About the Book
Synopsis from Goodreads:
The first in a new cozy mystery series by Elizabeth Penney investigates a suspicious murder in a haunted British castle-turned-bed and breakfast.
Herbalist Nora Asquith is delighted to welcome Ravensea Castle’s first guests to the picturesque village of Monkwell, Yorkshire. After a thousand years of ownership, her family has decided to convert the castle into a bed and breakfast. But when Hilda Dibble, a self-appointed local luminary, is found dead in the knot garden the next morning, Nora’s business is not only at risk—she’s a prime suspect.
Hilda had opposed the hotel plan every step of the way, and although she didn’t succeed in stopping the venture, her disagreements with Nora seem to only further her motive. One of Ravensea’s guests happens to be Detective Inspector Finlay Cole, who is new to the area and now finds himself with a murder case in his lap.
Nora and her actress sister Tamsyn decide to investigate for themselves. They look into the entangled dealings of their newly arrived guests, while also getting hints from Sir Percival, one of the castle ghosts. As they learn, Sir Percival’s tragic death centuries ago sheds light on present-day crimes. Surely they can get to the bottom of this mystery while keeping their new business afloat . . .
My Review
Nora Asquith is busy converting her family home, Ravensea Castle, into a bed and breakfast. It’s located in the small town of Monkwell, Yorkshire. With the help of her sister Tamsyn, she hopes the venture will be a huge success.
However, things don’t always go as planned. One of the town’s locals, Hilda Dibble, opposes the renovation plans and is quite vocal about it. Her objections are not successful, and the b&b opens. To everyone’s shock, Hilda is found dead in the castle's garden and Nora is the number one suspect.
Nora and Tamsyn are determined to find the real killer. They aren’t going to get many guests staying with them if murders happen there. With the help of a resident ghost, Sir Percival, the sisters are on a mission to get to the bottom of this mystery.
This is a great start to a new series. I wanted to read this book since I read another book by this author and enjoyed it. I was not disappointed.
It’s a fast-paced mystery with an intriguing premise and a well-developed cast of characters. I was hooked from start to finish and I was surprised at “whodunit”. I’ll definitely be looking for the next book in this captivating series.
For reading challenges:
NetGalley & Edelweiss Reading Challenge 2025
Cloak & Dagger Reading Challenge 2025
FTC Disclosure: I voluntarily reviewed a free Advance Reader Copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own.
I love a good cozy mystery.
ReplyDeleteHave a fabulous day and week. Scritches to the kitties. ♥
It sounds like a great start for a series.
ReplyDeleteI just started this one last night and so far I'm really enjoying it as well. I love the premise!
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