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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