November, 1959 in Sussex, and the bonfire celebrations in Lewes were in full swing. The annual tradition with the bonfire societies saw many floats heading toward Flora & Jack, as well as fireworks high in the sky, as they watched from the sidelines. The cold dark night was lit by lanterns and flames, but it was when a man fell from a float, right at Flora & Jack's feet, that they realised there was trouble afoot. For the fallen man was dead, stabbed, and there were plenty of suspects who needed to be weeded out. Although reluctant (this time!) to investigate, their favourite policeman was off the job, and his replacement was lax, determined to place the killing at the feet of one of Jack's friends. So investigate they did.

When another murder occurred, plus a couple of attempted murders, Flora and Jack knew they were on the right track. But would they discover who the killer was before someone else died?

Murder by Firelight is #12 in the Flora Steele Mystery series by Merryn Allingham and was another excellent addition to the series. Flora & Jack are married now, but still make a formidable team. I'm looking forward to the next in the series. Recommended.

With thanks to NetGalley & Bookouture for my digital ARC to read and review.

I thank NetGalley and Bookouture for an advance reader copy of “Murder by Firelight.” All opinions and comments are my own.

This, the twelfth book in the series finds Flora and Jack looking forward to heading back home to Abbeymead after Jack’s teaching sojourn at a nearby college. But before that happens, a Guy Fawkes Day celebration ends with a bang as a participant practically falls dead at their feet. Flora for once would like this to all go away, but private investigations are in the blood of the inquisitive bookshop owner and her like-minded mystery-book-writer husband. So, Jack decides to take the lead (as it were) on this one, and a surprising tale it turns out to be.

We’ve got obvious suspects that turn out to be not so obvious, and mysteries from the past which are pretty much guaranteed to cause trouble in the present. Inspector Ridley’s on the case, thank goodness, after some kerfuffle with the local constabulary which just clouds the issue at hand. And while Flora may wish she was out of it (there’s a lot in the book about her feeling somewhat “out of sorts;” in fact, the mystery almost takes a back seat to what’s going on with Flora), she does do some sleuthing on her own, and finds that a pretty bad idea, actually. Luckily, all’s well that ends well, and a very devious murderer is revealed.
As usual, there is little of historical time and place in a Flora and Jack story (which remains my main criticism). “Murder by Firelight” does its job as a vehicle for the two to move along to more “life at Abbeymead,” and it will be good to get back to village goings-on (hopefully).

Sussex, November 1959. Jack & Flora Carrington are watching the Lewes bonfire celebration. Carnival floats fill the narrow streets, fireworks crackle overhead. But when Trevor French, chairman of the Grove Bonfire Society, tumbles from his parade float & lands at their feet they rush to help but Jack didn’t expect his hands to be covered in blood. With D I Ridley on leave to look after his ill mother, his stand in has Leo Nelson firmly in the frame. However Jack believes Leo, who is renting his old home Overlay, is innocent.
The twelfth book in the series & another well written engrossing cosy mystery. This time it’s Jack who’s more involved to begin with until Flora rescues Lillian French. There aren’t many suspects but there are lots of twists & turns as well as red herrings. There’s also danger & both Jack & Flora are injured. I did guess who the murderer was & also some of the reasons why but didn’t fully work it out nor all of their machinations. Also this time both Jack & Flora were left shocked at the denouement. The couple are now back in Abbeymead full time so I wonder what the 1960’s will hold for them
I voluntarily read and reviewed a special copy of this book; all thoughts and opinions are my own

I enjoy a cosy murder mystery and this one, set in the 1950's, promised to be a little different than most. Living in the south of England it was nice to see the Lewes bonfire night get its moment, although I wish we spent more time there, especially considering its the name of the book. I still enjoyed the references to places I knew.

