The Royal Baths Murder

4 stars

Damian Penrose, famous author and a man who loved to be hated. He was very self centered and self-important.

While attending a crime writers convention in Harrogate, he rubs with some old enemies and ruffles some feathers during and after a presentation. The next morning he goes off to the Victorian Baths, a favorite place of his to go when in Harrogate. He has the place to himself except for three employees. When one of the employees finds him dead in the baths, it sets off DCI Jim Oldroyd's latest investigation, along with his sidekick DS Andy Carter and the rest of his team.

There is a plethora of suspects, including another writer who had her story ideas stolen by Penrose, a very angry ex-wife, a wronged business partner and writers he had borderlined libeled, among others.

Meanwhile one of Oldroyd's DS's has been pinched by the thoroughly unlikable Fenton to “assist” him on a case. It is the investigation of wrongdoing on the local council. But, of course, Fenton has other things on his dirty little mind. Steph comes up with a brilliant plan to trap him and expose his behavior.

Oldroyd's investigation is confounding and very difficult to solve. How could the murderer have gotten out of the baths without being noticed by the staff?

This is a very well written and plotted story. I really like Oldroyd and his team. He is kind and very patient. He is a great teacher to his subordinates and loves to spout inconsequential facts that just seem to spring out of nowhere. And he has a new relationship! The identity of the murderer surprised me. I hadn't even given them any thought. It was a nice surprise. More please, Mr. Ellis

I want to thank NetGalley and Amazon Publishing UK for forwarding to me a copy of this delightful book for me to read, enjoy and review.

This is my first J.R. Ellis book and I can say I was pleasantly surprised.
It’s the 4th DCI Oldroyd murder mystery series and that’s exactly what it is, a good old murder mystery. There was no, and I quote

“super-detectives with their tortured private lives triumphing over diabolical serial killers, after having evaded death themselves.”

It’s all about solving an impossible murder and there’s a freshness about that as it’s quite lighthearted and it makes a very enjoyable read. It reminds me of the BBC series Death in Paradise.

The characters are quite straight forward, there’s not a great deal of development but it really didn’t matter to me as all I wanted was to solve the murder! I will definitely be reading the other book in this series.

Thank you Netgalley and Amazon Publishing UK for the advanced copy!

Another great book from J R Ellis that has you puzzled but determined to solve with some fab characters that make the book. worthy of the 5*.

Really good read - in fact the whole series is a good read. The plot left me guessing till the end - I had no idea who it was. Looking forward to the next

In this fourth book in the Yorkshire Murder Mysteries series, a renowned crime writer dies under mysterious circumstances. This book can be read as a standalone.

It’s a beautiful summer evening in Harrogate and the Crime Writing Festival is in full swing. This year the guest writer is Damian Penrose. The event is “The Perfect Crime: Writing a Bestselling Crime Novel”, chaired by Ben Poole, a writer, journalist and presenter.

Damian Penrose is a highly successful crime writer and is rumored to be making six figures. He’s also has a reputation for throwing sling at other writers. He writes harsh reviews and sometimes leaves subtle personal insults in between. He steals ideas from young female writers whenever they sent him their work for his feedback. In some cases, he’d seduce them then leave them high and dry.

At the session, rather than offer useful advice to budding writers and offer some insights into his writing methods, he instead starts boasting about his work and disparaging other writers’ work. Several writers in attendance are not happy about this.

At the end of the session, the festival director, Patricia Hughes approaches him and expresses her disappointment in his session. She then reminds him about the upcoming session and warns him to get his act together or he wouldn’t be invited again.

The next day Penrose decides to tour the quaint village of Harrogate. During his short stays at Harrogate, he visits the Royal Baths—one of the town’s famous attractions—every morning where he goes to relax.

For this trip, he’s booked a private early morning session at the Royal Baths 🛁 and he plans to arrive early before the Baths are open to the public. After a swim session, he retires to the cold plunge pool 🏊 and later to the dry hot room. While getting some steam, someone sneaks into the room and strangles him.

When the staff find him laying unmoving on the floor, they assume he’s passed out from the heat. Upon close inspection, they find ligature marks around his neck. Puzzled, they call the police.

DS Andrew Carter from the West Riding Police Harrogate Division HQ receives a call from the Royal Baths and leaves immediately taking a DI and two Police Constables with him. At the crime scene, he calls his boss, DCI Jim Oldroyd to inform him about the murder.
As they question the staff of Royal Baths, and people who interacted with him before he was murdered, they discover that Penrose’s murder looks like something from one of his fellow writer’s—and arch-rival—books. The writer’ is now a suspect seeing as he was last seen having a row with the victim at the bar of the hotel where the event took place.

Meanwhile, on a slightly related case, DI Fenton alongside DI Steph has been assigned to investigate a Jack Sanford who’s been suspended from the Procurement Committee after allegedly awarding a contract to his wife, Claire Bayliss, an architect. The contract was for renovations to the Royal Baths last year. DI Fenton and DI Steph don’t get along; there have been complaints about how he treats his female subordinates unfairly.

