Member Reviews

Thank you to @rachelsrandomresources for my copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

Just as good as book 1 in the series, more murder, family secrets that just keep on coming and legends that come to life at Halloween time - what’s not to love!

Milla and Ben are together, someone is trying to intimidate his family and he needs to stop the Horseman before it’s too late. Oh and work out why the new local resident is found covered in blood in a church. Honestly, there is so much going on in this one, you can’t put it down. The writing style of these is fab, I love the little snippets of history between chapters that are their own story throughout.

I really enjoyed both of these and am super excited for the next one in the series, will definitely be adding this author to my list of favourites.

Was this review helpful?

Although second in a series this reads equally as well as a standalone as the author gives enough backstory to the main characters that you are not left puzzling out relationships.
The return of a rock star to a small town followed by the discovery of a headless corpse at the village pond has tongues wagging and locals trying to tie the mysterious happenings to the wealth of ghost stories and legends surrounding the area.
Dotting between the present and the past, from the headless corpse via the mysterious sword wielding highwayman to an older crime involving similar costumes the truth is unfolded in a glorious way via the official investigation and the interference of Milla, trying to protect her ex, her current and herself!

Was this review helpful?

Murder at Ravenswood House is the second book in Louise Marley’s An English Village Mystery series.

Although this was the second book in the series it is easily read as a standalone, I did not feel lost in any way not having read the first novel.

The novel is told from multiple points of view, but the main character is Milla (Camilla) Graham, a young journalist who is at loose ends after having recently returned to her hometown of Raven’s Edge. She has no job, and with a rich father no need to rush out looking for one. Instead, she uses her investigative skills as an amateur sleuth.

I quite enjoyed this story except for Mila’s actions in the first chapters. Even for an amateur sleuth in a cozy mystery, her actions seemed out f the ordinary, and not in a good way. I don’t want to spoil anything by saying what she did, but if you read it, I think you’ll know. How she didn’t end up in jail by the end of the book is beyond me. That one action really almost caused me to stop reading.

Once I was able to set that bit aside and continued reading, I really enjoyed the mystery and the townspeople of Raven’s Edge. The people were quirky, and interesting, providing a wide array of suspects.

I did find the story dragged on a bit at times, and at first wondered about the secondary mystery that was hinted at throughout the book, but the author tied everything together at the end and made it all make sense.

I would recommend this book to lovers of cozy mysteries.

Was this review helpful?

This was a great book 2 in this new series, we get to continue with our same main characters but also get some additional ones. I think Louise did a great job making book 2 very strong with lots of character development and history very much like book 1 though for me this one was my favorite so far.

Was this review helpful?

contemporary, small-town, smoke-and-mirrors, secrets, lies, twisty, investigations, false-information, local-gossip, local-law-enforcement, local-legends, family-dynamics, family-history, rural, local-history, cozy-mystery, procedural, wry-humor, sly-humor, relationship-issues, relationships, relatives, England*****

The trouble with small towns is not that you know everyone, but that everyone thinks they know you.
DI Ben Taylor is in the village of Raven's Edge to investigate a rather bizarre murder in abandoned manor house only very recently occupied by Lorcan, music journalist Milla Graham's ex-boyfriend (now a Goth rock star). Ben and Milla are together at the beginning of the book, and that irritates both DS Harriet and shady PI Drake who is ex-police. All this plus a headless body in the pond, an abundance of blood in the chapel, and a notorious town history of highwaymen and witches. Lots of twists and a totally blindsiding ending! Super!
I requested and received a free temporary EARC from Storm Publishing via NetGalley. Thank you!

Was this review helpful?

Murder at Ravenswood House is the second in the English Village Mystery Book series.
A body has been found in town in a gruesome manner and the clues are misleading. DI Ben Taylor has distanced himself from his dodgy family but this case seems to be linked to the Elliots’ past. Ben and Milla have broken up over her dishonesty and they are both miserable.
I enjoy this author very much. She tells the story in the present and past and it is very absorbing. I did not figure out the murderer - a very well constructed mystery.

