This book was gripping and hard to put down. It didn't feel like everything else you see out there, it felt very fresh. I really enjoyed this book!

A great sequel!! I really found this gripping and engaging from start to finish.

Really happy I got my hands on this book.

Milla and Ben are back in this second book in Louise Marley’s English Village Mystery series. As in the first, Murder at Raven’s Edge, the book has a spooky feel and would make a great read at Halloween with its sword wielding creepy highwayman. This time round we find out more about Ben’s family history involving his father, uncles and cousins. As well as the return of Harriet there is also the addition of Milla’s ex boyfriend Lorcan Black, who was a great character. I hope there will be more books in this cozy mystery series as I would love to see what becomes of Milla and Ben. Thank you to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for letting me read and review this book.

Murder at Ravenswood House has the same gothic novel feeling as it's predecessor Murder at Raven.s Edge.
The two main characters from the first book, Ben Taylor and Mila Graham are back in another story riddled with quirky characters and spooky murders. Their relation has developed into a love affair, but soon Mila's behaviour and her backing of a former lover will throw a spanner into their relationship..

The book starts when a woman's body is found besides a pond, but strangely, her head is missing. Soon the trail leads to Lorcan Black, a famous Gothic Rock artist who recently settled in Ravenswood house and turns out to be Mila's former lover. Mila refuses to accept that Lorcan is guilty. Her support of Lorcan and her sometimes rather erratic behaviour leads to a breakup with Ben.
In the mean time we learn a lot more about Ben's past and his family ties to the local criminal family. One supporting storyline is about event's that took place 15 year's ago and which led to a breakup between Ben and his family.
As in the first book I loved the decidedly Gothic atmosphere of this book, with headless highwayman, swords, attacking ravens etcetera. Lorcan Black is a very interesting support character.
Looking forward to the next book in this series.
Thanks to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for this Advanced Reader’s Copy of Murder at Ravenswood House

This book takes place not long after the events of Murder at Raven's Edge. It starts off with Milla having a late night meeting with her ex-boyfriend only to find that he's not there, but the evidence of a crime is.

Meanwhile, as things about Ben's past come to light, there seems to be an unsolved murder. Piece by piece, we learn about the role his family played in a robbery and kidnapping and how this sorted past is affecting everything currently taking place.

I enjoyed learning more about Ben's family and his past. The previous book focused on Milla's family, and it was nice having the focus on Ben this time around. The flashbacks to Ben and his cousins during their childhood and to his father and uncles as they committed a robbery and home invasion were both a terrific glimpse into Ben's family issues. You can clearly see how all of this is still affecting Ben's life now.

I absolutely recommend this book to readers looking for a good mystery series.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are my own.

I really enjoyed Murder at Raven Edge, where we first met Milla Graham and DI Ben Taylor and I was lucky to be able to dive straight into the second book in the series. Milla is once again finds herself embroiled in a murder investigation - this time her old friend and ex-lover, Lorcan Black finds himself at the forefront of the murder investigation when a headless corpse turn up and all the evidence points to him as the suspect. Milla and Ben had the beginnings of a budding romance but during the course of the book they breakup and she makes it her mission to prove Lorcan's innocence in a bid to win Ben back, but Ben has other things on his mind when his dark past comes back to haunt him.

I loved how we got to see Ben's past come to the forefront of this book, we knew he had a bit of a dark past, speculation was galore in my mind during the first book so it was good to set that record straight. We see him face his past whilst Milla tries to win him back but if they find there way back to one another? Well all will be revealed...

This is the 2nd novel in this sequence but I did read this first but makes no difference to how I felt about the first book I read, too many characters, and I did wonder how Milla was able to exist we know she is a compulsive liar and breaks into properties steals money but about halfway through this novel, we find out she has a trust fund, so why the need to steal money.
Her mother was murdered some 18 years ago and she is trying to find out who killed her, but is more of a nuisance than anything else, and even Ben who did fancy her has now finished with her because of her lying no one can believe her.
Sorry, this is not my style of the book too many players and a very haphazard story it's a shame as I think there is a good story there but needs pruning down and get the forensics going.