Then two more bodies turn up dead with the third victim and manner of death having similarities with the stories of a female character in a novel written by one of the suspects.
Who killed Penrose? Perhaps someone with a real motive to enact a mysterious murder and cast him as a character. And the other victims, what’s the connection?

Following an attempt on DCI Jim’s life, he realizes there’s someone out there with real motives who’d do anything to cover their tracks.

Back at West Riding Police Harrogate Division HQ, Derek Fenton is facing charges for collecting bribes from Jack Sanford and looking the other way rather than conduct a thorough investigation in the Royal Bath contract.

Well crafted mystery with elements of humor. My second book by this author and I’m looking forward to the next book in the series. Would recommend.

Thank you to J. R. Ellis, NetGalley, and Amazon Publishing UK for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I would like to thank Netgalley and Amazon Publishing UK for an advance copy of The Royal Baths Murder, the fourth novel to feature DCI Oldroyd of the Harrogate Police.

When Damian Penrose is found murdered in the steam room of the Royal Baths DCI Oldroyd and his team are faced with a mystery - how did the killer do it? There is no lack of suspects as Penrose was a deeply unpleasant man who had upset a number of people but which one took damage limitation to extremes by killing potential witnesses?

I enjoyed The Royal Baths Murder which has a complicated murder at its heart and a very readable style. The novel is written mostly from Oldroyd’s point of view so there is little more that the reader knows and he doesn’t. I like the guessing that goes with this approach although I defy any reader to guess the complicated method. In some ways it beggars belief but it keeps the reader interested and guessing. The hunt for the killer is the mainstay of the novel although there is a rather unconvincing subplot involving Oldroyd’s subordinate DS Steph Johnson. This has some clever elements but the attitudes are old fashioned and highly unlikely in this day and age. With all the emphasis on the plot it is not a particularly profound novel, keeping everything at surface level. It is, however, an easy way to pass a few hours.

It is not easy to discuss the characters as there’s not much to them. Oldroyd is a lateral thinker, always able to find the solution to the most improbable circumstances but he’s a lonely man and has dipped in to internet dating at the urging of his daughter. You’ll have to read the novel to see how it goes.

The Royal Baths Murder is an undemanding read which held my attention throughout.

This was my first time reading a book by this author. The story is a puzzle in the style of Agatha Christie and the author references Christie a number of times. The five W’s will be evident to most mystery fans but the ‘how’ is the real brain teaser. I think very few readers will figure out how the main murder was committed. Even though the author drops a number of clues to give you an inkling of how it was done, he also does a nice job of misdirection making it unlikely that you’ll completely work it out.

The main character, DCI Oldroyd, is a kind, sympathetic character to follow and stands in stark contrast to the victim in the story, Penrose, who was a person that everyone loved to hate. The story has a number of interesting characters and there is suspense, some tension, some romance and a nod to the “Me Too” movement. Overall it is an intriguing read, though long-winded.

Thank you to Net Galley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book.

This book by J.R. Ellis does not fall into the well written police procedurals. I was able to identify a number of issues with the actual crime that were not feasible, particularly the breathing system used by the murderer. It would be impossible to feed the tube as described by the author. However I give him top marks for his imagination.
The story develops in a steady pace leaving me waiting for the next turn in the story. In short I enjoyed this book and hope that I am able to read the next in the series.

What a delightful series! J.R. Ellis must be writing it just for me... After a book about magicians, this murder mystery is set in a crime festival and an author is the victim. His death could have been written in one of his own novels and it happened in the Royal Baths. There is no way anyone could have done it, but Oldroy has experience solving impossible murders. The cast of suspects is a doozy, and I never guessed whodunit. Obviously, every person who picks up this novel is going to be invested, as we are all fans of the genre. The setting and situation is catnip to the readers. Oldroy and his team are as relatable as always, and this time Steph has something to prove. The resolution of this particular subplot was the weaker link in my opinion, I hate to say it but you can tell that the author is a man. Despite this, the novel is as enjoyable as the rest of the series.
I chose to read this book and all opinions in this review are my own and completely unbiased. Thank you, NetGalley/Amazon Publishing UK!

Self centred , arrogant and very dead...... When Damian penrose famous author and not a nice person is found dead in a turkish bath in Harrogate so sets off a list of those who hated and had reason to rejoice his death. DCI Jim Oldroyd must sift through the list and discover the identity of his killer

It is not often that I don't finish a book. I am in fact curious as to how the murder was committed, but I am not willing to work my way through a book that reads as it is the first try of a budding author. Not entirely bad but needs a lot of work on the story and the characterization. Some dialogues were simply hilarious while not meant to be so. And that story about the female police officer having problems with her male colleagues... mweh.

Thanks to Netgalley for this digital review copy.

This is my first Ryder and Loveday book, and it’s a great mystery. Eddie is a wonderful character, and Ryder and Loveday are a good team. Ryder’s description of his Parkinson’s self diagnosis is very interesting.