There was a lot going on in this book, a couple of murders, a couple of attempted murders, a long buried secret and tragedy that touched so many lives... it was rather action packed, all things being said. Add to that a fairly engaging couple of main characters, a whole host of interesting characters and suspects, and finally a cop that made you want to rage, and you're in for an entertaining couple of hours with is book.

I liked the characters, I liked Flora's struggles with what she wants from her life, although I really wish she will talk to Jack about it - these things will affect him too. The side characters were all fine, although a little more development of some of the suspects would have been nice.

The mystery itself is full of action, regret and death. In the end, they got almost everything wrong - they at least talk about this - and the denouement, when it happens, is a surprise and happens 'off page' which was a little disappointing. I did have to wonder, aside from a couple of comments to the police, what exactly did our main characters bring to it? I think the police would have gotten there eventually and Flora's actions after a certain event (ie: no action at all) was faintly mindboggling.

I still enjoyed it however and would pick up another in this series if it came my way.

Flora and Jack are back in Abbeymead and are on the case of yet another murder! This place is getting as deadly as Midsomer (though maybe with not quite as many murders).

In this twelfth book featuring the dynamic duo, Flora and Jack are attending a Bonfire Night celebration watching a parade of floats depicting various themes in vivid display. The streets of Lewes are crowded and noisy and are not at all the couple's favourite celebration but the atmosphere has them enthralled. In the midst of celebrations, one of the costumed participants falls from their float for a local historical society. When Jack races to their aid, he discovers the man is dead - seemingly stabbed, no less.

Inspector Alan Ridley is on the case for but a short time when his replacement Inspector Brownlow (I got The Bill vibes from twenty five years back with that name...lol) takes over but proves to be nothing short of useless. Ridley's mother had a stroke and had taken ill so Alan had gone to care for her whilst Brownlow couldn't detect a snowflake in a blizzard.

This time Flora is reluctant to investigate whilst Jack is keen to clear his friend Leo Nelson's name, whom Brownlow has decided is the guilty party whether the evidence points to him or not. Leo has taken on the tenancy of Overlay House where Jack had lived prior to his marriage to Flora and he isn't so sure that Leo is guilty and is determined to ensure the truth is uncovered. But the mystery is a real mystery as their doesn't appear to be any motive for the murder. The victim, Trevor French, whilst suspect in some eyes had no real cause to leave him dead. Although Edwin Brooker, who was chairman prior to French and had been for ten years until French came in a swept up the position. Brooker, an electrician by trade, is seemingly aggrieved at having been replaced so easily. But is it motive enough to kill?

Jack manages to convince Flora to question French's wife Lilian and local seamstress Thomasina Bell who was an active member of the Grove Society where Trevor was chairman and whose float he had fallen from. Again Flora was reluctant but some of the tidbits of information she garnered from the women whetted her appetite for the truth. But can they uncover the truth of what really happened to Trevor French and why before Brownlow can stuff it up?

I am so relieved to find Flora and Jack back in Abbeymead as the mysteries just seem to work better when they are on home ground. Unlike Agatha Christie's Miss Marple who worked well in any locale as well as St Mary Mead (but then Miss Marple didn't go abroad in my recollection), Flora and Jack are best at home in Abbeymead. In this book, Jack has finished his tenure at Cleve College in Lewes so the couple have now returned to Abbeymead full time, rather than part the week in Lewes and the rest in the village. I am keen to see what is in store for them in Abbeymead now that they are back in the village and the residents there can take on more of a role in future stories. I have missed the regular inclusion of Charlie who did resume his job as delivery boy temporarily in this one.

I can't believe this is the twelfth book of the series and I have read them all! Each book can be read as a standalone but I think the reader would gain more from reading them series in its entirety to fully grasp who is who and the passing mention of some of those who have gone before to some who pop up on occasion this time.

My only complaint is the inaccuracy of the ten pound pom programme mentioned in this book where people could emigrate to Australia for ten pounds (still quite a sum in those days). A character was said to have been part of the programme and emigrated twenty years before but as the setting is 1959 and the date the person emigrated is actually revealed in the book as being June 1939, the ten pound pom programme didn't begin until after the war in 1945.

