This book was a fun time! I liked the story and the mystery was well done, with believable characters! I would recommend this book to everyone!

Who doesn't love a castle off the coast of Great Britain? When Nora Asquith and her family convert their family home to a bed and breakfast, they run up against a busy body named Hilda. New to their village of Monkwell, Yorkshire, Hilda opposes their efforts at every turn. However, Nora's family prevails and it's time to welcome their first guests. Who do you think should turn up dead in their garden? Nora and hir actress sister Tamsyn become amateur sleuths as they investigate the mystery and find them selves embroiled in quite a situation. Elizabeth Penney has a hit on her hands with this new cozy series. The village is a wonderful setting and she lays the ground work for many capers to come.

I was pleasantly surprised how much I enjoyed this book. Completely due to the characters. The setting and plot are pretty standard but the characters are unique and the relationships really drew me in. #BodiesandBattlements #NetGalley

This is a new series/author to me. I enjoyed the book. Nora and her family lived in their ancestral home. She's trying to save their home and has convinced the family to turn it into a hotel. It's a great idea, but one person in the community has tried to set the community against the Asquith family. Hilda Dibble has been a thorn it Nora's side, but when Hilda is found dead on their property, Nora is worried that she will be suspect #1 and that it will damage the reputation of their family and damage the business.

This is a fun cozy. I enjoyed Nora and her haunted home. Her Dad is funny and quirky in an absent-minded professor sort of way. Her sister Tamsyn is an actress and she helps Nora with her sleuthing. There is a possible love interest. There is also a resident ghost "Sir Perecival". This was an enjoyable read.

4.5 stars

Bodies and Battlements by Elizabeth Penney was an excellent start to a new series. The book follows Nora as she opens her family's castle for guests as a sort of BnB. On her second day as a hostess she finds the dead body of the woman who has tried everything to stop the BnB from opening. She is immediately a suspect and so are her family members so she must figure out who did it to prevent herself from being arrested by the hot detective who also happens to be one of the BnB guests.

Let's start with the fact that I had a great time reading this book. At first, I felt like it was just another cozy mystery but this one was so clever. I liked the way the amateur sleuths went about solving the case. She was brash at the start but her sister helps her get better at interrogating people without making them go on the defensive. I also really liked the ending because it wrapped everything very nicely in the end even if at first I thought we would have some loose threads. The only reason it isn't a five star is because I figured out the whodunit fairly quickly but it isn't less because the story around it is very interesting.

I would recommend this book to anyone who likes cozy mysteries or is into cozy stories in general. I do recommend this book to anyone who need a palate cleanser after a heavy book. I do not recommend this book to people who are looking for a lot of action and thrill. Otherwise, it is a fantastic read.

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press | Minotaur Books, and Elizabeth Penney for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

BODIES AND BATTLEMENTS – A Ravensea Castle Mystery – by Elizabeth Penney

‘Herbalist Nora Asquith is delighted to welcome Ravensea Castle’s first guests to the picturesque village of Monkwell, Yorkshire. After a thousand years of ownership, her family has decided to convert the castle into a bed and breakfast. But when Hilda Dibble, a self-appointed local luminary, is found dead in the knot garden the next morning, Nora’s business is not only at risk―she’s a prime suspect.’

BODIES AND BATTLEMENTS is a slow burn, yet cozy, whodunit beach read—or in my case, poolside—with characters I hope to read more about by way of a Ravensea Castle Mystery Series. *wink wink*

Recommend!

Thank you, NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press (Minotaur Books), for providing me with an eBook ARC of BODIES AND BATTLEMENTS at the request of an honest review.

There is nothing to not like about this title. However, it just seemed middle of the road for me. I like cozies set in castles or manor homes but not thrilled with paranormal activities. There were a lot of characters to keep up with. That is to be expected with a series that is a B&B so if you prefer less characters this wouldn't be the series for you. It kind of dragged in the middle and had a very predictable ending. This is not as good as the author's Cambridge Bookshop series. That said I'll give the next title in the series a try. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an eArc.

This was a fantastic start to a new series! It's a fun well-crafted cozy mystery with interesting characters and an intriguing plot. The mystery itself was very well done and although I was able to guess the culprit the journey getting there was worthwhile. The setting was like a character all its own featuring the crumbling castle with its resident ghosts and the mysterious smugglers' cove just waiting to be explored.

Overall this was a very enjoyable read! I highly recommend it to anyone who likes reading about small English villages where murders are all too common.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are my own.