An 11 year old boy is missing after an Easter Egg hunt and found dead at the bottom of a well. Although the court determines it is an accident, the father asks the Squire who asks the DI to investigate. The Coroner, Dr. Ryder agrees to investigate with the help of Provisional DCI Trudy Loveday.

They interview several people and find several things to make them unsure of an accident. The Squire’s cousin is a nuclear physicist. The special branch go to the police and demand they stop the investigation. They make one last trip to Briar’s Hall to tell the Squire they have to quit. Since the Squire isn’t home, they begin to walk around the park. Even though they aren’t investigating, they solve the case!

Really good read. This is a great series and I have enjoyed all the books in it. I hope there are more to come.

Thank you to Netgalley for my copy.

Very enjoyable murder mystery - book four in the Yorkshire Murder Mystery series. Oldroyd is on the trail of a killer - a series of murders starting with that of a writer attending the Harrogate Crime Festival - a rather perfect setting. It's an engaging read and one I read in one sitting - definitely of the more relaxed and gentle reading variety despite the murders. Characters are well drawn and Oldroyd a very likeable protagonist indeed. A standalone mystery despite being part of a series in terms of characters. The plot is entertaining and of the 'locked room' variety - the solution is complex to a seemingly impossible crime.

A locked room scenario. a very unlikable victim, several potential suspects, a side issue of sexual harassment. The lead detective on the verge of divorce and looking into internet dating.. Three-dimensional characters and a twisty plot. I found it very enjoyable. I would like to read more in the series.

Great catch up with D I Oldroyd another great story from J R Ellis, as always a slightly cultural side to the plot, a change from the usual murder mystery stories. Oldroyd as usual uses his unusual detecting skills to bring a successful end to an intriguing case and finally gets his reward on the last page.

Book 4 in the Yorkshire Murder series doesn't disappoint! Your favorite characters are back, with DCI Oldroyd taking a new direction in his life-online dating! As his real life and a fiction crime festival coincide with murder, he's soon surrounded with one too many suspects and motives! Can he find help from a new corner? Can he find the real killer BEFORE they strike again? This entry into the series is a real page turner! If you're looking for a cozy British mystery series to read for Fall, you've found it!

There are many reviews for this already, so I'll just say this has all the elements of a very good mystery. Enjoyed the characters, the setting, and the dialog. Recommended.

I really appreciate the advanced copy for review!!

Yes, yes, YES. Give me all the Ellis books!

I really savoured this novel, even if I never read a book from the series before. I truly enjoyed the continuous connections with Agatha Chistie's mysteries: one Death at the beginning, the inside jokes, an other Death at the middle, a little group of candidates for the role of assassin, the setting (a Crime Festival in a little town, turkish baths, ancient hotels), the author's Death and the Conspiracy of the press around his mysterious killer.
I really appreciated the characters, both detectives and suspects. I think that I would enjoy the other books in the series because of the main protagonist and his colleagues. I really liked the literary vision on the matter, the references to Shakespeare and to English literature, and all this stuff.
The rythm of the book is intense and it reminded me of the Agatha's stories.
I totally recommend this novel!

A big thank you to NetGalley and Amazon Publishing UK for the ARC. I am voluntarily reviewing this book. First time reading this author. I truly enjoyed this book! It's a complicated story but still fun. I didn't guess the murderer which is always a plus. I liked DI Oldroyd and his team. I liked the subplots and the boys and snippets about Yorkshire. Not sure if this part of a series of not, but it reads great as a stand alone. 4 stars I think that most mystery readers would enjoy.

Thanks Netgalley and the Publisher. Never read a book in the series but did not seem to matter, a nice easy read.

Reading one of J.R.Ellis’s novels is like a comforting warm bath after a tough day. They are an easy, undemanding read. I could imagine a Sunday evening series on television featuring DCI Oldroyd and the beautiful Yorkshire scenery - rather like James Herriot but with murder instead of poorly animals, Murder is at the heart of the novel, but not in a gritty, shocking way. This is ‘old fashioned’ murder where we don’t become close to the victim and the focus is on the intellectual twists and turns of the case.

This novel is based within a crime writing festival with workshops, book launches and author interviews. The novel begins at one of these events where a novelist is meant to be giving an insight into crime writing for fans and budding authors. Damian Penrose is a best-selling crime writer, but is not inclined to give newer writers tips on his success. He is arrogant and very complacent about his genius. He believes there are no tips to pass on; you either have talent or you don’t, and in his opinion most people don’t. He is asked pointed questions by fellow writers that feel more personal than professional. It soon becomes clear that this man is hated by several people in both his professional and personal life. So it is no surprise when he is found strangled the next morning in the Royal Baths.

The only surprise about his death is the method, as in all of Oldroyd’s cases there is a central mystery involved that seems unsolvable. This time the killer seems to have appeared and disappeared without being seen. The baths were checked by the caretaker who leaves them empty. Where has the killer hidden? Even more confusing than that, how did they leave? There is only one exit covered by a receptionist and she has seen no one but Penrose.

