Cover Image: A Racing Murder

A Racing Murder

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Member Reviews

I picked up A Racing Murder not realising that it was the second book in a series but, on finishing it, I immediately grabbed that first book!

Quiet village life in Somerset is interrupted by the murder of a promising young jockey, and a retired police officer turned publican and his gang of friends set out to solve the crime.

Having read The Thursday Murder Club last year, this book as something of a similar feel with older people using their life experience and connections to find the real killer once the police have written the case off. This book definitely compares favourably to that best seller! There is also quite a touch of Midsomer Murders – fingers crossed for the residents of Lower Hembrow that this series doesn’t make it the murder capital of Somerset!!

I’m really enjoying cosy crime books at the moment – solid mystery and murder plots, but without so much of the grime and gore of urban crime fiction. The inclusion of older people at the protagonists, instead of bright young things also appeals to me as so often fiction fails to see that older people still have things to offer, aside from being a plucky sidekick, or comic relief…

The murder plot here is clever, with a fair few red herrings thrown in and lots of potential suspects and the resolution is expertly laid out and not quite what I had expected. The fact that it all comes out at the most public of moments just adds more excitement into the mix!

As I said, this book is the second in a series and, although there is reference to the previous book, there is not enough to spoil it, so I am excited to read it – and indeed more in the Ham Hill Murder Mystery series…

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Another fine mystery from an author who knows how to create a puzzle!

Belinda Sandford’s heart soars as she is first past the post on Butterfly Charm at her first big race; happiness turns to horror as a Steward’s Enquiry rules against her and the win goes to Alex Deacon, a rival. She thinks things can’t get any worse, until Alex’s body is found and she is under suspicion. Belinda’s mother, Diane, asks former detective turned publican Adam Hennessy for help in clearing her daughter’s name. Adam, in turn, ropes in Imogen Bishop, local hotelier and together they learn more about the racing world than they ever thought possible. But can they clear Belinda?

It didn’t take very long for me to dredge up memories of the first in this series and I knew I was in for a great read! I know practically nothing about the racing world; it’s a long time since I read any Dick Francis books, but knowledge isn’t required to enjoy this fabulous mystery. Nothing is obvious; there are plenty of suspects and no end of people who ‘could’ have been involved in Alex’s demise. With personal relationships intertwined with the investigation, this is a gripping read with lots going on. Did I work out who did what to whom? Not a chance! It came as a complete surprise. Totally enthralling and enjoyable, this is a must read to lovers of good mysteries and one I’m happy to give 4.5*.

My thanks to the publisher for my copy and to Rachel Gilbey for my spot on this tour; this is – as always – my honest, original and unbiased review.

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This mystery is complex, full of twists and turns, and the ending was an absolute surprise! Grab a copy!

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Set in the village of Lower Hembrow, local girl Belinda Sandford is riding in her first professional race at Wincanton on Butterfly Charm, a horse shared by her mother Diane, barrister Henry Oxon and his wife Ling, and hospital anaesthetist Magnus Wilson and his wife Laura. The syndicate has opted to stay at The Streamside Hotel owned by Imogen Bishop who inherited it when her father died. Adam Hennessey is an ex DCI from Birmingham who retired early from the police after a raid ended in tragedy and bought The Plough Inn in the village. Old habits die hard though and he just cannot resist dabbling in a mystery. Adam and Imogen are great friends and already have a shared history due to his help in the solving of her husband’s murder the previous year. The race is won by Belinda but a steward’s enquiry drops her down to second place after it was found she impeded the other front runner, Season’s Greetings, ridden by up and coming jockey Alex Deacon from a rival stables. As the owners meet for dinner at the hotel, Imogen hears from Adam that Alex has been discovered dead, drowned in a water trough and the police come to the hotel to speak to Belinda. Suspicion falls on the young jockey in the media and her mother begs Adam to undertake his own investigation. During the Spring Fair committee meeting, Adam, Imogen, journalist Steph (who Adam holds a torch for) and artist Daniel Freeman (who Imogen similarly likes a lot) decide to dig a bit deeper into the death which the press are already labelling a murder. Using Adam’s contacts in the form of DCI Andrews and forensic pathologist James Barton, all the local racing community – grooms, trainer, jockeys and owners – and the secrets they keep come under scrutiny in this charming cosy murder mystery set in a picturesque village in Somerset with a cast of wonderful and sometimes eccentric people, although for me the star of the show has to be Harley the dog. Adam and Imogen make a fantastic detective partnership in this gentle yet totally engrossing story where all the characters are very well described with plenty of background history given where required so this book can easily be enjoyed as a stand alone without needing to read book one first. Highly recommended to lose yourself in a super story you won’t want to put down till you’ve finished. 5*

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I’m not generally a cozy mystery fan but I was drawn to this book because of the racing setting. I love Dick Francis’s books. This book doesn’t dive so deeply into the racing world. It focuses on a group of friends in a small town in England. The local pub owner is a retired police detective. He was asked to help clear the name of a young jockey when her rival was murdered.

