Murder, mystery and revenge. The author weaves a wonderful tapestry of intrigue. The well developed characters allow you to feel the emotions that they are experiencing throughout the work. I look forward to finding out what Tara Thorpe does in her future, and how DI Blake works into the picture.

This book grabbed me right from the start - that's my favorite kind of book! I love it when a book just grabs my attention and doesn't let go. This book is that. And it's a great mystery for the beginning of a series. Looking forward to more.

] Never having read any other books by this author I was thrilled when I started the book to find what a fabulous author Clare Chase is. From the first few pages it’s clear that this is a murder mystery that’s going to just grip you and get better and better. With a wonderful cast of characters and a beautiful setting in Cambridge and the fens I loved the book, never predictable it makes for a great read and the start of a wonderful new series ...4+ stars and well recommended. Many thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for a chance to read the ARC and straight on to the next in the series.

The story had a journalist Tara joining hands with the lead police investigator DI Blake to investigate the murder of a professor Samantha, killed and posed in a garden fountain. The killer supposedly also sends his victims dolls to warn them. Tara has also received such a doll. And the story rolls on with clashes between the two main characters.
Debut by Clare Chase had me reading up the book in 2 sittings overnight to get to the end. It had enough twists to prevent my interest from waning, my only niggle was it was a bit of a slower read. An enjoyable police procedural with secrets and suspense.

"Death comes equally to us all, and makes us all equal when it comes." John Donne

Tara Thorpe is a journalist working for NOT NOW magazine when she is asked to investigate and write a feature about the murder of a charismatic and popular professor, Samantha Seabrook, a fellow of St. Francis's College at Cambridge. Professor Seabrook, young and athletic, somewhat impetuous and adventurous, had apparently been killed in a walled garden fountain. Several interesting clues come to light immediately and Tara's first problem is that she can't seem to get honest answers when she interviews Seabrook's colleagues at the institute. Her second problem is that the police, namely DI Blake and his team, don't feel that information should go both ways. They want access to her notes and recordings, but they aren't sharing everything with her. In addition, Tara, who has a history of being stalked, receives a message along with a handmade doll -- "It was a warning. This is a warning." And does this mean that her stalker has returned to terrorize her OR is the note an indication that the story Tara is working on has personal implications? NO SPOILERS.

This was a great first novel in a new series. I loved meeting the characters and enjoyed their interaction as their relationships deepen and develop. It was a bit of a class clash as those from Cambridge stall and hinder the police trying to solve the case. The bond between Tara and Blake is just developing and is not romantic...yet. Tara makes some big decisions by the end of this book and I'm thrilled that I can immediately pick up the second in this mystery series. Great storytelling with the added bonus of the setting at Cambridge add to the compelling nature of the tale.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for this e-book ARC to read and review. I'm off to start DEATH ON THE RIVER...

What a fab start to this series. Really loves everything about this book. The characters and the setting- it was a new refreshing twist on a police procedure.
Recommend to fans of crime thrillers

The first in a new series featuring the duo of Tara Thorpe and DI Garstin Blake which sets up the dynamic of the journalist and the detective for future adventures. Not edge of your seat suspense but enough secrets and twists to keep me reading far into the night.

Murder on the Marshes is an exciting introduction to a new crime series by Clare Chase, set in historic Cambridge. The marshland setting adds a perfectly eerie atmosphere to this book, especially when our lead character, Tara Thorpe, who lives there (in a rather isolated house), is targeted by a killer. I think this is definitely a new series which I will be following. If you enjoy crime novels with a cosy edge, then I would definitely recommend this one.

What I found worked well with this book was that Clare used Tara's skills as a journalist to help the police in their investigations. Tara has a unique position over the police; the public may feel more comfortable telling Tara information than if they were approached by DI Blake and his team and Blake uses this to the investigations advantage.

The body of Samantha Seabrook is found in the opening pages of this book, Samantha is a wealthy young woman who leaves an impression on everyone she meets, but not everyone may have been overly enamoured with her. But she also appears to be a very caring person as she is particularly interested in helping those who are less fortunate than her. Tara has been receiving threatening messages which the police believe may have been sent by the person who killed Samantha.

Clare kept me asking questions about Samantha and about what might've happened in her history that could be the reason as to why she was killed. Her work colleagues at the university are interesting individuals and I did feel that I couldn't trust any of them as the investigation moved forward. None of them are particularly likeable but this for me is what made them really interesting.

Clare managed to keep me in the dark as to who the murderer was. I thought the prologue was absolutely brilliant and it ticked all the boxes in what I want from a good opening. It had me questioning what was happening and wondering how the story was going to come back to this scene in the end. The pace does drop a little in the middle, but Clare still kept up the intrigue, and I was especially interested in Tara and Samantha's earlier life which could be the key to the case.

