Review of “Murder on a Country Walk” by Janice Frost

Disclaimer: Please note that I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley, in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Janice Frost delivers a gripping British crime mystery that starts with a Halloween prank and spirals into a chilling murder, keeping readers hooked from start to finish as Special Constable Jane Bell and Detective Steph Warwick navigate a complex investigation.

While the story kicks off with a slew of characters, once it gains momentum, it becomes an addictive read with twists that kept me guessing until the very end. Despite the initial challenge of keeping track of numerous characters, Frost’s masterful storytelling draws you in effortlessly, making it impossible to put the book down until you’ve uncovered the truth behind the crime.

With its rich cast of characters and compelling plot, “Murder on a Country Walk” is a must-read for fans of mystery novels. I raced through this book in a single afternoon, thoroughly enjoying every twist and turn. I highly recommend it to anyone in search of a gripping murder mystery that will keep you on the edge of your seat.

Murder on a country walk follows special constable Jane Bell as she helps detectives investigating murders around the Halloween celebrations. Jane is very keen and often gets on the nerves of DI Steph Warwick in her eagerness to investigate.

There are quite a few characters involved and the book jumps around between them. It’s an enjoyable read with good pacing.

The plot reveals weren’t particularly disguised but that didn’t detract from the reading.

I gave this book three and a half stars rounded up to four.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC copy of this book to read in exchange for an honest review.

This is book 4 in the brilliant Warwick and Bell series but would work perfectly as stand alone.

A woman is murdered on Halloween night. The murderer is dressed as dracula and is seen running away by SC Bell. There are plenty of Draculas around and he gets away. As the murder investigation gets under way it soon becomes clear that this is going to be a hard case to crack with secrets and lies tangled up with suspected historical abuse but Warwick isn't one to give up and keeps on digging until she gets the answers.

I really like this series it is unusual for a Special Constable to be a main character in a detective novel and I love the personality clash between the 2 women and also how Bell manages to get answers the main Police dept can't much to the annoyance of Warwick. The book is both amusing and suspenseful and makes for a very enjoyable read.

Absolutely loved this story and I can't wait for the next book

This fourth book in the Warwick and Bell series opens with SPC Jane Bell and her partner giving chase to a person dressed as Dracula terrifying local residents during Halloween celebrations.
He manages to evade them, however the next morning Jane gets a visit.
Later that evening it seems "Dracula" carried on and attacked a mother and daughter, stabbing one of them fatally.
What ensues is a series of mysterious and unexplained events.
When another woman from the same area disappears DI Warwick takes charge of the investigation and for once allows Jane the freedom to snoop around.
A cleverly plotted mystery that kept me hooked as the clues led me through a series of twists and turns.
Thoroughly entertaining read that left me looking forward to the next outing featuring Jane and Steph.
Many thanks to Netgalley and Joffe books for letting me read this one.

Lincolnshire will never be the same. Quiet backwater, peaceful and pretty villages. DI Steph Warwick is starting to settle after her fraught career in the Met, a good detective, brusque and socially rather inept, follows procedure. Special Constable Jane Bell, retired school teacher, friendly, outgoing, talks to anyone, nosy in a nice way. The pair have clashed before but are starting to understand and appreciate each other which is a good thing with a murderous Vampire causing mayhem. Story surrounded by family constraints and historical abuse seeking revenge not to mention greed. Complex threads but well-written and the reader doesn't get lost along the way. Jane is her usual self, heading where she's been told not to go, frustrating Steph of course. Both main characters are annoying in their own ways but the book is still a good read. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy.

A good British Detective mystery with the help of Jane Bell. Good story - lots of characters and lots of suspects.

Special Constable Jane Bell helps and supports DI Warwick to a murder that happened on Halloween night. DI Warwick has her own personal issues that she’s dealing with but manages to nail the murderer.

Jane Bell should be promoted to the detective team with DI Warwick

I really enjoyed reading this book gripping from start to finish, filled with mystery with lot of crazy twists and turns and unputdownable. So much suspense and intriguing.

Thank you to Netgalley

Complex whodunit with a town full of suspects and a strong cast of characters. Almost cozy, but a cut above - definitely for any detective mystery fans.

I love a good mystery set in the English countryside and this one did not disappoint. A Halloween prank turns deadly and a 'volunteer' police officer (unheard of in the US!) helps to unravel the mystery, mostly by just being nosy! Though this is the fourth book in a series, I did not feel disadvantaged by not having read the previous three titles.

