A nice opening for a cozy mystery series, if a bit more predictable than I would like. Our main character is appealing and I love the whole idea of a family castle on the coast converting to a B&B. I'm holding judgement till the next in the series. Perhaps after getting the characters & setting established, it will grab my interest a bit more.

This is a promising start to a new UK-set series centered on a family trying to make their old family castle into a small B&B. Their soft opening quickly gets overtaken by murder, smuggling, and secret identities. The main characters are likable, and the setting in Yorkshire is well done. A few elements of the mystery itself felt a little quickly thrown together, but still a very enjoyable cozy read with the promise of more to come. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy. All views are entirely my own and offered voluntarily.

Bodies and Battlements by Elizabeth Penney is the first in a new series. Nora Asquith and her family have been in residence in their castle for hundreds of years. They are now beginning to convert it to a B&B and are welcoming their first guests. Plans go awry when a local village woman is found dead in the gardens.
This is a breezy cozy mystery with all the expected elements: a nearby, quaint, small village; lots of mostly hidden trails/gardens between outbuildings on the property, smart well behaved cat and dog, castle ghosts, and a detective (and love interest) unexpectedly arriving as a guest just when needed. My favorite part is the setting of a castle by an overlook out to the sea, with a trail down to a beach, and a hidden cave where bootleggers have run their illicit goods in the past. It sounds amazing!
The characters themselves are fine, if a bit formulaic. The mystery wasn’t particularly difficult but did have some red herrings to spice it up. The couple of times that Nora was “in danger” were pretty low stakes but I also appreciate that she let people know where she was going or took someone with her rather than heading straight off blindly into a worrisome situation.
I enjoyed learning about Nora’s herbal bath and body sideline and hope this will be featured more in the series. I’ll look for the next one to see how the relationships between the main characters progress.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the eARC.
3.5 Stars

Nora is ready to open up a bed and breakfast in Ravensea Castle, that has been in her family for generations. Nora has a well-known feud of sorts going on with a local woman named Hilda who has been trying to stop the opening of the bed and breakfast.

After welcoming her first guests, Hilda is found dead on Nora's property and because of the well-known feud they had, Nora is considered the prime suspect. Together with her sister Tamsyn And the castle's ghost sir Percival Nora is determined to prove her innocence and find the true culprit.

This book was so fun. It was full of fun, little twists and turns and all of the characters were so great. I love how the solving of the mystery really became a family affair because at some point even her father gets involved. For a first book in a new cozy mystery series this was such a great setup.

I struggled with this one from the opening lines. The concept is a fun one, but it didn't have a cozy feel and the writing felt oddly formal to me for the cozy mystery genre. I couldn't get into the writing style as a result. This one just wasn't a good fit for me.

4+ stars

This book is a great start to a new series, and the first book I’ve read by the author.

In looking for ways to save her family’s castle, Nora turns the castle into a bed-and-breakfast. Not long after the first guests arrive, Nora find a dead woman in the garden. The victim had caused Nora all sorts of problems, being adamantly opposed to the castle being a B&B.

The mystery kept me guessing and the setting is great. The characters are great too – Nora’s family and castle staff, the hunky detective, and, of course, the castle’s resident ghost.

I very much enjoyed the start to this series and look forward to more of this series.

Bodies and Battlements is the first book in the Ravensea Castle series. It takes place in the village of Montewell in Scotland. Raversea Castle has been in the Asquith family for centuries. Arthur Asquith is the official host of the castle along with his daughters, Nora, Tamsym and son, Will. To keep the castle in the family they have opened it as a B&B. Janet Fagan is the cook and housekeekper. Her husband, Gus takes care of the grounds. Rolf is an English Mastiff dog. Sir Percival is the ghost knight that lives in the castle. They are expecting their first guests; Lorna and Gavin Cargill owners of a high end wine shop, Brian Taylor who is a bird watcher. and Finley Cole and his dog Lady, Father Patrick isthe parish priest. Hilda Dibble and her friend, Sandra Snelling were trouble makers trying to stop Nora from getting the permits needed to open the castle B&B.

