I do love a story where you are not quite sure who the main protagonist can trust! As Natalie tries to solve her sisters (cold case) murder she interacts with a number of characters who all seem on the shady side and finds clues that lead her up many dead ends in her search for the truth....great for the armchair detectives to get their teeth into!

Smart, observant, and just rebellious enough to push against the expectations of the time, they brought a fresh, modern edge to the historical setting without ever feeling out of place. The mystery itself was satisfyingly complex, with clever twists, suspicious characters, and secrets lurking behind every locked door.

Fourteen years ago, Sarah Grove was found dead floating in the lily pond, and now her sister, a well-known novelist, has decided to write a book based on her sister's murder, which was never solved, only to invoke the dead and was told to let sleeping dogs lie, but Natalie says it is not her sister but a crime thriller but it has all the hall marks of her sisters killing. Her father is now in a wheelchair and in a home. Did he have something to do with it?
I found this one better than the last book the author wrote, but at the same time, you needed to be on your toes.
I wish to thank Netgalley for an ARC copy, and as usual, this is my take on the book.

Murder at Castle Vyne is a moody, twist-filled mystery with a haunting setting and a compelling cold case at its core. Natalie’s search for the truth about her sister’s death draws you in, and the growing body count keeps the tension high. While some twists felt a bit predictable and the pacing dipped in places, the atmosphere and emotional stakes carried it through. A solid, suspenseful read with a satisfying ending.
rounded up from 3.5 stars

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Ten years ago, Natalie Grove’s sister Sarah was found dead in the lily pond at Castle Vyne. The case was never solved. Now a successful crime writer, Natalie returns to Calahurst determined to uncover the truth—but her search for answers stirs up more than just memories. Within hours of going public about her sister’s murder, new bodies begin to surface, and it’s clear someone will do anything to keep the past buried.

I loved how Louise Marley wove together past and present through a dual timeline, letting us see both the night of Sarah’s murder and Natalie’s present-day investigation. The atmosphere is pitch-perfect: the stately, almost gothic Castle Vyne set against the chocolate-box charm of Calahurst hides a nest of secrets, lies, and betrayals. Everyone seems suspicious, and the steady drip of clues and red herrings kept me hooked until the very end.

Natalie is a compelling protagonist—resilient, vulnerable, and determined—and her partnership with enigmatic gardener Bryn added both warmth and intrigue. This book has all the hallmarks of a great cozy mystery: a layered puzzle, a vivid setting, and a satisfying, twisty resolution.

Highly recommended for fans of classic whodunits and village mysteries with a darker edge.

The twists and turns of the storyline has you guessing everyone, wondering what danger is yet to come.

I really enjoyed Murder at Castle Vyne. The dual timeline, shifting between Natalie’s contemporary investigation and flashbacks to her sister’s mysterious death, adds layers of depth and tension, keeping readers guessing. Marley’s atmospheric descriptions of Castle Vyne and the surrounding village of Calahurst create a vivid backdrop for a web of family secrets, betrayals, and village intrigue. The plot is full of twists, cliffhanger chapter endings, and clever red herrings, making it an enthralling page-turner. With well-developed characters and a shocking, satisfying conclusion, this stand-alone novel is a must-read for mystery lovers.

I loved Murder at Castle Vyne. The twists and turns, cliffhanger chapter endings, and writing style sucked me in and kept me enthralled throughout the entire novel. The ending was shocking and tied everything together. The character development, plot development, and scene of the novel were done well. This was an excellent book!

I have liked all Ravenswood books thus far but this book fell off the mark. It had a lot of mini plots and going back to the past made it a little choppy. The mystery did have it's share 9f twists and turns that kept the momentum going.

Overall an okay read

In Murder at Castle Vyne, Louise Marley provides an engrossing and sinister cozy mystery that will have you guessing right up until the last page. The tale is about Natalie, a crime writer whose sister was murdered at Castle Vyne ten years ago and whose case was never solved. Set on uncovering the facts, Natalie awakens the past, inadvertently triggering a fresh series of lethal events.

The writer expertly entwines a tangled web of village secrets, historical betrayals, and family intrigue. The picturesque atmosphere of Castle Vyne and surrounding village of Calahurst conceals a community of dark secrets and untrustworthy people.

The dual timeline structure, switching back and forth between Natalie's modern-day investigation and flashbacks to the original time of her sister's death, gives depth and suspense. With perfectly placed clues and ample red herrings, this novel is a page-turner for Agatha Christie and other traditional whodunit enthusiasts.

I started reading this book because I thought it was the next book in a series that I had started. However, the series doesn't have continuing characters etc. Each title in the series is a stand alone. I had already read about a quarter of the book before I realized it wasn't a continuation but I was engaged and decided to finish. I'm glad I did! So many twists and turns in this book...it's like riding a roller coaster blindfolded. This one will keep you guessing. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an eArc.

