A brilliant cosy mystery book. These have always been my favourite genres to read and this one didn’t disappoint

Cosy mystery fans are going to love the first installment of E V Hunter’s fabulous Hopgood Hall series, A Date to Die For.

When budget cuts put paid to investigative journalist Alexi Ellis’ job, she decides to take her anti-social feral cat Cosmo to Hopgood Hall, where she plans to lick her wounds at the exquisite boutique hotel run by her good friends, Cheryl and Drew. Alexi certainly isn’t looking to get her teeth into a new case, however, on arrival, she finds the hotel owners both distraught as Natalie Parker, who has recently settled in the area, has gone missing. Alexi is sure that there is more to this story than meets the eye, so she decides to do some sleuthing of her own – and immediately finds herself butting heads with former Met detective turned private eye, Jack Maddox.

Jack has a personal stake in this case. Natalie had been using his sister’s online dating agency prior to her disappearance and he needs to find out what happened before the business is ruined. Jack is not looking for someone to interfere in his investigation, but realising that joining forces with Alexi – and Cosmo! – could help him solve the case quicker, he decides to put his trust in the journalist.

Can Alexi, Jack and Cosmo get to the bottom of this case? Or will Natalie’s disappearance end up remaining a mystery?

It’s impossible not to be charmed by E V Hunter’s A Date to Die For. A fun, delightful and witty cosy mystery perfect for M C Beaton and Stephanie Austin fans, A Date to Die For is a fantastic whodunnit that readers will devour in one sitting featuring a terrific cast of characters that I cannot wait to see pop up in further adventures.

With A Date to Die For, E V Hunter has penned a very enjoyable mystery – roll on the sequel!

After arriving at her friends’ boutique hotel, former investigative journalist Alexi searches for a missing woman alongside her clever cat, Cosmo, and a local private eye.

This is a brilliant read.
Wonderful well written plot and story line that had me engaged from the start.
Love the well fleshed out characters and found them believable.
Great drama and romance with wonderful world building.
Can't wait to read what the author brings out next.
Recommend reading.

I read a complimentary advance copy of the book; this is my voluntary and honest review.

A Date To Die For is the first book in the Hopgood Hall Murder Mysteries, a wonderful new series from Evie Hunter. It’s an engaging read that immediately grabs the reader. The story is told from two points of view which gives it a lot more depth. It’s a nice and twisty read that keeps you guessing.

A Date to Die For is the first Hopgood Hall cozy by E.V. Hunter. Released 3rd Feb 2023 by small press indie Boldwood Books, it's 268 pages and is available in hardcover, paperback, audio, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately. For Kindle Unlimited subscribers, this book is currently included in the KU subscription library to borrow and read for free.The second book is also available on KU and a third in the series is due out late 3rd quarter 2023 from the same publisher.

This is a well written, engaging, and finely constructed amateur sleuth mystery pairing an investigative journalist on hiatus, with a handsome PI looking for a missing person related to a family member's dating agency. There's a strong side element of romance, so readers who prefer romance in their cozies will likely enjoy that aspect of the story. The characters are well rendered and mostly believable and the pacing and plot are well done and satisfyingly resolved.

There are potentially distressing elements for sensitive readers including sexual abuse, and prostitution. There is no explicit content or language and the abuse is included from the distant past. As is typical for cozies, there is no graphic on page violence (except in the prologue, briefly), and the language is clean.

Spelling and vernacular are British standard English, but won't likely pose a problem for readers in context.

Four stars. A promising start. With two books extant in the series, and a third due out in Sept '23, it would make a good choice for a short binge or buddy read.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

An extremely well-written cozy mystery. The winner of the story is Cosmo – an anti-social feral cat, that manages to ignite fear and respect in the hearts of all that know him. Alexi and Jack make an amazing leading pair, and I loved reading about their chemistry. The book is a page-turner, but at the same time warms one’s heart.

A perfect weekend read with a glass of wine in hand!! You will love the setting, the characters, and the story.

