"Bodies and Battlements” the first instalment in The Ravensea Castle Mystery series by Elizabeth Penney set in the picturesque village of Monkwell, Yorkshire. What a great start to a new series! Nora investigates a suspicious murder in a haunted British castle-turned-bed and breakfast.

I absolutely loved this story, and it has made me want to visit Yorkshire on my next trip to England. I really like Nora, and her sister Tamsyn and I cant forget the furbabys Ruffian – a battered tabby, Rolf – a 200lb English mastiff and new kitten, Primrose.. Makes you wish you were part of their little community.

The mystery is interesting and well plotted, and had plenty of twists to keep engaged right to the very end. I kept guessing and second-guessing myself but I was right on who the killer was.

I highly recommend this book to all my cozy lover friends. I can’t wait for book two!

I requested and received an Advanced Readers Copy from St. Martins Press and NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I was so happy to hear that Elizabeth Penney was starting a new series. Bodies and Battlements is the first book in the Ravensea Castle Mysteries series. Nora Asquiths has been trying to save the family castle located on the Yorkshire coast and in the family since 1138. Nora has added four guest suites to the castle to function as Bed and Breakfast space. The castle already offers stunning gardens as Nora makes her living by running Castle Apothecary, making and selling all kinds of natural products. Add to that stunning sea views and the castle ghosts and and Ravensea has a lot to offer. Ready to welcome her first guests for a soft opening, after battling a local woman trying to stop the project, Nora hopes nothing gets in the way of her new operation. Unfortunately, when her nemesis shows up dead in her garden the next morning, this promises not to be the smooth opening Nora wished for. I found this book a little slow to get into, and Nora a little standoffish in the beginning, however as the mystery presents itself, we meet family and friends, learn the castle's history and it is easy to get caught up with the smart mystery, lovely setting and developing characters. I now eagerly await Nora's next adventure. Special thanks to #Netgally, #Minotaur, and the author for the opportunity to try this new series. #BodiesandBattlements #ARavenseaCastleMystery #ElizabethPenney #bookreview #bookideas #retiredreader

A wonderful first book in a new series. I just finished it and I'm already eager for the next book! The setting is a centuries old family owned castle, Ravensea, that has recently been opened to the public as a bed and breakfast by the main character, Nora. She is joined in the story by her eccentric family history buff father, Arthur, brother, Will, who recently started his own business making mead, and famous actress sister, Tamsyn, who has shown up at the soft opening unexpectedly. The castle also has the expert help of their cook and housekeeper, Janet, and her husband, Guy, who takes care of everything else at the castle. With such an amazing group, you'd think all would go off without a hitch for the first guests, but, as always, there is a local thorn-in-the-side who had tried to stop the castle being opened to the public, and she shows up at the opening. This story has a wonderful plot and several intriguing side plots throughout. The characters are realistic, the setting is marvelous, and there's a resident ghost! The storyline has twists and turns to keep you looking in different directions and at different characters to find out the identity of the murderer. Oh, did I mention there's a murder? Of course there is ... what story in a bucolic British setting (with a castle!), wonderful main characters, guests at the castle who each have their own secrets, and charming and not-so-charming locals doesn't have a murder to solve? Join Nora and Tamsyn as they poke around and ask questions to try to find out the murderer's identity. Will they find out even more in the process? Read this wonderful book and find out!

Rating: 😐/2
Review: Way too many characters but not enough development and way too many storylines that were doing too much. A cozy with ghosts and a murder and just too much.
Format: 👩🏻‍💻
Source: #netgalley
Published on Goodreads 4/27/2025

This a mystery that will keep you guessing from beginning to end. Nora has finally got the castle ready to open as a B&B despite protests from local. Her sister Tamsyn is home to help and the first guests have arrived.
I like the way the characters all work together to figure out what is going on when a body shows up. Not everyone is who they seem to be and keeps the reader on their toes to be careful not to make any assumptions about guests or those in the community. I absolutely loved this book. While it is part of series, each book can he read alone with no confusion as there is enough background to keep you engaged.
I received an advance copy of this book through Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.

Interesting read! The Asquith Family decides to open a small bed and breakfast in the family castle (which happens to be haunted) where their family has resided for decades. There were people in the local village that opposed the idea but it was finally approved and on the opening weekend, one of the opponents to the plan was found murdered in the garden and f the castle. A few days later, another murder occurs and the body is found on the beach near the castle. The family is worried that their bed and breakfast venture is going to fail before they have a chance to get it off the ground. Interesting read. Definitely recommend.

