Thank you #Netgalley for the advance reader copy of Murder in Mallow Cottage by Gretta Mulrooney in exchange for an honest review. Siv Drummond is a Detective Inspector in England. There is a dead body at the local crematorium found covered with flowered wreaths in front of the building. It was a very busy day at the crematorium, with a dead body in the front and police called in to investigate, everything else is put on hold. This book kept me on the edge of my seat. Gretta Mulrooney is a great author who I would like to read more of her books.

DI Siv Drummond and her partner DI Ali Carlin investigate an oddly staged murder scene in The Murder in Mallow Cottage, in which the body of a man is placed on the steps of the crematorium with three wreaths placed on it.
Then the son of a business woman and vacation rental owner in the town, Henry Kilgore, goes missing while he is in town to celebrate his friend's engagement. Is the motive for these murders based on recent events or do they go back much further in time?

While this is a relatively short and fast-paced novel, just 25 chapters, I struggled to feel invested in the story. I believe this is because I didn't find the main character, Siv Drummond, to be very likeable. She is grieving the loss of her husband and appears to have retreated into a shell, which is understandable. However, I found the descriptions and attitude displayed toward her partner, Ali, to be rather negative and judgmental of his weight and eating habits, verging on fat-shaming. He is supposed to be her colleague and friend, besides being a very engaging character; therefore I don't understand the lack of empathy and kindness toward him. There is also a large number of characters introduced and it became a struggle for me to tell them apart and keep them all straight in my mind.

Ultimately, this just wasn't a satisfying read for me, although a reader who had previously read the first two novels in the series might have a more positive take on it. Thank you to Joffe Books and NetGalley for providing me with the opportunity to read it.

This is the third story in this detective series set in Sussex and each book gets better and better as the reader gets to know more about the great set of characters featured here. Recently widowed and still grieving, Siv has moved from a high profile role in London's Metropolitan Police to take up a post at a slower pace in her old home seaside town of Berminster. This was where she and her sister were raised by their father after their chaotic Finnish mother Mutsi dumped them finally to run off with yet another lover. Since her arrival she has already investigated two baffling murder cases and this one proves to be no different. A body turns up at Berminster Crematorium. Nothing unusual there except this one was laid outside minus a coffin, covered with wreaths and had been murdered. The discovery is made more difficult for DI Siv Drummond and her loyal team of DS Ali Carlin and DC Patrick Hill by the fact that it was the very day they were saying goodbye to one of their own, DC Lisa Flore, killed by a drunk driver. When the victim, Eugene, is identified, they find out he was childhood friends with another man, Henry, who has mysteriously gone missing from his mum’s holiday rental whilst on the way to visit a third friend of theirs, a man with a prison record. The dead man had not visited his hometown for years so what has suddenly brought him back? His car is found at one of Henry’s mother’s other holiday homes with a strange message inside. Is it a warning? Where is Henry now and is his disappearance connected to the murder? Can Siv and her team make sense of the evidence in front of them or will they have to delve right back into the past to come up with the solution to this case?
Siv is starting to fit in really well now, largely thanks to the warm and caring nature of Ali who contrasts well with her sharp edges and unwillingness to open up. With her boss DCI Drummond now dating her mother who is back on the scene and Tommy Castles still rumoured to be wanting to move back to his old station, life is testing for Siv but at least she has Bartel, the Polish builder friend she made in book one, for good company and with the others in her team beginning to like and respect her, she is proving to be a great boss and leader. The plot was clever, twisty and kept me guessing right the way through to the end which still took me by surprise. This is a solid story of very likeable detectives working hard and piecing together of all the clues to reach a satisfying and plausible ending. Highly recommended and I am looking forward to reading more books in this series. 5*

Murder In Mallow Cottage by Gretta Mulrooney.
Joffe Books.
Having not read this author before, I did not know what to expect. I was hooked from the first. A dead body on the steps of the crematorium in a historic cemetery. Zowie!
The main character is a detective with a complicated personal life and she lives in a circus wagon. Her colleagues have issues too but they all work well together except for the fact that her boss is dating her mother, her terrible mother.
I have not read the previous two books in this series but I plan to remedy that asap. She also has another series that sounds interesting.
My only complaint was that the ending seemed a bit rushed.
Thanks to Netgalley for this excellent read.