Oldroyd is just the detective for this mystery. In previous novels he has solved a murder where the body is in an inaccessible pot hole and during a magic trick in a locked room. He has an incredible mind that seems to store clues without him knowing. During difficult cases he suddenly sees something that jogs his memory or stirs up a clue. This is a great talent for his job, but isn’t so useful in his personal life. Oldroyd and his wife are now divorced, mainly due to his workaholic nature. In this novel his daughter has talked him into internet dating and he reluctantly starts chatting to people. During a date with Debbie his mind suddenly wanders down one of these corridors and he knows there is something about the aftermath of the murder that is niggling at his brain. However, to Debbie it simple seems he has wandered off and does not have his mind on their date. It may be that he has blown this relationship before it has really begun.

Apart from Oldroyd the other regular characters are only lightly sketched out in this instalment. His other team members Andy and Steph are living together, but beyond the first novel I have never really seen their feelings for each other or even their reasons for being together. I feel more as if we are ‘told’ they are in love, rather than shown their chemistry. Here, Steph is seconded to another team where the DCI is very sexist and predatory. She hates working with him and we soon see why, especially when he attempts to blackmail Steph with some topless photos from a girls holiday. However, this doesn’t fully ring true either as I can’t imagine this serious and cautious police woman doing something so frivolous.

I found I missed the interplay between Oldroyd and his daughter. Again we are told that she has gone away and he misses her, rather than being shown this transition. I felt this might have given more depth to Oldroyd’s character because his daughter had filled a void left when he split with his wife. His daughter is a feminist and quite spiky so I enjoyed how she brought him into the 21st Century. Her departure would have been a massive adjustment and takes away that family element created by their visits with Oldroyd’s sister who is a local vicar.

I feel that the twists and turns of the case did take centre stage and I kept reading, wanting to know the who and how of the murder. Penrose is such an unpleasant man that this is largely an intellectual fascination. The more that is revealed about the victim, the harder it is to care that someone killed him. His personal life is littered with ex-wives and lovers with grudges. His professional life is full of other authors he may have plagiarised or trodden on as he became famous. There are also financial obligations he hasn’t met, leaving business partners struggling. I think the author was so focused on exploring the people in this world that other regular characters may have been neglected. There are some brilliant characters, but we rarely reach more than a surface understanding of them.

I would say that this is not the best J.R. Ellis novel, but it is very humorous in its explorations of crime writers and the publishing world and this makes a great backdrop to a case full of twists and turns. It is a diverting way to pass a few hours in the same way we might watch a comforting Sunday night series. If you love traditional crime writers such as Agatha Christie and Sherlock Holmes this is a great author to try.

3.5/5*

This is the second book in this series that I've read, the first one being No 2 which got me seriously considering a move north to Ripon...

Although that hasn't happened, I did enjoy my return to Yorkshire and the city of Harrogate. It makes me want to re-visit the county and have a good old mooch around it. I've been to the lovely city of York, but there's so much outside of that city and I love the north, so it's near the top of my 'to visit' list.

A murder happens at the Crime Writers Festival in Harrogate, and it's up to DI Oldroyd and his Sergeant to figure out 'whodunnit' amongst those who write about this sort of thing for a living. It's another 'locked room' mystery, cleverly thought out.

Anyhow, I enjoyed this latest installment to the series, although not QUITE as much as the first one I read. It felt a bit more clunky than I remembered. Some of the dialogue felt a bit basic, and there wasn't a lot of description - it was almost complete, a nearly finished sketch, just slightly lacking in fullness. The dialogue moved the story on nicely but wasn't exceptionally robust or in-depth. Again, sort of an almost finished sketch of conversations, like one more round of edits or reading aloud was required.

I'm not particularly sharp at spotting clues or red herrings, so I didn't guess the murderer which is good, and the book kept me reading steadily over a few days.

The secondary story of Steph dealing with sexual harassment felt a bit 1970s and a touch too cliche, but is something that women deal with on a daily basis and I suppose the police aren't immune to this in varying degrees. Particularly difficult when you've got ranks and discipline involved (like the military).

Anyhow, overall I did enjoy it and have purchased the first one so that I can start at the beginning. The more I read about Yorkshire, the higher it goes on my 'to visit' list. This series is recommended for those who like clever mysteries, easy reads and nothing too gory (oh, and Yorkshire! :D )

The Royal Baths murder turned out to be the 4th book in a series but it is no problem to read it as a standalone.
The story starts with Damian Penrose, a very narcissistic crime writer, who gives a lecture during the Harrogate Literary Crime festival. As it turns out he isn't much out to enjoy his public and even less disposed to answer questions from aspiring young crime writers.
A couple of his fellow writers are interrupting his lecture and asking all kinds of accusing questions.

The next morning Penrose is found dead in the Royal Baths, in a kind of closed room situation, where it seems impossible that the murder has fled the premisses without anyone noticing.