This was pack full of surprises that kept me guessing until the very end. Natalie Grove, a mystery writer, has a real life unsolved mystery in her background. Years ago, her sister was found murdered floating in a pond of lilies. Now, she hopes with her latest novel drawing heavily upon the circumstances of her sister's murder she may finally find answers. Within hours of her tv appearance discussing the novel bodies begin to appear. Someone doesn't seem to want Natalie to find her answers.

With a dual storyline of present day and one at the time of Sarah's murder, secrets are revealed that will keep you glued to the book until the last page. I am rarely surprised as many times as in this book and it doesn't feel like the secrets are artificially used for the shock value. It is well written and the characters are well developed. Oh, and there is plenty of action and some romance too.

This is part of a series (which I have never read) but seems to be a bit of a prequel with the main characters of the series not appearing in this book. This stands alone without there being any feeling you have missed something.

I look forward to reading more of this writer if any of her books are like this: a very enjoyable page turner with lots of surprises and action.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for an ARC in exchange for an honest opinion.

Normally I’ve enjoyed reading the previous books that Louise has written but I wasn’t a fan of this one. I really struggled to get into it and I was T a fan of it jumping back to the past - some times it can work, but I didn’t think it did in this book.

This was such a good story. Twisty thrilling and very entertaining I really enjoyed this one. I suspected so many people and in the end got in completely wrong. The backdrop of the castle added to the atmosphere. My thanks to netgalley and the publisher's for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.

It’s a decade old murder. Eighteen year old Sarah’s body was found floating in a lily pond in the nearby Castle. No one was arrested but Natalie her sister felt that stuff was hidden, too many secrets were around mainly in her family, and her talking about the murder has upset some people.

Within weeks of her return, bodies turn up and particularly one and the same place as Sarah’s, also that of a young girl. DCI Doug Cameron has a hard task ahead of him, with so much of the stories hidden.

The story has plenty of false starts and turnarounds but the ending is totally unexpected. A very good mystery thriller. Gothic almost in content and a good standalone book.

Quite a complicated twisty plot, with family secrets, lots of lies and a great ending. Natalie is trying to find out what happened to her sister Sarah, but not everyone is prepared to help her - including her own family. A great read.

Fourteen years ago Natalie Grove found her older sister, Sarah, dead in a lily pond at Castle Vyne. The murderer was never caught and now Natalie, a best-selling author, has written a book based on the mystery. She wants to find the truth about what happened to Sarah. If you’ve read and enjoyed Marley’s other English Village Mysteries, this one, while it takes place in the same area, happens before the other book and features different characters. I thought I might find that disappointing, but I thoroughly enjoyed this one. The new characters are fully developed, if not all that likeable, and the setting still feels like a claustrophobic small town.

Natalie has certainly stirred a hornet’s nest by redrawing attention to her sister’s death. There are so many twists here. The town, her friends, her family are all holding on to major secrets, and just when you have some idea of what’s going on, there’s another surprise. It kept me engrossed and rooting for/worried about Natalie. The clues were well-placed and so were the red herrings. The story moves along at a good pace. The flashbacks chapters fit in well and help us see how the past and the present are connected. There were a lot of people and relationships to keep track of, but I only had to backtrack once to remind myself.

Overall, this was a good standalone mystery. The atmosphere, characters, plot and subplots all worked together well. I’m hoping we get to visit Raven’s Edge again soon.

Secrets and lies abound. The past comes back to hurt again and again. Tautly woven story, completely engrossing and well written. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Natalie saw her sister, sneaking out one day
Fourteen years later, for her murder no one has had to pay.
Natalie is a writer, determined the killer to reveal,
Something the killer is determined to conceal!

With her latest book release, Natalie takes a chance
And uses the publicity her desires to advance.
She suggests a diary could hold the missing clues
Will the killer take the bait, or will it be secrecy he'll choose?

Natalie never thought her actions would bring danger
Or connect her to someone who is a stranger.
Who can she trust to help her to search for what is true?
Someone she's known for years - or maybe someone new?

Lies, secrets, deceit and more
Should the warnings Natalie ignore?
Family dramas and things from the past
Maybe revealed at long last.

A fascinating story, brilliantly told
A page turner read as the events unfold.
Linking the past with what happens now
Can the truth be uncovered somehow?

For my copy of this book I say thank you
As I share with you this, my honest review.

This was a complicated murder/mystery that had me totally involved from start to finish. An interesting cast of characters that kept the story alive. What a conclusion when all the bricks came tumbling down. Great read!