I sped through this book in one go in just a few short hours, utterly immersed in both the peat-rich Irish setting and the exciting plot!

This is the fifth in the Dr Nell Ward series of mysteries and while I wholeheartedly advocate reading them all in order, to really understand the character relationships and histories, I will grudgingly admit that you can technically read this as a standalone story too (but why would you when they are such good stories?!)

I LOVE that Nell, Rav, James and Shannon have now formed a unique and highly-skilled unofficial murder investigation team and was intrigued that the main suspects in this case were four very different brothers, all with motives and opportunities, giving the reader chance to wonder which of their personalities could be a better fit for the crime. And I was totally fooled by some of the red herrings (although I spotted some clues) and was astounded by dramatic climax and reveal… I had suspected someone completely different!

There is less ecological fieldwork in this book, mainly due to the circumstances of Nell and Rav being at the location for a social occasion rather than for work, but the team do manage to slip in a fair bit of science and lab work to make up for it. And they do spot some hares…

…which indirectly leads them into yet another ‘hairy’ situation, proving that being in a wheelchair isn’t going to stop Rav from participating in just as much of the physical danger as ever. They really are a well-matched couple!

I am thoroughly invested in this series and the characters, and I have to, yet again, declare this book the best in the series… so far! (I am eagerly waiting for A Swarm of Butterflies to land on 26th August 2023 – you can pre-order it on Amazon right now!)

A Trace of Hares is book 5 in the Dr Nell Ward Mystery Series. I have read and enjoyed the 4 previous books and this one is no exception. It was full of interesting characters and is a great cosy mystery.

Thank you to NetGalley and Embla Books for my ARC.

I really enjoyed this book. It was different than anything else I've read recently. I couldn't put it down! I will keep an eye out for this author's future work!

Book Review:
A Trace of Hares by Sarah Yarwood-Lovett
Published by Embla Books, 27th March 2024

The lush Irish countryside is the setting for the fifth book in the Dr Nell Ward mystery series. Although I'd not read the previous four books, aside from knowing Nell and her boyfriend Rav on a deeper level, I don't think I would've gained anything by doing so.

Nell and Rav are in Ballygoria to see two friends, Conor and Sylvia, get married, and whilst there, scientist Nell embraces the secrets of the emerald green hills. But a long-buried secret emerges when a bog body is discovered and is revealed to be Conor's sister Siobhan, who disappeared with her tiny child twenty years previously.

The author's evocative writing conjurs up powerful images of the environment, but I couldn't quite picture the many characters in my head. I'm going back to the beginning of the series to get a better sense of Nell and Rav, as I'd love to know their story from the beginning. In A Trace of Hares, there are four brothers, including Conor fighting over what happened to Siobhan, and their sister Maeve is grieving too. It's hard to say more without spoilers, but the attention to detail is great, secrets are revealed, and this book is full of intrigue and surprises.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thanks to Embla Books and Sarah Yarwood-Lovett for the ARC provided via NetGalley; this is my unbiased review.

#BookReview #ATraceOfHares #EmblaBooks #SarahYarwoodLovett #ARCReview #NetGalley #BookReviewer

This is the first book I have read I what is a series of crime novels with the character Dr Nell Ward. Not being familiar with previous novels did not spoil my enjoyment of the book. It was a complex and in depth story of families, love, anger and past history set in lush Irish countryside, beautifully described and portrayed. It was full of suspense and also interesting insights into biology, history, forensic investigation and conservation as the plot was uncovered. I found those aspects fascinating too. A good read.

Nell Ward is in Ireland to celebrate the wedding of two of her friends and whilst she is there she wants to explore the bogland biome. The groom is one of four brothers who have strained relationships with each other and when Sean announces that he is marrying Maeve, the sister of the missing wife of his brother, the scene is set. The discovery of a body in the peat nearby cracks open old wounds and Nell is a race to solve what happened.
I do really enjoy this series of books because I love the ecological aspect which is different. I especially liked all the descriptions of the mechanism of DNA testing and it is clear that the author knows what she is talking about. The plot was a little muddy in places and the final conclusions seemed to be a bit hysterical but generally this is a solid and undemanding book.

What I love about Yarwood-Lovett's writing is how incredibly spooky and magnetic her intros are. While the beginning of her books truly scare me, they are actually for the most part cozy, and so enjoyable to read. This book had a bunch of family drama, a whole lot of testosterone, and some really in-depth ecology and botany moments. For me, the best part of these book are Dr. Nell doing research; there's something so captivating about these subjects that I know nothing about.
I saw a few reviews saying that this is a standalone...while technically it could be, I recommend at least reading the first book in the series because you are introduced to half of the characters that show up in this book.