Thank you to the publishers for the invitation to read this book. I received an advance review copy for free and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Body’s And Battlements by Elizabeth Penny, this is the first book in the new series about Nora who makes all natural face creams and soaps and other herbal tinctures and sells them in the village but now she restored her childhood home which is a 1000 year old castle and turned it into a bed-and-breakfast. With the help of Janet the cook Guy the landscaper her dad and movie star sister Tamsin she’s getting ready for opening weekend. When the guest arrive everyone is outside to greet them and Nora is surprised to see Hilda Dibble also showed up for the opening. She is surprised because Hilda threw every step of the process tried to stop them from opening their bnb. Nora also found that odd because Hilda has only been living in the village for a little over a year But she doesn’t stay long right when she goes to walk in to meet the guest and see the Vicar it seems she sees someone that shocks her and soon her and her best friend Sandra are leaving quite abruptly. Her guest include Brian the bird watcher, Lola and her husband multimillionaires who own restaurants in Finley who Nora finds herself quite attracted to. after a very successful first night Nora wakes up early to attend to her garden when she finds the dead body of Hilda Dibble. thankfully Finley was walking his dog lady and she asked for his assistance never knowing that he was the new detective investigator at the village Police Department. He takes over and soon it hits Nora how this could affect her bed-and-breakfast and she decides to solve the case herself with the help of her sister Tamsin. This will cause her to get kidnapped with her sister, almost get killed by roof tiles and this is all before the next murder. There’s a lot of quirky characters and a lot of connections that linked back to another murder years before. All this near death in amateur slueth investigating doesn’t stop Nora from catching onto the fact Finley may just be attracted to her as well. So she decides if she lives through this she may just start dating the local DI but first she has a murderer to catch. This isn’t the best review but just know as far as cozy mysteries go bodies and battlements have some very likable characters as well as quirky ones and it all makes for a great cozy mystery that I am definitely going to continue reading if there is a second book and I haven’t even mentioned the dead ancestors who still visit from time to time.. #NetGalley,#TheBlindReviewer, #MyHonestReview, #ElizabethPenny, #BodiesAndBattlements,

5/5 stars: This is the eleventh entry in Penney' Ravensea Castle series, which is a British Paranormal B&B Cozy Mystery that takes place in Yorkshire, England and features a herbalist and her actress sister as they turn sleuth after a self-appointed local luminary is found dead in the knot garden of her family's a thousand year old haunted British castle-turned-bed and breakfast. The sisters investigation looks into the entangled dealings of their newly arrived guests and learn that heir ancestor's tragic death centuries ago might sheds light on present-day crimes. They'll have to work fast to get to the bottom of this mystery and catch the killer while keeping their new business afloat. With plenty of twists and turns, Penney has masterfully crafted a mystery that deftly balances the suspects, clues and red herrings and will leave you pondering the whodunit until the final reveal. Heartfelt and humorous, Penney' writing and character work are stellar; the characters are well-rounded and complex while remaining incredibly likable. It's a joy to meet Nora, her father – Arthur, her siblings, Tasmyn – an actress and Will – a mead maker, Ravensea Castle's staff – Janet and Guy, Sir Percival – one of the castle ghosts and her friends and the townsfolk of Monkwell. Nora's a great character and I really enjoy reading about the bath and beauty products and herbal remedies she makes for her business Castle Apothecary. And oh I can't wait to see where Nora and Finlay's, a Detective Inspector, budding relationship goes. And of course I can't not mention the family's animal companions: Ruffian – a battered tabby, Rolf – a 200lb English mastiff and new kitten, Primrose. Penney's a favorite author and this is a great start to a new series; highly recommend!

I received this eARC thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press | Minotaur Books in exchange for an honest review. Publishing dates are subject to change.

Fans of cozy mysteries prepare yourselves to spend some enjoyable time in the haunted Ravensea Castle on the Yorkshire coast. This is a fun and fast paced read that keeps your interest with numerous characters and twists and turns.

Needing funds to keep their home going, the Asquith family opts to turn some of the Castle bedrooms into a B&B and their project is met with a bit of unexpected pushback from some neighbors.

Bodies and Battlements has something for every cozy English mystery fan: sibling rivalry, a castle ghost, beautiful countryside, mead, financial need, murder, blackmail and several mysteries. The title does not do the story justice, but the cover is very appealing.

This is the first in the new Ravensea series which introduces a village of charming and eccentric characters that are a bit difficult to keep up with. I look forward to getting to know these characters better in the future.

Elizabeth Penney, a new-to-me author, is a prolific author of several cozy series and novels. I definitely look forward to reading more of the Ravensea series

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the complimentary eARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

This book started off a bit slow for me, but once it picked up, I was hooked! I couldn't put it down. The setting completely drew me in—castles have always been high on my bucket list, and the idea of staying in a haunted one that's now a bed and breakfast? Absolute perfection.

From the very beginning, I had strong feelings about the possible villains—something about them just rubbed me the wrong way, which only added to the suspense. One of my favorite parts, though, was reading about Nora in the garden. As someone who loves gardening and leans into a holistic lifestyle, those scenes were such a lovely bonus.

Add in a murder, plenty of mystery, and a richly atmospheric setting, and you've got a thoroughly enjoyable read. I can't wait to dive into the next book in the series!

