I have read the other books in this series and was glad to be accepted for the next instalment. Really fun reads

Favorite Quotes:

So, you’re telling me there’s a bit of a #MeToo movement building up in the park against young Teddy here? … Perhaps you might want to think about getting him, erm, done? I’m not sure what age they need to be to have the op, but that would definitely sort out his hormones, I should think. Even a Dachshund isn’t going to look that irresistible if you’ve had your danglers cut off, I dare say.

‘Liquorice? Oh, is that your dog?’ looking under the bench at the little wiry-haired creature… ‘He’s very cute,’ said Beth dutifully, looking at Liquorice doubtfully. She supposed it was like being presented with other people’s babies. No matter how much they resembled Winston Churchill sucking a lemon, you were still obliged to say how utterly gorgeous they were.

Beth sometimes wondered how she’d grown to adulthood with such a light hand on the parental tiller. Her father had always been at work. She remembered trying to get into the garage, as a small child, as that was the place her father disappeared to every morning and the spot he emerged from every night. With her child’s logic, she assumed he spent his days shut away in there, and already she could see why he might want to.

Delving in the bread bin, she made the unwelcome discovery that she only had white sliced, which she was pretty sure Katie equated with crack cocaine. More horrifying still, one slice had a tiny fleck of blue on one edge. Mould! Hastily chopping off all the crusts and hurling them in the bin dealt with that problem. And penicillin was good for you, right?

… such an oily charmer, he’s totally the type to sell a double bed to the Pope. I’d take every word he said with a mine of salt.

Bursar looked as though he had been poured into his suit but had forgotten to say ‘when’.


My Review:


While she appeared to have started with an exceptional skill set and an enviable level of innate ability, Alice Castle continues to hone her craft as each new installment of this pleasantly entertaining and enticing series has proven to be even better than the last. Each cunningly plotted tale has provided ample servings of clever wry humor, engaging storylines, endearingly flawed and intriguing characters, and an unusual and unpredictable murder mystery. I am besotted with this quirky collection of characters; several of which reappear in each interconnected book. I am also totally enamored with this series and keenly await each new tale.

The main character of Beth is a pint-sized, pixie boot-wearing young widow and single mom with an insatiable curiosity, a somewhat short attention span, and a tenacious tendency to follow her own instincts. I adore her! She is as prone to daydreaming and being easily side-tracked as she is to stumble into crime scenes and discover murder victims. Her domestic skills and time sense are humorously haphazard yet she somehow keeps her beloved young son and well-adored pets fed and content, and is fortunate enough that her work output is largely unmonitored and her frequent absences go unnoticed. Beth generally intends to show up at her office, yet she just cannot seem to keep herself from careening off-track to snoop and delve into the lives of those unfortunate creatures she has found without a pulse. All despite the rigorous admonitions from her overworked and jaded police detective paramour to cease and desist.

In addition to providing high-quality entertainment, Ms. Castle has gifted me with a toy box full of new terms and idioms and for my Brit Word List with: in bits - to be very upset; titchy – a small person; chuntering – talk or grumble monotonously; swish – fashionable; inside gen – information; and Bonio – a popular brand of dog biscuit. What would I ever do without my blessed Mr. Google?

While I did like it ,I'm not going on with the series , even though it's a cozy mystery series and I love cozy mysterious.

This is book 5 in the Beth Haldane series. It can be read as a stand alone. Beth is walking in the park when she finds a dog and a dead body. Boyfriend, Detective Harry York isn't happy with yet another murder investigation involving Beth. The dead artist, Mark is very controversial and there is a large pool of suspects.

A walk amongst the spring bulbs in the local park is not where Beth expects to find a body. Despite promising her beau, not to intervene, Beth just can't resist listening to gossip then following up on her suspicions.

We return to Dulwich for another cozy mystery. i am loving the characters as they develop and so far all the books in this series have been a good read.

Great read, every moment is perfectly crafted to keep me wanting more. An engrossing, spine-tingling read!

The Murder Walk by Alice Castle
A Beth Haldane Mystery Book #5 - Previously released as Revenge on the Rye

I received an advance review copy for free thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Blurb

A pleasant stroll in the park, catch ups over coffee and... a body among the spring bulbs?

Single mum and school historian Beth Haldane has promised her new beau, Detective Harry York, that her sleuthing days are behind her. But when she stumbles over the body of local artist Mark Smeaton while ambling in the park, it’s clear a dangerous killer is on the loose in peaceful Dulwich Village. Shocked, Beth can’t resist delving into the mystery.

Snooping around the nearby cozy cafes, Beth listens carefully to gossip and soon learns Mark's graffiti-style art was famously controversial. There are plenty who might want him gone. Was it the suspiciously charming gallery owner? A disgruntled resident offended by Mark’s art? Or an old school chum with a dark secret about Mark’s true inspiration?