He enlists the help of the hotel owner across the road, a local journalist, and a painter who has been hired to do portraits of some racehorses. Together they look into the crime when the police are going to treat it as an accidental death.

I liked the fact that they acknowledged that they aren’t the best detectives. Every time they try to covertly question someone they end up pretty much blowing their cover. They just aren’t good at being sneaky.

I also appreciated that the group includes male and female friendships that aren’t looking to move into romantic relationships. You don’t see enough of that in fiction.

This is the second book of the series but you don’t need to read the first in order to understand this one. The background information is well incorporated.

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It is years since I last read a book concerning shenanigans revolving around race course events and I’m so glad that I jumped at the opportunity to read this one, it is such a great read!

Belinda Sandford is riding ‘Butterfly Charm’ in her first professional race as a jockey and is overjoyed when she is first past the finishing post. Her joy, however, doesn’t last long as her arch rival, Alexandra Deacon, is awarded the win after a stewards’ enquiry. Shortly after Alexandra’s body is found and Belinda is suspected of murdering her. Belinda’s mum asks retired police officer, Adam Hennessy, to prove her daughter is innocent. As Adam, now a publican, and local hotelier Imogen Bishop join forces to investigate they never anticipated uncovering so many secrets but they need to work together to untangle the webs of lies and deception to help prevent any further murders.

This is an intriguing mystery, with great characters and so many potential suspects! The syndicates of horse owners, together with the staff at the local racing stables all involve so many secret relationships that it is difficult to uncover who is telling the truth or lying. There are potential romances, secret affairs and misleading suggestions, too, adding to the mix. It is a well written, engaging and suspense filled read, with a great twist at the end. I thoroughly enjoyed reading it and will definitely look out for more by this author in future, including previous one in this series!

Thank you to Boldwood Books and NetGalley for my copy of this book which I have voluntarily read and honestly reviewed.

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This is the second of the Ham Hill mysteries and, while it works as a stand-alone, you will definitely get to know the characters better by reading them in order. Adam is a pub owner and retired police officer and Imogene owns the local hotel. They are the main investigators, although this time around they have the help of a couple of friends, Steph, a reporter, and Dan, a painter. All four are competent and intelligent and each adds their own skills.

Belinda is the main suspect in the death, and her desperate mother asks for Adam’s help. The local authorities deem the death an accident due to lack of evidence, but the local chief inspector asks Adam to continue looking into the case, not convinced it wasn’t murder.

It turns out there are actually plenty of suspects, although no one has a really good motive. There are the investors who own the horse that Belinda rode. There are the grooms and jockeys, young people who know horses, but who also have on and off relationships with each other.

The mystery itself was well-done. There were several clues, although I’m not sure it was possible to put them together before Adam. I enjoyed all the information about horse racing and the small-town feel. There was plenty of gossip, which always helps cozy investigators.

Overall, A Racing Murder was an enjoyable book. I’ll be looking forward to the next in the series.

