I have to admit that although I really liked A Carriage of Misjustice, it wasn’t my favorite in the Lindenshaw Mysteries series so far. I don’t think that it had as much to do with the story as it had to do with the fact that Robin and Adam spent way too much time apart in this installment. As much as Robin picks on Adam about getting way too involved in his murder cases, he depends on Adam to not only bounce ideas off of but to offer him a fresh perspective. He found out it wasn’t quite so easy when they were forced to be miles apart and could only communicate by phone. Not a great way to start their married life together, but they managed.

The mystery part of A Carriage of Misjustice was a good one and although I had my suspicions, I wasn’t positive until everything was revealed. There were almost too many suspects with too many secrets and more than one mystery to unravel. I can’t say more than that because I don’t want to give anything away.

I’m hoping that readers are treated to more from Robin, Adam and Campbell and next time I hope they spend much more time together rather than apart. A Carriage of Misjustice proved that they’re much more fun that way. 😉

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Veronica – ☆☆☆☆
Robin and Adam are newlyweds but don't get to enjoy their honeymoon period because Robin is called away to another town to investigate a murder. This leaves Adam and Campbell the dog at home. You would think it wouldn't be possible for Adam to get involved with another one of Robin's cases from a town away but of course he does, although not the extent he has in the past.

Our murder mystery involves the victim found dead in the clubhouse of a rugby club at the same time a player suffers a major injury. There is also the mystery of the hit run death of a player three years prior. We follow Robin through witness interviews, searches, and more interviews. We get to watch as each piece of the puzzle is uncovered and watch the police try to work out how it all fits together. I enjoyed trying to decide who was telling the truth and who was lying.

I loved spending time with Robin and Adam again, even if in this book they spent much of the time apart. I really like the cozy feeling of the English small towns full of interesting people, and seeing Adam and Robin make a life and home for themselves. A Carriage of Misjustice is another great mystery.

3.75* Loved the Britishness and that the storyline didn't suffer at the hands of 'MM romance tropes'.

I'm not sure if I've read anything by this author before but pretty much from the first chapter I was wanting to check out other tales in the series. It's definitely *not* what I would call a 'MM romance' thank goodness; this is more police procedural that feels very British, very run of the mill/non-sensationalist, very believable and that felt as comfy as our famed cuppas, with a couple of leads who happened to be a married gay couple. Tbh, had there not been a second lead, i.e., had Adam, the deputy head, not existed, I'd have still read and enjoyed this book. I have to admit that I didn't really see the leads painted as the newly married couple they were meant to be; they felt like a pair of old, middle-aged 'slippers', which Brits might get, and please, believe me, I am not complaining at all. They were happy, solid, trusting of each other, supportive and simply an established couple, not love's young dream, and I appreciated that. You didn't have to sell these guys to me; they were the picture of guys-next-door domesticity.

It was more The Robin Show than the Adam Show, but that didn't matter as the low-key police procedural was pretty well done. At times there were a few too many cooks to obfuscate things and it was confusing for someone's surname to suddenly start being used, making me wonder who the new addition was, and then reverting back to the use of first names - why do authors do this and why don't editors pick it up, lol? I liked the little instances of PC'ness being dropped in. Yes, it felt a bit like a little lesson but why not? I think that the odd reprimand and a lesson in manners, in respect and in dignity doesn't go amiss, and here, it was done pretty organically.

It's a satisfying read if you're a Brit but perhaps for non-Brits this will have a tad too much of the almost-mundane and it won't be appreciated. This is solid writing, a solid tale (that was a bit too busy and had my brain squinting - not a typo - due to some of the theories and the amount of revisiting) that had a solid old-fashioned policeman the likes of which I'd love to see around now.

ARC courtesy of Riptide Publishing and NetGalley, for my reading pleasure.

The previous “Lindenshaw Mysteries” had been a bit of letdown for me, but this latest installment restored my fondness of the trio. A CARRIAGE OF MISJUSTICE followed the life of newly married Adam and Robin with their Newfoundland doggo companion, Campbell. All well and good in Bright-Matthews household, although the first test had them at temporary separation - location-wise - due to their job. I must say I felt the frustration almost throughout the story. Empathizing too much with what the lads were feeling, I guess!

This entry had Robin on secondment to Hartwood, a town peregrinated from Lindenshaw for a murder case. Bored and needing something to occupy himself, Adam joined a fundraising choir, bringing Campbell along on practices to keep him from being left-out. Away from Adam, Robin felt the effect of his supportive influence, especially on his process of thinking in directing the investigation. And this what had me aww the whole time, how closely linked they were at heart. Even the little we saw of Campbell - unlike in previous books - also showed his connection to both men. I truly loved this aspect in the story, especially given the previous unease between Adam and Robin.

The case itself was the source of frustration yet realistic in the way it tied up to unsolved case and that somehow found a way to touch into Adam’s life a town away. It didn’t try to force solving everything in one swoop. More to slowly - and I mean reaaally slowly - picking up the crumbs and painstakingly connecting the dots to get to the culprit. So don’t expect some exciting chasing scenes or exchange fires. It got the familiar Cochrane’s good-humored vibe and easy charm. The upside of it all was at least this time none of the trio got hurt or bloodied for a change (that as far as I can say without spoiling more of the story).


Copy of this book is kindly given by the author/publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Detective Chief Inspector Robin Bright, Deputy Headteacher Adam Matthews and their adorable newfi Campbell are back in another convoluted murder mystery. This story has our newly married guys having to split because Robin has been called to his old precinct to help out when one of theirs is out with appendicitis. I love these stories but this one has a lot of rugby terms and UK idioms that I wasn’t able to quite follow. But that aside our guys are just as adorable as ever and I guessed the murderer right this time. If you like British murder mysteries this series is for you.

I so wanted to love this book! Everything from the clever title, the detective couple, and the premise seemed right up my alley. Unfortunately, I just could not get into it. I think the main problem for me is that I did not realize this was more of a “cozy” mystery and I like mine a little more hard boiled. The writing and characters are very charming, and I am sure this book will have no trouble at all finding a home with people who like their detectives a little more well-adjusted than I do.

Thanks to NetGalley, Riptide Publishing and the author for the advance copy in exchange for my honest review.