Nora owns Castle Apothecary. She makes bath and beauty products as well as selected herbal remedies. Tamsyn is a TV actress with the lead role in Highland Lass. She has come home as her show has been canceled and her boyfriend has gone back to his wife who is pregnant. Will owns Monkwell Mead Honey Wine. The best in England. He lives in a cottage next door to his factory. He has invited the Gargill's for a free weekend hoping to get them to carry his mead. He did this without telling Nora. Hilda and Sandra decided to stay for the welcoming coctail hour but abruptly leaves before she goes into the room. At night when going to her room Lorna is frightened seeing Percival and freaks out. Nora and Tamsym tell her about the ghost and calms her down.

The next day Nora goes into her gardens to do some weeding, etc. Upon entering she sees something in the fountain. it is Hilda Dibble dead. Before she calls the police Finley comes across her and the body while walking his dog. He calls the police. He is a police detective inspector recently moved to this police force and is staying at the castle until his apartment is ready for him. He sends her back to the castle and asks her to not say anything to the other guests but Gavin sees the ambulance so she has to tell the other guests what has happened and that they are not to leave the castle. Shawn Boswell is a stonemason along with his helper, Joe, are outside working on the stone path and overhear everything.

When Nora and Tamsyn are able to leave the castle they go into town so Nora can make her delivery to Tatiana Bower shop owned by her friend, Darby Welsh. They tell Darby what happened and their plan to find out who killed Hilda. Darby tells them that Hilda was one of her best customer. Loved female things. While there Sandra Snelling walks into the shop. She is upset over the death of Hilda and says she knows who killed her = Joe Lumley, the stonemason. He had threatened her. Said he woiuld see her in hell before she got his parole revoked. After leaving the store Nora and Tamsyn go next door to see their friend, Lia Becket who owns The Lazy Mermaid ice cream store along with her husband, Tom.

Arriving home they go into their father's study and see a letter offering a cash deal to buy the castle. Their father was upset about the letter. It was from Patrick Horn who is moored just near their property and is a good friend with Gavin Cargill who is staying with them. At cocktails that night Arthur tells the guests the story of Sir Percival and they find it quite entertaining. Finley tells Nora that his apartment is ready. It is over the ice cream shop.

Walking on the beach with her sister, Nora notices boat marks of a boat pulled ashore in the sand along with foot prints going up the stairs. She takes pictures of the marks and foot prints. They walk into the woods to the chapel. While there they hear foot falls and lock themselves in the chapel. They call Ben to come and get them. They tell him about the boat marks and the foot prints.

Sandra calls them and asks them if they want Hilda's kitten, Primrose. They agree to take the kitten and go to the house to meet Sandra to pick the cat and all her things up. The neighbor, Marvis Boswell comes over and tells them about a young man in trendy clothes banging on Hilda's door yelling "you need to talk to me. You can't hide forever". When they get there they find the house ransacked. Nora calls Finley and he tells them he will be there and not to touch anything. Finley and Constable Emily Burns arrive. While waiting for the police they see a white van with Cargill's Wine Shops on it. They also see pictures on the mantle she sees a picture of Hilda and her sister, Celia at the Horn House for New Year's Eve. They find the back door tampered with. Going home with the kitten in the carrier they are tailed by the white van.

When they get home their father tells them he is being framed for Hilda's death. A policeman had come to the castle that morning telling him they had gotten a tip that he had thrown Hilda out of the castle. He told them that Hilda had come to the castle a few days before the guests came asking for money she wouldn't cause anymore trouble. The stone masons were there and Joe heard the conversation. Because Sandra told the police about Joe he told them about Arthur. Arthur was also on the bluff the day that Hilda was killed. He also told them that Hilda knew Patrick as she and her sister had been at the house. So had Arthur and his wife as they were good friends with Patrick's brother, Dennis. Dennis and Celia had been killed in a car accident that weekend. Patrick inherited everything. The police felt the accident was from going too fast.

