Chase is my go to writer when I need to relax after a long day. Guaranteed great writing and unusual, intricate plots but this time Gus did steal the show! Obituary writer, Eve Mallow, gets to spend a weekend away at a local hotel when she wins a local raffle. When glamorous owner, Debra Moran, is found dead it's up to the intrepid amateur detective to find out the who and why. Excellent.

BLOG TOUR REVIEW

Review for 'Mystery At The Abbey Hotel' by Clare Chase.

Read and reviewed via NetGalley for Clare Chase, Bookouture publishers and Bookouture anonymous

Publication date 12th April 2020.

This is the second book I have read by this author. It is the fifth book in the 'Eve Mallow Mystery' series but can be read as a standalone. The previous book I have read by Clare is 'Mystery At The Old Mill' which was the fourth book in the series and I thoroughly enjoyed it and would highly recommend anyone reading it.

I was originally drawn to this book by its beautiful eye catching cover and its intriguing synopsis. I have also read 'Mystery At The Old Mill' by Clare which I loved and am hoping this is just as good. It also stated in the synopsis that this book is perfect for fans of Faith Martin amongst others. I am a fan of Faith's books so am looking forward to see if it loves up to this. I must admit I was also biased due to the publisher being Bookouture. I have yet to read a book published by Bookouture that I haven't enjoyed. Hopefully this won't be the first... Watch this space! (Written before I started reading the book).


This novel consists of a prologue and 44 chapters . The chapters are short to medium in length so possible to read 'just one more chapter' before bed...OK, I know yeah right, but still just in case!

This book is based in a fictional town based in Suffolk, UK 🇬🇧. The bonus for me of books that are partly or fully based in the UK is that I live in the UK and have sometimes visited places mentioned in the book which makes it easier to picture. I have actually visited Suffolk on several occasions so am looking forward to seeing if I recognise anywhere that Clare has based the book on.

This book is written in third person perspective and the protagonist is Eve Mallow. The benefits of third person perspective are that it let's you see the bigger picture of what's going on and you get to know more characters more, what they are thinking and what they are doing. It feels like you get to see the whole picture and not miss out in anything.

This book is very well written making it a lovely smooth read. The atmosphere and vivid descriptions are perfect for the plot and helps give that cosy feeling while reading. The synopsis and cover suited the storyline perfectly. I'm looking forward to reading more of Clare Chase's books including any prior to this one. This book can easily be read as a standalone and anything that has happened prior is described in just the right amount of detail.

The storyline itself if a lovely cosy mystery that kept me guessing all the way through. I had no idea who the killer was so a huge congratulations to Clare!!!! It is getting harder and harder to surprise me with the amount of crime books I read but you definitely managed it. I enjoyed that it wasn't really a case of just one mystery but how several linked smoothly and everything was tied up nicely at the end, I hate loose ends!! I really enjoyed going on this adventure with Eve and investigating with her. The book was filled with crime, mystery, murder, red herrings and some suspense. I also believe that Clare portrayed village life perfectly and the community within them.

The characters were all realistic, strong and an eclectic bunch to say the least. It was really fun learning all of their different characteristics, personalities and backgrounds. I love Eve and of course Gus and I really enjoyed meeting them again along with Robin and Viv. Eve felt to me to be slightly eccentric which I enjoyed the most about her. I also enjoyed meeting all the new characters who all has such strong personalities especially Debra who was definitely larger than life.

Congratulations to Clare Chase on another successful and addictive page turning murder mystery. Welcome to my favourite author list and I cannot wait to see what Eve and Gus get up to next!!!

Overall an absolutely compelling and page turning cosy mystery that is perfect to read on front of the fire.

Genres covered in this novel include Mystery, Suspense and Crime Fiction amongst others.

I would recommend this book to the fans of the above as well as fans of cosy mysteries, Faith Martin and Agatha Christie.

318 pages.

This book is just £1.99 to purchase on kindle via Amazon which I think is an absolute bargain for this book!!!