The setting is the coast of Yorkshire, where the Asquith family is opening a bed and breakfast at their family castle. Nora came up with the idea to bring in income, and as their first guests arrive, her sister Tamsyn joins the group. Shortly into the stay, a local woman, Hilda, is murdered in the castle’s garden. Nora and her sister decide to investigate, along with inspector Finlay, who happens to be staying at the inn. A good start to a new cozy mystery series. Recommended. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

Ravensea Castle is just opening as a an elegant B&B on the north Yorkshire coast run by the estate's family who have lived there for centuries. Nora is an herbalist, her father an historian, and her sister a successful television actress home after her series cancellation, and all their skills come into play to get the business up and running. But shortly after their guests arrive, Nora's local nemesis is found dead in the garden. Even though the new DI in the area turns out to be one of their guests, Nora feels obligated to see the matter is cleared up as quickly and cleanly as possible before it scares away guests. It all sounds very cozy and cutesy, but it actually reads like a very good traditional mystery with logical, believable characters who do logical, believable things, for logical, believable reasons. A nice sense of place, interesting local color and secondary characters, and a rather concerned ghost (who can only do "normal" ghostly things like make noise and shimmer a bit which is so frustrating when you have something to say). The author actually had me convinced she is British. She is not (good job!). A very enjoyable mystery with a great deal of potential.

Great start to a new series! I enjoyed getting to know Nora, her family, and the rest of the community surrounding their castle. The setting was idyllic and I loved the tidbits her dad shared about their history. The mystery itself was well-paced and I liked following along with Nora as she investigated. The one thing I thought I would love, the ghost, didn’t really work for me. I am hoping this is more developed as the series goes on. Otherwise, this was fun and I look forward to the next one.

Bodies and Battlements is the first book in the Ravensea Castle series and I have now put Elizabeth Penney on my must read list. The castle has been in the Asquith family for generations, but its’ upkeep is draining the family coffers. Nora Asquith is a botanist who sells her line of soaps and herbal products in the local stores. The income, however, barely keeps the castle running. After jumping through hoops, she finally secured the permits to open her castle as a bed and breakfast. Hilda Dibble, who was relatively new to the area, opposed her every step of the way. The day after her first guests arrive, Nora finds Hilda’s body in the castle’s garden. One of her guests, Finlay Cole, discloses that he is the new Detective Inspector, recently transferred to the village. While Nora is attracted to Cole, she is considered a suspect. She and her sister Tamsyn have no choice but to investigate on their own if they are to clear their family and save their business.

Tamsyn is a celebrity in a show that has now been cancelled. Her arrival was unexpected. She was initially opposed to turning their home into a a B&B, but now that she is unemployed she enthusiastically throws herself into the investigation. Their father has been exploring the family’s history and regales the guests with the story of Sir Percival, who now haunts the halls, often at inopportune times. There is a thirty year old murder that remains unsolved and has a connection to the current events. There is an unsavory businessman who wants to buy the castle to add to his hotel chain, smuggling and every castle needs lovable dogs. Pour yourself a cup of tea, or a glass of mead if you prefer, and settle in to read a delightfully cozy mystery. I would like to thank NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press/Minotaur for providing this book.

This was such a fun, cozy mystery! The story finds our main character, Nora, who has converted her haunted British castle into a bed and breakfast, much to the dismay of some of the locals who fought tooth and nail against it. Everything should be smooth sailing from here on, until Nora finds a body in the garden. Turns out keeping the doors open and guests in the rooms is going to be a bit harder than it seems. There was a whole lot of who-done-it and some of the cutest feline and canine companions. I loved the apothecary side of the book as well, and it had a great romance sub-plot.

Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for sending a copy my way. All opinions are my own.

I read "Bodies and Battlements" by Elizabeth Penney on NetGalley. This book has a few mysteries and romances and even a ghost in it. The main character, Nora, is trying to turn the family castle into a bed & breakfast. The main opposition to the bed and breakfast ends up dead in the garden the morning after the first night. And more mysteries occur throughout the book. I enjoyed this book!

A charming new series by Elizabeth Penny. Featuring protagonist Nora the properitor of her families new Bed And Breakfast. The castle upkeep has become unmanageable so Nora has created a way to fund the expense of running their castle home. She is new to Innkeeping and her sister is not happy about the change.
A disgruntled neighbor is murdered in their gardens and everyone falls under suspicion. As the suspects and red herrings abound Nora fights to keep her family business.
The author has great characters and a atmospheric setting of a British castle. I look forward to the next in series. This has every element we cozy readers love.
Thank you to the publishers and to Net Galley for the opportunity. My review is my own opinion.