My Opinion

This series of books is being re-released with new names. These are quick little mystery books to read and I can easily finish one in a few hours. So far I am enjoying this series and the characters are really starting to develop as we work through the various mysteries.

In this book we see Beth struggling with the thought of allowing Jake some more independence. Whilst part of a series, this book would work well as a standalone. Twists and turns make for another great read.

Rating 4/5

This book was everything I wanted it to be. It had me turned pages without even realizing. It was so good!

Sigh. The amateur sleuth genre can be tricky - you need a plausible reason for them to find the body, and to be able to investigate. I can’t say this series ticks either box for me. This time we do get a body early in, thanks to Beth’s friend Katie deciding to get her son a puppy and then going for a walk in a new park because he’s tried to hump everything in Dulwich park (the puppy, not the son… the book’s not that bad).

Now this get me onto bug bear number 1. Katie’s husband - bear with me here - only seems fit to be a walking cashpoint. He’s forbidden Katie to get training for the delinquent dog. I’m sorry, have we gone back to the 1950s? Training is responsible. He seems to think everyone should know how to train dogs themselves - and yet he’s never home enough to do his share (and when he is, he doesn’t train the dog anyway).

So yes, body duly found. There is no reason for Beth to be involved after this. It’s nothing to do with the school where she works (or pretends to - bugbear number 2 is she treats her paid work as an optional activity, doing less time and frequently wandering off to sleuth). It’s not in Dulwich. It’s no one she knows. The sole reason is that she gets lumbered with the dead man’s dog, by DI Harry York (presumably as punishment of some kind for her stumbling over another body). She then feels some duty bound need to find who killed the man because she is temporarily looking after his dog - well, whatever justification gets her to sleep at night. I guess.

Onto bug bear 3. Harry and Beth don’t seem to like each other much. They have moments, and by the sounds of it, decent sex. But she has low regard for his work (thinking he just shrugs and marks things as unsolvable too easily), and never wants to respect his wish to leave the sleuthing to the police. She spins any kind of self deluding lie, to justify things to herself - like when she and Katie find crucial evidence, and then TAKE IT HOME TO COUNT IT, BUGGER ANY TRACE EVIDENCE OR CHAIN OF COMMAND (bug bear 4). Back to bug bear 3 though, because Harry seems to be bipolar, one minute wildly attracted to Beth and wanting to walk her up the aisle, and the next minute frustrated out of his head by her actions. Harry boy, I’m kind of with you on that one…

Beth seems to have a huge disdain for her mother, when frankly she’s not too likeable in the woman’s presence either. Feeling the red mist of angry judgement descend over her mother always debating taking a second sugar cube for her tea (and always deciding yes) is just petty and makes me want to slap Beth upside her head.

And then - bug bear 5. Beth seems to drift along in vague parenting style, interspersed with occasional bursts of actual care. She can prioritise sleuthing, but not getting basic groceries in, so her son (and Katie’s son) end up eating beans on toast on slightly mouldy bread? Even debating whether to leave him at his interview to go and meet a likely murder suspect?

Finally - bug bear 6. Beth doesn’t seem to have the basic self preservation sense she was born with. She texts the likely killer late at night, then gives Harry the slip and GOES TO MEET A LIKELY KILLER ON HER OWN IN A BADLY LIT PARK AT NIGHT. Dear Lord.. it’s only because her poker face is as transparent as glass, that she isn’t killed.

If I’d got these from the library, I’d take them back. If I’d paid for them in a charity shop, I’d probably take the remaining two books back unread - the charity could keep the money. But I’ve got these as ARCs from NetGalley in return for an unbiased review, and so I feel the need to see them through and review, otherwise it’ll mean my response rate is lower.

There are good cosy mystery series out there. But I can’t honestly pretend this is one of them by any stretch, sadly.

Is it weird to say "ahhh" when picking up a book? Well, obviously not because that is what I did when I picked this one up and re-immersed myself in Beth's mystery riddled world. The series so far isn't suffering from Jessica Fletcher syndrome and the mysteries are staying fresh.

I'm enjoying this series and I'm glad it was published again. This is another entertaining and well plotted story. Beth is a strong character and the setting is always intriguing.
The mystery is solid and kept me guessing.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

The Murder walk by Alice Castle is the fifth book within the new Beth Haldane Cosy Mystery series and these books have been a good read. However, I am finding them predicable. - well I did read these back to back whilst relaxing in the summer holidays.

This book is full of good strong twists and turns throughout and another great book and I highly recommend this series.

Thanks to Netgalley, Bookouture and the author Alice Castle for my advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

This books just keep getting better and better. This was another great story and yet again I finished it quickly. I just love these characters and I’m always intrigued as to how Beth manages to work, look after her son, see her boyfriend and solve crimes. Fantastic. My thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.