I found the setup, a murder or rather several murders at a crime writing festival, very interesting.
The book is a real pageturner and a classical whodunit, rather in the tradition of Agatha Christie (I think it is not a coincidence that Harrogate is also the town where Christie stayed when she disappeared for a while and nobody knew where she was) and Sherlock Holmes.

I found the secundary story line about the female constable and the "me too" situation rather week.

On the whole the book is certainly a good read and I think I will also read the previous episodes.

a small 3,5 stars

I want to thank Netgalley and Thomas & Mercer Publishers for providing me with an advanced reader copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

I wish to thank the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this novel.

This is another fine entry in the Yorkshire Murder series. I have read all four books that are currently available in this series and I hope that Ellis plans more.

This is a fairly classic police procedural, featuring DCI Oldroyd, who Is both clever and intuitive. He isn’t perfect by any means, but he is human and likable,. The characters in this series are well drawn, and I have grown to care about what happens to them,

Ellis sets his books in somewhat unusual places. This book, like the others, seems well researched.

I really enjoyed this novel, and think it would appeal to anyone who likes mysteries.

Another great story from J.R. Ellis.
Centered around Harrogate and a book festival, the twists and turns are non stop through the whole book.

When Damian Penrose was murdered there was no shortage of suspects: he was a deeply unpleasant man. In fact the only surprising thing was that there wasn't more of a queue waiting to do the dirty deed. What was a bit of a headline maker was that Penrose was a crime writer and that he was strangled in the midst of Harrogate's crime writing festival. He went for a swim at the Royal Baths and never returned, his body being found by the receptionist. DCI Jim Oldroyd was the man tasked with investigating the crime. It would not be the only death, and it was only because of the quick actions of his sergeant, Andy Carter, that Oldroyd's was not one of them.

I was born in Harrogate and I go there regularly, so I didn't make any attempt to resist reading The Royal Baths Murder. J R Ellis does a splendid job of bringing the town to life, with nods to the local tourist hotspots such as Bettys Tea Rooms and the Stray. If you know the town at all, you'll be back there as you read. You might even be tempted to go further afield to Brimham Rocks, although I must confess to finding it rather frightening as a child. The first murder takes place in the Royal Baths - the place we all knew as 'the Turkish baths'. Much of the crime writing festival takes place in The White Swan Hotel: locals will realise that this is based on the Old Swan Hotel, most famous for being the place where Agatha Christie was discovered after her disappearance in 1926. What better setting could you have for a murder mystery?

Oldroyd is obviously the star of the show and he's a Yorkshireman through and through. He's also kind, clever and respected by his staff. That doesn't go for all the staff at the Harrogate Police HQ: DI Fenton is a sex pest in need of sorting out. It's the type of abuse which has been going on for decades and it shouldn't be allowed to continue. The women concerned, led by DS Steph Johnson, have their own way of dealing with it and whilst it made me smile I might have wished for a more public reckoning.

The plot is ingenious, although I did find the solution just a little too contrived. In fairness, all the clues are there - and this is a murder at a crime writing festival. I enjoyed the book as an easy, nostalgic read, and I'd certainly want to read the next in the series.

I'd like to thank the publishers for allowing Bookbag to see a review copy.

This was a classic 'whodunnit'! I enjoyed the setting especially as I have visited the baths at Harrogate in the past.so this added more authenticity to the story. I felt the characterisation was strong and gave the reader a clear sense of the dynamics between the different people. The arrogance of the central character meant there was no surprise when he was murdered. The web that ensued around his death was quite fascinating.and kept me reading. I especially enjoyed the scene around Brimham Rocks.

Overall I felt this book was a straightforward, whodunnit novel and a good read!

This is the first book of the series I have read but it did very well as a stand-alone book.
The story takes place in Yorkshire and deals initially with the murder of a much hated mystery writer who is a key speaker at a book festival there. It soon comes to light that there’s no dearth of suspects but his murder is also somewhat of a locked room mystery.
As the story continues there are a couple of other murders all of people associated with the festival.
I loved the DCI in charge and appreciated his dry wit and intelligence. I have read other reviews and I guess I am the only one who took exception to his woman friend whom he found online. I really didn’t see how she was needed in the story and she was annoying with her little digs about his eating habits and supposed lack of exercise even though she’s the one taking a taxi home while he walks.
I will definitely read more from this author and highly recommend this book.
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC which I received in exchange for my honest review.

Midsommer Murders eat your heart out!

The annual Crime Writing Festival is in full swing. With some amazing writers. It is a popular event every year and people like Damian Penrose are a great draw!

However some people are dismayed by Penrose - he is accused of plagiarism and has had many affairs.

Sadly the Crime Writing Festival is rudely interrupted when author Damian Penrose is murdered at The Royal Baths.

With many enemies that he has made over the years and most of the authors at the festival. It is going to be a tough one for DCI Oldroyd and his colleague Andy to solve..

