This was a fun read with a fantastic series premise. I liked Nora and her family - especially as they figured out how everything would work now that they are in the middle of this new venture. The body is discovered pretty early in the book and what was already a complicated situation for the Asquith family becomes absolutely dire.

The small village around the castle is interesting and the guests were an interesting mix. Everyone seems to be hiding something and it was a challenge figuring out just who was hiding a motive for murder. I liked all the side quests with running the inn and Nora's herbalist business. I really enjoyed watching the investigation progress and really had no clue who the bad guy was until shortly before Nora did.

I'm excited to see where the series goes. This was a great mystery with a spectacular setting and a great and likable group of characters.

Exciting, mysterious and suspenseful. Nora has the nose of a detective and is a smart business woman who knows what needs to get done.

Nice cozy English mystery about new B&B in a castle struggling to make a success at their opening while dealing with a murder of a local busybody.Thanks to #NetGalley and #BodiesAndBattlements for advanced digital copy.

This is the first book in a new cozy mystery series set in Monkwell, Yorkshire. Ms. Penney has done a remarkable job of setting the scenes so that I felt familiar with the village and the characters within the first few chapters. Nora and Tamsyn are well developed as well as all of the secondary characters by the end of the book.

The story was quickly paced filled with several suspects with viable motives, twists and turns, a castle ghost, and more than one of the characters had dark secrets that aren't revealed until the conclusion. It was an entertaining read with enough intrigue and suspense that kept me turning the pages.

Elizabeth Penney’s Bodies and Battlements is a stellar start to a new cozy mystery series that has it all—an atmospheric British castle, intriguing ghosts, and a brilliantly crafted plot. The character development is top-notch, with a cast of compelling suspects and a heroine you’ll instantly root for. Penney masterfully balances perfect pacing with clever red herrings, keeping readers guessing until the very end. (I received an advance reader copy and all opinions are my own.) A delightful, twisty mystery wrapped in charm and suspense—cozy mystery fans will be hooked! And this fan can’t wait for the next installment.

BODIES AND BATTLEMENTS by Elizabeth Penney
The First Ravensea Castle Mystery

The Asquith Family have lived in Ravensea Castle for over a thousand years, but maintaining a castle is expensive and the family is barely scraping by. Despite her sister's misgivings and her brother's lack of interest Nora Asquith has decided to open the castle to the public as a small bed and breakfast. Despite newer resident Hilda Dibble trying to block her every step of the way, Nora finally succeeded and the castle is set to host its first guests. While the first night goes smoothly, despite the appearance of Hilda, things take an abrupt turn for the worse the next morning when Nora finds Hilda's body in the knot garden. Though Hilda couldn't prevent Ravensea from opening, her death could cause it to close! While the dishy guest who turns out to be the new Detective Inspector has taken charge of the case, Nora and her sister Tamsyn decide to investigate themselves. With a little help from their resident ghost the Asquith sisters will follow clues leading them to other townsfolk who had issues with the dead woman as well as to their other guests. Will they find the killer, or will they go out of business permanently?

BODIES AND BATTLEMENTS has it all, a castle by the Yorkshire seaside, a ghost, good food, a big lovable dog, and murder, not to mention a smidge of romance. To me these are perfect ingredients for a wonderful mystery and the first Ravensea Castle Mystery is just that. From a somewhat absent minded father, well known actress sister, and a faithful good natured cook along with her handyman husband to the varied guests and locals, everyone is interesting, multilayered, and important...even Sir Percival, the ghost. I enjoyed reading about Nora's herbal creations, witnessing the love of the Asquith family and friends, and seeing the romantic possibilities.

A delightful mystery comprised of charming characters, as well as some nasty ones, BODIES AND BATTLEMENTS is a stellar start to a new series.

When the Asquith Family opens their family castle as a B&B, their self launch is met with the murder of one of their biggest opponents. Having worked so hard to save the family home, Nora and her sister are going to do their best to figure out who is trying to set their family up to take the fall and lose their home. But can they do it without becoming the next target of a murderer?