In this book Beth puts her amateur sleuthing cap back on to investigate the death of a local artist.

I really do enjoy this cosy crime series. The storylines whilst not the most gripping, are an engaging read and I do enjoy Detective York character very much.

Lovely series which I recommend.

I am quite addicted to this quirky series and this latest outing for Beth, part time archivist and full time amateur detective lived up to expectations. Only Beth could take a stroll in her local park and find yet another body, this time an acclaimed local artist . Much to her policeman partner, Beth is once again again in full detective mode .

Out with best friend Kate and her new very wriggly,mischievous puppy Teddy they are enjoying the fresh air and open space ,letting Teddy off the lead may be a decision to regret when after running off they locate him stood with an older dog and ... a dead body

Colin the dog soon becomes a new house guest for Beth and her son Jake, a witness to his masters murder and possibly the next victim...

Whilst and interesting and fairly cosy murder mystery I'm afraid that I'm getting frustrated at the main "amateur" detectives. Their general investigations were fine for previous decades but, these days, forensics, trails of evidence etc are just so crucial to a successful conviction that these well-meaning folk are just not on. Yes they can talk to people in a chatty and informal way that the police probably can't, or have time to, and therefore uncover useful information, but when, for example, our Beth finds the packet of money, gets it slobbered over by herself, friend and dogs, takes it home, counts it I almost gave up. Harry is a saint to take her on. The story and context were interesting but I could also have done without that exceedingly badly behaved puppy. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

Beth Haldane’s best friend Katie has gotten a new puppy for her son. As Beth and Katie are out walking the dog, he gets away from them. Before they find the puppy, Beth immediately begins to be concerned that her son is going to be jealous that his friend now has a puppy. Will she herself have to get a dog for Jake? Well the opportunity to do so presents itself in the most unusual of ways.

As Beth and Katie search for the mischievous puppy, they make a gruesome discovery. The puppy, Teddy, is found standing next to an older dog. A dog who is apparently standing guard over its owner. Sadly, the owner is deceased, dead of numerous stab wounds. When the police arrive, of course Beth’s boyfriend DI Harry York is there and in charge. Naturally, he cannot believe that Beth has stumbled on yet another body. As she is about to leave the scene, the police ask her if she will take charge of the dog so that they can deal with the body. She reluctantly agrees. She notices a collar on the dog and discovers that his name is Colin. Well, apparently Beth has a dog after all.

More than having a dog on or hands, something that completely excites her son Jake, However, her cat Magpie is none too pleased with their new houseguest. Of course the police are in charge, but that won’t stop her from learning what happened to Colin's owner. As far as she is concerned, she has a new case on her hands. With her skills at research asking the right questions, and unending patience, she begins to learn more about the murder victim. Beth also spends a bit of time with her mother and brother, all while still focusing on Jake and his education. Nary a moment to rest for Beth.

For another enjoyable story in the delightful Beth Haldane Mystery, definitely stop and read this installment. You will not be disappointed.

Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.

The Murder Walk sees the return of single-mum to Jake, Beth Haldane, a determined and amusing protagonist whose priority is her son and her naughty cat, Magpie. She has a job at Wyatt's School as well with flexible hours.

In this tale, her best friend, Katie has adopted a cavapoo puppy, Teddy who is let off his lead and the resulting chase leads Beth to a dead body, local artist Mark Smeaton, wearing a beige coat with red smears on it, and his elderly chocolate labrador, Colin. Beth can't resist getting involved, of course.

It was a treat to return to Dulwich, South-east London to follow events alongside Beth and Harry York, though Harry isn't best pleased that Beth has become involved in the discovery of another corpse and mystery. Beth takes in Colin as a houseguest at the request of Harry. The writing is funny and expressive and the plot is intriguing will plenty of shenanigans. Although part of a series, this story stands well on its own.

I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from Bookouture via NetGalley and this review is my own unbiased opinion.

Previously published as Revenge on the Rye.

The Murder Walk, the fifth book in the Beth Haldane mystery series, continues the story of Beth Haldane, widow, single mother and amateur sleuth. This is a true cozy mystery with all the things that make you love a cozy mystery but there is more character development and introspection from Beth and less sleuthing in this story. Especially appealing in this book is the introduction of a new friend for Beth. Colin, an old Labrador, Retriever, is found by Beth sitting next to the dead body of his owner and as there is no one else to take him Beth becomes a dog owner. The pets in this story will steal your heart. I particularly like the thoughts that flow through Beth's mind about her son, her job, her relationship with Detective Inspector Harry York and life in general. The writing is gentle and funny and her books cover some thought provoking themes. The series does not need to be read in order but i would recommend reading at least one of the previous books to become familiar with the many characters in Beth's life and village. This is a series to sit back and enjoy.