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3.5 stars

Professional obituary writer Eve Mallow is having a short stay at a luxury mansion when the owner/proprietor is found murdered. Since her guests include her estranged sister, her nasty ex-husband, and several couples with secrets of their own, suspects abount.

Eve is a likable character. She has an understandably prickly relationship with the local police. She also works with an undercover cop in hiding, and their relationship is edging into the personal.

A quick read with a bit of a surprise ending. Thanks to the publisher and to Net Galley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Eve Mallow just can't seem to avoid getting caught up in another murder! Even a free weekend at a posh country hotel leads to another mystery to solve. While writing an obituary about the owner, Eve finds information that can lead her to the killer, and as usual, getting in the way of the police.

Another great Eve Mallow cozy mystery.
Eve wins a weekend escape at the Abbey, a very exclusive hotel, where the owner, Debra, is very involved. Upon her arrival she is struck by the beauty of the Abbey, the ever present Debra, and the variety of guest that will also be staying. But, when Debra is strangled, all guests are suspects. Seems almost everyone had a motive to want Debra dead, but who was the one who went through with it. Eve offers to write her obituary, which of course gives her free reign to interview all the guests. She is determined to find justice for Debra, but at what cost? When the body count starts adding up, Eve once again, finds herself in a dangerous situation. Will she uncover the identity of the murderer before its too late?
Love the characters and the banter between them. Really enjoy this series, looking forward to the next book.
I received an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Cozy mystery abound!

Clever, an easy way to pass the day. I’d recommend to anyone who wants an authentic, entertaining book to read for any occasion.

Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for a copy of "Mystery at the Abbey Hotel" in exchange for my honest review.

This is the 5th book in the Eve Mallow mystery series. Eve and her dachshund Gus arrive at the Abbey Hotel for a weekend and quickly gets involved in a murder mystery. The hotel is owned by the charming Debra Moran. She is set to help her protégée Harper Reece open her restaurant. There are several possible suspects, each with motives to commit the crime. When there is a second murder, Eve has to reorganize her suspects.

It will be interesting to see where the relationship between Eve and Robin develops to.

There is a twist and the murderer is not quite the one that the reader would suspect at first.

When a charismatic hotelier is murdered as Eve is enjoying a weekend at a luxurious historic Abbey turned hotel, thanks to a winning raffle ticket, she gets drawn in to finding the killer. The fifth in a series about a professional obituary writer, this most recent book continues to delight me with its atmospheric descriptions of coastal England, delicious food, and small village life. There were more than enough suspects to keep me guessing until the end, and the author does a good job of portraying them in a believable way. I’m looking forward to the next book and seeing where it takes Eve, especially with the little surprise at the end of this one.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy, my review reflects my honest opinion.

I enjoy this series. The characters are interesting. I like the English countryside setting. The mystery keeps me guessing, because even if I have an idea of who, I never can figure out the why. The MC moves forward with her life in each book.

Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for my eARC in exchange for an honest review.

A slow and tortuous plot with quite a handful of different characters. The characters are clearly distinguished but the dialogues are somewhat awkward, whether due to the story or the narrative I don’t know. There are too many descriptions of the places just to fill the pages. The pace is maintained only if the narrative is succinct as otherwise people would tend to close the book. After overlooking the shortcomings it would be a quick and enjoyable read.

Mystery at the Abbey Hotel is one of a series of 'cozy' mysteries featuring an obituary writer with a flair for investigation, named Eve Mallow. Being a 'cozy' mystery, this is one without any obvious sex or violence, it's only alluded to, or talked about in vague terms. Even though this is book five in the series, I think it functions fine as a stand alone novel if you haven't read the others (as I have not).

Eve wins a chance to stay at an exclusive new boutique hotel; The Abbey Hotel. Eve meets a variety of guests with memorable personalities, most of all, her strong willed hostess and hotel owner, Debra. But, Debra is found dead in, naturally, mysterious circumstances, and Eve is tasked with writing her obituary, and while doing that.. she works on solving the mystery. The local police force isn't quite up to snuff! Oh, and for the animal lovers, Eve keeps her darling doggie Gus, close by, and uses him as a confidant as well.

