What is cozier than castle-turned-bed and breakfast with a helpful ghost an off duty cop as a guest and a couple murders? It’s like reading a PBS Masterpiece mystery.

Bodies and Battlements by Elizabeth Penney fits snugly in the categories of cozy mystery and light romance. It is set in an ancestral castle ( albeit, a *small* castle) turned B&B-- but only just-- we enter during the B&B's "soft opening"-- on the scenic coast of Yorkshire. I found this book enjoyable and non-stressful (life is too stressful, who needs their pleasure reading to be stressful, too?). The writing is smooth and I don't recall any glaring typos or grammatical errors. There are actually a couple of budding romances in the wings plus a an ancestral ghost ( what's a castle without a ghost?). While not utterly riveting, Bodies and Battlements is a pleasurable read. I believe it is book 1 in a series, so there should be more fun happenings at the castle in the future. I look forward to seeing how things will shape up. My thanks to the publisher, Ms. Penney and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book in advance.

Nora Asquith lives in the same castle her family has lived in for over a thousand years but that may come to an end if they don’t up their income. Her plan to turn it into a bed & breakfast is finally coming into fruition despite the vigorous objections of villager Hilda Dibble but that may all come crashing into ruin when Hilda is found dead in the garden when the first guests are in house. Convinced she or her father will be suspects Nora starts and investigation while also finding herself attracted to the new detective inspector in town, Finlay Cole.

The pros - We have a great setting, a haunted castle with a ghost that actually interacts with our characters. The obligatory cat, then a kitten, a huge goofy dog and the new cop has a rescue dog as well. The characters are pleasant and we want to get to know them better, especially why Fin Cole transferred from London to a small coastal town. The murderer is not obvious and was not on my radar until just before the reveal.

The cons - They are small ones but a bit distracting. There seem to be some continuity errors or at least ambiguities. What seems to be the next day may or may not be two or three days later. It is not really clear if the whole thing beginning to end takes place over less than the week the guests were to stay or longer. Nora seems overly obsessed, even for a cozy mystery, that she or her dad will be accused when there is no indication that the police suspect either one of them. One big plot twist, which was fairly evident at a certain point, is not really explained - a character is the illegitimate child of a person who died, probably murdered, decades ago but there is no explanation as to why the child was given up for adoption instead of the parents just getting married.

Overall I enjoyed the book, I look forward to more in the series. The author’s other series, The Cambridge Bookshop mysteries, doesn’t have the same, maybe lack of editing, issues so I have high hopes for the next one in this series because he characters are all interesting, even the minor characters. Recommended.

Bodies and Battlements is a fun cozy mystery. Nora has opened her castle home as a bed and breakfast, and her first guests are arriving. When enemy Hilda crashes the welcome party, Nora is shocked. A worse shock comes after the party, and Nora and her sister work to solve a murder. I enjoyed Elizabeth Penney's writing. She created an entertaining story with great characters. If you enjoy cozies, you'll want to read this one. I received a free copy from NetGalley. Opinions are my own.

Nora’s family has lived in the Ravensea castle for generations, but castles are expensive to keep up and repair. So Nora is opening the castle as a B&B, despite some difficulties caused by one new resident in particular. Hilda has been a real thorn in their side throughout the process, so when she shows up with her sidekick during their soft opening, Nora is irritated and suspicious. Soon, there is a murder, a shady investor, and talk of smuggling. Nora is determined to investigate, to clear her family of any suspicion. One of their opening guests turns out to be the new detective for their area (and handsome), so there is romantic interest as well.
I enjoyed this cozy mystery and the setting. Thanks to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the ARC.

What a read! It really kept the pages turning to find out what was going to happen next. In a bid to keep their haunted castle, Nora and her family are opening it up to guests. And then a murder, what else could go wrong! It has murder, mayhem, history, ghosts and the wild beautiful countryside. Plus a touch of romance. I can't wait for the next in the series.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the advanced copy in return for an honest review.

Having thoroughly enjoyed the author's previous books, I was primed to enjoy this one from page one. For the most part, despite an unexpected slow start, my anticipation was justified. The only real issue I had was that I wasn't at all fond of main character Nora Asquith initially. Probably understandable as she is just about to open the doors to Ravensea Castle's first paying guests. Yes, in reality, romantic as a castle might appear to live in, they are expensive to keep up. As a result, Nora decided to transform a portion of the historic, supposedly haunted castle to paying guests. It's been a long, tedious process to not just ready the castle but jump through all the bureaucratic hoops placed in front of her, not to mention that her own sister, actress Tamsyn Asquith wasn't really in favor of the move. So, why is Tamsyn there? And, who is this couple showing up and expecting to stay that didn't reserve a room? Then Hilda Dibble, a local who not only opposed the conversion of the castle but tossed repeated roadblocks in front of Nora shows up. What is she doing there and why was she in such a hurry to suddenly leave? That's just the beginning. Things begin to happen, not to mention Sir Percival, one of the resident ghosts, makes his presence known and then, yikes, the next morning Nora finds Hilda's dead body near the fountain in the garden. I'd say her endeavor to save the family home isn't off to a good start although, hmm, the dog-owning guest Nora found attractive, Finley Cole, turns out to be a detective. Well, at least he on the spot of the crime immediately.

