Well, I read book 1 in the series, so I was eager to read book 2. I love them both. Milla, Ben, Herrieth, and the other characters are very entertaining. I love spending my time reading these cozy stories. I recommend you read them. They are entertaining and a lot of fun.

A great second novel, can be read as a standalone but is part of a series.. Murder at Ravenswood House details Milla Graham's quest of the gruesome murder. There's a whole new cast of characters, plus it's got a few great twists and turns that leave you guessing what's round the next chapter! Thanks to Storm Publishing and Net Galley for the advanced copy.

There are ghosts and gruesome crime in this shady, cosy crime novel with its idyllic village image that hides dark secrets amongst its quirky inhabitants. Millia Graham's past collides with her rather enjoyable present when she agrees to meet her ex and finds a dead body instead. It's a story with gothic elements and fairytale influences, giving it a chilling ethos, contrasting with the villagers' antics that soften the edges of the crime noir with humour. The characters are vibrant and memorable, with a twisty mystery. I like Milla and Harriet and their dynamic with Ben, the surreal village setting, and the twisty mystery.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher.

This is the second novel in this series and I thoroughly enjoyed it as it's fast paced, full of twists, and a bit darker than the average cosy mystery.
I was glad to catch up with Milla, Ben, and the quirky cast of characters. There's someone new and there's some unexpected turns.
I appreciated the mystery that kept me guessing and turning pages.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to Storm Publishing and Rachel's Random Resources for this arc, all opinions are mine.

We first met Milla Graham and DI Ben Taylor in Murder a Raven’s Edge and saw the beginnings of their rather complicated relationship. So we’re not surprised that at the beginning of Murder at Ravenswood House, Milla is meeting a friend/ex-boyfriend, rockstar Lorcan Black, in the evening at his house without letting Ben know. And when she runs into a problem, it’s not Ben she turns to but rather PI Kieran Drake to help clean up the mess. But when a woman’s headless body is found in the pond and Lorcan is discovered asleep on a crypt covered in blood, it will be tough to keep anything secret.

This time around Ben’s family and history are at the forefront. Ben has tried for years to distance himself from his rather notorious family, but this case is bringing them all back together. I love the characters, Ben, of course, is dealing with his own past while trying to figure out what’s going on in the village. Milla is awesome, if a liar and unreliable. I hope they get back together. Drake is morally gray but competent and surprising. The other villagers are a quirky bunch that add to the story. It’s Halloween time, which adds to the atmosphere.

Murder at Ravenswood House is an engrossing book. We’ve got several suspects and clues, but it makes several twists before we get to the (rather surprising) ending. I hope there will be more books in this series. I’d love to see what happens next for Milla and Ben and even Drake.

After the highly personal family mystery of Murder at Raven’s Edge, I really wondered where Louise Marley would take her characters next and was thrilled to find that there are still more dark secrets lurking in the past for Ben and Milla to face up to together… or separately.

The story again has a fairytale feel to it, despite being a cross between police procedural, PI and cosy crime in style, as mysterious highwaymen appear through the fog, a talking raven sweeps in and out and a body is found laid out on a tomb covered in blood not their own. There is definitely a spooky Halloween theme at work, and all may not be exactly as it seems.

Milla’s independent nature and tendency towards casually criminal behaviour gets her in trouble once again, as she tampers with evidence, hindering Ben’s investigation, jeopardising his career and their budding relationship. But she also added an important layer of excitement and unpredictability to the investigation which I appreciated as a reader, even if her fellow characters didn’t!

I really like this pairing, as their personalities are so different and complement each other nicely, while they have quite a lot in common in terms of family history and trauma – I would definitely read more from this series in future, whether they manage to resolve their romantic difficulties or not.

If you like your mystery stories modern but with a nod to the fantastical and are willing to suspend your disbelief and just enjoy the unfolding story then you should give this series a try. Preferably in order, as Milla’s family history and Ben’s recent career path affect your understanding of how they behave in this story, even if you don’t need them to follow the plot.

I'm reviewing this via NetGalley, as part of a book tour with Rachel's Random Resources.

This is part of a series, and I also enjoyed the previous book, Murder at Raven's Edge, quite recently. I was pleased to see that within the first few pages, the author created an atmosphere that drew me in. I was also pleased about the return of some characters from the previous book, such as Milla and Ben, and in that regard, this book felt like a great continuation of the first book.

This book also introduced some new characters, and there was a particular character that I found interesting, even if they were not particularly likeable.

I was quite gripped by this book, and found myself turning the pages quickly. I think readers may still enjoy this even if they haven't read the previous book, but I would definitely recommend reading the previous book too.

Thank you to Rachel's Random Resources, the author and the publisher, for the opportunity to read and review this.