Nora and Tamsyn decide they will pretend they are interested in what Patrick has to say about buying their castle. They make arrangements to met with him. This is where the story takes off. There is so much to tell to put on paper with another death, Joe's, kidnaping, smuggling, romance etc. I will leave it to the reader to enjoy to the exciting and surprising ending.

Thank you NetGalley and Minotaur Books for this ARC.

I was excited for the opportunity to read Bodies and Battlements by Elizabeth Penney. It is her first installment in the Revensea Castle series. The Asquith family has owned the castle and grounds for hundreds of years and are in danger of losing it due to increasing costs to maintain. Turning it into a B&B seems a logical although obvious solution.
The book got off to a bit a slow start for me but did pick up the pace and become quite interesting. I did not immediately warm to the characters but they grew on me as the story developed. I did enjoy Sir Percival and the ghost aspect. I hope to see him play a larger role in upcoming books. And who doesn't love a dog that is more the size of a horse!
Good, entertaining mystery and lots of promise to further develop the characters and the location. I look forward to the next installment!

I received a free DRC through Netgalley. I really enjoyed this book. I would classify it as a cozy mystery, but it wasn't as predictable as a lot of those are. The ghost in the castle and the real life villains made it a fun story to read. I would read more by this author.

Nora Asquith wants to turn her family's Ravensea castle into a successful bed and breakfast. When a local woman is murdered in the garden, things start to fall apart for Nora's dream. Even worse, she's a prime suspect. One of the first guests at the castle is Detective Inspector Finlay Cole. As he begins his investigation, Nora and her sister begin their own sleuthing. They get some hints from the castle ghost, Sir Percival. I enjoyed the humor from Sir Percival, plus the lighthearted and charming tone of the mystery. Add in colorful characters and a twisty plot and you have a winner! Don't miss this one! Thanks to Netgalley, St. Martin's Press and the author for this advanced reader copy to review.

“Bodies and Battlements” (The Ravensea Castle Series, #1) by Elizabeth Penney
One Sweet Romantic, Cozy Mystery
I got totally caught up in this cozy story with more twists and turns than a bowl of spaghetti. I really did lose total track of time passing because I was so deep into this story. Now is the really hard part about getting drawn into a story; for I am at loose ends: the story ended, and all the people have gone on without me. Will you figure out who is guilty? And what they are guilty of? A truly busy story. Happy Reading ! !

I'm a sucker for a series, and this one is a winner. When Nora converts her family's Yorkshire castle into a B&B, not everyone is pleased, including her TV star sister and the resident ghost Sir Percival. This first installment handily juggles several plot points: an old double murder, two new murders, smuggling, real estate crime, a possible romance (or two), and a few guests who are not what they appear to be. Looking forward to my next visit to Ravensea Castle.

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press|Minotaur Books for the advance reader copy.

I'm honestly giving this one 3.5 stars but I rounded up.
This was my first Elizabeth Penney book and is the first in a new cozy mystery series, featuring herbalist Nora and her family's haunted castle in Yorkshire.

Nora needs to turn the castle into a Bed & Breakfast of sorts, and keeping an old castle in working order is no easy task. The actress sister, mead-making brother, eccentric father, ever-faithful house staff Janet, and the resident ghost must all pitch in to pull this one off.

Wouldn't you know that the first weekend of guests also brings a murder in Nora's beautiful garden? Hunky detective Finlay Cole with his precious pup Lady happens to be one of the inaugural guests. Can Nora keep Percival the precarious ghost under wraps, keep herself and her father out of suspicion, all while keeping the inn running? Will there be any more murders? You'll have to read to find out!

I don't know that I'm a big fan of Nora, she seems to be a little dull and lackluster. I hope the forthcoming books give Nora more personality. I would also love to see Sir Percival be more active because what's a haunted castle without an interfering ghost?

Many thanks to NetGalley, St. Martin's press, and the author for the opportunity to read an advance copy of the book. Current publication date is set for May 27, 2025.