Was this review helpful?

Cozy, small town mystery with a great twist. Has a good bunch of well developed characters and a great story line.

I did find it dragging a bit through the middle and had to force myself to pay attention more than once, but very happy with how everything turned out.

3.5⭐

Was this review helpful?

British Cozy-ish Mystery that finds a music journalist and her policeman boyfriend are at odds when her rock star ex is implicated in a gruesome crime connected to the village's dark past.

4/5 stars: This is the second entry in Marley's English Village Mystery series, which is a British Cozy-ish Mystery that features a music journalist who finds herself at odds with her policeman boyfriend after she makes a gruesome discovery at her her rock star ex's home and when he's found covered in blood she's on the case which is connected to the cop's notorious family history and the village's dark past. With plenty of twists and turns, Marley has crafted a mystery that balances the suspects, clues and red herrings and will leave you pondering the whodunit until the final reveal. Marley manages to mix the new murder investigation with solving a cold case effortlessly. I really liked the addition of the Gothic elements, Eddie the raven's awesome. Told in multiple POVs and utilizing flashbacks, Marley's writing and character work is great; the characters are well-rounded and complex while remaining incredibly likable. The main POVs are Milla and Ben, a local policeman, with additional POVs added in the present, Ben's co-worker Harriet, and in flashback to fill out the plot. Milla's used to handling things on her own and this causes her all kinds of troubles in this book. Sensitive topics are discussed, take care and check the CWs. While you could read this as a stand-alone, you'll gain so much more by reading the series from the beginning; so be sure to pick up book one, Murder at Raven's Edge.

I received this eARC thanks to NetGalley and Storm Publishing in exchange for an honest review. Publishing dates are subject to change.

Was this review helpful?

Murder at Ravenswood House is, I think, more convincing than the previous book in Louise Marley's series. Milla is still annoying and Ben seems to be losing the plot but, that apart, I enjoyed the murder mystery element. I'm hoping that the series will continue and settle down a bit. Perhaps the next book could centre around a crime unrelated to any of the main characters...

Was this review helpful?

The small village of Raven's Edge sees Milla Graham and ex-boyfriend DI Ben Taylor find themselves entrenched in another shocking and mysterious murder. A headless body of a dead woman is discovered at the local pond! The ever-stubborn Milla is intent to win Ben back, primarily by inserting herself into the investigation. As more details come to light, more dark family secrets are unveiled.

Milla's old friend (and ex-boyfriend) Lorcan Black has some secrets of his own. This was my favorite part of the story; seeing how these secrets came to light and were connected with the home Lorcan moved into and other character connections. I found this novel more enjoyable than the first, and did not see the ending coming!

This is book two in the series, though it's not critical to have ready book one to follow the story. Thanks to NetGalley, Storm Publishing and Louise Marley for the ARC.

Was this review helpful?

Second in the series, another quite enjoyable cozy mystery! That keeps you wondering til the end with an I would never of thought it was that person twist. I look forward to what's next for Milla and Ben! And must add I really enjoyed Hariette's character development in this installment.

Huge thanks to the publisher and NetGallery for the advanced copy in return for an honest review!

Was this review helpful?

Thoroughly enjoyed the second book in the series - this time Ben is the one whose past (and dodgy family) is linked to the present-day murder. Loved the character of Lorcan (on the one hand, a Goth rock star; on the other, lonely and needy). Thoroughly interesting local history strand about highwaymen and witches; and there are lots and lots of twists and turns. As with the first book, as soon as you think you've worked it out, you realise you've fallen for a red herring. Cracking pace and a good read. Thank you to Louise and Storm for the Netgalley ARC.

Was this review helpful?

