Alexi and Jack find themselves tangled up in solving another murder case when Polly, local gossip who has also made it very clear she doesn’t like Alexi, shows up at Hopgood Hall asking for their help specifically.

This was such a fun, fast paced, entertaining cozy mystery. The story had a way of hooking you in right from the beginning and to keep you guessing all the way through. There were many great twists and turns, and I was pleasantly surprised with the ending, as it really did take me by surprise, but in a way that still made completely sense.

I didn’t realize this was part of a series when I first picked it up, but the information you need to understand what’s going on are given to you right in the beginning, which makes it very easy to read it as a standalone without feeling like you’re missing out on key details. However, I will definitely go back to catch up with the rest of the series.

Many thanks to Boldwood Books & NetGalley for the eARC. All opinions are my own.

A Deadly Affair, the fifth book in E.V. Hunter's Hopgood Hall Mysteries, brings Alexi Ellis and her boyfriend Jack Maddox into a challenging new case. When local gossip Polly Pearson begs them to prove her innocence in the murder of her boyfriend, Alexi faces a tough decision. Polly once spread rumors that nearly drove Alexi out of town, and now, she might be hiding the truth about what really happened.

The story starts strong, but it soon gets bogged down by repetitive mentions of Alexi’s internal conflict and Polly’s evasiveness. The introduction of Grace, Jack's ex-wife, further complicates the plot, making it feel more frustrating than engaging. While the unreliable suspects concept could have added intrigue, it ultimately fell flat for me, making this installment less enjoyable than the previous ones.

Though A Deadly Affair has received praise from others, it didn't quite hit the mark for me due to these elements.

Book 5 in The Hopgood Hall Murder Mysteries.
A cosy murder mystery that follows Alexi and her private investigator Jack. A good read. I haven't read the previous books in the series but I found I enjoyed it.

A Deadly Affair is the latest book in the Hopgood Hall Murder Mystery series. I've read them all.

By now, we know our main characters, Jack and Alexi, well. However, they are still asking questions about their relationship, and I'm afraid this aspect of the series is my least favourite. Luckily, Cosmo comes to the rescue more often than not.

The mystery itself is complex and well-plotted as our sleuths try to understand why Gerry has been murdered. It quickly transpires that all is not as simple as it first appears. Lambourn is filled with dodgy individuals, any of whom could have been the ones involved.

The resolution of the mystery unfolds quickly. I always say I judge a mystery by whether or not I guessed 'who did it,' and I did not see this one coming.

These mysteries often have quite a dark underbelly to them (a nod to the author's other genre, I'm sure), and this one, similar to book 1, fits that bill. It is not quite as cosy as I prefer (because I'm a big wuss), but that doesn't detract from the fine plotting and masterful way the mystery has been plotted by the author. I take my hat off to EV Hunter for that:)

My thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for my review copy.

This is book five in this series. Jack and Alexi are once again caught up in a murder mystery.
That saying - Oh what a tangled web we weave when we first practice to deceive applies to this book. Lots of secrets and surprises among this cast of characters.
I thought this was a good addition to this series. It was a well thought out plot with a surprising ending.

Murder On The Menu..
The fifth outing in the Hopgood Hall series of mysteries and a local gossip who makes life difficult for Alexi has arrived at the hall desperately seeking help. When the truth is revealed, despite the surprising news, Alexi must consider whether she really wants to help this renowned gossip - even if murder is on the menu. Another enjoyable instalment to this series with a likeable protagonist, a colourful and eclectic cast and a well imagined backdrop.

This was my first cozy mystery and I didn't know I needed this genre until I discovered it. I loved the pacing and the characters (especially Cosmo bc sorry but I’m totally a cat person), it was super fun to follow them during the investigation but that’s it. For me it was a solid 3 stars.

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

Another fabulous novel in this Hopgood Hall series, and the murder isn’t in the hotel this time! I really enjoy these books, set in the horse racing town of Lambourn featuring Alexi and Jack, and Cosmo the cat who has a sixth sense where people are concerned.

This time it’s the partner of Polly, the owner of the B&B who has made Alexi’s life hell since she arrived, spreading nasty rumours and gossip to try and get rid of her. We find out a bit more about this during this one, no spoilers from me but if you’ve been wondering where it all came from, this is the one to read!

As the book goes on, more suspects get found and there seems to be no end to the case, but as usual the trio get stuck in and find out what they can. I like a cosy mystery and these really do fit the bill - so easy to read and gripping as it goes on. I’m looking forward to the net one already.

cozy-crime, England, ex-wife, ex-cop, framed, friends, friendship, hotel, hotelier, investigation, investigative-journalist, lies, local-gossip, local-law-enforcement, mental-health-issues, partners, pet-cat, private-investigators, read, relationship-issues, relationships, rivalry, secrets, series, small-business, small-town, spousal-abuse, suspense, unpleasant-friend, unpleasant-suspect, unpleasant-victims****

A wildly tangled cozy murder mystery involving a bedhopping boyfriend (the corpse) to a woman with a bit of mental instability ( accused murderer), the PI's ex-wife (with an agenda), the relationship between the PI and the investigative journalist, and a whole gossipy village. Add in the cooperative local DI, some overseas dodgy business, and a very necessary cat to have a really good read.
I requested and received a free temporary uncorrected e-book proof from Boldwood Books via NetGalley. Thank you

A cosy murder mystery in the Hopgood Hall series. The story follows Alexi, her private investigator/ex cop Jack and her cat Cosmo, as they try to work out who killed Gerry. The likely suspect is his girlfriend Polly, the village gossip, who has a real dislike for Alexi. Will Alexi put their differences aside and help Polly?