3.5★s

When the body of a young woman was discovered beside a pond, minus her head, DI Ben Taylor was gobsmacked. It was the beginning of a case which was way too close to home for Ben. Milla Graham, Ben's recent girlfriend, was determined to solve the case herself as evidence was pointing to Lorcan Black, a good friend and one time boyfriend to Milla. Raven's Edge was filled with old houses and past secrets, and when a mysterious highwayman attacked Ben, wielding a sword, he knew there was something serious going on. But he, his partner Harriet and the rest of the team were coming up against brick walls. Would they discover the culprit before anyone else died?

Murder at Ravenswood House is the 2nd in An English Village Mystery series by Louise Marley and it was mostly enjoyable. Digging deeply into Ben's past - something he didn't want to do - meant everyone knew about his family and the dreadful circumstances from long ago. Milla is determined, impulsive and seemingly has no fear - until trouble comes knocking on her door. An intriguing mystery which I recommend.

With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my digital ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.

This is the second book in this series. Milla is back as an amateur detective, her ex Lorcan musician is back in town, but he’s found drunk and drugged. There’s been a murder and the body is places and dressed as one of Lorcans album covers. There are weird things going on in the town, but who is the killer.

It’s a great cozy mystery, liked the characters, but there are a lot which makes the book much longer than it could be. I liked the back story about Ben and his family, it explained a lot. I liked that it kept you guessing who the killer is. A cozy 4 stars..

Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for a copy.

In Murder at Ravenswood House by Louise Marley, Milla Graham, an amateur sleuth in the picturesque village of Raven’s Edge, becomes embroiled in a complex murder investigation while attempting to reconcile with her ex, local police officer Ben Taylor. As Milla delves deeper into the case, evidence implicates her old friend Lorcan Black, and she uncovers long-hidden secrets about the village and Ben's family. The novel balances drama, intrigue, and romance, featuring vivid characters and a compelling plot with numerous twists. Despite a slow middle section, the story’s rich character development and atmospheric setting make it an engaging read for cozy mystery enthusiasts.

Milla sneaks out to go see her ex-boyfriend Lorcan without her current boyfriend Ben asking questions. But when she arrives at Lorcan’s home he is not there but a shocking item suggesting a horrible crime is. Milla’s first instinct is to call, not her policeman boyfriend, but “fixer” Drake who will clean up the crime scene but at a price. Milla’s secrecy about Lorcan causes a breakup with Ben and as she keeps investigating it seems obvious someone is trying to frame Lorcan and it all has something to do with his and Ben’s families and the past.
This was a good second outing for an unusual heroine and amateur sleuth. We learn a lot more about Ben’s past and why he wants to distance himself from his less than savory father as well as gaining more insight into why Milla is the person she is. Even the secondary characters are both interesting in becoming more fleshed out. This is not your usual “cozy mystery” and is turning into a really interesting set of character I want to learn more about. I look forward to future entries in this series. Recommended.

As Milla Graham and DI Ben Taylor take a step back from their relationship, they both find themselves involved in several strange events, and murder. Links to people in their past make it feel like a personal matter to both of them.

Murder ast Ravenswood House
Ah, that's better! I made more sense of this one because I knew where I was location-wise and who the characters were, and (despite this being a murder mystery) it was an entertaining and enjoyable read.

I also enjoyed meeting Milla and Ben again, they are both such intriguing and interesting characters, plus there was the bonus, this time, of discovering more about Ben, his family and his past.

The pace did slacken very slightly towards the middle, but it soon picked up again - and headed towards a good ending. (I'm keeping quiet - no spoilers!) My only other slight reservation would be that maybe the first episode (Murder at Raven's Edge) should be read before this one.

I do hope this turns into a series, as I very much like Milla and Ben, and maybe there are some other characters who could be explored some more?

Well, I read book 1 in the series, so I was eager to read book 2. I love them both. Milla, Ben, Herrieth, and the other characters are very entertaining. I love spending my time reading these cozy stories. I recommend you read them. They are entertaining and a lot of fun.

A great second novel, can be read as a standalone but is part of a series.. Murder at Ravenswood House details Milla Graham's quest of the gruesome murder. There's a whole new cast of characters, plus it's got a few great twists and turns that leave you guessing what's round the next chapter! Thanks to Storm Publishing and Net Galley for the advanced copy.