This is a great start to a new series and absolutely adored it! Nora is so likable and you can totally relate to her relationship with her sister, her father, her brother and even their caretaker and Cook. Because they’re really more Family than they are servants of old. Can’t wait for the next entry in this series!

What a cozy and delightful start to a cozy, murder-mystery series. It's cute and light-hearted enough to breeze thru in a day by the pool and leave you wondering what other mysteries may befall the Ravensea castle and it's residents.

Nora is finally able to see the Ravensea Castle become a bed and breakfast and is welcoming her first guests. After she gets them checked in, and settles in for the night. She feels she is on track to a successful launch. However, the next morning brings new problems as a local busybody who tried to prevent the B&B is found dead in the knot garden. Now Nora is a potential suspect and one of her new guests is a detective who picks up the case since he's already on scene.

Nora and her sister decided they have to ensure fingers aren't pointed at themselves and maybe solve the mystery as well. with only a limited number of guests and some family members as well, the suspect pool feels pretty small. I would not say it's a locked room or locked house mystery but I feel it's a well-crafted and I can't wait to pick up the next installment.

Thanks to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for a free e-copy of the book. All opinions are my own.

The Asquith family has lived in Ravensea Castle, on the Yorkshire coast, since 1138. But castles are expensive, and for the last century the Asquiths have had a tough time trying to hang onto the family seat. But things are about to change. Instead of defending the coastline, the castle has been converted to a bed and breakfast. But the day after their opening, Nora Asquith stumbles over the body of Hilda Dibble. Hilda had fought Nora at every step trying to prevent the B&B. Nora fears the murder may close the B&B. She’s is determined to solve Hilda’s murder and save the business.

Bodies and Battlements is a quick read. Hilda and Tamsyn, her actress sister currently on a break from filming, are a good investigative team. The setting of a castle, haunted by a benevolent ghost, is a fun setting. The mystery wasn’t all that difficult to solve, but I still enjoyed reading this book. Bodies and Battlements is a solid start to this new series. 3/5 stars.

A new author to me, and I enjoyed this book immensely. Just so happens I have a book club theme of a cozy mystery in June and will present this one.
Nora Asquith lives in a castle with her father, who is writing a history of the family. She also makes soaps and creams to help afford repairs as well as opening a bed and breakfast.
The first guests to show up are a wine merchant and his wife, who her brother Will has comped. Then Finlay Cole and his dog Lady, who are booked into the bridal suite as it was assumed Lady was, well a lady
The last guest is Brian, a bird watcher.
There is a very complicated plot, 2 murders, smugglers, undercover agents, and more.
Tamsyn, Nora's beautiful actress sister, also arrives after her break up but helps Nora with the guests. Together, they set put to solve the murders.
There is also a ghost who keeps warning them. I presume there will be some ghost hunters in the next book.
This is a fun, cozy mystery, and I did not guess the villain.I will be watching for the next in the series.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the EARC. This is my honest review.

Bodies and Battlements by Elizabeth Penney is the debut of The Ravensea Castle series. I enjoyed meeting Nora as well as her family and Janet. I like how Janet refers to Nora as “milady” even though she does not have a title (Nora has given up correcting her). The author took the time to establish the main characters and the setting. I like Nora who is friendly, a diligent worker, and loyal to her family. The animals are a delightful addition especially Rolf, the English mastiff. I thought the author captured the setting of Yorkshire, England. I could envision a castle by the sea and the nearby quaint village. I like that the mystery stayed at the forefront of the story. There is action, suspense, several suspects, a red herring, and, maybe, another crime or two. However, the main mystery is a cinch to solve. I identified the guilty party before the murder took place. I was happy with the ending, and the glimpse of what may occur in the next book. I liked the addition of Sir Percival Asquith, an ancestor of the family who is the castle’s resident ghost. I enjoyed the humor sprinkled throughout the story. Bodies and Battlements is an entertaining cozy mystery, and I am looking forward to the next book in The Ravensea Castle series. Bodies and Battlements is a cute castle cozy with the grand opening of the inn, mouthwatering meals, spirited ghosts, an astute mastiff, a peculiar pater, curious crimes, a diligent detective, and a dramatic sister.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for providing me with an ARC of this book. Bodies and Battlements is the first book of the Ravensea Castle series. The main character, Nora, has transformed a part of her family home into a bed and breakfast. Unfortunately, a guest dies on the next morning after the opening. Nora and her sister, Tamsyn, investigate in order to keep the bed and breakfast running and avoid being falsely accused. They are helped by one of the house ghosts, sir Percival.

