Everything was all change in the previous book where Jack and Flora split their time between Abbeymead and the All’s Well bookshop and Cleve College where Jack has a position tutoring and monitoring English students.

Becoming more settled, on a day out they watch a re-enactment at Lewes Castle from the local historical society. When a man falls from the top of the ramparts. Did he fall or was he pushed? Flora suspects foul play but the police say otherwise and it isn’t until a friend asks her for help that she becomes more involved.

However others are aware of Flora and a reluctant Jack’s interest and it seems there might be trouble for them both as well. Even back home in Abbeymead where characters from the historical society seem to suddenly appear and making their presence known.

With all this mystery it is easier to forget what else these books are telling us of life in the later Nineteen Fifties. Domesticity was very different than it is now and whilst Flora and Jack’s relationship is quite modern by the standards of the day the book is set in. It does contain other characters who have a very different view and this adds to some of the plot and some of the other characters who are becoming more frequent in this series.

I look forward as this series moves on and see what Flora and Jack get up to next.

I have a real love-hate relationship with Merryn Allingham's Flora Steele series. Murder in an English Castle is the tenth in the series and I've read them all so clearly there is more love than hate. I love the setting and I enjoy the characters. I think it's the random nature of the solving of the murders that I struggle with. And, perhaps especially, Flora's conviction that the police generally don't have a clue and she can do a much better job.

This book sees a man fall from the castle ramparts during a re-enactment of a battle. Everyone thinks it's an accident except for his friend Hector who works at the Priory Hotel in Flora and Jack's village and thus is known to them, and us as readers. He's convinced for no very clear reason that his friend has been murdered and asks Flora to look into it. This she does, dragging Jack with her.

If you've read the other books in the series, you'll want to read this; and you'll enjoy it even though it's a tad convoluted.

Flora and Jack go to a rehearsal for the Battle of Lewes. Their friend Hector is on of the fighters at the Castle. He and his friend Alex seem to be winning the battle, when all of a sudden Alex falls off the walls and is found dead. Hector claims that Alex was pushed and wants Flora and Jack to investigate, but Flora isn't sure as they are getting ready to finally take their delayed honeymoon to Venice. Also, the police believe it was an accident rather than a murder. Flora makes a visit to Alex's mother and finds the nasty landlord had wanted Alex and his mother to move out so he could sell the house. Then, there is the friend who had borrowed money from Alex and now has lost it all gambling. Flora finds A wedding ring in Alex's room. Was he really serious about getting married. When another member of the society putting on the play is found dead, they wondered if he knew too much about what happened to Alex. Maybe Alex was murdered!

When both Flora and Jack have bad accidents, they realize they may be getting close to solving the murder, but can they do so before they are attacked again? This is a very clever story.
I thank Netgalley and Bookouture for the ARC so that I could read it before publication.

In general, I liked it, but since I joined the saga in this 10th installment, I felt a bit lost at first. The initial chapters were full of unfamiliar names for me and complicated relationships, which nearly made me set the book aside. However, since I received it from the publisher for review, I decided to continue reading.

I was hooked when the couple visited Alex’s mother and Jack and Morton quarreled. Set in 1959, I especially enjoyed the college night porter's behavior. There are several moments like these that made the story highly enjoyable.

As a couple, Jack and Flora didn’t have much chemistry in this book. I wonder if this relies on previous installments where they develop their romance, as they are newlyweds in this one.

Overall, the development of the narrative is interesting. Although sometimes slow, but the twists are creative and logical, well intertwined and the end is satisfaying, with a hint of what/where will be the next episode.

3.7 Stars
One Liner: Entertaining!

1959, Sussex
It has been six months since Flora and Jack married. They settled into married life, and things seem to be going well. The couple, along with friends, attends the rehearsal of the re-enactment of the Battle of Lewes to support another friend. The Abbeymead Historical Society seems to have a great done job. The castle ruins serve the purpose well.
However, one of the actors and Society members, Alex Vicary, falls to his death during the rehearsal. Everyone thinks it’s accidental. However, Hector is determined that it is murder and someone pushes his dear friend.
As the sleuthing reluctantly takes up the case, they realize that quite a few people have reasons to see Alex dead. Anyone could have killed him. As things get complicated, Flora and Jack need to find the killer before they become victims.
The story comes in Flora and Jack’s third-person POVs.

My Thoughts:
Though the book works as a standalone, I’d recommend reading the previous two books to get a better idea of the characters and their friendship with others in the story.
Flora and Jack have gotten into a rhythm, dividing their days between Lewes and Abbeymead. While it is not all flowers and roses, things are decent and soon they can go on their honeymoon to Venice (possibly the next book).
The main side characters in the series do their bit here too. Alice is grumbling but efficient. Kate is busy with her baby girl and the diner. Inspector Alan has too much paperwork and not enough time.
The mystery begins right away with the murder in the prologue. The details are revealed in stages and the suspect list grows/ changes accordingly. It’s Flora who does the majority of the work this time. Jack is less involved though he does manage to step in when absolutely necessary. Maybe in the next book, he’ll get back to proper sleuthing.