After reading book 1 I was very sceptical about reading the follow up as I wasn’t too enthralled with it. Thankfully this book is much better as the storyline is more real this time than make believe. Good main characters and decent secondary ones and a decent storyline with some good twists along the way.

Milla Graham and DI Ben Taylor have been seeing each other for four months now. Prior to that she was involved with gothic singer Lorcan Black but he moved to France. Now he’s bought Ravenswood House and has invited Milla over one night. Unfortunately, when she gets there, all she finds is a head in a jar. Neglecting to mention this to Ben (he doesn’t even know Lorcan is her ex) and convinced of Lorcan’s innocence, she seeks help from Kieran Drake, the PI employed by her father in the previous story, who cleans the scene and removes the evidence. After all, he is being paid by someone else to protect the singer. The next morning a woman’s headless body is discovered at Meg’s Pond and Lorcan is found unconscious and covered in blood in the church. Ben, DS Harriet March and the rest of the usual team are soon on the case which is not as cut and dried as it seems. Milla believes someone is intent on setting up Lorcan but how far would they go and why? With a link to Ben’s own family history, of which we hear a whole lot more in this story, does the often irritating Milla, once again meddling in his investigation, stand to lose more than just her boyfriend this time?
This is a great second book in the new series featuring all of the favourites from book one like Milla’s Granny Brianna and PI Drake together with some new additions, such as the dishy new vicar. I’d definitely recommend reading the first book before this one as there’s lots to know about Ben and Milla. I really like both Ben and Harriet although, for me, Milla is still a bit too much of a loose cannon and not entirely honest at times. The cosy nature of the story allows for plenty of leeway in police procedure, the plot is well laid out and the twisty strands are engrossing in a highly enjoyable story perfectly set in a place with lots of dark history. 4.5*

I hadn't read the first book and am not sure this mattered as the characters are well developed with a good plot. It's a fast paced read that kept my interest to the end. Full of twists and turns the odd red herring and a surprise ending that turns things around There are multiple POV's and we do jump back 15 years in the past as this village gives up it's dark secrets. Looking forward to where this series goes next. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

This was another good story in this series. It’s a gruesome murder mystery. Milla and Ben both are dealing with the mystery and their own issues. It has some twists too. It will keep you guessing.

A gruesome murder in charming Raven’s Edge sends Milla Graham sleuthing to catch a killer, win back her detective ex, and dig up a decades-old secret along the way...
When a shocking murder rocks the picture-perfect English village of Raven’s Edge, erstwhile amateur detective Milla Graham finds herself right at the centre of the mystery. Still reeling from her recent breakup with local police officer Ben Taylor, Milla sets her sights on solving the case, hoping to win Ben back.
But when the evidence begins to point to Milla’s old friend and former paramour Lorcan Black, she must choose between her loyalties to the past and the possibilities of the future. Meanwhile, Ben is on a different trail – he’s begun to suspect that the murderer could be someone from his own family's dark history.
Further complicating matters are Milla's meddling grandmother, Ben's no-nonsense police partner Harriet, and David the surprisingly young and sexy new vicar. With shocking twists around every cobblestone corner, the truth refuses to stay buried for long in this quaint village, whose picture-postcard façade hides decades of buried grudges, plots, and betrayal.
Will Milla solve the mystery in time to rescue her relationship with Ben? Can Ben face the skeletons in his family’s closet before one of his own relatives meets the same bloody end?
Brimming with drama, intrigue, romance and quirky characters, this addictive tale will have cozy mystery fans racing through the pages long into the night.
This is the 2nd book in the series. It's about family history and the village's dark past. It has well-developed characters and plot. It's a fast gripping read with a surprised ending. It has multiple POV's (Milla, Ben, Harriet and David) and flashbacks to 15 years ago and a robbery and murder that happened. Great twists, turns and red herrings kept me reading until the very end of the book. If you like crime thrillers with history of the past then you will love this book. I am now looking forward to the third book in the series.

Thank you to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for the ARC in exchange of an honest review.

The next instalment in this mystery series lives up to the first one. The new mystery is exciting and the romance is developed further. I'd recommend it to anyone who enjoyed the first book and I will definitely read the next book as well.

Murder at Ravenswood House by Louise Marley

I received an advance review copy for free thanks to Rachel's Random Resources and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Blurb

A gruesome murder in charming Raven’s Edge sends Milla Graham sleuthing to catch a killer, win back her detective ex, and dig up a decades-old secret along the way...

When a shocking murder rocks the picture-perfect English village of Raven’s Edge, erstwhile amateur detective Milla Graham finds herself right at the centre of the mystery. Still reeling from her recent breakup with local police officer Ben Taylor, Milla sets her sights on solving the case, hoping to win Ben back.

But when the evidence begins to point to Milla’s old friend and former paramour Lorcan Black, she must choose between her loyalties to the past and the possibilities of the future. Meanwhile, Ben is on a different trail – he’s begun to suspect that the murderer could be someone from his own family's dark history.

