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A Christmas Miracle in the Little Irish Village by Michelle Vernal #Review

  Michelle Vernal's A Christmas Miracle in the Little Irish Village was published on September 27th by Bookoutre . Ava Kelly loves returning to Emerald Bay for Christmas. Snowflakes fall on the green rolling hills and mulled wine fills The Shamrock Inn with the smell of winter spice. But this year, the Kelly family is hoping for a miracle… When twenty-four-year-old Ava Kelly and her adventurous twin Grace return home to The Shamrock Inn, their Ma’s favourite baubles bring back so many memories of Christmases past. They have always done everything together, even leaving their little Irish village for the excitement of London. But with the locket her handsome ex Shane gave her hanging just above her heart, Ava has just one wish this festive season… After a year stuck in a job she can’t stand and going on dreadful dates, Ava longs to be back with Shane. Curling up in front of the fire with him, the brooding fisherman everyone else sees melts away as his blue eyes meet hers.

Murder at the House on the Hill by Victoria Walters #Review #DedleyEndSeriesBook1

 

Today we have the start of a new cosy crime series, Murder at the House on the Hill by Victoria Walters. Published on 23rd September by Hera Books, it is the first in the Dedley End series. 


Once Upon A Crime…

Nancy Hunter and her grandmother Jane Hunter run the Dedley Endings Bookshop, selling crime, thriller and mystery books, in a small, quiet Cotswold village where nothing ever happens…

That is, until the wealthy and reclusive Roth family open up their mansion for the first time in twenty years, inviting the people of Dedley End to a lavish engagement party.

While everyone is thrilled to finally look around the mansion on the hill, the festivities are quickly cut short when beautiful Lucy, recently married to young Harry Roth, is found dead after being pushed over the first-floor balustrade.

But who among the guests could have been capable of her murder – and why?

Nancy and Jane decide to investigate – after all, not only do they own a crime themed bookshop, they were also both named after famous literary detectives – but soon wonder if they’ve taken on more than they can handle. Especially when it seems the killer has worked out that they’re hot on their heels…

Can they catch the murderer before the murderer catches up with them? Or will there be a deadly ending to this story?

Join the unlikeliest detective duo for the killer opener of The Dedley End Mysteries series, by a major voice in women’s fiction.

My Thoiughts

 Having loved Victoria Walters' romantic series set in Glendale Hall, I was intrigued to learn that she is planning a cosy crime series. I thoroughly enjoyed this opening novel and immediately took to the characters who were introduced. There is huge potential in the friendship between Nancy and Jonathan and as a pair of amateur sleuths, they were certainly engaging. I found their day to day roles a clever addition. Nancy is immersed in crime fiction, running her crime fiction bookshop and I appreciated all the references to crime novels within the story, especially the gathering together of the protagonists at the end, as per Agatha Christie. 

    This is clever writing, well plotted and at no time, predictable. Nancy's relationship with her gran is warm and believable. I enjoyed the slightly nostalgic nod to classic crime fiction but set very much in the modern age. There is lots of potential for future stories and I am looking forward to seeing how the characters develop and what happens next in Dedley End.

In short: Follow the clues...

About the Author


Victoria Walters writes up-lifting and inspiring stories. She's the author of the bestselling GLENDALE HALL series, which continues with its third book HOPEFUL HEARTS at GLENDALE HALL in September, as well as two other standalone novels - SUMMER at the KINDNESS CAFE, and THE SECOND LOVE of my LIFE. She has been chosen for WHSmith Fresh Talent and shortlisted for two RNA awards. Victoria was also picked as an Amazon Rising Star, and her books have won wide reader acclaim.

 

Victoria is a full-time author. She lives in Surrey with her cat Harry, and loves books, clothes, music, going out for tea and cake, and posting photos on Instagram.


Find out more about Victoria by following on Instagram at @vickyjwalters@, on Twitter at @Vicky_Walters or by visiting her blog at https://victoria-writes.com/

You can read my reviews of Coming Home to Glendale Hall  here , New Beginnings at Glendale Hall  here, Hopeful Hearts at Glendale Hall here and Always and Forever at Glendale Hall here.

Book links:  Amazon UK  |  Apple Books |  Kobo 

Thanks to Victoria Walters, Hera Books and Rachel of Rachel's Random Resources for a copy of the book and a place on the tour. 


Follow the rest of the tour!


 

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