Death at Lovers Leap by Catherine Coles #Review#PublicationDay

 

 Today I am featuring the third in a cozy crime series by Catherine Coles, The Martha Miller Mysteries. Death at Lovers' Leap is published today, on February 16th by Boldwood Books.You can read my review of the first in the series, Poison at the Village Show here amd the second, Death at the Country Fair here.

 

 

Westleham Village 1948

As Valentine's Day rolls around, Martha Miller finds herself unusually melancholy at the state of her own love life. With husband Stan still missing and with her growing feelings for Vicar Luke still shrouded in secrecy, there’s only one place Martha can go - famous local beauty spot, Lovers' Leap.

Legend has it that those with a broken heart throw themselves off the bridge that spans the river, but Martha is certainly not about to do such a thing! But it looks like someone else has had other ideas…. Because there in the river, Martha finds a body. But is this misadventure, a moment of lovesick madness, or is foul play afoot? Martha knows one thing…the villagers of Westleham have another crime to solve! Let the investigation commence!

Find out if Martha and Luke can catch the killer in a brand new Martha Miller mystery from bestselling author Catherine Coles.

 My Thoughts

I enjoyed picking up the threads of this cozy crime series and seeing what Martha Miller was up to now. Inevitably, a dead body enters the story and she is drawn into yet another village mystery. There are some satisfying links in the story to the recent war and its continuing effect on the community. Martha is feeling somewhat dissatisfied with her life, waiting to find out what happened to her husband and unable to move on as she longs to. There is a great mixture of historical detail and mystery and this time, her feelings for the local vicar seem to be growing. The social mores of the era are forcing her to try to put a distance between her and Luke but their investigations draw them closer.

    You get to find out quite a lot more about Luke's family in this story and to meet some of his relatives. He does not have an easy relationship with all his family and you can see how torn he is. I also enjoyed some of the secondary characters, particularly Martha's friends who are all agog to see if she can solve another murder. The series continues in good heart and by the end, you do feel that Martha's life might be moving on a little. The murder is expertly uncovered, with all the hallmarks of a classic crime novel.

In short: tantalising clues and a touch of romance

About the Author

Catherine Coles writes bestselling cosy mysteries set in the English countryside. Her extremely popular Tommy & Evelyn Christie series is based in North Yorkshire in the 1920’s and Catherine herself lives in Hull with her family and two spoiled dogs.

 You can follow Catherine here: Facebook   |  Twitter  |  Instagram  |  Newsletter Sign up   |  Bookbub profile 

 Purchase links 

 

Thanks to Catherine Coles, Boldwood and Rachel of  Rachel's Random Resources for a copy of the book and a place on the tour.

Check out the rest of the tour!