Plenty of theories circulated about his death. As it was quite puzzling. Damian went down at the Royal Baths and never surfaced. There was only one way in and one way out. How did the murderer get out or did Damian kill himself or fake his own death as a act of rebellion?

A great storyline that reminds me of Midsommer Murders!

During the course we get to find out so much about the characters, it is like being in their community.

The Crime Writing Festival is taking place in Harrogate and writers from all over England attend the week long event. Damian Penrose was an author that was famous and the most successful of the authors attending. The other authors hated him because he was very self centered. When he gets killed at the Royal Baths everyone is a suspect.
DCI Jim Oldroyd and DS Andrew Carter are called to the scene. Some how Penrose was killed in an area where no-one else was at. They have to go through the suspects which is a long list. They have to look into the past too with old lovers and wives.
This is the 4th in the Yorkshire Murder Mystery series. Each one has been delightful and doesn't disappoint. I love the character DCI Oldroyd, he loves the Yorkshire region and knows the history plus other random facts including literature and odd facts.

law-enforcement, england, murder-investigation, procedural, cosy-mystery

A new favorite DCI and team!
A truly devilish plot filled with interesting characters, an abundance of plot twists and misdirection, and even some solid historical tidbits complete with caveats related to prosaic license. Ever so much better than watching on screen! The publisher's blurb is pretty good and spoilers are just wrong, so just get cozy and enjoy the mystery!
I requested and received a free ebook copy from Amazon Publishing UK via NetGalley. Thank you!

The Royal Baths Murder by J. R. Ellis is an excellent police procedural book and since I haven't read one in quite a long time it was an immensely satisfying experience.

When a notorious crime author, Damian Penrose gets murdered in Turkish bath during a crime writing festival DCI Jim Oldroyd gets called in as it appears to be a unsolvable mystery. No one got in or out yet the man was strangled.

Even though this is the fourth book in the series and I haven't read previous books I still had no trouble following the story.
I really liked the main protagonist, DCI Oldroyd, his levelheadedness, intelligence and charm.

It was interesting to follow how they uncovered clues one by one, how they pieced the pieces of the puzzle to solve the mystery.
I really liked how policewomen dealt with the problematic inspector and appreciate that such a difficult yet extremely important issue has been raised.

Steady paced, with twists and turns to keep readers guessing while puzzling a very cleverly executed murder.

The Royal Baths Murder is the fourth book in this series and could be read as a standalone. This is a great mystery series with interesting characters and a fantastic storyline.

This was such an amazing read that I couldn’t put it down. It went everywhere with me. To the doctors office, the dentist, the eye doctor. IT WENT ABSOLUTELY EVERYWHERE. I was so sad when it ended that I immediately went and bought more books from this author!

This is the 4th novel in the Yorkshire murder mysteries and is a thoroughly enjoyable read. It’s Harrogate’s annual crime writer’s festival and one of the crime writers is found murdered in the Royal Baths. DCI Jim Oldroyd is baffled as to how the murderer entered and exited without anyone seeing as there is only one way in or out from the steam rooms. If that isn’t hard enough, it appears the victim is universally hated, with a whole team of young women continuously disrupting any public appearance he makes, with accusations of plagarism. As a second body is discovered DCI Oldroyd realises they have a ruthless killer on their hands and he and DS Carter need to focus on stopping them before anything else happens. In the meantime Jim is dating again and this somewhat, sad, melancholy detective has a new spring to his step.
I thoroughly enjoyed JR Ellis’s fourth mystery, as much as all the previous novels. The writing style draws you in and keeps you hooked from the first paragraph, right to the very end. There are no crazy twists and turns and it feels like a much more authentic police procedural tale, with wonderful characters who both amuse and impress me as I read.
I look forward to DCI Oldroyd’s next big case.

The White Swan Hotel is holding its annual Crime Writing Festival. All is going well until one of the writers is discovered dead in what looks like a locked room mystery in the Victorian baths, strangled. How did the murderer get in and out without being seen. What was the motive behind the killing. DCI Oldroyd and his team investigate. Then there is another murder, will this be the last.
Meanwhile D.S Steph Johnson is unfortunately working with the obnoxious D.I. Fenton, and has her own problems to deal with.
An enjoyable well-plotted mystery story with lots of suspects. With this book I actually took to Oldroyd much more than before which made the story more interesting to read.

The Royal Baths Murder is the latest book in the DCI Jim Oldroyd series by J R Ellis and it is an enjoyable locked room mystery that is similar to many Golden Age Mysteries.

Whilst all the main characters return this book is mainly about DCI Jim Oldroyd who manages to solve a strange murder at the famous Royal Baths.

This is an enjoyable series and The Royal Baths Murder is recommended

Book Review: The Royal Baths Murder (Yorkshire Murder Mysteries #4) by J.R. Ellis

3 December 1926. Agatha Christie went missing from her home in Berkshire. Her disappearance caused an outcry amongst the public, and thousands were involved in the effort to search for her, including Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, On 14 December she was found at The Swan Hydropathic Hotel (now known as The Old Swan) in Harrogate, Yorkshire...