Things get complicated fast. I won't detail the plot any further other than to say it's an intriguing mix of old world charm with the castle setting, cute pets, ghostly interventions, an endangered family legacy, shady deals, secrets and more secrets, and, ahh, budding romances. I ultimately liked the characters once we got into the book, even ghostly Sir Percival, who you'll warm to as you learn his backstory. They all have secrets. I'm hoping to learn more about Nora's plan to create and sale items like soaps and herbs made at the castle, too. Nora's family seems solid, albeit her father seems to fall into the stereotypical scholar/researcher/professor role while being able to spin a great story of the castle's past. Will Nora be able to sort out whodunit? Will she drive Finley nuts in the process?

Bottom line, although it took me longer to fall into the story than expected, I found it an intriguing read and am looking forward to seeing where Nora's adventures take us next. I mean, we get to hang around in a genuine castle, with lovely gardens and a view, so not exactly a hardship. Also have to admit, I'm going to be curious where the romances lead. My thanks to #StMartin'sPress - #MinotaurBooks for this early introduction to Ravensea Castle and all its inhabitants. Something tells me this series may quickly become a "must read" for me. Great characters, intriguing mysteries, fun pets, and a few ghosts drifting about. Give it a read!

I was invited by the publisher to review this book. Nora is an herbalist whose family has owned a castle for hundreds of years, but in the present day, her family decides to turn the castle into a bed and breakfast. Things turn downward, however, when a local luminary, Hilda, is found dead in one of the gardens. Now the business is in jeopardy, but Nora is considered a suspect as Hilda had opposed the castle’s renovation. Coincidentally, one of the first guests happens to be Detective Finlay Cole. Nora decides to take it upon herself and do her own investigation, aided by the help of her sister and a castle ghost

I loved in particular a few things about this book: the setting of the British castle being made into a bed and breakfast, as well as the cover! Something a little different to this genre was the incorporation of the castle ghost, Sir Percival. I liked the balance of the characters in this book, ranging from a curious Nora to the informant ghost to the castle itself. Plus, the mystery itself was good enough that I was guessing until the end.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press/Minotaur Books for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Nora and her family have opened their British castle as an inn in an attempt to increase their income and maintain the castle. It has been a rocky start and when a body is found in the garden as the first guests arrive she fears all is lost. A charming start to a new cozy mystery series. I cannot wait for #2.

Fun new series set in a haunted castle in Yorkshire. Just the right mix of humor, romance, and ghosts to keep you turning the page!

I really enjoyed Bodies and Battlements. It had well written characters that you can connect with and a story line that was easy to follow. When reading a first in series I like to get to know the characters and the setting and she did a great job of that. I'd love to see more of Sir Percival because it appears he's trying to communicate.

If you are a fan of castle settings with a resident ghost or want to give one a try, then this is for sure one for you. I'm not usually one to enjoy a castle setting but I really enjoyed this one. Elizabeth Penney you knocked this out of the park!!

This was a great start to a new cozy mystery series. It was very very cozy. I loved the setting and I loved that the mystery revolved around a castle turned bed and breakfast.
I loved the complex murder/mystery and the amazing character cast. Everyone was truly likable, realistic, and had great chemistry.
The vivid descriptions make it easy to picture the setting. Plus, there are enough plot twists and turns to keep me engaged throughout.

Plenty of secrets, quirky characters, and an old family castle turned B and B set the stage for a fun cozy mystery and first book in a new series.

Elizabeth Penney has brought us a new cozy mystery series, beginning with herbalist Nora and a haunted castle in Yorkshire.

Nora is turning the castle into a bed and breakfast. It costs a lot of money to keep a castle in working order!

But with a resident ghost and a dead body in the garden, it isn’t starting out too well.

I didn’t care for Nora. Her personality seemed to be missing. And no humor.

I’ll wait for the next one.

NetGalley/ St. Martin’s Press May 27, 2025

I honestly wasn't about to add one more book to my very tall to-be-read stack; however, a book that takes place in a castle--I couldn't resist it!

I am delighted that I added this one. I loved everything about it! From the mysterious events on the castle grounds, two dead bodies and a ghost named Sir Percival, there is a lot going on in the book. There are little tidbits that make the characters interesting to read about. The main character Nora, who came up with the idea of turning their home into a bed and breakfast, makes soaps with the yummiest ingredients. Nora's sister, Tamsyn, is an actress who is very hurt after being dumped by the man she acted with. Arthur, dad to the sisters, has taken up the role of host and added his own interesting tales about the history of the castle in gatherings with the guests.