I did guess who the murderer was but not the motive until it was gently revealed in passing (still long before the murderer was). There are plenty of twists and red herrings in this one to keep you guessing to the end...which does so with a bang!

I look forward to seeing what's in store for Flora and Jack now that they are firmly back in Abbeymead...where I hope they will stay!

I would like to thank #MerrynAllingham, #Netgalley and #Bookouture for an ARC of #MurderByFirelight in exchange for an honest review.

This review appears on my blog at https://stinathebookaholic.blogspot.com/.

Another brilliant addition to the series.

Just like Flora couldn't stop investigating in Venice, Jack couldn't keep out of this one. I felt glad that the author called out the fact that Flora acted the same way in Venice.

The plot was good and intricate, and I liked seeing how Flora and Jack's married life developed.

1959
Flora and Jack attended the traditional Bonfire Night celebrations in Lewes where different local societies compete to build effigies of current or historical characters engage in a parade with carts.
At one point a man falls from his cart and Jack is the one who discovers that the man was fatally stabbed. The prime suspect for the killing is a colleague of Jack’s and he feels compelled to investigate even though Flora is less motivated and also that the friendly DI is on leave with a dolt left to manage the case as quickly as he can without regard for justice.
A bit more dark and twisty than usual, but an excellent read. *****review
I requested and received a temporary uncorrected digital galley from Bookouture via NetGalley.
#MurderByFirelight by @merrynallingham #FloraSteeleMysteriesBk12 @bookouture #NetGalley
Avail Sep 04, 2025
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Murder by Firelight is the 12th book in the Flora Steele mystery series and definitely starts with a bang. Flora and Jack are attending the traditional Bonfire Night celebrations in Lewes and the scene with its crowds and noise and is vividly depicted. In the midst of this, one of the particpants in the parade falls from their float and dies right in front of them.
I loved the fact that Flora and Jack were back in Abbeymead for this book. The mysteries do seem to work better for me when the pair of them are on home ground. Unusually for this series, Flora is very reluctant to get involved with what turns out to be a murder investigation. However, the prime suspect for the killing is a colleague of Jack’s and he doesn’t think that the police are going to do a fair job so is determined to make sure that the truth is uncovered.
The mystery is a tricky one for the couple to solve as there doesn’t seem to be any real motive for the killing. As always, there are several twists and turns with a few red herrings for Jack and Flora (and the reader) to follow.
This was a fun read and I enjoyed being back in Abbeymead and catching up with some of its inhabitants especially Charlie who has temporarily resumed his job as book delivery boy. The relationship between Flora and Jack continues to grow and I am definitely invested in the couple and seeing what happens to them next.
Although this is the 12th book in the series, it could easily be read as a stand alone but I feel that people would probably get more enjoyment from it if they had read one or two of the earlier books.
Thank you as always to Net Galley and the publishers Bookouture for providing this ARC in exchange for my honest thoughts.

Book 12 in the series…. No one can hold a candle to amateur detectives Flora Steele and Jack Carrington as they ask the burning question… Who is the killer walking the cobbled streets of their historic little town? Deliciously dark and twisty… Will have you locking all the doors and flipping pages in order to find out what happened…

Three and a half stars.

Flora and Jack are living in Lewes several days a week while he is lecturing at the college, but Flora is keen to get back to Abbeymead and her book shop, All's Well' which is being looked after in her absence by her assistant Rose. It's Bonfire Night, a very special night in Lewes where different societies compete to build effigies of current or historical characters which they place on top of floats and parade around the town before setting them alight.