I thought I would try something different to more normal genre. My first cosy mystery was not a disappointment. Even though I did my usual trick and read a book that's part of a series (book 5), it was easy to get into and the author did well to tell new readers a bit of the back story. So I didn't feel out of my depth jumping I to this story. I liked the pacing. It was steady all the way through and compelled me to keep reading on. I enjoyed the dialogue between the characters and trying to work out who did it, with a few twists and turns a long the way. If I had read the other books in this series and more of a feel for the main characters and Cosmo, I would've given it 4⭐️s. I recommend this book to anyone who loves to put their feet up with a cuppa and lose themselves in a cosy read.

Thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for my advanced copy.
My opinions are my own.

★★★.5

What a great cover! I could not resist diving into the series with the fifth installment. Thanks to E.V. Hunter’s quick summary in chapter one, I felt sufficiently caught up to join Jack, Alexi, and their sidekick Cosmo in their latest murder investigation. While you will likely appreciate the trio more if you are familiar with the entire series, this book can certainly be read as a standalone.

I was immediately transported to the English countryside, feeling reminiscent of the 'Thursday Murder Club' series with its classic cozy mystery vibe. However, I did struggle a bit with the story itself. Without giving away too much, what begins as a crime-of-passion type murder evolves into something much more complex. In hindsight, I can make some sense of it, but it just felt a little far-fetched.

This was a pretty interesting book! I found it very suspenseful with twists and turns throughout. Some parts kind of lost me though, but overall a pretty quick read!

Murder, rivalries, love affairs and vendettas wrapped up in the world of race horses - what more could you want from a mystery series?
I am new to this series but the author gave enough details early on to allow me to get into the characters' world quickly.

I got this book for early release from NetGalley, and it was amazing! I listen to this book and I couldn’t stop listening, this book was amazing! If you are looking for a drama filled romantic mystery this is a great book! Make sure to look for it on August 18th.

A varied cast of characters including the furry ones, Cosmo and Silgo. An enjoyable cozy - well written and plotted. I received this as an advance copy from the author via NetGalley and am leaving this review voluntarily.

Full review to come on Goodreads and Amazon. Thank you to the publisher, author, and NetGalley for a review copy

A Deadly Affair is the next installment in the Hopgood Hall cozy mystery series. Due to multiple murders occurring since she arrived in the area, Alexi has acquired a reputation for being bad luck. Leading the gossip surrounding Alexi is Polly Pearson. Unfortunately for Polly, she soon finds herself in a predicament in which she needs Alexi's help. Attempting to be the bigger person, Alexi agrees to investigate the murder of Polly's recent lover and clear Polly's name. Alexi, Jack, and Cosmo soon find that there was a lot more to Gerry than the charming truck driver that Polly described. Who in Gerry's life would want him dead? And what is Polly hiding?

A Deadly Affair is another great cozy mystery. I feel that with each new book, I'm getting to know Hopgood Hall and the surrounding area right alongside Alexi. I love the countryside and small village setting. The characters in this series are fantastic, and I have a huge soft spot for Cosmo. Once again, the mystery was intriguing and kept me guessing. The only issue I had was with Grace being involved. Grace's involvement was a bit confusing/unrealistic. I hope that in the next books, there will be less focus on Jack and Alexi's exes. With that said, I will absolutely be continuing with this series and cannot wait to find out what mystery Alexi and Jack need to solve next.

I was compelled to read A Deadly Affair because I found the blurb and the title curiously interesting, but it was the book cover that really reeled me in. The cover announced that everything I enjoy in a cozy mystery was contained within these pages. And I was not disappointed.

As this is Book 5 in The Hopgood Hall Murder Mysteries, I was delighted to find that all the salient background details needed to better understand this story are given in the first chapter and that this story can be read as a standalone.

I love a cozy mystery, following the twists and turns in the plot as it drip-feeds information that will eventually reveal the culprit. Of course, I love nothing better than identifying the villain of the piece before the sleuth exposes them.

However, A Deadly Affair had me foxed. I did not guess who killed Gerry Dawlish, although I had plenty of suspects to consider. This one certainly kept me on my toes.

I liked Cosmo the cat who accompanied former police Inspector turned private detective Jack Maddox and his journalist partner Alexi Ellis on their mission to find Gerry's killer. I smiled at the idea of the hissing cat preventing a gang of kids from stealing Jack's car and was amused that Cosmo could distinguish between a good person and a bad one just by sniffing them - qualities I attribute to a dog rather than a cat.

A Deadly Affair is an entertaining read that kept me guessing right to the reveal.

I have enjoyed all the books in this series,great characters, interesting plots with a few twists. Love the cat Cosmo, brilliant idea. Thank you netgalley for the advanced copy

Loved this one! Great and fun read. Highly recommend.
Many thanks to the publisher, Netgalley, and the author for my ARC.