The mystery itself was a good one that was neatly wrapped up by the end, and the sisters have more ideas to promote their business. I am looking forward to the next book in this series!

I loved this cozy mystery! In Bodies and Battlements, you'll find colorful characters, adorable cats and dogs and even a ghost! There are also the beginnings of some cute new romances. Multiple suspicious characters and plenty of red herrings kept me from being sure who the killer was. The seaside castle setting was perfect and really added to the atmosphere. Nora was generally a likable character, but she did do one thing that annoyed me. She literally said she had no problem throwing other people under the bus to take suspicion off herself and her family, yet she was irate when someone else did the same thing. That was just so hypocritical it made me like her less. Other than that she was fine, and I enjoyed her relationships with her family and Finlay. I also liked reading about the soaps and teas and whatnot she was making as well as all the delicious sounding food and drink. It added a nice cozy touch. There were a couple of things I hope will be fixed before publication. A few phrases were repeated, and I questioned why there were two characters named Patrick. You had Father Patrick and Patrick Horn. It seems like one of them could do with a name change. I'm looking forward to continuing on with this series. It would be fun if they learn to communicate in some way with the ghost and he can be more helpful in the future. I would suggest this book to anyone who enjoys cozy mysteries. 4.5 stars!

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

Bodies and Battlements was the cutest and coziest of mysteries in a new mystery series from Elizabeth Penney. In it, we find Nora Asquith, an herbalist, who is trying to convert her family castle into a bed and breakfast, replete with ghosts and all. She is trying to accomplish this with a shoestring budget, in order to save her family home and grounds and keep it in the family.

Despite pushback from a neighbor and her own sister, Nora eventually gets the permits needed to open the venture, only to have her first round of guests to be greeted by a murder on the Asquith castle grounds.

Lo and behold, one of the very dishy guests happens to be the new detective inspector.

The unfortunate thing is that their father is on the guilty list. Nora and her newly-unemployed sister are determined to clear their father’s name, but in order to do that, they must first find out who really killed the town busybody.

This cozy mystery has all sorts of plot twists and until the last chapter, one isn’t sure of who actually did it. Even the ghost seemed to have been sending out mixed messages.

I can’t wait for Penney’s next installment in this series!!

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press and Minotaur Books for this fantastic ARC!!

Nora Asquith is determined to turn her family’s thousand-year-old Ravensea Castle into a successful bed and breakfast, securing its future in the scenic village of Monkwell, Yorkshire. But when Hilda Dibble—a local woman who opposed the castle’s transformation—is found dead in the knot garden, Nora’s dream venture is suddenly in jeopardy. Even worse, she’s the prime suspect.

One of the castle’s first guests happens to be Detective Inspector Finlay Cole, who is now thrust into solving a murder. But Nora and her actress sister, Tamsyn, aren’t about to leave their fate in the hands of the authorities. As they dig into their guests’ secrets, they uncover entangled motives, long-buried grudges, and even hints from Sir Percival, one of the castle’s resident ghosts. As the sisters race to solve the mystery, they must also ensure their business—and their family’s legacy—survives.

Bodies and Battlements is a delightful blend of cozy mystery, historic intrigue, and a touch of the supernatural. The castle setting, with its eerie history and quirky staff, adds a layer of charm and suspense. Nora is a strong protagonist, balancing her determination with a keen sense of curiosity, while the supporting cast—including the mischievous Sir Percival—adds depth and humor.

This book is perfect for fans of atmospheric whodunits, blending old-world charm with modern sleuthing. The mystery unfolds at a steady pace, with enough red herrings to keep readers guessing. If you love cozy mysteries with a touch of history and a dash of ghostly intrigue, Bodies and Battlements is an enchanting start to a promising s

This is a first in a new series and I think the perfect start. The setting is really intriguing, a historic family castle that needs to generate an income to survive. The characters have depth and I can imagine the relationships growing and changing as the author develops the series. This mystery kept me guessing. There were two murders, but as with a typical cosy, nothing too gruesome. I will look forward to the next book.. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for allowing me to read this.

Bodies and Battlements is a cozy mystery that peaked my interest early on.
Nora is converting the family castle into a bed and breakfast, hoping to generate enough income to keep it in the family.
When local resident Hilda Dibble tries her best to block Nora at every angle, she becomes annoyed when the bed and breakfast is approved.
It's no secret that Nora dislikes Hilda, so when she stumbled over Hilda's body by the fountain, she's not surprised to become a suspect in her murder.
There are so many quirky and colorful characters in this story, I was entertained until the end.
This story is well done and I'm excited to see what's in store for them next.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for selecting me to read an advanced copy of this book.