I have to be honest, this book started out very rough for me. I thought this might end up being a DNF at the beginning. It definitely has a high 'cheese' factor, although it doesn't feel intentional, because it feels like it takes itself somewhat seriously. But, I kept reading, and I actually ended up liking it a lot more than I thought I would. There were some twists and turns I didn't expect, so I give the author credit for that. Some of the language just felt awkward and stiff to me, which I think is what originally turned me off about it. But, once I got used to it, I was able to follow the story more than being focused on the particular words used. Eve is a very mild mannered heroine, she has neither a particularly strong or passive personality, and the supporting characters read the same.

I would recommend this book as a very 'easy' read, for those who want something they can just completely relax with, and not have to think too much about. As stated above, it's VERY 'clean', so this would be plenty appropriate for just about anybody who's okay with mention of death.

Thanks to NetGalley and the author, Clare Chase, for allowing me to read this eARC for my honest review.

Eve Mallow, freelance obituary writer and part time baker at the teashop in Saxford St. Peter, has won a getaway weekend at the Abbey Hotel. The Abbey, a boutique hotel with architecture dating back to the 1300s, impeccably decorated bedroom suites, and gourmet meals prepared by a talented chef, is the brainchild of hotelier Debra Moran. A veteran of the London hotel scene, the Abbey is Debra’s dream of country hospitality. On Eve’s first night, she is surrounded by celebrity guests. On the second, they are all suspects.

The guest list, chosen by the charismatic Debra is eclectic. The guest include Yash Astor, a mysterious, self styled financier, Bianca Gresham, a fashion designer, her husband Miles, and Chester Paxton, Debra’s ex-husband. They are joined by Harper and Edmund Reece, she a chef and he a lawyer and Debra’s estranged sister Amelia. Also present are staff, Ivan, the head of housekeeping, his wife chef Nicole, and Martha, a housekeeper. Ned Craven, the owner of a nearby smuggling museum, stops by for a quick drink. One of these personable characters is a murderer. Several will be victims. And unless Eve can discover the identity of the killer, she may be next on his/her list.

Clare Chase is a master of the sophisticated cozy mystery! While this is the fifth in a delightful series, it can be read as a standalone thriller. The small village of Saxford St. Peter is almost a character in itself. Eve’s relationship with former detective Robin Yardly continues to grow and her baking skills at the teashop are improving. 5 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley, Bookouture and Clare Chase for this ARC.

This is the fifth time I follow Eve (and her super-cute dog Gus) in a sleuthing adventure, and I'm happy to report I enjoyed it just as much as the previous four.

Everything I said the first time still applies:
Set in a charming location (the kind of place that makes you wish it wasn't fictional... except for the murders, of course!), this new series of cosy mysteries follows an ordinary woman (divorced, with two children in their twenties and a cute little dog) as her less ordinary job (writing obituaries) suddenly puts her in a definitely-not-ordinary situation - in the best place to investigate a murder.
The plot was suitably intriguing and I really liked the characters - Eve, her dog Gus, and also her new friend Viv (whose cakes contribute to make you wish the place wasn't fictional). One of my favourite things (that I can mention without spoilers) has to be that Eve not only keeps a spreadsheet to organise her thoughts but also talks about the case to her dog.

Now I'm starting to wonder if Eve's neighbours should worry that she attracts bad luck as several murders were committed in or near their village since her arrival, but of course I still don't want the series to stop. Book 6 will definitely be treated as a must-read too.

For those who haven't read Mystery on Hidden Lane, Mystery at Apple Tree Cottage, Mystery at Seagrave Hall and Mystery at the Old Mill yet, this one wouldn't spoil the ending of either of the others but would reveal the secret of one suspect from the first, so I still recommend to start with the first book unless you already have this one, can't buy the others immediately and really don't mind partial spoilers.

Eve is getting the chance to spend the weekend at the exclusive new hotel everyone has been talking about. Her plans to enjoy the time at the hotel and relax are quickly dashed when the owner is murdered.