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‘A Racing Murder’ is the second book in ‘The Ham Hill Murder Mysteries’ series. I read and loved the first book in the series which is called ‘A Village Murder’. When I heard the next book in the series was due for release, I just knew that I had to grab hold of a copy as soon as I could and hibernate until I had finished reading. I couldn’t wait to start reading so without further ado, I grabbed my Kindle, grabbed a cup of tea and then settled down for what proved to be a cracking afternoon of reading. I loved reading ‘A Racing Murder’ but more about that in a bit.
As soon as I started to read, I felt as though I had been reunited with old friends in the form of Adam Hennessy and Imogen Bishop. Adam is a former police officer who retired a while ago although he has found it hard to leave his former career behind. When a crime has been committed, Adam can’t help but become involved. Adam and Imogen make one fantastic detective duo. Imogen works at a local hotel and has become great friends with Adam. Both Adam and Imogen are really nice people, who are impossible to dislike. That’s what I think anyway.
Within the first five minutes of this book, I just knew that I wasn’t going to be doing a lot for the rest of the day because I wouldn’t be able to put this book down. My Kindle wasn’t exactly glued to my hand but it might as well have been because it travelled everywhere with me. I just couldn’t bear to miss a single minute of the story. I would pick the book up and become so wrapped up in the story that I lost all track of time and just how quickly the pages were turning. All too quickly I reached the end of ‘A Racing Murder’ and I had to say farewell to Adam, Imogen and the rest of the cast. I found ‘A Racing Murder’ to be a gripping read, which certainly kept me guessing and on the edge of my seat throughout.
‘A Racing Murder’ is superbly written but that’s true of all of Frances’ books. She certainly knows how to grab the reader’s attention and draw them into what proves to be one hell of a story. I would say that this is a cozy mystery sort of read and certainly not a story full of blood, guts and gore. For me, this isn’t a particularly fast paced story but then it doesn’t need to be. I love the way that Frances makes the reader feel as though they are part of the story themselves and at the centre of the action. That’s how I feel at any rate.
In short, I really enjoyed reading ‘A Racing Murder’ and I would recommend it to other readers. I will certainly be reading more from this author in the future. The score on the Ginger Book Geek board is a very well deserved 5* out of 5*.

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I read "A Village Murder" last year and loved it, I hoped I was going to read soon other stories featuring Adam/Imogen and the quirky characters of this series.
I was very happy to read this book and found it gripping, entertaining and informative as learned something about races and horse syndicates.
It was great to be back to Lower Hembrow and catch up with the characters. There's a lot going on in their life and I was happy to read about their life. I appreciated how the characters were developed and how the romantic side of the story mixed well with the mystery.
The author did a good job in developing interesting and fleshed out characters as they are realistic and likable.
The mystery is complex, full of twists and turns, and the solution came as a surprise.
I can't wait to read the next installment as I loved this one: it's gripping and entertaining, I read it in one afternoon.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to Boldwood Books and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

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Two young ladies are jockeys in a horse race, one for the very first time. Belinda makes a slight error of judgement and there is a stewards enquiry. On meeting the other jockey Alex, Belinda begins to wonder if she didn't pull her horse up deliberately so as to cause the enquiry which then went in her favour. When Alex is found dead a short while later, all eyes are obviously on Belinda. Imogen runs the village hotel having been a famous garden designer in the past. Adam, a retired detective runs the pub opposite. Both believe that Belinda couldn’t have done such a thing and with a couple of well placed friends set out to find more information about what is really going on in the village having been asked by Belinda's mother to try and clear her name. I really enjoy this type of book. Despite murder as the theme, there is a warmth about this- of the characters and of a village community- one that can go either way- a hot bed of gossip or a supportive community. There are lighthearted moments around Imogen’s dog Harley and some flirtations of romance here and there. Although one of a series this happily stands alone (I hadn’t read the first one). If you enjoy Joy Ellis, Faith Martin etc then you may enjoy this. A wonderful, entertaining, relaxing read.
#blogtour



(rest of links on publcation/blog tour)

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A Racing Murder is the second instalment in The Ham Hill Murder Mysteries series set in Somerset. Belinda Sandford and Alexandra Deacon are both female jockeys about to take part in their first-ever professional horse race against one another at Wincanton Racecourse. Belinda is an up and coming rider on her stunning two-year-old grey racehorse Butterfly Charm owned in part by her mother and by two other wealthy couples. Being her debut race, no one expects her to be victorious with the odds set at 25-1 against her rival, and the favourite, riding Seasons Greetings. But much to everyone’s surprise Belinda is first past the post and claims the win at the very last moment from right under Alex’s nose, however, the Steward’s Enquiry conducted afterwards decides that Belinda purposefully impeded her rival’s progress by cutting directly in front of her so she is rightly disqualified and Alex is declared the winner. While everyone heads off for a well-earned drink at the Streamside they are informed that Alex has been found dead at the stables after the race and naturally suspicion falls on Belinda. Diane, Belinda’s mother, is inconsolable, so she enlists the help of Adam Hennessey, the proprietor of The Plough public house and an ex-detective chief inspector, to prove her daughter's innocence.