Present day. The White Swan Hotel, Harrogate, Yorkshire. The Crime Writing Festival is in full swing.

For respite from work in this idyllic town, Damian "Poison Pen" Penrose, murder mystery novelist, loved and hated in invariably equal doses by his readers and peers, enjoys visits to the Royal Baths. It was one of his few consolations "...of having to travel to the north and stay in a dull little spa town two hundred miles of north of civilization."

Early one morning, Penrose is found ruthlessly strangled at the Royal Baths...

Means, opportunity, motive.

Author J.R. Ellis certainly couldn't have chosen a more scenic and relevant stage for his murder mystery. He molds his DCI Jim Oldroyd in the finest tradition of Agatha Christie's sleuth sans pareil, Hercule Poirot, reminiscent of those bygone halcyon days when criminals talked to police without being Mirandized, and spoke and boasted (i.e. confessed) freely of their crimes caught in flagrante like a badge of honor. Not these days, though.

As in Christie's "The Mysterious Affair at Styles", the crime has many suspects, and, although restrained in comparison with today's high octane standards, the story is not without its complexities.

The narrative does provide a fascinating if limited insight into the what may be considered as the life of a proud modern Yorkshireman and his accoutrements - that indispensable pint afterdark, good food, and a few incursions into the virtual world - Facebook, online dating and even some mention of the dark web.

Excellent light reading of the old-fashioned British murder mystery flavor.

Review based on an Advance Reading Copy from Amazon Publishing UK and Thomas & Mercer through NetGalley.

Damian Penrose is a famous mystery writer attending the crime writer's festival. This is a man nobody who knows him likes him but his readers love him. He dies in the Harrogate Turkish baths with one way in and the same way out. DCI Oldroyd has his hands full with figuring this one out. The mixture of real and writer's imagination make this an interesting story from start to finish. There are other murders to follow to keep you guessing who the murderer is.

An excellent mystery, solid and well written.
I appreciated the engrossing and entertaining plot, the well written cast of characters and the setting.
I look forward to reading the next instalment.
Highly recommended!
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.

Yorkshire town of Harrogate nice place and famous for the old roman baths which is still there and every year the town holds a writing festival which new inspiring writers come and hopefully get some insight from some of the more famous writers. Every year Damian Penrose an author of many crime thrillers and a nasty piece of works by all accounts is found dead in the steam baths. he booked it very early so he can have a session in private. DCI Jim Oldroyd divorced lives for his work and was the downfall of his marriage. has got something to get his teeth into. Looking at the crime scene he has a real puzzler as the only few people there said nobody has been down to the steam room till the masseuse went down and nobody came up! Looking for hidden exits other ways that a person can get away was indeed a headache for our DCI. How did the killer get down there and how did they get away? A very intriguing read, of course, there is more than one murder and not easy to match the dots with the twist and turns Oldroyd will not be beaten and there could also be love in the air for our DCI. An enjoyable read but methodical police procedure good characterization good area description makes you think of the Yorkshire walks, lovely part of the country.. Excellent writing.

The Royal Baths Murder - J. R. Ellis

Oh boy do I love a good, old whodunnit!! Thank you to Netgalley for an ARC of this book.
It's 4th book with DCI Oldroyd and I really enjoyed it.

At first the book goes with a slow pace, even though the first murder happens almost immediately. Along with the murder mystery we witness the battle one of the characters has with her superior and his conduct towards women.
The writer has described the Royal Baths and the surrounding area nicely and I enjoyed that.
The plot thickens and the reveal of the culprit is depicted in a nice way... I don't want to tell more as not to give out any spoilers but as far as I'm concerned this book is a great read. Now I'm off to find other books by J. R. Ellis

The fourth book in the Yorkshire Murder Mysteries series, THE ROYAL BATHS MURDER was my first read by J.R. Ellis and I have to say I was pleasantly surprised. I wouldn't call it a cosy mystery but it is a good old-fashioned murder mystery in the vein of Agatha Christie. Having read all of Ms Christie's books when I was a teenager, I felt her presence at every turn throughout this delightful mystery. Particularly as the setting was the Turkish baths in Harrogate, the very place where Ms Christie was found after a 10 day disappearance in 1926. A definite nod to the Queen of Crime here in more ways than one.

There were no super detectives with tortured private lives that seemed to spill over into their professional ones, usually by way of drink or sleeping with nameless strangers but still coming out on top of disturbed serial killers of heinous crimes...of course, after having evaded death themselves. This is simply put - a good old-fashioned murder mystery. It's all about solving a seemingly impossible murder with a freshness that is quite lighthearted, making it an enjoyable read.

"3 December 1926. Agatha Christie went missing from her home in Berkshire. Her disappearance caused an outcry amongst the public, and thousands were involved in the effort to search for her, including Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, On 14 December she was found at The Swan Hydropathic Hotel (now known as The Old Swan) in Harrogate, Yorkshire..."

