continues in this new book. This book felt very different to previous - one missing person, twenty years earlier. We do still get to see Nell use the land around her to solve the mysteries that come up - a staple of these books and evidence of the author's skill and knowledge. One of the best parts of a Trace of Hares, was the development of Shannon's character. I hope we get to see her come into the fold more and more in future books. My only criticism - the who dunnit - it was glaringly obvious and could be guessed from very very early on. For that, this get 3.5 stars from me - if it hadn't been as obvious it would have definitely scored higher for me. BUT as always I will still be looking out for the next one and continuing with this incredible series.

Before I read Trace of Hares I was nervous about jumping in mid-series, but I was delighted to find that this works well as a standalone too. This is an enjoyable cozy mystery, and I look forward to reading more in the Dr Nell Ward series

A Trace of Hares by Sarah Yarwood-Lovett

I received an advance review copy for free thanks to NetGalley and Embla Books and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Blurb

A family wedding. An unsolved murder. Til death us do part?

Dr Nell Ward is in the lush, emerald-green hills of Ireland to attend the wedding of two dear friends at a picture-perfect farmhouse.

But family tensions are running high in the days before the happy couple tie the knot. And when Nell hears a fox kill a hare in the early morning, the bad omen sends shivers down her spine. Almost like it is a sign of something to come...

Then one of the locals makes a gruesome discovery in a nearby peat bog. The habitats are famous for the ancient bodies they can preserve for thousands of years. This woman, however, died much more recently and was clearly a victim of foul play.

Nell and her friends are suddenly in the middle of another murder case. Can they trace the truth to unmask a long-hidden killer and save the wedding, before it's too late?

My Opinion

Trouble seems to follow Dr Nell Ward. Whilst attending a family wedding, Nell and her friends stumble across another family mystery. Sarah Yarwood-Lovett has written a riveting mystery with some great characters. Whilst this is the fifth book in the series this could work as a standalone. This was an easy book to read.

Rating 4/5

I sped through this book in one go in just a few short hours, utterly immersed in both the peat-rich Irish setting and the exciting plot!

This is the fifth in the Dr Nell Ward series of mysteries and while I wholeheartedly advocate reading them all in order, to really understand the character relationships and histories, I will grudgingly admit that you can technically read this as a standalone story too (but why would you when they are such good stories?!)

I LOVE that Nell, Rav, James and Shannon have now formed a unique and highly-skilled unofficial murder investigation team and was intrigued that the main suspects in this case were four very different brothers, all with motives and opportunities, giving the reader chance to wonder which of their personalities could be a better fit for the crime. And I was totally fooled by some of the red herrings (although I spotted some clues) and was astounded by dramatic climax and reveal… I had suspected someone completely different!

There is less ecological fieldwork in this book, mainly due to the circumstances of Nell and Rav being at the location for a social occasion rather than for work, but the team do manage to slip in a fair bit of science and lab work to make up for it. And they do spot some hares…

…which indirectly leads them into yet another ‘hairy’ situation, proving that being in a wheelchair isn’t going to stop Rav from participating in just as much of the physical danger as ever. They really are a well-matched couple!

I am thoroughly invested in this series and the characters, and I have to, yet again, declare this book the best in the series… so far! (I am eagerly waiting for A Swarm of Butterflies to land on 26th August 2023 – you can pre-order it on Amazon right now!)

A Trace of Hares is book 5 in the Dr Nell Ward Mystery Series. I have read and enjoyed the 4 previous books and this one is no exception. It was full of interesting characters and is a great cosy mystery.

Thank you to NetGalley and Embla Books for my ARC.

I really enjoyed this book. It was different than anything else I've read recently. I couldn't put it down! I will keep an eye out for this author's future work!

Book Review:
A Trace of Hares by Sarah Yarwood-Lovett
Published by Embla Books, 27th March 2024

The lush Irish countryside is the setting for the fifth book in the Dr Nell Ward mystery series. Although I'd not read the previous four books, aside from knowing Nell and her boyfriend Rav on a deeper level, I don't think I would've gained anything by doing so.

Nell and Rav are in Ballygoria to see two friends, Conor and Sylvia, get married, and whilst there, scientist Nell embraces the secrets of the emerald green hills. But a long-buried secret emerges when a bog body is discovered and is revealed to be Conor's sister Siobhan, who disappeared with her tiny child twenty years previously.

The author's evocative writing conjurs up powerful images of the environment, but I couldn't quite picture the many characters in my head. I'm going back to the beginning of the series to get a better sense of Nell and Rav, as I'd love to know their story from the beginning. In A Trace of Hares, there are four brothers, including Conor fighting over what happened to Siobhan, and their sister Maeve is grieving too. It's hard to say more without spoilers, but the attention to detail is great, secrets are revealed, and this book is full of intrigue and surprises.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thanks to Embla Books and Sarah Yarwood-Lovett for the ARC provided via NetGalley; this is my unbiased review.

#BookReview #ATraceOfHares #EmblaBooks #SarahYarwoodLovett #ARCReview #NetGalley #BookReviewer

This is the first book I have read I what is a series of crime novels with the character Dr Nell Ward. Not being familiar with previous novels did not spoil my enjoyment of the book. It was a complex and in depth story of families, love, anger and past history set in lush Irish countryside, beautifully described and portrayed. It was full of suspense and also interesting insights into biology, history, forensic investigation and conservation as the plot was uncovered. I found those aspects fascinating too. A good read.