The general atmosphere of the book makes for a quite lovely read. The setting is pleasant, and the characters are likeable, especially Nora. The fact that the mystery takes place in a small English town makes the story not as fast-paced as other cozy mysteries. I usually tend to read books without supernatural elements, but I have to admit that Sir Percival added quite a bit of charm to the story. I had a great time reading Bodies and Battlements and trying to find the culprit before reaching the end. I definitely recommend this book!

Yesterday I read a glowing review of the first in Elizabeth Penney's Ravensea Castle series, Bodies and Battlements. I had just finished another book and remembered being offered this one from the publisher, so I grabbed it from NetGalley and am happy I did. I finished it in a day (it's less than 300 pages ).

I love the setting of an ancient castle in scenic Yorkshire, where 30ish Nora is aiming to improve the family's finances by renting out a few rooms for an "authentic" castle experience and hoping the resident ghost, Sir Percival, doesn't scare the guests away. Nora also has an apothecary business, making creams, lotions, and teas, and her brother, Will, makes and sells honey wines (mead). Their sister, Tamsyn, is a popular TV star whose show was just canceled, and their father is writing a family biography and entertaining guests. The first three guests seem fine--a birdwatcher, a couple who own wine stores, and an attractive man who turns out to be a new local Detective Inspector. But when Nora's nemesis, Hilda, who has openly opposed the new enterprise for a full year, is found dead on the property, there's a lot more to worry about than ghosts and refreshments. More murders follow, and Nora and Tamsyn try to figure out how they can help with the investigation.

The mystery is well written and interesting, the primary characters are instantly relatable, and I enjoyed spending time with them, with Nora's entrepreneurial friends, and even (briefly) with Sir Perceval. There's also a promising hint of romance. I will definitely look for the next in this entertaining series.

My thanks to St. Martin's Press/Minotaur Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and provide an honest review of the book.

Bodies and Battlements by Elizabeth Penney addresses the problem of what one does with a small castle when one has run out of money with which to maintain it. The solution Nora has arrived upon is to make it into a Bed and Breakfast. So, after a year of arguing with the locals and with the administrators of various government offices, they are finally ready to welcome their first guests, only two of the four paying, however, as Nora’s brother will had invited a potential client of his and his wife to stay for free. Oh, well, it was their “soft” opening. So they welcomed two single men, Brian Taylor and Finlay Cole as well as a married couple, Lorna and Gavin Cargill to Ravensea Castle. There would be drinks before dinner and Father Patrick had joined them. Two local women, Hilda Dibble and her sidekick, Sandra, tried to muscle their way in but abruptly changed their mind when they saw other others already gathered. The next morning, Nora discovered Hilda’s body in her garden. At that point Finlay Cole introduced himself as a Detective Inspector moving into the town and the investigation began. And what an investigation it was; so many moving parts.

Nora is a terrific character, as is Tamsyn, her television actress sister, who is at the castle to “help.” Their father, Arthur is a bit addled and buried in his genealogy research much of the time. The best character of all is the resident ghost, Lord Percival, who is a distant ancestor who appears on an irregular schedule, not this week. Except, he did and caused minor issues, although he turns out to be more help than hindrance. The murder was an interesting one and encompassed for more than what appeared on the surface. There were many secrets on all parts. Finlay appeared to appreciate Nora’s help as well as Nora, herself. This looks to be the beginning of a highly successful series, so start early.

