Modern Country Manor Cozy Mystery
This should be a great series if the books that follow are as good as this one. This is a modern-day country manor cozy mystery. By modern, I mean not only taking place in modern times but also much less of the British-isms that are found in 1930s novels. The plot is very good as the author brings the reader along in solving the mystery. There is a final denouement that should surprise everyone. This series also has a prequel that is also worth reading, if you can find it. I can't wait to read the next episode. I received this ARC book for free from Net Galley and this is my honest review.

Death At A Country Mansion is the first book in the A Daisy Thorne Mystery series by Louise R. Innes.

Daisy Thorne lives in the rural village of Edgemeade, Surrey, England. Daisy owns the Ooh La La salon. The perfect place to get the ideal hairstyle and catch up on the latest village gossip. One day Daisy receives a call from her close friend, Fiona, asking her to come to her house as Fiona’s mother has been found dead at the foot of the mansion’s staircase. Fiona’s mother is Dame Serena Lavantae, a renowned opera singer. Fiona has never been close to her mother as her mother seemed to be always on tour, and she was cared for by the family’s housekeeper and numerous nannies. Her death is first considered an accident, what with Serena being intoxicated. When a priceless painting is missing, Detective Inspector Paul MacGuinness begins to suspect that her death might have been a robbery that had gone wrong.

Daisy will share with MacGuinness that she is studying forensic psychology, and he feels that she might be valuable to his investigation. Daisy is willing to help so that Fiona can get closure for this tragic event.

The book is well-written and plotted and has exciting and believable characters. I particularly liked how well Daisy and Paul worked together. Neither seems to have romance on their minds but wants to work with each other to find the murderer. There may be romance blooming in the future.

The charming village of Edgemead in Surrey, England is home to hairdresser & forensic psychology student Daisy Thorne. No one would ever accuse famous opera star Dame Serena Levanté of lacking a flare for the dramatic. Unfortunately, it’s curtains down on the dysfunctional diva when she’s found dead at the bottom of a staircase in her elegant home. Solving an opera singer’s murder may not be the typical hairdresser’s aria of expertise. But Dame Serena was the mother of Daisy’s best friend Floria, so Daisy must do-or-dye her best to get to the roots of the case. When a priceless Modigliani painting in the house is reported missing, the mystery gets even more tangled. Even though the gruff but handsome Detective Inspector Paul McGuinness tells the stylist to stay out of his hair, Daisy is determined to help.
The first book in a new series & I was drawn in from the start & engrossed until the end. Strong characters & a well paced story with plenty of twists, turns & surprises. I loved Daisy who had a knack of getting people to confide in her, I also loved how her relationship with Paul changed & look forward to them locking horns again I did guess who the murderer was but not the reason why the murder was committed. A new author to me & I look forward to more books in the series, Daisy is a delight
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read

A fun start to a new British cozy series! Daisy owns a hair salon and is studying forensic psychology so when her best friend Floria asks her to help solve the murder of her mother, she's right there on the case. Floria's mother was a real diva; not only was she an opera singer, she was a pain. Floria and Daisy discover there was even more about her they did not know and the list of suspects is also longer than they thought. AND, someone has stolen a painting. Di Paul McGuiness, who is assigned to the case, more or less puts up with Daisy but cozy readers know that the back and forth signals a little romantic interest as well. It's a clever mystery notable for the heroine and setting. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. I'm looking forward to the next one.

What a wonderful start to a new cozy mystery series.
Daisy Thorne owns the local hair salon named Ooh La La When she is not working, she is studying to forensic psychology. She hopes to get a job with the local police department someday.
Daisy loves her work and all her friends and everyone that works for her which make me really like her and want to learn more about her.
Her best friend’s Mother was murdered so this gives her a chance to use the skills she has learned so far. The story is full of twists and turns and will keep you guessing .
I look forward to the next in this promising new series.
Thank you to NetGalley, Louise R. Innes and Kensington Books for the ARC of Death at a Country Mansion. This is my personal review.

I tend to enjoy mysteries set in England. Sometimes I am looking for something by Ann Cleeves or Anne Perry or Susie Steiner or Peter Lovesey. Other times, I am looking for a more cozy mystery, the sort that offers a relaxing read for a troubling time. This title suits that latter category.