This wasn't bad, it wasn't great. I got bored about two-thirds through and set it aside. Other than an overly large cat, nothing made this one stand out for me.

This was a wonderful, cozy mystery that had plenty of twists and turns. The characters were interesting and connected well with each other. Even though it was more laid back than your usual crime novel, it was still intense at points and definitely kept me on my toes. The pacing was also spot on and I only wish it was longer! I’m looking forward to the rest of the series. Thank you to netgalley, the author and publisher, for a chance to read and review this book.

⭐⭐⭐⭐

A Date To Die For by E.V. Hunter is the first book in a brand-new Cozy Crime series...

The story begins with Alexi Ellis, an investigative journalist, and her feral cat, Cosmo, heading to beautiful Hopgood Hall to lick her wounds after being betrayed and let go from her job. However, she finds her old friends Cheryl and Drew distraught over the disappearance of their friend Natalie Parker. Alexi agrees to investigate Natalie's disappearance while ex-Met Police detective turned private eye Jack Maddox also joins forces to find her.

A Date To Die For has a well-paced plot that keeps readers engaged until the end. The mystery is well-crafted with secrets that someone desperately wants to keep hidden. The subject matter is darker than your average cozy mystery, but still enjoyable. The characters are likable, especially Alexi's sleuthing cat, Cosmo! I can't wait to see more of them in future installments of this series.

I enjoyed this book and found it funny and witty. I read it cover to cover in a single day which is a testament to how engaging the story was. The cover art fits the story perfectly, making for an attractive package overall. Honestly, the only thing I didn't like was Alexi's name. For some reason, I just found it a really odd name choice. 🤷🏻‍♀️ 😂

If you're looking for a cozy mystery full of secrets and with a touch of darkness, then A Date To Die For by E.V. Hunter is definitely worth checking out!

**ARC Via NetGalley**

I liked this, it was a good story and well plotted and was set locally to me. The only thing that jarred was referring to Arkell's ales as real ale! The heroine, Alexi, was a well rounded character and the relationships all worked..

I was very drawn to the cover design, and I read a lot of cosy mysteries, so I thought this looked and sounded like something that I might enjoy.

This was a very fun and entertaining cosy mystery. I was entertained by the story itself, and I found the characters very fun and likeable.

I understand that this is part of a series, so I think I might like to read the others in the future.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for a free copy to review.

Alexi is newly single and unemployed so she heads for her friends' hotel Hopwood Hall in the countryside. They are concerned about another friend who has disappeared. Alexi's journalist instinct kicks in and she is convinced that there is something sinister behind Natalie's disappearance. She joins forces with ex cop Jack who is also looking for Natatlie...
A Date To Die For is the first book in a new cosy murder mystery series set in London and the south of England.
We as readers are instantly drawn to Alexi as she adjusts to drastic changes in her personal life and career. She is accompanied by the wonderful Cosmo, a fearsome and magnificent cat who is a brilliant judge of character. She meets Jack who is also hugely likable and there is a romantic tension between the pair so I'm hoping for more in future books.
The case itself surrounds a missing woman. Natalie has vanished and Jack's sister runs the dating agency that she had joined. He quickly investigates the dates and discovers huge secrets from Natalie's past could actually be responsible for her disappearance. There are some big plot twists and I wasn't able to unravel the mystery before our investigators.
A Date To Die For is an enjoyable cosy murder mystery. It sets up the main characters well so I am looking forward to reading more from this series.

First I love the cover it is stunning! When investigative journalist, Alexi Ellis, falls victim to cutbacks, she and Cosmo, her anti-social feral cat, head for beautiful Hopgood Hall, where they plan to lick their wounds in the boutique hotel run by her old friends, Cheryl and Drew Hopgood. It has potential although it felt very slow.
#ADatetoDieFor #NetGalley

This felt like it had all the bits it needed, but somehow it never quite hit the right notes. It took me absolutely forever to get through this as I kept putting it down and not wanting to pick it up again. This may have been a "just me" problem but I found the pace quite leisurely to the point of being annoying. (For example, they catch the big bad at 80% and the wrap up takes that much time to finish.) If you like a slower pace, you may find this a good read, but it was not for me.