Found with her head in a horse trough, Adam and Imogen Bishop work to investigate while calling in some favours from friends including forensic pathologist James who establishes her cause of death. But was her death an accident or murder? This is a riveting, captivating and tension-filled cosy mystery featuring a cast of characters who almost feel like old friends set against the backdrop of a chocolate-box, picture-perfect village akin to Midsomer. It's a charming, lighthearted and immersive read right from the beginning and there's never a dull moment or a point when the story slows. The lives of the local racing community come under scrutiny this time with jockeys, owners, riders, groomers and trainers and their private lives being brought under the microscope. This is comfort reading at its absolute finest, and I raced through it in a single sitting. Every aspect helps make this the brilliant and absorbing read that it is - the loveable recurring characters, the gossiping, eccentric locals, a touch of romance, a sterling mystery and of course the star of the show - Harley the pooch. A delightful, scintillating addition to the series which will not disappoint long-time fans or newcomers. Thoroughly engrossing entertainment and a welcome reprieve from daily life for a few hours. Highly recommended.

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This is the second in the Hamhill Series, and it's a great addition. It's raceday at Wincanton Racecourse. Belinda is going to ride Butterfly Charm in the race. Her father has died, and her mother, Diane is staying at the Streamside Hotel, owned by Imogen Bishop. The syndicate owning Butterfly Charm are all at the racetrack, including Diane, Laura and Magnus Wilson, and Ling and Henry Oxon. This is Belinda's first professional race as a jockey for Leo Murphy's Stable. Her main competition is Alex Deacon on Season's Greetings from Ann Clarkson's stable; both both horse and jockey are more experienced than Belinda. The race is very exciting, with the two girls in the front. Almost at the end, Belinda passes Alex, and comes in first. However, Alex challenges that Alex cheated by coming too close, and caused her to pull up. The stewards declare Alex the winner.

After dinner at the hotel, Adam Hennessy from the Plough Inn across the street arrives to tell Imogen Bishop, the owner at the hotel that there was a death at the race course. Alex Deacon was found with her head in a trough of water in the stable. Of course, Belinda becomes the prime suspect. Adam is asked by Diane to help her find that Belinda is innocent. Adam, Imogen, and their friends Dan and Steph decide to work together. They spend a lot of time interviewing a photographer who took a photo of Alex and Belinda after the race. Dan is doing a painting at Leo's stable and watches and interviews several of the stable hands. They also talk with Belinda. It turns out that Alex had stolen Belinda's boyfriend twice, and that one of the hands was very free with the female stable hands.

However, it's at the Spring Fair in the Hotel garden with all the major players present that things come to a head. In the midst of the crowd, the killer tries to kill again; Imogen is trying to calm things down, and Imogen's dog Harley becomes a hero. The murder is solved, and the two couples become better defined.

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horses, racing, murder, murder-investigation, law-enforcement, family, friendship, small-town, ex-cop, England, pets, hotelier, rivalry*****

It's been exactly a year since I read A Village Murder (which I didn't realize was book 1 of series). Nevertheless, no problem with the background and ongoing characters' stories. The publisher's blurb does a good job, the characters are all very well done, the sleuthing is a co-operative effort and moves at a good pace, and there are some really sneaky plot twists and red herrings in this foray into the racing world of the west country.
I requested and received a temporary digital ARC of this book from Boldwood Books via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!

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Those who have read Frances Evesham’s first Ham Hill mystery, A Village Murder (set in the fictional village of Lower Hembrow, which lies beneath Ham Hill in Somerset) have met some of these main characters in this high-speed second book in the series, A Racing Murder: Adam, a retired police officer and his faithful stray dog Harley (with a nose for clues); Imogen, who runs the Streamside Hotel along the river; the local vicar, the village shop proprietor, and other village residents. Now, we meet two young riders who are competing in their first major race: Belinda Sandford, competing in her first major race, and Alexandra Deacon, her long-time rival, who is found dead (murdered?) at the race course stables shortly after the end of the race.The list of suspects grows exponentially until the very end. Meanwhile, our main characters are busy organizing the village fair, and they and others are exploring romantic interests. A wild ride set in an ordinarily cozy setting.

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Belinda Sandford and Alex Deacon are two young women, aspiring racing jockeys, working for different stables, and racing against each other in their first professional race.
Belinda and her horse cross the finish line first, but Alex claims that Belinda's brief drift to the right before correcting to resume her correct lane caused her to pull up her own horse--that Belinda cheated. After a Stewards' hearing, Alex is declared the winner.

A few hours later, Alex is found dead, drowned in a horse trough.

The local police are investigating, but Belinda's mother, is a nervous, panicky type, and is worried that Belinda will look like the obvious suspect. She asks Adam Hennessey, the retired police detective who owns the local pub, The Plough Inn, to look into it--to clear Belinda's name.