I received a complimentary copy of the book from St. Martin’s Press through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Having loved Elizabeth Penney's other cozy mystery series, I couldn't wait to check out her newest one! This one takes place in Yorkshire, in Nora's family castle, recently turned into a bed and breakfast. Of course a new business with visitors come with murder, which Nora and her sister are apt to solve without losing money. The characters and setting were great, but I was disappointed in the mystery as it felt a bit repetitive. However, as a big fan of her other books, I will read the next one in the series to see if it improves!

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC!

What a joy it is to get in on the ground floor of a brand new series, the first book of which has excellent characters, a unique and fun setting, and an intriguing mystery! Bodies and Battlements by Elizabeth Penney is the first book in such a series.
Penney's main character for this delightful new series, Nora Asquith, is trying to save her family's property, haunted Ravensea Castle, by slowly turning it into a bed and breakfast. When the steep opposition she had to face ends in a murder on the grounds, Nora is afraid the new venture will fail before it truly gets off the ground. The setting is rich in history and beautifully described, the mystery is rife with suspects, the group of supporting characters are likeable and fun, and the book is a page-turner from start to finish.
I look forward to reading more in this series, and am grateful for the ARC of #BodiesandBattlements provided to me through #NetGalley.

Bodies and Battlements, the first book in Elizabeth Penney's new series, is set in Ravensea Castle, a charming bed-and-breakfast in Monkwell, Yorkshire, complete with a friendly resident ghost. Nora Asquith has transformed her family's centuries-old castle into a cozy retreat, but its grand opening takes a turn when a local woman who has opposed the transformation, is found dead in the gardens. Among the guests is Detective Inspector Finlay Cole, who soon finds himself entangled in the mystery alongside Nora and her actress sister, Tamsyn.

Though the story takes time to establish its world and characters, the setting is immersive, and the ghostly presence adds a delightful touch. Sticking with it paid off and the mystery was satisfying, and I can already envision plenty of intriguing stories unfolding in this atmospheric location. I'm excited for the next installment.

Thank you NetGalley and Minotaur Books for the advanced reader copy. This is my honest review.

I've enjoyed this author's other books so I was intrigued to try her new series. What drew me was the protagonist was an herbalist. I liked the uniqueness of the profession. While the story started a little slow, it was not enough to deter me from reading on. It does take a bit of time to set u a brand new cozy mystery series. I enjoyed the characters and the setting. You would think with all the mysteries I read I would be better at guessing the identity of the culprit, but sadly not this time.

i enjoyed the book and will look for future installments to add to my reading list.

Delightful! I can't wait to read more in this new series. The Asquith family are an interesting bunch with Nora the herbalist and B&B owner, Tamsyn the actress, and their dad, the vocal historian. During their soft opening of the B&B, Nora finds the body of the most vocal opponent of their enterprise dead in the garden. Uninvited and dead. The Asquiths investigate, as do the police. Fun story with some romance thrown in plus a ghost!

I was excited to see a new cozy mystery series from this author. I have read all the Cambridge bookshop series. This had a unique premise with a haunted castle. I’m looking forward to more in the series.

Murder castle renovation all in one it’s like HGTV in my head! It was beautiful! Who doesn’t love a cozy mystery!!

I always think it's a lot of fun starting a new cozy mystery series. I get to enjoy all the scenery and backstory while watching the characters begin to evolve and the pattern set for the humor (more sneaky than overt). The family has owned the castle for centuries, but money doesn't go so far anymore now that staff actually gets paid, so Nora (and her huge goofy dog) is trying out using it and the outbuildings as a Bed and Breakfast with holiday cottages. It's a good thing that one of their first guests is DI Finley Cole and his beloved pet fluff dog. Some of the other regulars are Nora's disillusioned sister, the scant staff, local residents, and Sir Percival, one of the resident ghosts. The mystery is definitely worth time and already looking forward to the next in series!
I requested and received a temporary uncorrected digital galley from St. Martin's Press | Minotaur Books via NetGalley. Pub Date May 27, 2025 *****review
#BodiesAndBattlements by @elizabethpenneyauthor #RavenseaCastleMysteriesBk1 @stmartinspress @minotaur_books #yorkshire #CozyMystery @goodreads @bookbub #smalltown
@the.storygraph @booksamillion #lawenforcement @barnesandnoble @bookshop_org @bookshop_org_uk #rural #newseries #ghost #seaside #petdogs @librarythingofficial

Thoroughly enjoyable cozy mystery. I enjoyed the personalities of the two sister sleuths and the way the mystery was developed. I Am looking forward to more castle mysteries and now must go back and check out the authors other series:)

This was a great cozy mystery. I loved the castle setting and the overall mystery of this book. This one was a bit slow to get started, but I did enjoy the characters, setting and the paranormal aspects. Overall this was an enjoyable read and an excellent start to a new cozy mystery series.

Thank you to @stmartinspress for the gifted arc.