Nell and Rav are in Ireland for a wedding and it seems that wherever Nell goes murder is never far behind .
The convivial atmosphere is disrupted when a body is found in a peat bog , it’s the body of a woman who has a connection to the bride groom.
The body is a woman called Siobhan who was thought to have run away with her daughter.
What follows is a tale of jealousy , greed and secrets that are dredged up from the past and begin to have serious repercussions for everyone around them.
The writing is excellent as always and the attention to detail makes this a cut above .
I’m eagerly awaiting Nell’s next case .
A great read , highly recommended.!
Thanks to NetGalley and Embla Books .

What a gripping tale! I had never read any books by Sarah Yarwood-Lovett, so I was excited to receive an arc of A Trace of Hares. It is actually the fifth book in a series about Nell and her boyfriend Rav. It is easily read as a stand alone book, I missed nothing. Nell and Rav are to attend a wedding, but sadly they come across a body buried in the bog, It turned out to be a member of the groom’s family, who had disappeared a number of years earlier. The story follows the family in the next few days. All the cliff hanger events and family fights hold your interest. I found it unputdownable! Although this was my first book by Sarah, it won’t be my last. Thank you to NetGalley and Embla books for an arc of this great book.

Surely murder can't follow Nell to Ireland? Alas, her trip to take part in Colin and Sylvia's nuptials takes a turn for the worse. Both Rav and Nell are put into the path of danger when a woman turns up dead, after years of being missing.

Sarah Yarwood-Lovett continues to shine with her previous training as an ecologist informing every aspect of the series. It's truly fascinating to learn about the clues we can get from the environment, and how Nell is never cowed by the trail of deaths in her wake. Another 5 star read!

It is so nice to find a crime novel that sparkles with good storytelling and originality. This is my introduction to Sarah Yarwood-Lovett and I will certainly be reading more books by her.
I rarely enjoy new cozy crime novels but this one has a bit of grit to it and plenty of believable characters. The west coast of Ireland has long been a popular haunt for novelists and is a perfect backdrop for this story.
There's rivalry and jealousy between the four brothers at the centre of the plot which provides plenty of tension as suspicion points backwards and forwards between them all.
The forensic detail adds a whole extra layer of clues and suspense and was totally fascinating.
An absolute joy to read.

Trace of Hares is the fifth book in this addictive, cosy mystery series with its roots in ecology. Nell, Rav, James, and Shannon are guests at Connor and Sylvia's wedding in Ireland. On the first evening, family tensions emerge, and a devastating discovery is in the peat bog, embroiling Nell in another murder investigation. I like the character dynamics between Nell and her friends. The botanical and ecological details add authenticity to the story and give it a unique edge—the story is twisty, and there is plenty of family drama. The author evokes the location and the family relationships, bringing both to vibrant life. I like the characters, mystery and uniqueness of this cosy mystery.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher.

A Trace of Hares by Sarah Yarwood-Lovett is a Dr Nell Ward mystery. Nell is a scientist. She is also the daughter of nobility and of a politician. Nell and her companion, Rav, who is still in a wheelchair following a car accident. That is not holding him back, though, and he is still working as hard as ever. They are joining other friends at the wedding between Conor, her mother’s bodyguard, and Silvia, a friend. Things deteriorating quickly as the four brother get together for the first time in years: Conor, Sean, Brandon, and Finn Kennedy. Sean plans to marry himself, in the new year. A woman called Maeve, who runs a distillery. She was also the sister to Brandon’s wife, who had been missing for twenty years. Things really go down hill when a group of construction workers are digging for new construction and uncover a body. It turns out to be Maeve’s sister, Siobhan. Things start happening faster. The guys all get in a fight at a bar. Aoife, a local student, present at the dig site, convinces Nell to run a DNA test. She is indeed the daughter to Siobhan who disappeared or died along with her mother. Then all that remains is to determine the father. Apparently it could be any of the four brother.

Nell is a botanist first and foremost, but a sleuth as well. She just can’t abide unanswered questions, no matter whom they involve. She is warm and confident and loves Rav, with or without legs that work. Sean ends up in the hospital having been poisoned by someone using rat poison. Nothing to identify the poisoner, despite the fact Nell had seen it all. The is a very active book, with things happening at every turn. These two families, Siobhan’s and the Kennedys, are all hurting. The parents are elderly and don’t need the grief. It’s a good mystery, with characters readers are familiar with, and an excellent plot, reaching twenty years into the past. Plenty of people think they know what is happening. Few do. Thanks Ms Yarwood-Lovett. I love the Nell Ward books.

I was invited to read A Trace of Hares by Embla Books. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #Netgalley #EmblaBooks #SarahYarwoodLovett #ATraceOf Hares

I enjoyed revisiting this mystery series. I had read book one in the series and had no problem following the story in book 5. It was a good mystery and I also enjoyed revisiting the characters and learning more about ecology.