However, this Bonfire Night in 1959 one of the people standing and waving on top of the floats suddenly falls off right in front of Flora and Jack, as they struggle to help him Jack discovers that the victim, Trevor French, is bleeding heavily and may have been stabbed. When Mr French dies in hospital Flora tries to distance them from the investigation. but Jack feels a certain responsibility, especially when he discovers that his friend Detective Inspector Alan Ridley is on leave and his replacement seems determined to arrest Jack's neighbour Leo Nelson, who is renting Jack's old cottage.

I have read the first two books in this series and found them pleasant, cosy, historical mysteries, I may have complained about the pair's detection being more following up notions and jumping to conclusions previously and there is some of that here, although they do both acknowledge that they got everything wrong this time. Also, last time I complained about Flora racing in to find evidence at a suspect's house and putting herself in danger - this time it's Jack who does something stupid!

Anyway, an enjoyable mystery set in a part of the world I know quite well.

Available on Kindle Unlimited.

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley.

I was given a free copy of this book by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This book is set in the 60s. It does not become clear that this is in this era until mid way through the book. The characters were dull.

4 Stars
One Liner: Good!

Flora and Jack attended the annual Lewes bonfire celebration in November, where the bonfire societies take processions, dress in various costumes, and set fires to effigies. However, neither of them expects the celebration to end in someone’s death. Trevor French, chief of the Grove Bonfire Society, stumbles from the parade float. Someone wanted him dead, but who?
The resident sleuths do their bit and think they have figured out the case, only to realize they were wrong. Moreover, they realize a bit too late that the killer is willing to do anything to prevent being caught.
The story comes in Flora and Jack’s third-person POVs.

My Thoughts:
So, we are in the twelfth book of the series. The story can work as a standalone, though you might enjoy it more if you read at least a couple of earlier books.
After complaining about the FMC’s overenthusiasm in the previous books, it’s a relief to see her reluctant to take on a new case in this one. Of course, it’s the MMC who has the itch to know what happened. That said, they solve it together, as they often do, so all is good.
November’s winter plays a good role in the story and elevates the plot as well as the setting. The descriptions of the bonfire night, the costumes, etc., are well done without slowing the narration.
The mystery is quite interesting, with some twists and turns and a few red herrings. I did figure out who the killer was and the reason for it. Easy, since all the clues are provided to the reader. We are not kept in the dark to maintain suspense.
As always, the side characters add extra charm to the story by appearing a few times here and there. Not a lot of developments in that area, but there are a few. Though the FMC’s clinginess to the past could create some trouble for the couple in the future.
I think I can guess what the next case is likely to be. Let’s see if I’ll be right!

To summarize, Murder in Firelight is a quick cozy mystery that will keep you hooked from start to finish. It’s a small book and can be finished in a couple of sittings.
Thank you, Sarah, NetGalley, and Bookouture, for the eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.

Flora and Jack are settling into married life and looking forward to Jack's time teaching ending. However, while attending a local festival they witness a murder and the tenant in Jack's old home is the most likely suspect. For once Jack is the one wishing to investigate. Following are lots of false starts and an additional murder before all becomes clear. A highly enjoyable books.

Flora and Jack are at Bonfire night when one of the members falls from a float and lands right at their feet. Jack aims to help the man only to find that he's been stabbed. The immediate suspect is the man renting Jack's old house and while they aren't friends, Jack strongly believes in the man's innocence. In a twist from the norm, he has to convince Flora to sleuth as she wants nothing to do with the investigation. She does cave and becomes intrigued by all the twists and turns this case brings on.
I love this series, I love Flora and Jack, but I did find myself frustrated by Flora's stubbornness a few times throughout the book. I understand her attachment to her cottage but Jack is clearly not comfortable there but sucking it up to make her happy. I do hope they can come to a solution that makes them both happy. I was happy to see that they are now fully back in Abbeymead and can't wait to see what trouble they find themselves in next!
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for the ARC