Further complicating matters are Milla's meddling grandmother, Ben's no-nonsense police partner Harriet, and David the surprisingly young and sexy new vicar. With shocking twists around every cobblestone corner, the truth refuses to stay buried for long in this quaint village, whose picture-postcard façade hides decades of buried grudges, plots, and betrayal.

My Opinion

This is the second book in the series and I read both of them back to back. I would recommend reading the books in order so you don't get any spoilers. Once again Raven's Edge seems like such an inviting place with some now familiar characters. We are introduced to some additional characters throughout this investigation, but all of these are introduced carefully.

With many twists and turns this really was an enjoyable read. I really hope that in the future we will able to return to Raven's Edge - I just love the descriptions of this fairy tale village.

Rating 4/5

Thank you for the chance to read this ARC in return for my honest opinion.

This is the second I the series published very soon after the first. It is possible to read as a stand-alone though.

This is cosy murder mystery though gruesome in parts. Milla is the central character again but other characters from the first book are cleverly woven into the narrative.
It’s clever the way the author weaves historical events in with contemporary ones.
It’s well written with twists and turns until the perpetrator is revealed.

Obviously when I finished the first book, I jumped straight onto the second. And now I'm eagerly anticipating the third.

Narrated from several different POV, Murder at Ravenswood House is a cosy mystery that once again finds Milla at the helm as she investigates a murder that's shocked the village to its core.

We reacquaint with recurring characters and meet several new. Milla is by far my favourite, she's quite the quirky character isn't she?

There's a brilliant reveal at the end, and plenty of twists throughout to hold your attention. It flows at a moderate pace and is an addictive read.

Set in a very Gothic atmosphere, we have Lorcan the very epitome of gothic, we have Ben Taylor the local Detective and we have Milla - girl friend of one, ex girl friend of the other , also not telling current boy friend about the ex.

Steeped in feuds, murderous thieving history in the Elliot family of which Ben and Lorcan both belong means that they can never live down their father’s sins. That was the complicated background.

When a headless corpse is found, and when Lorcan is found all bloodied over a gravestone, he is arrested immediately. When the powers that be discover that the body was robbed from a mortuary so too the blood, detectives know they have someone vengeful on their hands. The tension keeps building up with attempted murders, appearances of a faceless highwaymen and a second murder.

No clues, Milla playing a dangerous and a childish game of concealment with the detectives doing their best to keep panic at bay.

Story was fast paced, characters were good and it was a page turner.

BOOK: MURDER AT RAVENSWOOD HOUSE
AUTHOR: LOUISE MARLEY
PUB DATE: 07 MAY 2024
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REVIEW
Thanks to Netgalley and the Publisher for this ARC. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
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When I started this book, I thought it was a cozy mystery, but it was more of a crime thriller with a bit of lightness. That being said, I loved this book and how every character had a role to play. I liked that the main characters; two police officers and an amateur sleuth did a very good job in solving the case. But, I would have wanted more of Ben's POV.
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The case that was solved was engaging from beginning to end and the author did a very good job. I didn't even expect the unfolding of the case and the culprit. It was very good. I enjoyed reading about Ben's past and Elliot's history.
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This book was very good and I'd definitely be reading the next books in the series. It was very good
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I enjoyed the plot and the storyline. I had a really hard time believing that anyone would get rid of a human head without asking any questions, and an even harder time believing that they would be able to just call someone else up to help them get rid of the head. Maybe because I did not read the first book in the series, I did not really care of Milla. I liked the twist at the end and how all the loose ends were tied up. Overall I enjoyed the story and the progression.

My keyword for this review will be: more
More about the characters, more about the story, more funny dialogues, more suspense moments. more.
This book could have been easily around 500 pages and no one would have been bored.

It was a cosy little story in a cosy little setting and we can’t say anything really bad about it. we just wanted more of it.
I feel like I like the characters but don’t know them. I know it’s the second book, and to be honest I haven’t read the first, but still even if it’s the second volume it could have been longer and more deep into the story.
Take it as it is I would describe this book as a cosy small-town murder mystery that based is brilliantness on the contrast between a cosy setting and macabre murder that just makes you laugh. And it’s brilliant, please give me other books like this.

The story is brilliant and no one can say otherwise, the plot twist was highly unexpected and made me gasp. BUT STILL, it could have been something bigger, the story narrated here could be the very base for a brilliant book.
As I said everything was nice, the setting was nice, and the characters were nice but they both could have been amazing instead of just nice.

I give this book 4 stars but not really four full stars, more like 3.75 stars, simply because four stars are too much and three stars are not enough.
In the end, I don’t have critical comments for this book except that it could have been more. More of everything.
Taking the story as it is I think it’s brilliant.

Thank you to Storm Publishing and Net Galley for a free copy in exchange fora review.