Soon Adam, his friend Imogen Bishop, who owns the local high-end hotel, her possible new love interest, the noted painter Daniel Freeman, and Imogen's friend and Adam's possible new love interest, freelance reporter Steph Aldred, are investigating, sharing resources and clues.

For all of them, it's an introduction to the sometimes strange world of professional horse racing, beyond the casual level of just watching a race. Belinda's mother is a member of the syndicate that own the horse Belinda was riding. Alex was dating a former boyfriend of Belinda's. Alex's uncle by marriage has been using Alex as a great source of racetrack gossip--not necessarily all legitimately acquired. He also took the post-race picture of Belinda and Alex at exactly the right moment, when Alex had been needling Belinda into a state of rage. Belinda kept her lid on, but the picture was explosive.

There are other members of the syndicate, of course--a high-powered, "anything to win" attorney, and a highly-regarded anesthesiologist, and their wives. The attorney seems quite ruthless. The anesthesiologist seems a bit too fond of the young, female jockeys and grooms--but he was at the hospital, called in for an emergency case--right?

It's all very tangled, and the friends are making progress slower than they like. In addition, they're giving each other crossed signals on the potential romantic involvements, as Imogen and Adam, in particular, have painful experiences in their pasts and don't want to get hurt again.

And I see I haven't even mentioned Harley, Imogen's dog, a stray who originally turned up at The Plough Inn, and remains fond of both Imogen and Adam. Harley, I have to say, is a fine dog, of mostly excellent manners, and a true hero.

All of this barely touches on the characters and their relationships, and the amount of believable, satisfying character development that goes on even as they all struggle to solve the case.

Recommended.

I received a free electronic galley of this book from the publisher, and am reviewing it voluntarily.

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Belinda Sandford thrills to the cheers of the crowd as her beautiful grey racehorse, ‘Butterfly Charm’, thunders past the finishing post first at Wincanton Racecourse. She feels like the luckiest girl in the world. But joy soon turns to despair as a stewards’ enquiry overturns the result and awards the race to her long-time rival, Alexandra Deacon. When Alex is found dead in suspicious circumstances, drowned in a horse trough a host of accusing eyes turn to Belinda and her distraught mother begs Adam Hennessy, her neighbour, retired police officer and publican, to help clear her daughter’s name. As Adam, and local hotelier Imogen Bishop who are joined by two of their friends Steph a journalist & Daniel a painter & of course Harley, dig deep into the murky and powerful undercurrents of the horse racing world, they lay bare the lives and loves of local jockeys, grooms, trainers and owners.
This is the second book in the series but is easily read on its own. A very well written page turner that had me engrossed from the start. There were plenty of twists & turns as well as red herrings. The characters had depth & I loved not only Adam & Imogen but also secondary characters plus how the feeling of community is very apparent. There are the undercurrents of attraction & romance. Overall a very good cosy mystery that kept me guessing
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read

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This is the second in the Ham Hill Murder Mystery series by Frances Evesham and is a delightful little cosy mystery reminiscent of Midsomer Murders and quaint chocolate box villages. I'm sure I said something similar when reviewing the first book but I can't help it...Midsomer and Miss Marple's St Mary Mead comes to mind every time. You don't need to read the first book "A Village Murder" as each one reads sufficiently as a standalone. But if you are like me, you probably like to read them in order anyway. But rest assured, this book does outline enough backstory from the previous one so to keep readers up to date.

After being embroiled in the murder of her estranged husband Greg, Imogen is looking forward to concentrating on getting the hotel gardens ready for opening to the public. But as owner and proprietor of the Streamside Hotel, which she inherited from her late father Councillor Horace Jones, she is also preparing for the influx of visitors during one of the area's most anticipated events at the Wincanton Racecourse. Several tables have been booked in the hotel's restaurant so it promises to be a lucrative evening.

Belinda Sandford is a young and up-and-coming jockey riding two year old Butterfly Charm in which her mother owns a stake along with two other affluent couples. But this is to be her first race and, though no one expects her to win (particularly with 25-1 odds), Belinda wants to use this race to make her mark in the racing world. She heeded what trainer Joe Murphy had taught her - to take it nice and steady and then close in for the final chase - despite the favourite being Seasons Greetings ridden by her rival, Alexandra Deacon.