Elizabeth Penney starts a new series Ravensea Cast;le mysteries with Bodies and Battlements. The family castle is being turned into a bed and breakfast managed by the family.; as they welcome their first guests their chief critic Hilda Dibble is found dead. One of the guests is Detective Inspector Finley Cole and he gets involved in the murder investigation. Nora Asquith, herbalist and castle manager, joins up with her actress sister Tamsyn to look at the less than honorable histories of their guests. Lots of suspects, beautiful countryside and resident ghost. Loved this cozy.

Dear Fellow Reader,


Bodies and Battlements is the latest book by Elizabeth Penney. It is a new series for her. In this series, Nora Asquith, who is a herbalist, is taking her family’s castle from being a family castle that no one can afford anymore to a bed and breakfast. Nora’s sister, an actress, is not happy about this change.

It took longer than expected for Nora to cut through the local red tape and open the Inn. One particular resident, Hilda Dibble, voiced many concerns about the plan. Hilda did everything she could to make sure the Inn would not open. But finally, Nora was able to open and welcome her first guests. But on the second morning, we find out Hilda has been found dead in the knot garden, and Nora is a suspect.

As Nora works with her sister to clear her name, she finds that some of her guests are not who she thinks they are, and that some people are not very truthful. Untangling their stories is harder and more unexpected than she anticipated. No one seems to be quite who they seem to be.

Oh, and did I tell you that the castle is haunted? Oh yea, aren’t all British castles haunted? We get to learn about Sir Percival and his death as he helps solve the crime.

I enjoyed the book. I have enjoyed Elizabeth Penney’s other series, The Cambridge Bookshop Series. Reviews can be found here and here.

Thank you for reading!

I love Elizabeth Penney's Cambridge Bookshop series, so I was excited to read Bodies and Battlements, the first book in the Ravensea Castle Series. Set at an old English castle that has been converted into a bed and breakfast. We follow Nora, whose family has owned the castle for generations as she begins this new venture to try and create some funds to upkeep the ancient property. Her actress sister is in town to help out on opening weekend, along with her historian father and the resident "ghost".

The castle is set on the coast and the area was once a haven for pirates. When a problematic villager whose been causing issues with the bnb opening ends up dead on the grounds everyone at the castle - guests, workers and owners fall under suspicion. Luckily one of the guests is police detective and they're able to help Nora as she tries to find the killer and save her business.

Lots of interesting twists and I really enjoyed the characters. I'm looking forward to the next in the series.

Bodies and Battlements kicks off Elizabeth Penney’s new cozy mystery series with an atmospheric and thoroughly charming read. Set in a picturesque Yorkshire village, the story follows herbalist Nora Asquith as she launches a bed and breakfast inside her family’s historic Ravensea Castle. The excitement quickly turns to suspicion when a local opponent of the project, Hilda Dibble, is found dead in the castle’s knot garden—and Nora becomes the prime suspect.

Penney does a wonderful job blending cozy mystery staples with a unique setting and just a touch of the supernatural, thanks to Sir Percival, the resident castle ghost. The mystery unfolds at a steady pace with plenty of suspects and red herrings to keep readers engaged, while the developing rapport between Nora, her sister Tamsyn, and Detective Inspector Finlay Cole adds charm and depth. Although I would have loved even more exploration of the castle's ghostly history, this was a satisfying and entertaining read. A promising start to a series that cozy fans will surely enjoy!

Bodies and Battlements, a Ravensea Castle Mystery by Elizabeth Penney is a good beginning to a new series. It is a well written story full of castles, a ghost, smugglers, hints of romance, lovable dogs and of course a murder or two. In order to keep Ravensea, the family castle, in the family, Nora Asquith decides to turn part of the castle into a B & B. With help from the castle cook Janet and her husband Guy, her actress sister Tamsyn, her family historian father, Arthur and the most active castle ghost, Sir Percival, Nora has the castle ready for its first guests. She has even worked around the blocking machinations of the village complainer and control freak, Hilda Dribble. Unfortunately, when Hilda’s body is discovered in the castle garden, Nora and her father become suspects. Aided by Tamsyn, Nora sets out to discover the murderer. Unfortunately, she finds the body of stonemason, Joe Lumley, finds hints of smugglers working on their shore and a suspicious real estate developer. The story has several red herrings that add to the plot twists and turns and make the resolution more satisfying. Looking forward to more books in this series. Review copy provided by NetGalley and Macmillian Publishers. 5 stars