What’s a girl to do other than investigate while she interviews those who were also staying at the Abbey hotel and writes the woman’s obituary for a magazine? With so many suspects and motives, it’s hard to nail down whodunit. Eve’s hoping she’ll get it figured out before she becomes the next victim.

This is a new to me series and I thoroughly enjoyed it! I wasn’t expecting it to capture me so quickly and keep me in it’s thrall, but it did! I’m off to read the first books in this series and will be adding Clare Chase to my list of must read authors!

Anticipated Weekend Break Goes Awry.....
An anticipated relaxing weekend at the luxurious Abbey Hotel goes awry for Eve Mallow when the owner is murdered in the wooded grounds of the Hotel. Eve must don her sleuthing hat once again as she finds herself ensconced at the Hotel with a plethora of suspects. Enjoyable and relaxing cosy mystery with a likeable protagonist.

Eve Mallow is delighted to win a weekend break at the Abbey Hotel. They even welcome dogs, what a treat. Eve and her trusty dachshund Gus arrive in time to settle in before meeting the celebrity guests and enjoying all the luxury hotel has to offer. The weekend turns sour when the owner of the Hotel, Debra Moran is found murdered in the woods and Eve is relieved to return to her safe haven in Saxford St Peter. Eve is soon hot on the trail of the murder, putting her investigative skill to good use whilst interviewing the guests for Debra’s obituary and putting herself in mortal danger.

Eve spends the weekend at a swanky hotel that is renown for it’s charismatic owner/hostess and the exclusive clientele. Eve quickly falls under the spell of Debra Moran, the glamorous hotel proprietor as do most of her quests. Not all the quests hold her in such esteem because Debra is found strangled in the hotel car park. As Eve begins digging for clues she uncovers secrets regarding several of the quests.
Slow to boil, characters well developed and the plot nice and twisty. For traditional cosy fans.
Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for an advance copy.

Eve Mallow, freelance obituary writer and sometime private investigator, loves her new life at Elizabeth's Cottage in Saxford St Peter with her loyal dachshund Gus at her side. When she wins a long weekend at the luxurious Abbey Hotel a little further along the coast Eve jumps at the chance; after all life has been a little hectic since her move, what with her new job at the coffee shop and all those murders she keeps getting involved in!

The hotel is beautiful and it's clear owner Debra Moran has spared no expense when undertaking her renovations. Add in delicious food and the sparkling personality of her host and Eve knows she is in for a wonderfully relaxing break from reality. As the weekend continues however she begins to see cracks beneath the surface. Eve witnesses the difficult relationships between some of the A lister guests and the expertly attentive staff members before, to her horror, Debra goes missing and an awful discovery is made.

Unable to shake the feeling all of the unpleasantness could have been avoided and dismayed that, once again, her nemesis Detective Inspector Nigel Palmer is leading the enquiry Eve knows she has to get involved. With everyone instructed to stay nearby the killer must still be close but can Eve work out what happened and why before she lands herself in danger once again?

This series improves with every book and moving the scene of the crime away from Saxford St Peter was inspired if only to give its inhabitants a bit of a break! That doesn't mean the regular protagonists aren't all present once again but they too are portrayed a little differently with the change of location altering everything.

There is a lot of description in this book but although some of it could be considered superfluous I enjoyed the images the author created not only of the hotel but also the eclectic selection of guests and suspects. There are, of course, secrets being kept by most of them, but all were original and none easily guessed.
I have enjoyed all of Eve Mallow’s outings so far and will definitely be looking for any future books in the series.

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 first class cosy crime writing and highly recommended.

Some people just can't stay out of trouble....

Eve Mallow is at the exclusive Abbey Hotel courtesy of a prize win. She's instantly charmed by the gregarious hotelier Debra Moran.

But Debra is found dead in the grounds. And suspicion falls upon the house party....

Eve is commissioned to write Debra's obituary. And, as before, in the course of her work, she crosses paths with the less than pleasant Inspector Palmer. His problem is that his list of suspects and Eve's list of interviewees are one and the same.....

Eve becomes embroiled in secrets, lies, alibis and motives. But it won't be the only death....

This series just keep getting better!