To summarize, Murder in an English Castle is an easy cozy mystery with some history, secrets, danger, and dead bodies. As always, the book is fairly short and has a steady pace. Looking forward to the next one!
Thank you, NetGalley and Bookouture, for eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
*****
Tour on 22th Nov

This is a very readable murder mystery with a lot of unpleasant goings-on in not so peaceful 1950s Sussex. It is the first Flora Steele Mystery book I have read, and although the author referred to previous mysteries, I didn’t feel that I had missed out at all by coming in at number ten in the series. The plot is quite complex with a lot of red herrings in terms both of characters and of events, and I found it impossible to even try to guess who the murderer is. I thought some of the romantic elements added little to the plot, but overall this is did not spoil the book for me.

Flora and Jack go to a reenactment rehearsal of the Battle of Lewes. It seemed like an interesting, fun way to pass away an afternoon while still waiting for time to go on their delayed honeymoon. Unfortunately, a man dies when he falls from the castle ramparts. Everyone initially thinks it was a tragic accident, even the usually suspicious Flora. It's only when a friend, Hector, approaches her and asks Jack and her to look into it that she begins to wonder. Jack isn't so sure they should get involved but wants to support Flora, who admittedly started questioning some likely suspects before he came aboard. Flora, as usual, always seems to crave the next adventure. That's when the book really takes off.

So, who killed Alex Vicary? Or, was it really an accident? That possibility seems to dim when there is a push back to their questioning. I mean, would someone who wasn't involved resort to violence? Now, true, Flora's questioning technique is anything but subtle but, well, threats and attempts to harm them aren't the reaction of an innocent person, no matter how aggrieved by their snooping. One of the things I most enjoy about this series is the history lessons it subtly provides, so learning a bit about castle construction and history was a plus for this former history major. At the same time, we're getting a look at Flora and Jack's everyday life, cranky stove and all, as well as the lack of respect for Flora's teaching of reading at the college where Jack is employed.

Bottom line, while frequently rolling my eyes at Flora's rushes to judgment, I enjoyed the book. The side stories, in particularly those that tied to the investigation in some way, were also intriguing. Who knew romances among friends could create so much potential for havoc? It's also telling to read of the pressure put on young women to marry asap, even against their will in Sussex in 1959. Heck, everywhere. Most still didn't drive and, in fact, Flora clings to her trusty bicycle Betsy. Even worse, the victim's wife is being pressured, even threatened, to leave their home quickly with little recourse in the matter. Could this in any way be connected to the victim? Even Flora's bookshop assistant, Rose, is being manipulated, so it all has a personal meaning to Flora. And....okay, enough teasers. Thanks #Bookouture for allowing me this sneak peek into Flora's Sussex life in 1959. And, hey, readers, did you know what famous toy debuted that year? Barbie!

Set in the 1950s, this it the tenth book in the Flora Steele Murder series.

While attending battle re-enactment, they Flora and her husband Jack see a participant fall to his death. Their friend is convinced that Alex did not fall accidentally but rather that he was pushed. Flora and Jack agree to investigate and look into the death and unearth Alex’s secrets.

I could not focus on the plot of the book, the plot and dialogue are very strange and feel very forced and often nonsensical.

Thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for the advanced copy.

This is another entertaining mystery in the Flora Steele Myster series set in the late 1950’s in Sussex.
Flora and Jack have settled into married life and are becoming more comfortable with their time being divided between the village of Abbeymead where Flora runs the All’s Well bookshop and Cleve College where Jack is writer in residence. Jack is happy concentrating on his college work and trying to get his new novel started. However, Flora is missing a sense of adventure and when questions are asked about an apparently accidental death at a battle re-enactment, she is keen to get involved.
The setting and historical details are excellent as always and I love the way that it just gets dropped into the story and gives a real picture of how people lived then. I really enjoyed the way Flora struggled with the oven in their college accommodation restricting what she could cook. It’s quite surprising how often they ended up just eating cheese on toast.
The mystery of whether Alex fell off the castle battlements or was pushed is an intriguing one. We have a new cast of characters which includes the members of the re-enactment society as well as familiar people in the village such as Rose, Flora’s assistant in the bookshop. This time the mystery involved some of Flora and Jack’s friends. The sous chef at the local hotel was the best friend of the dead man and Rose becomes reluctantly involved with one of the suspects. This interweaving of different strands made this an enjoyable read.
Although this was an entertaining read, there were darker elements too. A theme through the book was how women still found it difficult to be independent at that time. We see a widow who is being threatened with eviction by a bullying landlord and two women who are being pressured into relationships that they really don’t want.
One of the things I love is how Jack and Flora’s relationship has developed across this series. In this book, Jack is very reluctant to get involved and Flora begins by investigating on her own. The couple have to work through their differences especially when it appears that their lives are being threatened.
This remains one of my favourite cosy crime series and I’m already looking forward to the next instalment. My thanks as always to Net Galley and Bookouture for inviting me to read this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

It should be noted that there could be triggers for addiction and domestic abuse for some in this storyline.
 