I was invited to read Bodies and Battlements St Martin’s Press. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #Netgalley #StMartinsPress #ElizabethPenney #BodiesAndBattlements

A new cute cozy mystery series.
Good characters, twists, suspense slight romance and ghosts.
Just a good read. enjoyed it.
Voluntarily reviewed.

Nora Asquith and her family decide to turn their family castle into a bed and breakfast. The meddlesome newcomer, who did her best to prevent the bed and breakfast from opening, is found dead in the castle's garden the morning after guests had arrived. Nora decides to do her own investigating to help keep the reputation of her family and the new business from being tarnished. oh, and there's a ghost!

This was a well thought out and well written book. It kept me turning the pages to see if my guesses as to who the murderer was was correct, in the end I was surprised. I am looking forward to visiting Ravensea Castle again in the future and getting to know Nora and her family more.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC

Bodies and Battlements is book #1 in The Ravensea Castle series by Elizabeth Penney.

Nora’s family has decided to convert Ravensea Castle into a bed and breakfast.
A local, Hilda Dibble, who had opposed the idea, was found dead in the garden. Now Nora is the prime suspect and has to clear her name, her father’s name and save the new business. I liked Nora and her sister, Tamsyn. Their personalities are different but they’re rebuilding their relationship. There’s a resident ghost, Sir Percival, and sweet pets. It was a little slow getting into the story, but that not uncommon in the first book of a series. The author did a great job of describing the setting, and it was easy for me to visualize the castle and surrounding area I definitely look forward to the next book in this series!

Thank you to the author, St. Martin’s Press, and NetGalley for the Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) copy of this book and I am voluntarily leaving an honest review. #BodiesAndBattlements

Bodies and Battlements, the inaugural book in the Ravensea Castle Mysteries series, is a charming blend of suspense and unforgettable characters that makes for an enjoyable read. The story primarily revolves around sisters turned amateur sleuths, Nora and Tamsyn, whose snooping drives much of the narrative. Their investigations intersect with police efforts, adding depth to the unfolding mystery.

The plot is generally straightforward, yet it cleverly incorporates several twists and red herrings that keep readers guessing. A particularly surprising twist towards the end adds an exciting note of unpredictability, elevating the overall experience. The themes of murder, friendship, family dynamics, greed, relationships, and betrayal are woven seamlessly throughout the story, enhancing the emotional stakes.

One of the standout elements of this book is its world-building. The atmosphere is captivating, transporting readers to a magnificent castle by the sea, overlooking a charming village. The vivid descriptions of the bed and breakfast setting draw you in, making it easy to lose yourself in Penney's portrayal of luxury. The inclusion of resident ghosts adds a whimsical touch, enhancing the cozy mystery ambiance.

The mystery itself is engaging and well-structured, with enough twists to maintain suspense right up to the final pages. The inviting setting, combined with an engaging protagonist and the occasional paranormal visitor, makes Bodies and Battlements an engaging start to what promises to be a captivating cozy mystery series.

Was a great stories with lots of detail that keeps the reader wanting more. Look forward to seeing what else the author has in store.

The Asquiths of Ravensea Castle where daughter and father await the first three paying guests alongside the husband and wife team, Janet and Guy Fagan.,who are their only staff complete with the Asquiths very own forefather and resident ghost, Sir Percival. The entourage pull up to the castle with not only 2 of the guest rooms accounted for but the local priest, the local pain-in-the-behind as well as her sidekick plus, not expected her siblings. An entertaining tale begins. The Asquiths have their individual personalities: the father, Arthur, is a fascinating storyteller of his ancestors which is very helpful at cocktail time; the innovator, Nora, keeper of the castle as well as entrepreneur of her bath and beauty products from her herbal garden; sister Tamsyn, leading actress in a popular series and brother, Will, producer of Monkwell Mead winery (which every Bed and Breakfast should have such as an asset.). One person in this cast of characters is found dead in quite a gruesome manner. Agatha Christie lovers should delight in this book; suffice it to say, this is a great start to, hopefully, a new series. Thanks to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Publishing Group and author Elizabeth Penney for an ARC; opinions stated are my honest review.