Another great cozy mystery in this series. Flora and Jack are finally nearing the time they can move back full time to their beloved town when they witness a murder. Against Flora's wishes, the two seem to be in the midst of things and find themselves investigating when the local police set their sites not he wrong man.
Lots of twists and turns make this a great and enjoyable read. I love Flora and Jack and seeing what they get up to. Already looking forward to the next in the series.
I received an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Bonfire night isn't usually a celebration Flora and Jack Carrington plan for, but this year, as his time at Cleve College is about to end, they decide to attend the nationally celebrated Lewes fireworks. It is spectacular, and they are both enjoying themselves enormously when a participant from one of the floats falls at their feet. Amazed to find his hands blood soaked when he tries to move the victim out of the road, Jack isn't surprised to learn the police have begun a murder investigation. With the main suspect living in his old home, Jack and Flora begin to look a little more closely at who could have been responsible. The suspect list isn't long, but nothing seems to fit in quite the way they'd imagined, and when Jack and another peripheral player are both attacked, it seems their killer has no intention of being caught. As Christmas grows ever closer, it becomes clear they are dealing with an individual far more dangerous than they've ever encountered before, and if they're not careful, their New Year plans may be permanently cancelled.

I was able to read an advanced copy of this thanks to NetGalley and the publishers, Bookouture, but the opinions expressed are my own. Book twelve in this series definitely took everything up a notch or two! The danger they found themselves in, the difficulties they had getting close to a solution, and a hesitancy to get involved were all way more than previous books, and I thoroughly enjoyed every word! I have a feeling there were a few clues, or red herrings, relating to book 13, which I will be anxiously awaiting. This was brilliant, I loved it and recommend it unreservedly!

It's Bonfire night for the Societies of Lewes and they groups are marching from the top of town to the bottom. Flora and Jack are watching, and suddenly a masked man falls off the float right in front of them. He has been knifed in his side and is dead. The man was Trevor French, the Chief of the Grove Society. The man who was standing beside the dead man was Leo Nelson, who had purchased Overlay House from Jack. Inspector Ridley is on leave to take care of his mother, and the replacement is not very good. He is only considering Leo Nelson as the culprit. Of course, Flora and Jack have to do their investigations to save the man who is living in Overlay House. They quickly learn that Edwin Brooker had been the former Chief and was also standing beside the dead man and now is back as Chief.

As the book nears the end, Flora decides she has to do one more thing. She orders a new dress from a very successful dress maker. That turns out to be a very dangerous thing!

This book is a great addition to the series. I thank Netgalley and Bookouture for the ARC allowing me to read the book before publication.

I really love this series and can't believe we're already on book 12.

Flora and Jack are now married but that doesn't stop them investigating crimes and mysteries. I love the whole setting of this series from the wonderfully written characters to the perfect cottage feel. And what's not to love about a mystery book with a bookshop. It's a perfect read for me. I very much recommend this series.

Flora and Jack are watching Bonfire Night at Lewes and it’s quite a spectacle. All is entertaining until a man falls off the float at their feet and they realize he’s been stabbed! Flora and Jack aren’t planning to get involved. After all, they didn’t know the man, it’s almost Christmas, and Jack’s time with the college is coming to an end so they will be able to live full time in Flora’s hometown. Flora is not ready to investigate as she is excited not to be dividing her time between two towns, but when an acquaintance of Jack’s is the main suspect, Jack is the one getting involved this time. But soon Flora is pulled into the sleuthing.
The mystery is twisty with hidden motives to dig out. The characters are lovely; Jack and Flora are happily married and their friendships in the town are important. The setting adds to the Christmas feeling with cold weather and snow falling.
Thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for the ARC.

One of my favorite series…Flora…favorite familiar characters in a lovely setting…oh yes college and a bookstore…friends…love and marriage…mystery…I like these stories…I like this author. I always wonder what Flora will do next. What about her new husband? Her Friday night group of friends…the recipe for a fun read. Curl up with a cup of steaming herbal tea…do not forget the yummy scones…journey with Flora…thanks Netgalley.