Nell Ward is in Ireland to celebrate the wedding of two of her friends and whilst she is there she wants to explore the bogland biome. The groom is one of four brothers who have strained relationships with each other and when Sean announces that he is marrying Maeve, the sister of the missing wife of his brother, the scene is set. The discovery of a body in the peat nearby cracks open old wounds and Nell is a race to solve what happened.
I do really enjoy this series of books because I love the ecological aspect which is different. I especially liked all the descriptions of the mechanism of DNA testing and it is clear that the author knows what she is talking about. The plot was a little muddy in places and the final conclusions seemed to be a bit hysterical but generally this is a solid and undemanding book.

What I love about Yarwood-Lovett's writing is how incredibly spooky and magnetic her intros are. While the beginning of her books truly scare me, they are actually for the most part cozy, and so enjoyable to read. This book had a bunch of family drama, a whole lot of testosterone, and some really in-depth ecology and botany moments. For me, the best part of these book are Dr. Nell doing research; there's something so captivating about these subjects that I know nothing about.
I saw a few reviews saying that this is a standalone...while technically it could be, I recommend at least reading the first book in the series because you are introduced to half of the characters that show up in this book.

Nell and Rav are in Ireland for a wedding and it seems that wherever Nell goes murder is never far behind .
The convivial atmosphere is disrupted when a body is found in a peat bog , it’s the body of a woman who has a connection to the bride groom.
The body is a woman called Siobhan who was thought to have run away with her daughter.
What follows is a tale of jealousy , greed and secrets that are dredged up from the past and begin to have serious repercussions for everyone around them.
The writing is excellent as always and the attention to detail makes this a cut above .
I’m eagerly awaiting Nell’s next case .
A great read , highly recommended.!
Thanks to NetGalley and Embla Books .

What a gripping tale! I had never read any books by Sarah Yarwood-Lovett, so I was excited to receive an arc of A Trace of Hares. It is actually the fifth book in a series about Nell and her boyfriend Rav. It is easily read as a stand alone book, I missed nothing. Nell and Rav are to attend a wedding, but sadly they come across a body buried in the bog, It turned out to be a member of the groom’s family, who had disappeared a number of years earlier. The story follows the family in the next few days. All the cliff hanger events and family fights hold your interest. I found it unputdownable! Although this was my first book by Sarah, it won’t be my last. Thank you to NetGalley and Embla books for an arc of this great book.

Surely murder can't follow Nell to Ireland? Alas, her trip to take part in Colin and Sylvia's nuptials takes a turn for the worse. Both Rav and Nell are put into the path of danger when a woman turns up dead, after years of being missing.

Sarah Yarwood-Lovett continues to shine with her previous training as an ecologist informing every aspect of the series. It's truly fascinating to learn about the clues we can get from the environment, and how Nell is never cowed by the trail of deaths in her wake. Another 5 star read!

It is so nice to find a crime novel that sparkles with good storytelling and originality. This is my introduction to Sarah Yarwood-Lovett and I will certainly be reading more books by her.
I rarely enjoy new cozy crime novels but this one has a bit of grit to it and plenty of believable characters. The west coast of Ireland has long been a popular haunt for novelists and is a perfect backdrop for this story.
There's rivalry and jealousy between the four brothers at the centre of the plot which provides plenty of tension as suspicion points backwards and forwards between them all.
The forensic detail adds a whole extra layer of clues and suspense and was totally fascinating.
An absolute joy to read.

Trace of Hares is the fifth book in this addictive, cosy mystery series with its roots in ecology. Nell, Rav, James, and Shannon are guests at Connor and Sylvia's wedding in Ireland. On the first evening, family tensions emerge, and a devastating discovery is in the peat bog, embroiling Nell in another murder investigation. I like the character dynamics between Nell and her friends. The botanical and ecological details add authenticity to the story and give it a unique edge—the story is twisty, and there is plenty of family drama. The author evokes the location and the family relationships, bringing both to vibrant life. I like the characters, mystery and uniqueness of this cosy mystery.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher.

A Trace of Hares by Sarah Yarwood-Lovett is a Dr Nell Ward mystery. Nell is a scientist. She is also the daughter of nobility and of a politician. Nell and her companion, Rav, who is still in a wheelchair following a car accident. That is not holding him back, though, and he is still working as hard as ever. They are joining other friends at the wedding between Conor, her mother’s bodyguard, and Silvia, a friend. Things deteriorating quickly as the four brother get together for the first time in years: Conor, Sean, Brandon, and Finn Kennedy. Sean plans to marry himself, in the new year. A woman called Maeve, who runs a distillery. She was also the sister to Brandon’s wife, who had been missing for twenty years. Things really go down hill when a group of construction workers are digging for new construction and uncover a body. It turns out to be Maeve’s sister, Siobhan. Things start happening faster. The guys all get in a fight at a bar. Aoife, a local student, present at the dig site, convinces Nell to run a DNA test. She is indeed the daughter to Siobhan who disappeared or died along with her mother. Then all that remains is to determine the father. Apparently it could be any of the four brother.

Nell is a botanist first and foremost, but a sleuth as well. She just can’t abide unanswered questions, no matter whom they involve. She is warm and confident and loves Rav, with or without legs that work. Sean ends up in the hospital having been poisoned by someone using rat poison. Nothing to identify the poisoner, despite the fact Nell had seen it all. The is a very active book, with things happening at every turn. These two families, Siobhan’s and the Kennedys, are all hurting. The parents are elderly and don’t need the grief. It’s a good mystery, with characters readers are familiar with, and an excellent plot, reaching twenty years into the past. Plenty of people think they know what is happening. Few do. Thanks Ms Yarwood-Lovett. I love the Nell Ward books.

I was invited to read A Trace of Hares by Embla Books. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #Netgalley #EmblaBooks #SarahYarwoodLovett #ATraceOf Hares