This was a super cozy mystery with lots to unpack. So many uncovered secrets and let’s not forget Cosmo, one of the main characters cats, is just hilarious. It was a little slow for my liking, but other than that I really enjoyed this book.

This is the first book in a new cozy series and I think this will become a favorite as it's a well plotted and entertaining story, a solid mystery and a cast of likeable characters.
i thoroughly enjoyed it and can't wait to read the next story.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this arc, all opinions are mine

This is my first book by this author. I thought it was a cute read and would recommend it. Cosmo is great and cat lovers will appreciate, especially if you like a mystery😺

Alexi Ellis is a journalist who recently lost her job due to cutbacks & just broke up with her boyfriend. She’s decided to leave the city and spend some time with her childhood friend, Cheryl, at her boutique hotel. Alexi and her feisty cat, Cosmo, head to Hopgood Hall for a long stay.

Soon upon their arrival, Alexi learns that Cheryl’s friend, Natalie has gone missing. Is she on a trip or has something bad happened to her? Cheryl doesn’t think Natalie would leave her business or town without telling someone. The police aren’t keen to get involved though.

Alexis’s investigative background comes in handy as she searches for clues into Natalie’s whereabouts. She meets Jack Maddox, a PI who is looking into Natalie for his sisters business. The two pair up and soon learn that Natalie was hiding some secrets about her past. Can they find out the truth?

Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

If you want to dip your toe into the cosy crime genre then this is the book for you! It is incredible. I loved every word and Cosmo the cat is just hilarious. I need a crime busting cat buddy.

E.V.Hunter has created a perfectly formed book full of exceptional characters that are completely believable. The plot is set at just the right pace to keep your interest. It is a complex story that just took my breathe away.

Alexi is a strong willed woman just out of a disastrous event at work and her relationship has gone. She just wants breathing space and then finds herself drawn into her Friend Cheryl’s friends disappearance. No one has heard from Natalie and everyone begins to fear the worst. Now Alexi finds herself working alongside a devilishly handsome Private Investigator, Jack, even Cosmo likes him and he is more than happy to make his feelings known if dislikes anyone.

The descriptive style of writing creates a beautiful feel for the countryside, horsey set and money. Everything just blends together well and totally draws you in.

Will Natalie be found? What on earth has happened to her? How close will Alexi and Jack get? Will this mystery ever be solved?

I urge anyone to grab a copy of this. It promises to be the start of an magnificent new series.

Thanks to @bookandtonic (Boldwood Books) for the ARC and the opportunity to be in the blog tour!

I really enjoyed this book. The story moves along at a good pace and has a few layers of things going on at the same time. Written in dual point of view.

Alexi and Cosmo are the perfect duo, I loved Cosmo's personality and antics throughout the book. This is very entertaining.

There was just the right amount of suspense, comedy, and flirting here for a great book, and kept it not too heavy

Always check trigger warnings and age ratings.

A Date To Die For is the first book in The Hopgood Hall Murder Mystery series it is a cozy mystery and not my normal genre but with it being the first book in the series and having read this author before I thought l'd give it a go. I am happy to report that it is actually really good and I was hooked from start to finish.

In this story we meet Alexi Ellis and her cat Cosmo. I loved that she is an investigative jornalisnt and those of you that know me will know I am a big cat lover so Cosmo stole the show for me. It made a refreshing change to have a cat in a story. Then along comes Jack Maddox an ex-Met Police detective turned private eye. Both trying to find Natalie Parker.

What a team these guys make both Alexi and Jack are likeable characters they gel together well. I felt like I was right there in the story with the authors decriptions. Not forgetting how much I love the cover. It is what draw me to this book orginally.

The story is mordern with twists and turns that keep you guessing until the end. For me it was an enjoyable entertaining, quick and easy read. Now I am left waiting for the next book in the series.

Many thanks to Rachel and Boldwood for a copy and for inviting me to take part on this tour. All thoughts are my own and not biased in anyway.