Nora is trying to save the family castle, and to do that she needs to turn it into a B&B. Several town people hate the idea and try to fight her, but she wins out. The grand opening comes and goes, but the next morning the body of her biggest enemy is found in the castle gardens. Between trying to figure out what happened, smugglers and the appearances of Sir Percival, the castle ghost, Nora is kept quite busy. And di we forget to mention that one of her guests just happens to be the new detective in town?

Nora Asquith is finally ready to open a bed and breakfast in her home, Ravensea Castle after a local woman, Hilda Dibble has tried to stop Nora every step of the way. However, just after welcoming her first guests, Hilda is found dead on the property and Nora is a suspect. Add in the castle ghost, Sir Percival, who is trying to assist Nora in discovering who actually killed Hilda, and Nora’s family, sister Tamsyn, a beautiful actress and their father, everyone is involved in trying to solve who killed Hilda.

This was a delightful mystery. The characters were fun to get to know. The village sounds a lovely place to visit. The flow of this mystery was well developed, building from each chapter, the reader has a suspicion of who the killer could be and why but you’re never quite sure if this is the truth or a misdirection. Adding the layer of an death decades earlier helps adds to the mystery. Very enjoyable read.

Among many wonderful things about 'Bodies and Battlements' by Elizabeth Penney is that it is the first in a series. I found the well executed story engaging in all ways, from characters to locale to mystery. The best part is that the plans for more were expertly set up so that I am not annoyed by a gratuitous cliff hanger, but that I am actually deeply interested in the continuation of the storylines. I can't recommend this highly enough, and I can't wait for more!

I thoroughly enjoyed this first book in ELizabeth Penney's new cozy mystery series. I was swept into the story right from the start and absolutely loved the setting of Ravensea Castle. The quirky, loveable cast of characters was perfect, from Nora's family and the castle guests, to the ghost of Sir Percival. The mystery was intriguing, the subplots interesting, and I'm especially looking forward to seeing where things go between Nora and detective Finley Cole. Looking forward to the next book in this series.

Thank you #NetGalley and #MinotaurBooks for the opportunity to read and review this book.
#cozymystery #bodiesand battlements #elizabethpenney

In order to continue living at the family home, Ravensea Castle, Nora Asquith is determined to turn it into a successful
bed and breakfast destination Nora is hopeful that their first guests will find it a beautiful and enjoyable place to
vacation. Unfortunately, when the body of the woman who opposed the Castle being turned into a B&B is found on
the castle grounds, the future of the Castle is in jeopardy. As Nora looks into the guests and friends of the dead
woman, surprising connections are revealed. First in a new series.
#BodiesandBattlements #StMartinsPress #MinotaurBooks #NetGalley

Bodies and Battlements by Elizabeth Penney

Bodies and Battlements by Elizabeth Penney is the first in the Ravensea Castle mysteries. What an enjoyable read! This book has everything that I love in a cozy mystery - a British castle, interesting characters, a dog and even a ghost haunting the castle! The setting is interesting and seems very true to life, a castle becoming a hotel to survive and provide for the upkeep of such a big place, and the characters are realistic, but lots of fun. The main character is smart and does not purposely put herself in harms’ way, which is a joy after reading too many cozies with main characters that seem to do that constantly. The mystery was fun to figure out and I am already looking forward to the next book in this series!

Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me to review this book. All opinions are my own.

Elizabeth Penney is hands-down one of my favorite cozy mystery authors. She has a couple series out there and starts a new one with this delightful mystery set in an ancient castle on the English Yorkshire coast. Our protagonist is the usual plucky heroine/business owner intent on running a successful venture - here it’s a family castle turned B&B. We have the faithful family retainers, the somewhat eccentric parent, the requisite adorable pets and family ghosts, the hunky policeman, and a smattering of family & friends to round out an appealing cast of characters.

The mystery blends a new murder with a fatal accident from the past, and the author deftly introduces all sorts of red herrings and complications until she winds everything up with a confrontation in an old smuggler’s cave. The setting in the old castle, complete with extensive gardens and grounds, is captivating and lends interest to the murder mysteries. The author does a great job of setting up events for future entries in the series, which I will eagerly await.

Recommended for cozy mystery fans.