This is the first in what I think will be a new series. It is set in a small British town and features an amateur detective who in her more regular life is a hair stylist. She heeds to call to solve the case of her best friend’s mother, a well known opera star, who is murdered.

This book has interesting characters, murder, an art thief and a bit of romance. Definitely just what the cozy reader craves!

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this title. All opinions are my own.

Edgemead is a quiet English village where nothing very much changes. If you do want to discover any local gossip however, you make an appointment at the Ooh La La salon, sit back, relax, be pampered, and listen. Owner Daisy Thorne is a fan of all things psychologically forensic to the point of studying it in her spare time and loves nothing better than trying out her new found skills on whatever is happening around her.

Local celebrity Dame Serena Levanté was a world famous opera singer but as her talent and popularity wained her love of drink increased until she became almost a total recluse. Daisy's best friend, Floria, is her only child and so when the soprano is found dead in her impressive mansion she knows her inside knowledge will be invaluable. DI Paul McGuinness isn't so sure but as the star was murdered he begrudgingly includes Daisy in his investigation as the link between himself, the family and local community.

Serena would never have won mother of the year and as her secrets start to emerge Daisy finds herself drawn into a case as confusing as it is surreal. With Floria, Paul and the salon all calling on her expertise she hopes it won't be too long before justice is served.

This is an enjoyable start to a new series with likeable protagonists and a different slant on a common theme. By having Daisy interested in forensic psychology her thoughts and opinions show what is happening and why very well. I did work out whodunnit but not the reason and the big reveal was very well done. The first chapter of book two is also included which I will be looking out for in the new year.

I was able to read an advanced copy of this book thanks to NetGalley and the publishers but the opinions expressed are my own. This is a great start to what has the potential to be a much anticipated cosy crime series.

An entertaining and well written cozy mystery. Great plot, character dynamics and English setting. I received an advance ebook from the publisher and Netgalley. This is my unbiased review.

A Fatal Turn.....
The first in a new series of cosy mysteries featuring hairdresser and now sometime amateur sleuth Daisy Thorne. When the famous mother of Daisys’ best friend, Floria, takes a fatal turn Daisy knows that she has a killer to track down. It’s an enjoyable and entertaining romp with a likeable and fun protagonist in Daisy and a colourful cast of supporting characters. Escapist, relaxing reading.

4.5 stars

I thought this was a wonderful start to a new series. Set in a small English village, our protagonist, Daisy Thorne, owns a hair salon and is studying forensic psychology in her free time. When her best friend's mother, a famous opera singer, is murdered, Daisy teams up with the detective on the case to find the culprit.

A fun mystery, with some surprising twists along the way. I loved the English countryside setting and the atmosphere at the hair salon. Daisy is a smart, outgoing, and genuine protagonist. I enjoyed getting to know her and can't wait to see what's in store for her.

Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Books for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I so enjoyed this wonderful new mystery series set in England. Death At A Country Mansion is set in Surry. England. Thank you to the publisher and to Net Galley for the opportunity. My review opinion is my own for a early ARC for review.

Daisy owns a hair salon in her small English village and she is studying Forensic Psychology that she hopes will land her a job with the police department. Her best friend, Floria's mother is the famous opera singer, Dame Serena Lavante. When Dame Serena is found dead, Daisy and Floria want to figure out what happened. As the investigate as a team they find many village secrets abound as well as suspects that may have wanted the difficult women dead. Floria was known to not get along with her Mother so she is suspected as a possible suspect. During the investigation Daisy finds herself with a romantic interest in the detective handling the case. Daisy works with the detective to inform him of their findings and hope he will close the case against her friend and find the real suspect .

This was a nice mystery with good charcters that are all likable.. The mystery was well crafted and enjoyable to conclusion. I look forward to the next in series.

Death at a Country Mansion was a fun mystery. There were lots of suspects and I enjoyed puzzling out this mystery with Daisy. The stately home and village made for a perfect backdrop to this mystery. I'm excited to see where this series goes and think there could even be a romance brewing!