When Belinda surprisingly wins the race at the last minute, the Steward's Enquiry decide she purposely veered her horse in front of Alex to block her rival's progress and declares Alex the winner instead. Belinda is disappointed, particularly as she knows Alex deliberately pulled up her horse to look like Belinda had impeded her, which she all but confessed but she knows she won the race. Despite the outcome, Butterfly Charm's syndicate owners continue with their planned evening at the Streamside even if there is an element of disappointment in the air. That soon changes when news reaches them that Alex has been found dead at the stables after the race and all eyes point to Belinda.

Belinda's mother, Diane, is distraught that fingers are pointed towards her daughter and she enlists Adam Hennessey, who owns and runs the pub opposite the hotel called The Plough, to clear her name. As a retired police detective, a DCI no less, Adam is no stranger to murder or the investigations that surround them. Still with a few fingers in some pies, Adam calls on his forensic pathologist friend James to clue him in with regards to Alex's manner of death. She was found with her head in a horse trough...but was it a stableyard accident or was it murder?

Investigations lead Imogen and Adam, along with painter Dan and journalist friend Steph, to the stable yard in which Alex was employed which just so happens to be a rival yard to that in which Belinda is employed. Is there something more sinister at play which resulted in a young girl's death? But then they discover that Alex was not all that she appeared to be. With jockeys, grooms and stablehands, there was enough gossip revolving around the two yards to keep local journalist John Harris occupied for some time. But did he know something he shouldn't? And would he share that information with fellow journalist Steph?

Throughout their investigations, Imogen and Adam discover a lot more than they had at first anticipated. But is it enough to clear Belinda's name?

A RACING MURDER is a delightful cosy mystery that warms the heart. There are all the elements of village life - eccentricities, the village fair and plenty of gossip - but there is also an element of community. While murder is the theme, the story is also very lighthearted and easy to read. I love Imogen and Adam, as well as the addition of Dan and Steph as their respective love interests to round out the team of four amateur investigators. But of course my favourite character has to be Harley. Who doesn't love a dog who just takes the spotlight on more than one occasion?

I haven't read the author's other series though it has been recommended but if you love a good old cosy mystery rife with village gossip and the like, you'll be sure to enjoy A RACING MURDER as well as the first book "A Village Murder" which I think enjoyed slightly more than this one. I guess because this one was centred around horse racing and I am not a lover of the sport.

I look forward to further mysteries in Lower Hembrow featuring the dynamic duo and their counterparts.

I would like to thank #FrancesEvesham, #Netgalley, #RachelsRandomResources and #BoldwoodBooks for an ARC of #ARacingMurder in exchange for an honest review.

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This is the second book in a series, and what a delightful cast and setting the author has created in Ham Hill. Village life revolves around the hotel, the pub and village shop with the three social hubs providing plenty of gossip and leads for the amateur sleuths to follow-up. I also enjoyed the added insight into the world of horse racing in this one and side helping of romance. It was a bit of a slow burn on the murder mystery front but that was to be expected as it's billed as a "cosy mystery". This enjoyable read is exactly what it says and works perfectly well whether you've read the previous one or not.

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When a young female jockey die mysteriously after winning a disputed race, Imogen Bishop is asked to investigate. Her friend's daughter Belinda Sandford was the other jockey involved in the dispute with Alex Deacon. When Alex ends up dead, signs point to Belinda, but Imogen knows the young woman is not a killer.
The more she learns about Alex and the racing stable, the more she believes Belinda is being framed. Twists and turns keep Imogen on her toes as she solves the murder. The side plot with her friend Adam and his secret crush on Steph is very cute. Look forward to others in this series.

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I really liked this book and it is the second book in the Ham-Hill Murder Mystery series. You do not need to read the first one before reading this one; however, I like to read them in order and read the first one, A Village Murder, which was also a good story.

The story revolves around a horse race at the Wincanton Racecourse after the winner of the race, Belinda Sandford, loses the race after a stewards’ enquiry. This loss results in her rival Alexandra Deacon being declared the winner. After Alex is found dead, Belinda is the main suspect in her death and Belinda’s mother asks Adam Hennessy, a retired police officer and publican, to clear her daughter’s name. Once again, Adam joins forces with Imogen Bishop, who owns a local inn, to solve the crime. This time the also include two of their friends, Daniel and Steph, to help them gather clues to find the murderer.

There are many twists and turns in this story and as you read you will find many suspects. I thought the characters were well written. The struggle Imogene is having reconnecting with Daniel is understandable given the time that has passed since they were together and the failure of her first marriage. I like the friendship between Adam and Imogene and the relationship they have with the dog Harley.

If you haven’t read her Exham-on-Sea murder mystery series, you need to give them a chance because they are really good also.

Thank you NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

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