He wasn't scheduled to be cremated today .. someone else was. Eugene Warren is found on the steps of the local crematorium.

DI Siv Drummond and her colleagues are called upon to investigate. Looking into the victim's background and talking to friends and family, Drummond finds that his closest friend is missing. A victim .. or a killer?

Eugene's car is located .. and a mysterious message is found. "Remember the fun at Mallow Cottage"

Drummond and her team have a real mystery on their hands and she suspects there will be more killings if they can't figure out what connects the victim to Mallow Cottage.

This action-packed page turner houses an intriguing mystery/crime filled with stand-out characters. Drummond is a superb protagonist, she's smart, she's fierce, she's dedicated to her profession. There's plenty of multi-layered suspects, some of who are harboring secrets from the past. The ending is unpredictable. Although 3rd in the series, this is easily read as a stand alone. I would recommend reading in order, the backstories are well worth reading.

Many thanks to the author / Joffe Books / Books n All Book Promotions / Netgalley for the digital copy of this crime fiction. Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.

A dead body at the local crematorium. Nothing unusual about that except Eugene Warren was found under some flower wreaths on the steps of the chapel, wasn’t meant to be there. Detective Siv Drummond and her team are on the case. Then the only person who knew the victim, Henry Kilgore goes missing that same day. The single clue they find is the dead man’s car containing a holiday brochure and a cryptic message:
Remember fun at Mallow Cottage.
This is third outing for Siv & another well written intriguing read. I love Siv who doesn't give up & who is now starting to see light at the end of the tunnel following her husband’s death. I love how her character is developing & starting to move forward. There were twists & turns along the way to the final reveal, which did surprise me & I didn’t see coming. An engrossing read & I look forward to more in the series
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read

A new author for me, an intriguing story with twists and turns that will keep you guessing until the very end! I enjoyed the connection between the characters, this storyline is very well put together and kept my interest. Lots of suspense and a great fast paced read!

Thanks so much to Joffe Books, NetGalley and the author for a fantastic read!
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Local Crematorium Conundrum….
Detective Siv Drummond returns in this intriguing mystery and the third in the series. When a body turns up at the local crematorium in entirely the wrong place Drummond and team are assigned the case. Well paced storytelling with a good lead and a colourful cast of supporting characters. A solid entry in the series.

A dead man, a missing husband, and a delivery man…
They were old school friends, what happened?


This is a quick read, loved the settings.
I would love to read the other parts of the series, this one, # 3, can be read as a stand alone just fine.
Perfect summer read for me, ticked all the boxes. 4 stars

Publication date: September 2, 2021

Thank you Netgalley and Joffe Books for this ARC.

Very well written mystery with great plotting and characters. I especially love Siv’s mother. I’m happy to say that I didn’t guess whodunnit and totally suspected another character. Greta Mulrooney’s books are always excellent and this is no exception.

Remembering your teenage years can be a problem. Especially if you were young and stupid as so many of us are. For some it reaches many years into the future and gets its own back. DI Siv Drummond is still working through her own problems and spending time at a crematorium certainly counts as one.

Good background, good story, well thought out characters. Really enjoyed it.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher I read a free advance review copy of the book. This review is voluntary, honest and my own opinion.

I would like to thank Netgalley and Joffe Books for an advance copy of Murder in Mallow Cottage, the third novel to feature DI Siv Drummond and her team, set in the fictional Sussex town of Berminster.

A man’s murdered body is found at the entrance to the crematorium. He is later identified as Eugene Warren, who left Berminster as a teenager and has stayed off the grid since then. As Siv and the team investigate the murder Henry Kilgore is reported missing and he is a school friend of Eugene’s.

I thoroughly enjoyed Murder in Mallow Cottage, which is an absorbing read with several twists and turns. It is told from various points of view, mainly Siv and the team but it also examines the emotions of those left to cope. This latter I found fascinating as secrets come out and reactions vary, casting light on their personalities.