A delightful cast of diverse characters, a murder, a theft, secrets and lues, shocking surprises and revelations - all taking place in a country mansion that sets the tone for this British mystery. The plot is full of twists and turns as Daisy supports her best friend thru a terrible loss. Will she be able to figure out the truth despite her personal likes or animosities? Will Daisy also be able to put her past behind her and finally open her heart to a new relationship?
An engaging entertaining and enjoyable book.

Death At A Country Mansion is a great new series by Louise Innes and is set in Surry. England. Daisy owns the only hair salon in town so she gets the best gossip. Her best friend, Floria's mother is the famous opera singer, Dame Serena Lavante. There is a strained relationship between them but when Dame Serena is found dead, Daisy and Floria want to figure out what happened. This was a very enjoyable cozy mystery with likable and interesting characters. Plus there are some intriguing twists and the ending is a surprise that you won't guess. #NetGalley #DeathAtACountryMansion

I enjoy reading a contemporary novel based in England because I enjoy the dialogue, different lingo, and characters. Death at a Country Mansion fits the bill and has a great mystery to solve to boot.
Daisy Thorne owns a hair salon, Oh La La in a small village called Edgemead, that she worked hard to make a success, no thanks to her absent parents. Her best friend Floria is from a similar background in that her mother never has paid her much attention. Floria's mother is a famous opera star who is a self centered person that is not liked by many and when she is found dead in her mansion of a home, it appears to be a robbery gone wrong since a valuable painting is missing. But it is changed to murder when the body is examined. There was not a break-in so she must have known her killer, someone who had a key or she let in. She was highly intoxicated, so the latter is probably not the case. There is a plethora of people who fall in the suspect pool, including three ex-husbands and one on the way out the door among others.
Floria is quite the organizer and works hard to make the memorial a special event but things are really thrown into a spin when it is discovered that she has three illegitimate sisters. What a surprise that is!
Daisy is studying forensic psychology, hoping to help as a profiler with a police department. She makes friends with the handsome Detective Inspector Paul McGuinness and gives him information that she gleams through gossip at her hair salon and inside knowledge about the family. There are many surprises in the story that kept me interested to the end. I enjoyed the variety of well developed characters and setting. I need to go back and read the prequel novella and I look forward to the next story. I recommend this for all mystery lovers.
I received a complimentary ARC from Kensington Books through NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are mine only.

This is the first in the Daisy Thorne mystery series. This is set in the English countryside and Daisy owns the Ooh La La Hair Salon (while studying forensic psychology) and her best friend is Floria daughter of Opera Dame Serena Lavante. When Floria’s mother is found dead under suspicious circumstances she asks her best friend Daisy to help her figure out what happened. Her mother fell over a bannister in her mansion and at first they think it is an accident but Floria is convinced otherwise and Inspector Paul McGuiness tells Daisy to stay out of it but when he realizes what she is studying he does let her assist. An expensive painting goes missing which confirms murder and makes things interesting. This was a good mystery and enjoyable read. I loved the setting as I do not read many cozies set in England but I look forward to the next in the series. Daisy is a great lead and her hair salon is a great place to learn all that is going on in the village. Definitely a winner.

I was hooked on this book from the first chapter! The writing is great, along with the characters and the setting. I cannot wait for the next book in the series to come out!

Fun read, with enjoyable characters and a well plotted mystery. Readers will enjoy this first in a series, which is a first for me since most salon mysteries are set in the states for some odd reason. Giggled out loud several times which was grand.

Serena Laventa, a former Opera Diva, is murdered in her own manor. Her daughter floria and her best friend Daisy Thorne, owner of Ooh La La hair salon, try to find the killer. The police detective Paul McGuinness, finally realizes that he needs Daisy's help to solve the crime. The investigation continues and leads to another murder before the killer is unmasked. The clues lead to many possible suspects and finding the killer is not easy nor suspected. A clean mystery and an enjoyable read.

I received this book free from Net Gallery for my review of same.

This was a really fun cozy mystery. I always enjoy books set in England and this one featured a great cast of characters that I can’t wait to meet again. The author set up threads for further novels. It had the right mix of humor and the beginnings of a possible romantic relationship for our heroine. I guessed the who done it pretty early on but enough red herrings were mixed in to keep me guessing.