BOOKSTAGRAM TOUR: Murder Most Foul (A Harvey Ross Coastal Mystery, Book 1) - Theo Harris

A hidden satchel. A long-buried murder. A seaside town with secrets worth killing for…

When Harvey Ross's terrier unearths an old leather satchel on Sheringham beach, the retired Detective Inspector discovers something the Norfolk waves should have claimed decades ago: evidence of an unreported 1950s murder—and a cryptic reference to treasure the locals swear doesn't exist.

Newly divorced and restless, Harvey can't resist pulling the thread. But as he navigates seaside gossip, forgotten grudges, and lies that have aged like the salt-worn groynes along the coast, he realizes someone is watching. Someone who's kept this secret for seventy years and won't let a meddling newcomer drag it into the light.

With Max at his side and allies among Sheringham's quirky residents, Harvey must solve the mystery before the next high tide washes away more than just footprints in the sand.

A delightful coastal cozy brimming with charm, twists, and dark currents beneath the surface. Perfect for fans of M.C. Beaton, Richard Osman, and Frances Evesham. 

What did I think?

I really enjoyed Murder Most Foul and I'm so glad that Theo Harris has more books planned in the Harvey Ross Coastal Mystery series.

I loved the coastal setting of Sheringham in Norfolk that I found really easy to visualise thanks to the vivid and descriptive writing.  I also loved Harvey Ross and his dog Max who are brought to life so well that they almost pop out from the page.

Harvey may have retired from the police force but he still has a copper's nose so when Max finds an old satchel on the beach there's a mystery for Harvey to solve.  There's an old arsenic bottle in the satchel that relates to a murder most foul indeed.  A murder that was never investigated at the time and one that someone in the town doesn't want Harvey to investigate.

This is a very intriguing story that hooked me from the start as I wanted to uncover the secrets that had been buried with the satchel.  I absolutely raced through the book as I couldn't put it down and I became very fond of Harvey (and Max) over the course of the book.  I can't wait to catch up with them again and I will definitely be reading more books in this fabulous series.

Mysterious, dangerous and captivating, Murder Most Foul is a fantastic start to an exciting new series.  It may be cosy crime but it has an intelligent and intricate plot that kept me riveted from start to finish.  A very highly recommended read.

I received a gifted paperback for the Love Books Tours bookstagram tour and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

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About the author:

Theo Harris is an emerging author of crime action novels. He was born in London, raised in London, and became a cop in London. Having served as a police officer in the Metropolitan Police service for thirty years, he witnessed and experienced the underbelly of a capital city that you are never supposed to see. Theo was a specialist officer for twenty-seven of the thirty years and went on to work in departments that dealt with serious crimes of all types. His experience, knowledge and connections within the organisation have helped him with his storytelling, with a style of writing that readers can associate with. Theo has many stories to tell, starting with the ‘Summary Justice’ series featuring DC Kendra March, and the 'Harvey Ross Coastal Mystery' series, and will follow with many more innovative, interesting, and fast-paced stories for many years to come. 

For more information about upcoming books please visit theoharris.co.uk

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BLOG TOUR: The Cat and the Christmas Kidnapper (Conrad the Cat Detective Book 4) - L T Shearer

Join Lulu Lewis, a retired detective with a knack for uncovering secrets, and Conrad, her extraordinary talking cat, as Christmas cheer gives way to festive fear . . .

Hoping for a relaxing festive break, Lulu sets off with Conrad on her canal boat, The Lark, to the picturesque city of Bath to visit friends. But when the pair arrive, they learn of a ruthless kidnapping plot that is plaguing parents in the area.

As the kidnappers fuel panic with further demands, the pair must unravel clues faster than Conrad can charm with his witty banter. That is, if they are to stand any chance of bringing the criminals to justice in time to save the holidays . . .

The Cat and the Christmas Kidnapper by L T Shearer is a charming cosy crime read for fans of Richard Osman and S. J. Bennett.

 

What did I think?

As soon as I saw that L T Shearer had released a new book, I couldn't wait to read it as I absolutely adore Conrad and Lulu.  I actually started this series at book 3, The Cat Who Cracked a Cold Case, and you can definitely read The Cat and the Christmas Kidnapper as a standalone as it explains how Conrad came into Lulu's life.

Lulu is a former detective superintendent and she is spending her retirement living on her barge and travelling on the relaxing inland waterways.  Oh, and she has a talking cat called Conrad!  Or more accurately, Conrad has a human!  Lulu may have retired but she still has a nose for sniffing out crime with Conrad's help (he has a much better sense of smell, after all).

I couldn't put this book down once I picked it up and started and finished it on the same day.  I was really torn between racing through the pages as I was enjoying it so much and slowing down to savour every word and extend my time with Conrad.  The kidnapping story was too gripping though so speed reading won.

The Cat and the Christmas Kidnapper is an intriguing and compelling cosy crime that is impossible to put down.  It's beautifully written with a clever plot, well-developed characters and a gripping police investigation.  It's a wonderful, charming and original book that will be a delight to find in your Christmas stocking this year.  Very highly recommended.

I received a gifted hardback to read and review for the blog tour and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

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BLOG TOUR: Marshal of Snowdonia Paperback – Simon McCleave

Living and working in Snowdonia was always retired detective Frank Marshal's dream. Until a phone call asking for his help turns it into his worst nightmare.

Retired detective Frank Marshal lives in a remote part of Snowdonia with his wife Rachel who is suffering from dementia. Working as a park ranger, Frank gets a phone call from close friend Annie, a retired judge. Her sister Meg has gone missing from a local caravan park and she needs his help to find her.

As Frank and Annie start to unravel the dark secrets of Meg's life, it seems at first that her disappearance might be linked to her nephew and a drug deal gone wrong. In a shocking twist, their investigation leads them to a series of murders in North Wales from the 1990s and a possible miscarriage of justice.

Can Frank and Annie uncover the sinister truth so they find her sister in time to save her? Or will a brutal serial killer add Meg to his list of victims?

Marshal of Snowdonia is the first book in the Frank Marshal Crime Thriller series from multi-million bestselling author Simon McCleave. If you like dark thrillers, psychologically complex characters and shocking twits, then you'll love Simon McCleave's pulse-pounding new novel.

What did I think?

Marshal of Snowdonia is the first book in a new series from crime thriller author Simon McCleave and what an absolute belter it is - I  raced through it and couldn't put it down.  It's the first book by Simon McCleave that I have read and it has certainly whetted my appetite to read more of his books.

Once a detective, always a detective - that's how I see Frank Marshal.  Frank may have retired but he doesn't hesitate to do a little investigating of his own when his friend's sister goes missing.  Annie is close to her sister Meg but there's a lot about her life that she doesn't know.  Uncovering Meg's secrets leads Frank and Annie into a web of danger and sheds new light on a series of murders that the police thought were solved.

This book is so good and I loved everything about it.  The plotting is exquisite as the story twists and turns to shock, surprise and delight the reader.  The character development is breathtaking as I really felt as if I got to know Frank throughout the course of the book, making me look forward to his next adventure.

Unpredicatable and unputdownable, Marshal of Snowdonia is an outstanding crime thriller novel and an electrifying start to an exciting new series.  Very highly recommended.

I received a digital ARC to read and review for the blog tour and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

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