This is the first piece of work that I have read by Clare, and I am looking forward to seeing where she takes the series next. I think there is definitely room for some exciting character development between Tara and DI Blake. Thank you to Bookouture and Netgalley for the advance review copy.

Thanks Netgalley and the Publisher. What a fabulous start to this new series! Really loved everything about it the plot, the characters, and especially the setting.... it was a new refreshing twist on a police procedural. because you also got the investigative journalism insight great read

I enjoyed the characters, setting, and plot line. Book was well written and a good distraction from the real world.

A tightly woven mystery with well developed characters that kept me guessing to the end. A must read for murder mystery fans!

This post is written with apologies and thanks to Clare Chase and Noelle Holten for their patience, and for providing me with my copy of the book through Netgalley.
Tara Thorpe is a journalist with a troubled past, and she thinks her past has come back to haunt her when she receives a warning through her letterbox. The warning arrives at the same time as a university professor, Samantha Seabrook, is found drowned in a fountain. Working with Detective Inspector (DI) Garstin Blake, Tara sets out to discover what happened to Samantha Seabrook. Will they find out who the killer is before Tara's own life is in danger?
Murder On The Marshes has mystery running through it from beginning to end. It begins with a prologue that made the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end, and from that point onwards, it was full of intrigue, and sent shivers down my spine at every turn. I had to find out what had happened, and was compelled to keep furiously turning pages until I did. All my guesses were wrong, and the ending took the tension to a whole new level.
The novel starts fairly steadily, but we eventually discover that the victim herself, Samantha Seabrook, is a colourful character, and I enjoyed learning more about her as the novel progressed. As Tara and Blake uncovered her secrets, she never failed to surprise me, and the mystery surrounding her made me even more determined to get to the truth.
As The Murder On The Marshes is set in Cambridge, the reader is treated to some beautiful scenery, quite at odds with the sinister events of the plot. I loved the descriptions of the area, and I felt immersed in the world Chase has created.
Tara makes a wonderful central character, and I admired her grit throughout Murder On The Marshes, as lesser characters would have given up much more easily. It is unusual to see a journalist and a detective getting on so well, but I enjoyed watching their relationship grow, and look forward to seeing where Chase will take this in future.

Murder on the Marshes begins with a bang! A twisted prologue and a murder within the first pages. In addition, there is also a stalker on the loose. I really liked the setting With the academia in the backdrop. Working in a private university, the setting felt familiar although thankfully, my workplace doesn’t have so much drama.

I liked the two angles in the investigation. Tara’s narrations captivated me more because I have always been curious about the investigative journalism. I like the approach that she took to gather information about the murder and especially about the victim. I also felt that her narration was tenser because of the fact that she was being stalked like the murder victim. I am not sure why I wasn’t too keen on Blake’s investigation though I liked how the two came together.

This is certainly an interesting first installment to a promising series which I think fans of crime thrillers will enjoy.

I was super excited to hear that Clare Chase is back with a new murder mystery series.... having been a fan of her writing for the last couple of years and reading Clare's previous books I couldn't wait to get stuck into Murder on The Marshes and meet Tara Thorpe. I am pleased to say that the author doesn't disappoint this is without a doubt her best book to date....I was hooked from start to finish.

Clare does a brilliant job of setting the scene in Cambridge where we follow Tara and Detective Inspector Garstin Blake on a case to track the killer down after the body of Samantha Seabrook is found downed.

I love Clare’s style of writing, which is atmospheric and beautifully written. She really makes me feel like I am in the story with her stunning descriptions. After reading this visiting Cambridge is definitely on my bucket list.

This story is what I call an easy read that moves at a steady pace.and reminds me of Agatha Christie.Grabbing me straight from the starts Clare builds up the suspense dropping clues out to build the pieces of the jigsaw, which will keep you guessing until the very end.

Tara and Garstin make a brilliant team and I am looking forward to getting to know them more in the next story. I have a feeling this is going to be one hell of a series.

Murder on the Marsh is a perfect gripping who-dunnit story, fans of LR Ross will love it.... Which I highly recommend giving it 4,5 stars

Thank you to Noelle Holten at Bookouture for inviting me to take part in this fab tour.

First of all I must say that I thought that the start of this book was superb!!

I found the book easy to read and I thought that it flowed very well. The pace was great and it certainly kept me entertained. The plot was believable and I liked the twists the author added to make it such an enjoyable story.

The characters in the book are great, very well developed and I loved their different personalities and I can’t wait to read the next book in the series! This is an excellent introduction to the series and I am delighted to have been introduced to this author.

Four stars from me for this one – highly recommended!!

I want to thank Bookouture and Netgalley for this partnership.

I was immediately attracted by the cover, it represents a path with a stream and a mill in the distance.

There is Tara Thorpe investigating the murder of Samantha found drowned in a fountain with the only hint of a silver chain around his throat.

She will learn that the victim had received death threats like her.