I found the plot engrossing as Siv chases links and a motive. The prologue gives the reader a big hint about where these might lie and there’s nothing new in it. This did not put a dent in my enthusiasm as the novel has a well concealed perpetrator and a hint doesn’t cover all the twists, turns and developments incorporated into the narrative. Incidentally I thought the final reveal was excellent as it took me by complete surprise.

All good series move their characters on as time goes by. I am totally invested in Siv Drummond by now, so I’m pleased to see the green shoots of optimism in her character after a long mourning period for her husband. She’s smart and dedicated so this is good news. Her mother is still causing her problems and she’s caustically funny on that subject. I’m already looking forward to the next novel to see how this situation develops.

Murder in Mallow Cottage is a good read that I have no hesitation in recommending.

This is the third in the Detective Siv Drummond series and, as soon as I’d finished reading it, I bought the first two books! Each book can easily be read as a standalone, though.

The story starts with a body being found at the crematorium – but not in the usual place, instead it was discovered on the steps and covered in floral wreaths. Someone else goes missing, and there’s a connection between the two people and they, in turn, are connected to a death in the town a few years ago.

I was hooked from the start and had difficulty putting it down. Brilliantly written with a very clever plot.

Thank you to NetGalley and Joffe Books for an advance reader copy in return for an honest review.

I want to thank NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for allowing me to read and review this book, ‘Murder at Mallow Cottage’.

DI Siv Drummond has her own problems to deal with (the death of her husband, a new job in her old hometown, and her mother who just moved in with her DCI boss) when a body is found at the local crematorium. When a second person is found to be missing (a friend of the dead person), her team is forced to go in two different directions to solve these seemingly related cases. When the interviews of people who knew the two men seem to point to an event in the past, the team must dig deeper in order to solve an old case, as well.

This is the third book in the series featuring DI Siv Drummond by Gretta Mulroony and fits in very well as a British police procedural. The cast of characters is varied and the storyline is well developed

It wasn't bad I just felt it lacked in some cases. It just kinda left me feeling meh. I haven't read her books before but I won't give up I'll try her other works

Detective Siv Drummond #3

Eugene Warren is found at the local crematorium. But he shouldn't be there. Nobody knew he was dead. Detective Siv Drummond and her team are on the case, But the only person the victim seemed to be friends with is missing. Now the search is on to track down Henry Kilgore. But what they find is Eugene's car and a cryptic message: Remember fun at Mallow Cottage.

A crematorium employee makes a gruesome discovery, and another man disappears. Is there a connection? There are no suspects and people are holding back information. The prologue features the death of a young girl.

Filled with plenty of twists and well developed characters, this is an intriguing read. Is there a link to the two murder cases? I like Siv Drummond, she's tenacious in all she does. There's a few surprises thrown in along the way and all the loose ends are tied up by the end. This story held my attention throughout.

I would like to thank #NetGalley #JoffeBooks and the author #GretaMulrooney for my ARC OF #MurderImMallowCottage in exchange for an honest review.

Is it worthwhile reviewing a book by Gretta Mulrooney as everyone knows it will be an enjoyable read?Murder In Mallow Cottage is Book three in the Siv Drummond series and hopefully there will be many more, as the host of characters keep the book chugging along at an ideal pace and it is one of those books that you don’t like to put down..
I was surprised to read that one of the characters had lived in Dumfries, the town where I live, and even more so when he is later found wearing a hat and scarf of the local football team Queen of the South!
Recommend. Not wearing the hat and scarf, but the book.

Two men murdered, connected from one years ago of a murdered woman. A complicated case for DI Siv and her team to figure out a bizarre murder in a crematorium. A good series with good character in Siv.
Given ARC by Net Halley and Joffe for my voluntary review and my honest opinion

I received an advance copy of, Murder in Mallow Cottage, by Gretta Mulrooney. This is a good thriller, it took me awhile to figure out, who did it.

Another engaging instalment in this now established series. Siv and the team are faced with a bizarre murder in a crematorium of all places and there are plenty of bizarre if somehow wholesome twists along the way.