I already love Fleur Hitchcock murder mystery books and this one was absolutely no different. It is a perfect introduction to murder mystery for children aged 8 and older. She perfectly uses the weather, in this case the cold, snow and ice, to build up the tension and as a tool for preventing things happening such as further investigation, the police being able to attend etc. The tension really builds up and I was turning pages trying to find out what was going to happen. Definitely a thrill ride.
In this story, George and his family are meeting up pre Christmas in Lyme Regis with extended family and when a body washes up on the beach, he can't stop thinking about the mysterious people he has seen around the village, plus lights falling from the clifftop. George reluctantly works with his cousin Isla and they build a relationship together they start to unravel the mystery of why people keep dying ang what it has to do with the legend of treasure from the Anglo Saxon times. The scene out at sea with the weather, the fog, the waves and then the sabotage of the boat had my heart in my mouth.

Fantastic chilling fun!
I was new to Fleur Hitchcock's mysteries but, after reading Murder at Wintertide, I can't wait to get my hands on all the others. A perfect mix of blended families, mismatched sort-of-cousins (who discover they have a lot in common after all), a fabulously snowy seaside setting and a seriously terrifying plot. Fortunately George and Isla are up to the challenge.
Highly recommended for confident readers 10 years and up (although the number of deaths might unsettle more sensitive children).
Many thanks to Netgalley, the publisher and the author for an advanced e-copy of this title.

There was nothing to not love about this children’s crime/adventure read, full of thefts, murders and two kids that solve it all. On their Christmas holidays George and Isla see lights on the cliff top, the next day a body is found on the beach below, was he pushed or did he fall? Loved the characters, they are good together and great on the little missions they go on. A great all round 5 star children’s read.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for a copy.

I am a fan of Fleur Hitchcock's murder mysteries as they are great stories but still suitable for my secondary age students. Murder at Wintertide did seem to be the darkest so far to me but I would still be happy for my youngest students (11) to read it.

George travels with his Dad to Lyme Regis for his Grandpa's birthday and then Christmas. His Grandpa has married a lady called Queenie and she is also there with her daughter, Charlotte, and grandchildren, young Storm and home-educated Isla. George's Uncle Erwin is also coming from New York. When snow begins to fall the family go outside to watch it, George sees two lights on the clifftop and then one falls into the sea. When a body is found on the beach, George realises he may have see a murder. He connects the dots to something he saw whilst in the car with his Dad and realises he knows who the murderer is and has evidence for the police.

I liked this story but it was the introduction of the archaeological dig and the connected mystery which really kept my interest. It was an intriguing bit of history to learn and I hope it will spark an interest in readers.

I felt this story was darker than some of Fleur Hitchcock's others as there is more than one dead body, one is killed whilst the main characters are close by and they are in real danger from the villain. Plus as an adult reading it I felt the ending would surely have a huge impact on all the characters. But it's still a good story which I will be recommending to students.

4 Stars
One Liner: Enjoy the chilly mystery!
Young George is excited to spend Christmas with his Dad and Grandpa at the rented house named Wintertide. When he sees a sudden light on the cliff and hears about a dead body found in the sea, George wonders if the events are connected. Isla, his cousin, seems to have the same doubts. Soon, the tweens band together to find out more and solve the mystery, not realizing that it could very well put their lives at risk.
The story comes in George’s first-person POV in the present tense.

My Thoughts:
The book starts with a short prologue about a body drifting in and out of the sea in the third-person POV. Then, it switches to George’s first-person narrative in the present tense. The kid and his dad are traveling to meet their family for joint celebrations (Grandpa’s birthday and Christmas).
There’s a bit of a mystery right in the beginning about some people arguing on the road. We slowly get more information about the family dynamics, new members, the boy’s favorite ones, etc. Since it is in his POV, we don’t always know much about the others. However, this slowly changes and the undercurrents become clearer.
The setting is perfect for the mystery. Lyme Regis is a coastal town, a bit away from the mainline. It has high cliffs, an extensive beach, and beautiful streets. The weather alternates between windy, rainy, snowy, and chilly. Naturally, this makes the mystery more interesting.
The other kid, Isla is sweet. George is a different kind of sweet. Both are easy to like and root for. Their contrasting personalities and the slowly budding friendship between the new cousins add a nice personal touch to the plot. Of course, there are many other personal elements since this is a family trip.
The mystery blends archeology, history, action, adventure, danger, some attempted sleuthing, and all the things children would love. As expected, the kids get into situations that could be way dangerous in real life. At least, the adults here are not fully absent. They do try to keep the children safe, and the kids also realize they are getting into tricky stuff (even if it doesn’t stop them).
The culprit is easy to guess thanks to the subtle (and not-so-subtle) clues scattered throughout. It should keep the young readers engaged and make them guess about the whos and whys.
There’s some light humor sprinkled at random, making George an entertaining narrator. I like the subtle change in him as things change towards the end.
The ending is heartwarming and sweet, just as how it should be for the target age group. There are some bittersweet moments too, but hope and love do triumph over everything else.

To summarize, Murder at Wintertide is a steady-paced mystery with young sleuths solving a crime and discovering more than what they want. This is my first book by the author, and I’m curious to read more.
Thank you, NetGalley and Nosy Crow, for eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.

I am a huge fan of Fleur Hitchcock. Her books always have the right amount of suspense without being too scary and violent that it would be unsuitable for UKS2 students. Admittedly I like some of her works more than the others. And this one is one of my favourites. George and his dad are about to spend Christmas with his step grandma. Days before their arrival, a body has washed up on the shore. Together with his cousin, they are going to solve the mystery.

If you've not read a Fleur Hitchcock, book before then you can expect a mystery that's always a little bit darker than the wonderfully vibrant covers will have you believe! It's a great mix of mystery and adventure, with plenty of perilous situations for our main characters, George and Isla. Will issue well.

I received a free copy of, Murder at Wintertide, by Fleur Hitchcock, from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. George his cousin Isla, and the rest of their family are spending Christmas by the sea. A body washes up, and their holiday by the sea, is not as charming as it started out to be. This was a pleasurable Christmas mystery book.

A cottage by the sea for George and his family, snow transforming the landscape in a magical Christmas scene - this would be idyllic if, days earlier a body had not washed up on the beach. George can't help wondering if it's got anything to do with the strange light he's seen falling form the cliff top. Together with his cousin Isla, they decide to investigate but, as they come close to the truth, they also put themselves into danger. Someone is desperate to keep the truth hidden, by any means, whether George and Isla are combing the beach for fossils or taking to the sea for a fishing trip with their grandfather. And is their mysterious foe really a stranger or someone closer to them than they realise?

I absolutely LOVE Fleur Hitchcock's murder mysteries so it was a real treat to be able to read Murder at Wintertide on NetGalley. From the very first pages, Fleur's warmly drawn characters and setting pull you in and never let you go (in a very good way!). You just wish you could be part of it, danger and all, so compelling are her descriptions of family life and relationships, and the parts of England she knows so well and shares with her readers. A Christmas murder mystery to read any time of the year with a steaming hot chocolate by your side, and read again and again!

This was a really fun little murder mystery. Lots of good characters in a beautifully described wintery setting. Perfect cold weather read.
I haven't much to say other than it was really enjoyable to read and the story was really interesting, weaving some ancient history in with the modern world.