There are ghosts and gruesome crime in this shady, cosy crime novel with its idyllic village image that hides dark secrets amongst its quirky inhabitants. Millia Graham's past collides with her rather enjoyable present when she agrees to meet her ex and finds a dead body instead. It's a story with gothic elements and fairytale influences, giving it a chilling ethos, contrasting with the villagers' antics that soften the edges of the crime noir with humour. The characters are vibrant and memorable, with a twisty mystery. I like Milla and Harriet and their dynamic with Ben, the surreal village setting, and the twisty mystery.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher.

This is the second novel in this series and I thoroughly enjoyed it as it's fast paced, full of twists, and a bit darker than the average cosy mystery.
I was glad to catch up with Milla, Ben, and the quirky cast of characters. There's someone new and there's some unexpected turns.
I appreciated the mystery that kept me guessing and turning pages.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to Storm Publishing and Rachel's Random Resources for this arc, all opinions are mine.

We first met Milla Graham and DI Ben Taylor in Murder a Raven’s Edge and saw the beginnings of their rather complicated relationship. So we’re not surprised that at the beginning of Murder at Ravenswood House, Milla is meeting a friend/ex-boyfriend, rockstar Lorcan Black, in the evening at his house without letting Ben know. And when she runs into a problem, it’s not Ben she turns to but rather PI Kieran Drake to help clean up the mess. But when a woman’s headless body is found in the pond and Lorcan is discovered asleep on a crypt covered in blood, it will be tough to keep anything secret.

This time around Ben’s family and history are at the forefront. Ben has tried for years to distance himself from his rather notorious family, but this case is bringing them all back together. I love the characters, Ben, of course, is dealing with his own past while trying to figure out what’s going on in the village. Milla is awesome, if a liar and unreliable. I hope they get back together. Drake is morally gray but competent and surprising. The other villagers are a quirky bunch that add to the story. It’s Halloween time, which adds to the atmosphere.

Murder at Ravenswood House is an engrossing book. We’ve got several suspects and clues, but it makes several twists before we get to the (rather surprising) ending. I hope there will be more books in this series. I’d love to see what happens next for Milla and Ben and even Drake.

After the highly personal family mystery of Murder at Raven’s Edge, I really wondered where Louise Marley would take her characters next and was thrilled to find that there are still more dark secrets lurking in the past for Ben and Milla to face up to together… or separately.

The story again has a fairytale feel to it, despite being a cross between police procedural, PI and cosy crime in style, as mysterious highwaymen appear through the fog, a talking raven sweeps in and out and a body is found laid out on a tomb covered in blood not their own. There is definitely a spooky Halloween theme at work, and all may not be exactly as it seems.

Milla’s independent nature and tendency towards casually criminal behaviour gets her in trouble once again, as she tampers with evidence, hindering Ben’s investigation, jeopardising his career and their budding relationship. But she also added an important layer of excitement and unpredictability to the investigation which I appreciated as a reader, even if her fellow characters didn’t!

I really like this pairing, as their personalities are so different and complement each other nicely, while they have quite a lot in common in terms of family history and trauma – I would definitely read more from this series in future, whether they manage to resolve their romantic difficulties or not.

If you like your mystery stories modern but with a nod to the fantastical and are willing to suspend your disbelief and just enjoy the unfolding story then you should give this series a try. Preferably in order, as Milla’s family history and Ben’s recent career path affect your understanding of how they behave in this story, even if you don’t need them to follow the plot.

I'm reviewing this via NetGalley, as part of a book tour with Rachel's Random Resources.

This is part of a series, and I also enjoyed the previous book, Murder at Raven's Edge, quite recently. I was pleased to see that within the first few pages, the author created an atmosphere that drew me in. I was also pleased about the return of some characters from the previous book, such as Milla and Ben, and in that regard, this book felt like a great continuation of the first book.

This book also introduced some new characters, and there was a particular character that I found interesting, even if they were not particularly likeable.

I was quite gripped by this book, and found myself turning the pages quickly. I think readers may still enjoy this even if they haven't read the previous book, but I would definitely recommend reading the previous book too.

Thank you to Rachel's Random Resources, the author and the publisher, for the opportunity to read and review this.