The rehearsal for an upcoming Abbeymead Historical Society battle re-enactment is in full swing when a soldier falls from the top of the Lewes Castle ruins. Rushing to help, Flora and Jack Carrington know immediately there is nothing they can do to help. When the police decide it's an unfortunate accident, the victim’s best friend asks Flora for help and reluctantly she agrees to investigate further. The clues she and Jack discover lead them to suspect the police were a little hasty and after danger begins stalking everyone involved another body is found and they know time could be running out for them both!

Book ten in this great series has reached the Spring of 1959 and once again the author transports you back to the middle of the last century seemingly effortlessly, although I know it absolutely isn't. I loved all the little mentions of things which were once second nature in households and have now disappeared into the annals of domesticity. They merge seamlessly into a complicated murder case which highlights areas not routinely discussed just before the decade of the swinging sixties and, as the differing threads came together, it resulted in a very satisfying conclusion.

I was able to read an advanced copy of this thanks to NetGalley and the publishers, Bookouture, but the opinions expressed are my own. I thoroughly enjoyed this.

Very well written, with relatable characters and well-constructed dialogue resulting in a very disturbing — but also satisfying — storyline ⭐⭐⭐⭐ A rattling good tale with twists and turns aplenty. All set in an English castle what more could you want in a mystery.

bookseller, professor, reenactors, 1950s, cozy-mystery, local-law-enforcement, Sussex, suspense, friendship, family, local-gossip, relationship-issues, relationships, relatives, writers, wry-humor, amateur-sleuth, historical-novel, historical-research, college, suspicion, rural, attempted-murder, twisty, investigation, murders, murder-investigation, overbearing****

Flora Steele the bookshop and her husband Jack Carrington is the writer in residence at Cleve College.
While attending a reenactment at the local castle they witness one of the participants fall to his death. Did he fall or was he pushed? That's what they are moved to find out. Jack thinks not until an attempt has been made on his own life after a difficult inquiry into a possibility. Good read.
I requested and received a temporary uncorrected advance review copy from Bookouture via NetGalley.
Avail Nov 20, 2024
#MurderInAnEnglishCastle #NetGalley #FloraSteeleMysteriesBk10 #Bookouture #Merryn Allingham

Flora and Jack are watching the rehearsal of a reenactment of a battle, when one of the actors falls off the side of the castle and dies. Everyone assumes it’s an accident, however his friend, who was fighting nearby, insists the fall was intentional. Flora and Jack agree to do some covert poking around; and before long discover everyone has a motive.

To be perfectly honest, I didn’t finish this book. I felt like the dialogue, characters, and action were too forced. I couldn’t really care about any of the characters and the action seemed overdramatized. It didn’t ring true.

I did however like the setting. It’s a mystery set in England in the 1950s! That right there is enough to draw me in. Also the castle, the reenactments, even the fact that Flora is a bookseller all make for a cute setting. It's also a light, clean read, perfect for when you want a mystery but not the stress of a more gritty story.

I would say this is a perfect book for someone who loved the simplicity of Nancy Drew mysteries as a child, or someone who enjoys cozy mysteries. They’re exciting stories, yet lighthearted enough so that you can relax while reading.

While awaiting the delayed honeymoon Flora and Jack attend the rehearsal of a reenactors group only to see a young man plunge to his death. A close friend is sure it was murder and Flora drags Jack into another case.

I love this series and can't believe we're on book 10 already. Flora and Jack are 2 of my favourite literature characters, especially Jack.

In this book they are trying to solve the murder of their friend Alex who falls to his death whilst at a dress rehearsal at a castle, where they're staging a battle reenactment. Flora sets about to discover if he fell or was pushed, and if the latter who would want to kill him.

As usual with this series the story is cleverly written and the setting is always enjoyable. Thie highlight though is the relationship between Flora and Jack. Excellent series.

Flora and Jack attend a dress rehearsal of reenactment of a battle in a castle ruin.To their horror, they see their friend fall from the battlement to his death. Amidst a battle scene, was his fall an accident or murder? Flora agrees to look into the death and runs into unsavory characters and more than one possible motive for murder. Jack does some sleuthing, too, and the solution is definitely a surprise!
A cozy historical mystery set in 1959, Murder in an English Castle is a relaxing read with great characters and a good mystery.
Thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for the ARC.