The main characters' perspectives are alternated throughout the book which helps in understanding why they behave the way that they do. The two main characters are just about polar opposites and their interactions are both amusing and frustrating. The friction between them adds to the suspenseful nature of the narrative. The action is fast paced and holds the reader's attention all the way to the unexpected ending.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

A good flowing plot with the mayhem and murder at Halloween
Always enjoy reading her books and the country setting.
Recommend this book and also her other books
Given arc for my voluntary review from Net Galley and Joffe.

Cosy,country murder mystery.Set around Halloween there is a lot to unravel for special constable Jane Bell.Unusual and enjoyable.

A fantastic novel from Janice Frost.

This is a twisted tale of murder that starts on Halloween, set in a small village and town.

You will read from the perspective of many different characters linked to a murder, one of which is Special Constable Jane Bell, who is a very likeable character who constantly gets herself into a pickle.

Overall, this is a very nice, easy read that will grip you from the beginning. I however did work out the plot very early on, but I did still really enjoy the book.

Book four.
A Halloween prank that ends in a cold blooded murder brings us D Stephanie Warwick and SC Jane Bell given readers another full blown read.
A harrowing case so unputdownable that's superbly written.
Loved it.

An absolute thriller !!! Lots of twists in this book that you don’t expect.
Very riveting and would highly recommend this book and author.
Can’t wait to read more by said author.
The best thing is i could relate to it as i live in lincolnshire.

Murder On A Country Walk by Janice Frost is a gripping murder mystery set in a small village on Halloween night. Amidst the celebration and festivities, a Dracula costumed figure terrorizes the villagers, wielding a bloody knife and eventually attacking a mother and daughter. As the body count rises and the killer remains at large, the question on everyone's mind is who is behind these heinous crimes and what is their motive?
The story follows Gina and her mother Susan, who are the victims of the attacker's brutal violence. As the village is thrown into chaos and fear, the police and villagers alike are desperate to catch the killer before they strike again. The suspense is reminiscent of a classic Midsomer Murders episode, keeping readers on the edge of their seats and guessing until the very end.
Frost's writing is engaging and keeps the reader hooked from start to finish. The characters are well-developed and the setting of the small village adds to the eerie atmosphere of the story. As the plot unfolds, clues are slowly revealed, leading readers down a path of twists and turns that ultimately lead to a shocking reveal.
Overall, Murder On A Country Walk is a fast-paced, suspenseful read that will keep readers guessing until the very end. With well-crafted characters and a cleverly plotted mystery, this book is a must-read for fans of classic murder mysteries.
Thank you #Netgalley #JaniceFrost #JoffeeBooks
carolintallahassee

I have to confess what I thought was going to be a good cosy murder mystery turned out to be a bit of a shocker! I liked how the dark side of village life unfolded. Who knew that village life could have so much drama and gossip? I love this series told from the viewpoint of Jane a special constable rather than a police procedural.

Littered With Twists..
The fourth in the Warwick & Bell crime mystery series and Halloween is to bring way more than its fair share of problems for the local force. When a gruesome attack that leads to murder is reported, it is the catalyst for a series of mysterious and unexplained events - not least of these being another death - and, at the heart of it all, lies the same seemingly idyllic and picturesque village. With a cast of credible and well drawn characters and a propulsive plot line littered with twists, this is another worthy addition to this well written series.

Thank you NetGalley and Joffe Books for the eARC.
This is a fun read with an excellent mystery that was peopled with many of the same characters I already knew. It's an enjoyable series.
Special Policewoman Jane Bell is still as keen as mustard, worrying DI Steph Warwick who's always afraid Jane will go rogue. Of course Jane can't help herself, but she comes up trumps and earns
Steph's reluctant admiration in the end! Good stuff!

Another winner from #joffebooks, I loved #murderonacountrywalk by @janicefrostauthor. These are great characters, and I love the multiple POV. It also is striking how we get such bucolic scenes, descriptions of food, quaint coffee houses interspersed with gruesome scenes of murder. By a vampire, no less. Very well done, with intricate plotting...I highly this, and the entire Warwick & Bell series.

P.S. Thanks to #netgalley and @joffebooks for the ARC.

I had part of the plot figured out early on in Murder on a Country Walk by Janice Frost. I felt the characters had superficial relationships and it was hard to connect with any of them.

Overall, an okay read for me. I might read more by this author and in this series. The overall story was interesting, I just had difficulty connecting with the characters.

The story revolves around greed and money at the root of the plot, which gets kind of old in stories.

I rate this a 3.75 out of 5 stars (rounded to 4).

#MURDERONACOUNTRYWALK #NetGalley