Ben and Milla are together for the time being, or not, and there are shenanigans with highwaymen (well people dressed up as such and sword wielding) not to mention an awful lot more relatives. Just when I thought I'd sorted them in book 1. Headless body, head later sent to Ben, our amiable, erratic detective with a highly dodgy family, then the highwaymen start taking over. Milla's ex boyfriend Lorcan/Will is found laid out on a tomb in the church, uninjured but covered in blood. Ben's DS naturally assumes he's the murderer and takes him in. Said DS is becoming an unpleasant character too. Milla could, and does, lie for king and country, breaks into a lot of houses and generally meddles whilst angsting over the break up with Ben. This is more a story of Ben's relatives than Milla's this time and relate to the past robbery gone wrong. We keep getting sections in italics relating to that past but mostly they just seem out of place although we can guess who the people are which explains some of the odd characters we have present-day. The police procedural is, as last time, rather vague but this seems to be necessary in cosy mysteries. Things improved towards the end with a satisfactory result murder-wise, and there are definite options for Milla to remain annoying and to return in future books. For me the jury is still out but, this time, the 3.5* is downgraded to 3* for Milla's attitudes. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy.

Was this review helpful?

Mystery and intrigue...a story that would be great on television...characters who are realistic...a story that holds the reader's attention...don't miss this one. Thanks Netgalley.

Was this review helpful?

English cozy murder mystery.
Milla Graham at Ravenwood House is meeting Lorcan Black in secret from her ex Ben Taylor, hearing whispers of hello it was only a raven but where is Lorcan.
Calling for help she rings Kieran Drake the investigator who tells her to get out and she did she ran.
This book takes us back fifteen years previously to Halloween and D.S. Harriet March is on her way to Meg's Pond a dead woman has been found, they all looking for Ben but he's away with Milla on leave it time to fetch him back.
Oh wow what a fast gripping read this turns out to be, I found myself engrossed in every single chapter, so much is going on to keep your mind full of what is going to happen next, really enjoyed this read, awarding it a big 5 stars from me.

Was this review helpful?

This book was better than book 1, less confusing! Milla still acts and speaks before thinking, Harriet still has an attitude although not quite as bad, and Ben is a little less flustered. The mystery was very good. Just when you think you've got it figured out, there's a big twist. Quite creepy at times and with several links to the past. We also get a bit more of Ben's family history, which is only hinted at in book 1. I'll definitely continue with this series. The characters are becoming quite interesting.
Thanks to Netgalley, the publisher and the author for a free copy in exchange for an honest review.

Was this review helpful?

Another Murder..
The second in the English Village Mystery Series and another murder in Raven’s Edge awaits as Milla makes a return to amateur sleuthing whilst making an attempt to win back, policeman, Ben. But, where will Milla’s heart really lie when secrets come out of the woodwork and skeletons spill from closets? As enjoyable and as entertaining as the first in the series but now with a wider and more established cast of deftly drawn characters. A solid mystery with a well imagined and atmospheric backdrop and a narrative laced beautifully with gentle humour.

Was this review helpful?

Thanks to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for an advance copy to review. This book follows on nicely from the first instalment, and once again is full of twists and turns. This one had a cracker of an ending, which turned everything around. I enjoyed the further activities of Milla, Ben and Harriet, and hope that the hinted at sequel does eventuate.

Was this review helpful?

A book as excellent as the first in the series. The dark twisty plot continues and weaves itself in and out of knots with real skill. Once more the eerie woods and listed buildings are the backdrop for murder, romance and décapitations. Reading the first book is a must before embarking on the second one as there are cousins and romances, and colleagues and with so much going on, a grounding is helpful. The plot is bizarrely marvellous, dark and brutal and addictive.

Was this review helpful?

Milla Graham is back in the second book of this series, along with DI Ben Taylor and his team. This time it’s more about Bens family, a family he tries to disown but finds himself being dragged back into, whether he wants to or not. We also see Drake, a bit of a shady PI, despite being ex police himself, who uses favours as currency and is definitely a bit on the darker side with the way he works. The story is nicely twisted, bringing up old Highwaymen, said to have lived and died in the area, a life changing incident involving Bens relatives and various incidents that feel very personal to Ben. He’s nicely aided by Harriet, his DS, who could almost have a series of her own ( as could Drake, I’d definitely read more about him). An enjoyable read, with a nicely twisted ending. I look forward to reading whatever comes next.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Was this review helpful?