With the help of detective Garstin Blake, the investigation will lead them to the wet marshes on the outskirts of town. Tara is going to hide some elements of her past from this detective.

A captivating thriller filled with suspense and rebound read almost in one go.

I'm never disappointed with Bookouture's books.

Tara and Garstin find themselves at odds with the initial homicide investigation, until Tara becomes part of the mystery. Now they have to not only work together, but share information, so that it can be solved. But can they set aside their inate feeling of being on opposite sides? And will Tara survive before they can solve the mystery? This is a real page turner, I read it in one late night sitting! I can't wait to read the next book in the series!

When I began reading this book, I couldn't help but think of the TV detective programme Morse (and subsequently Lewis) set in Oxford. But Murder on the Marshes is set in the other big, equally beautiful, university city of Cambridge and opens in one of the colleges of Cambridge University. It was lovely to see the city featured, and the author obviously knows it well.

I liked Tara from the outset. Ballsy, feisty and not afraid to go after what she wants. But she has had some troubles in the past, which are touched upon here. It's refreshing to see a main character who is a journalist, rather than a police officer, although to be fair, she does share the billing almost equally with DI Blake. I really enjoyed the development of their relationship throughout the story. They each pursue the case in their own, using their own methods, and it was interesting to see where the differences were. But then they come together to share ideas. And there's maybe a wee bit of a frisson between the two of them.

I really enjoyed meeting all the characters from the university, even though some of them were distinctly unlikable. And Tara's relationship with her mother is interesting. The pacing is perfect - I read it quite quickly because I always wanted to know what happened next. And I didn't work it out, and I love it when that happens.

Would highly recommend, and I'm eagerly awaiting the follow up.

This book ticked all the boxes for me, a murder within the first 5 chapters, a gripping story line and characters that are believable, flawed and at points you just want to shake!

It made a change that it was a professor that was murdered on campus and not a student, this quipped my interest even more!

It’s a gripping read that had me turning those pages way after bedtime, I was eager to find out about Tara’s past and what little secrets she was hiding.

I would definitely recommend this book and I’m looking forward to seeing where Clare tales us from here, a brilliant first novel!!

‘Murder On The Marshes’ is billed as being ideal for fans of L. J. Ross, Faith Martin and Joy Ellis. I love all three authors and the books and so I was looking forward to starting ‘Murder On The Marshes’. I was not to be disappointed as I loved it but more about that in a bit.
I did feel for the character of Tara Thorpe. She’s a journalist and at some point in her past she has had a traumatic experience which still affects her to this day. She lives a distance away from other houses but she is quite happy with her own company. Tara is tasked with finding out more about Samantha Seabrook, who was murdered by persons unknown. There are similarities between Samantha’s case and Tara’s own case. Tara feels threatened again and so she goes around her house leaving little booby traps to alert her to an intruder if one tries to get into her house. Tara receives a distressing doll, which she perceives to be a threat to her life. Samantha Seabrook also received such a doll prior to her murder. It’s this that brings her into contact with Detective Inspector Garstin Blake. Tara and DI Gerstin Blake work together to try to apprehend the murderer before any further lives are lost. Will they succeed? Well you are just going to have to read the book for yourselves to find out as I am not going to tell you.
Oh my days, ‘Murder On The Marshes’ was certainly a read and a half. The author’s writing style is such that you can’t fail to be drawn into the story and before you realise it you have become addicted to the book. The author uses such powerful and vivid descriptions that I could literally imagine the action taking place in front of me. The characters are so well described that they seemed real to me and they seemed to come alive. The more I got into this book, the more I read and the quicker the pages were turning. I was so into the story, the case and the characters that I didn’t realise just how quickly the pages were turning. Before I realised what was happening I had cleated over 40%. It didn’t take me long to finish the story and when I closed the back cover so to speak I felt disappointed in the sense that I was enjoying the book so much that I just wanted it to continue on and on. For me ‘Murder On The Marshes’ is a real ‘CPID’ (can’t put it down book). My Kindle wasn’t exactly glued to my hand but it might as well have been because it came everywhere with me. Reading ‘Murder On The Marshes’ was much like riding on a scary and unpredictable rollercoaster ride with no idea in which direction the story will take you next. On more than one occasion I smugly thought that I had fathomed out who had committed the murder and why, only to realise that I had the wrong end of the stick entirely and it was actually somebody else. I also loved the setting of Cambridge for this series and in time, Cambridge will become just as notorious as Midsomer (‘Midsomer Murders). I for one can’t wait until this happens.
In short I loved reading ‘Murder On The Marshes’ and I can’t wait to read the next book in the series. Fortunately I don’t have too long to wait because the next book in the series ‘Death On The River’ is due to be released on 17th October 2018. I can’t wait to read it. The score on the Ginger Book Geek board is a well deserved 5* out of 5*.