I thoroughly enjoyed this 14th book in the Eve Mallow series when Eve and Robin go on a short break at a fascinating turreted cottage nearby, invited there by the owner who hopes for a positive review of the newly renovated holiday accommodation. Naturally they stumble into another murder mystery and are drawn into trying to solve it. The usual cast of characters feature too who we’ve come to know over time and who always add so much to the story. I’m looking forward to the next installment already!

Amateur sleuth Eve Mallow is enjoying a very well-deserved holiday in a charming cottage with her new husband. But murder never takes a break…
I highly recommend this book Well where do I begin? I have been so excited about this one and it has delivered on every level. I have been so caught up in this one – I devoured the whole thing in just one sitting.

How far would you go to achieve a long time goal?

Although I occasionally find myself annoyed with Eve for her obsessive curiosity and use of her job, writing obituaries, to question suspects, I also enjoy this series immensely. What can I say, I'm a sucker for character driven books and this series has a set of well developed regular characters and even the background of suspects seems to be nicely fleshed out. As a result, it's understandable why Eve sometimes finds it hard to approach someone as a suspect when, well, that person is a friend, someone she likes. Everyone has secrets, however, and, oh, my, there are a ton of them in this one. What seems like a normal renovation job leads to murder and explosive secrets unraveling families and associates. Nothing simple about this one.

Who killed Duncan Blake? I won't detail the plot but it is full of twists and turns involving those secrets, obsessions with the past, affairs of the heart, shady business deals, shattered hopes and dreams, families being ripped apart, adorable, much-loved children, and it seems like everyone is lying. How will Eve sort out who did it when even the innocent may be protecting others? It was nice to not only see that Eve has gotten good about having backup but that Eve and new husband Robin work so well together, even if it did remind me that I seem to have missed a few books in the series. Robin was still sort of keeping a low profile last book I read, now they're married and he's able to be open, even if his gardening know-how doesn't seem to have dimmed. They were invited to Hideaway House so Eve could write a review of the facility, which is what started this whole investigation for Eve. Needless to say, the usual gang of friends is on hand to help sort it all out and you've got to love Moira's sleuthing personality. Oh, and I can't forget Gus, Eve's adorable dachshund, who provides his own kind of assistance.

Bottom line, a top-notch mystery with memorable characters, both good and bad. You won't feel much sympathy for the initial victim, though, that's for sure. That's said, I found myself warming to the various suspects, even the guilty party. Takes a talented author to make readers feel that way, I'd say. Thanks #Bookouture for this early peek back into Eve's life, a reminder to me to do some catch up reading. Library, here I come!

Another great book in this enjoyable series. It's hard to believe we are on Book 14 already this area can rivel Mid Sommer for murders it seems. All the regulars are always present which is a good think about the murder being in the local area as we get to see them grown and develop as well as catching up with Eve and Robin the newly weds. The mystery is full of twists and turns with nobody telling the truth I did suspect the person responsible before the end but was by no means sure so I was still gripped till the end. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Maybe obituary writer Eve Mallow should begin taking her holidays further afield as staying close to home means there's always a body to discover! The turreted and bijou Hideaway House, on the outskirts of Saxford St Peter, is a luxury holiday home with a difference, and when a body is discovered, Eve is determined to investigate. Secrets abound, however, and no one is revealing everything they know. Anxious to protect those she cares about Eve is devastated when another body is discovered, but can she sift through the clues in time to prevent any more deaths, or does the killer have others in their sights?

Book fourteen in this great series is an enjoyable read with a lot to like, although it does seem that every time Eve takes a break close to home, someone dies! The advantage of this is that the regulars are always present and correct, with Moira once again stealing the show with her gossip and preconceived ideas, which I love. The victim was described brilliantly throughout, and it was so easy to dislike them as all the secrets began to emerge. I wasn't close to guessing whodunnit as I had discarded them early on.

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 enjoyed this very much, as always.

This is the first Eve Mallow Mystery that I have read and it works very well as a stand-alone. Eve and her husband (ex-police detective) Robin have been invited to stay at the newly renovated Hideaway House to write a review as it will be used as a holiday let. The small house and its setting are fantastic, but not when the house is egged during the night. Eve also feels guilty staying in such luxury when Duncan, the developer, has his own wife and small child living on the estate in a moldy, run-down home. When a murder occurs, Eve and her friends gather to solve the crime as they don’t trust the investigation’s head. There are tangled ties among the suspects and lies and hidden agendas.
The characters are well-developed and the mystery is top-notch. I was engaged in the story from the beginning and enjoyed the unraveling of the clues as the story develops. I plan to read the earlier stories now!
Thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for the ARC.