I love this series and enjoyed this novel even if it's not my favourite as I found the mystery a bit too slow at the beginning.
It's always a pleasure to catch up with Nell and her friends. The Irish setting was well described and the naturalistic details were well researched and interesting as usual.
It's a cold case and there's plenty of twists that kept me turning pages.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the ARC.

I recently discovered this series, and was excited to read the latest book. Nell and Rav are in Ireland for Conor and Sylvia's wedding, and things get complicated when a body turns up that ends up being Conor's brother's long lost wife. There are several more twists and turns, and a lot of family feuding (Conor has two other brothers and none of them seem to get along). I found the ending quite abrupt and rather odd.

As always, I loved the details about botany. There was some neat DNA labwork and some very important flowers.

Not the strongest book in the series, I don't think, but I'm not a fan of interpersonal melodrama, so I'll look forward to the next book.

Would recommend this series to cozy mystery fans who like a bit of romance and science on the side.

The fifth book in the Nell Ward series is out and it is my favourite so far! Despite being part of a series, these can easily be picked up as standalone reads. Set in Ireland in a fictional town o the West Coast, the scenery described with the rugged mountains and the crashing waves of the Wild Atlantic Way is stunning. Nell and Rav are invited to a wedding, but this one comes with lots of family drama. We have warring brothers, an estranged wife missing for decades, who turns up in a bog. A murder case unfolds and then there is the issue of her missing baby. This is an action filled cosy mystery. #atraceofhares #Sarah Yarwood-Lovett #netgalley #emblabooks #nellwardseries

Loved this book. Hadn’t realised it was part of a series but it was so well written and flowed to beautifully. Characters were interesting and I read it deep into the night which is always a good sign!

The lead-up to a wedding turns deadly after a young woman, long thought to have run away years earlier from her marriage, turns up dead. Her murder rips through two families, dredging up old animosities, jealousies, and secrets, and threatens the union between two people Nell Ward cares for.

Nell, Rav, James and Shannon travel to the town Conor Kennedy was born in for his and Sylvia’s pre-nuptial activities and wedding.

Conor’s youngest brother Sean and his fiancé Maeve have many relaxing and fun things to do for everyone, but the surprise inclusion to the party by Sean of the eldest brother, Brandon, puts a damper on everything. Brandon had been married to Siobhan, who he felt had been unfaithful to him before taking their baby girl and leaving him. All trace of both were lost, and the Kennedy brothers spent years blaming Brandon, while Siobhan’s younger sister Maeve was convinced Brandon had not just abused her, but also potentially killed her. Maeve’s fears are realized when Siobhan’s body is found, sans baby. This reignites Maeve's fury, as not only did the Garda dismiss her fears at Siobhan's disappearance, but now her sister is dead, and Brandon does nothing to dismiss everyone's suspicions that he was responsible, and, in fact, stokes angers and causes fights.

Nell, Rav feel they should leave, despite Nell being interested in solving the murder, and James is pulled in as a bit of a liaison between the affected families and the Garda, whom both sides accuse as never have taken their concerns about Siobhan’s disappearance seriously.

Of course Nell and Rav don’t leave, and Nell gets a chance to learn more about the botany of the area, and how this plays into Siobhan’s body’s preservation, and will even lend a vital clue to identifying the murderer. But before it does, there are numerous ugly things revealed about the relationships between brothers, and between the two families, even though there is one revelation that provides a bit of healing to both families midway through the mystery.

Little, seemingly inconsequential hints eventually point to the murderer, whose identity wasn’t super hard to figure out, but I really like spending time with Nell and her sleuthing gang of Rav, James (he’s growing on me) and even Shannon too much to not read each instalment in this series eagerly.

Nell and Rav get into some seriously dangerous situations along the way (these two are such danger magnets!) but it was also heartening to see how well Rav’s physical and mental health have improved and the genuine progress he’s making towards regaining his strength and some of his mobility. I particularly liked how mobile he was in his wheelchair, even around the Kennedy farm.

This was another engaging story full of big emotions, but also some silly puns and sweet moments between Nell and Rav. Can't wait for the next book!

Thank you to Netgalley and to Embla Books for this ARC in exchange for my review.

A Trace of Hares is the next in the Dr Nell Ward series, but this time the story is very close to home. Nell and Rav are in Ireland to attend the wedding of close friends Connor and Sylvia. But tensions soon mount when Connor reunites with his family, especially estranged brother Brandon. Added into the mix is the sister of Brandon's long lost wife, who is now partners with another of the brothers!

Whilst there are a lot of characters in the book, it is easy to follow the narrative without getting lost! What I really enjoyed about A Trace of Hares was the deviation away from the standard crime investigation. Because there is so much emotion tied up in the various family relationships, it is almost stifling at times to get to the truth.

This has been my favourite book in the series, not least for the development of Nell and Rav's stories. I can't wait to read the next installment!