In the present day, at the White Swan Hotel in Harrogate, the annual Crime Writing Festival is in full swing. A place where fans and would-be writers gather to learn from the best. And there is no one better than Damian Penrose...at least, that's what he thinks. Having come up from London for somewhat a reprieve, Penrose is loved and hated in equal doses by his readers and peers but never misses an opportunity to talk about himself - in which the festival provides the ideal event. However, there is one consolation in having to travel to the dull and provincial north hundreds of miles away from civilisation...the Royal Baths. It is his one solace from the world.

Early one morning, Penrose heads to the Baths to relax in solitude in a pre-booked private session before the baths open to the public. A short time later, he is found brutally strangled in the steam room...

Enter DCI Oldroyd and DS Andy Carter of the West Riding Police Harrogate Division HQ (somewhat of a mouthful) who question the staff of the Royal Baths and all who interacted with Penrose in the hours leading up to his murder. It isn't long before they discover that his murder is straight from the pages of one of his fellow writer's books - his arch rival, no less. Charles Derryvale, the said writer, soon becomes a suspect when it is revealed that he was last seen having a row with the murder victim at the bar of the the White Swan, where the event took place. Derryvale, on the other hand, is taking macarbre pleasure in the murder and finding it great fun!

There is a slightly related case in which DS Steph Johnson has been seconded to the lecherous DI Fenton to investigate Jack Sandford who has been suspended from council after being suspected of illegally granting a contract to his architect wife, Clare Bayliss...who just happens to be Penrose's second wife. The contract? For renovations to the Royal Baths. Maybe this case has more to do with Oldroyd's case than at first thought. With Fenton making unwelcome sexual advances towards Steph, she has no alternative than to take matters into her own hands to stop Fenton once and for all. Going to her superiors is not an option as the force is the age-old boys club and Fenton is her superior officer. Steph then works on gathering evidence of complaints and instances of how Fenton treats his female subordinates, as well as a secret investigation into his taking back-handers from none other than Jack Sandford.

Then the body of the Crime Writing Festival's organiser turns up with a third murder taking place in true Christie style, at the climatic end of festival's "Murder Mystery Event" of Penrose's first wife, both of which bear a striking resemblances to other stories by Penrose's rivals.

So who killed Penrose? And what is the significance in likening all subsequent murders to books by his rivals? Perhaps someone wishes to cast him as a character in a real life murder mystery - someone with a real motive. But who?

Oldroyd and Carter soon discover that the murder of Penrose corresponds to that of the Locked Room Mystery, in which there appears to be no way in and no escape for the murderer without being seen. So how did the murderer get in and how did he leave...all without being seen? A classic "whodunnit" as well as a being a "howdunnit" in the vein of Ms Christie's own Hercule Poirot's mysteries.

Oldroyd and his team learn than Penrose had been accused of stealing other writers', both seasoned and fledgling, ideas and portrayed them as his own. He claimed they needed to be told by an expert...him being the said expert. There were no shortage of suspect and there were plenty of complexities, although somewhat restrained compared with today's fast paced high octane thrillers.

DCI Jim Holroyd is instantly likable and loves nothing more than to turn his hand at solving the unsolvable puzzle. Having separated from his wife some years before, at the encouragement of his daughter Louise, Oldroyd embarks on a journey in the world of online dating...where he meets Deborah, with whom he features in his down-time. They were a delightful couple, without any of the angst and battle of wills that is found the more modern style of mystery, with this being old-fashioned in more ways than one making it an enjoyable lighthearted read.

Excellent light reading of the true old-fashioned British murder mystery with a nod to the old greats that have gone before, THE ROYAL BATHS MURDER is a perfect combination of the old and new in this classic tale of whodunnit.

Well crafted with delightful elements of humour, THE ROYAL BATHS MURDER a is lighthearted and fun read. What I also like about this book is that although it is part of a series it can be read as a standalone and you don't miss any important backstories as the focus is on the murders and not the private lives of the police.

My first by J.R. Ellis but definitely not my last. A welcome change to the more high octane thrillers, THE ROYAL BATHS MURDER is a classic old-fashioned murder mystery at its best. And I especially love the nod and reference to Agatha Christie.

An undemanding read that will hold your attention throughout, I highly recommend to those who love the classic style of the old-fashioned murder mystery.

I would like to thank #JREllis, #NetGalley and #AmazonPublishingUK for an ARC of #TheRoyalBathsMurder in exchange for an honest review.

I love books by J. R Ellis and have read the others in this series, this book had me gripped from the start. I love the characters and can really visualise the areas of Yorkshire.
Looking forward to the next one.

This book is the fourth in the Yorkshire Murder Mystery series about the delightfully diligent DCI Oldroyd and his team solving a series a locked-room conundrums (conundra surely?) in the fictional West Riding police force. This one is set against the backdrop of a Crime Writers Festival in Harrogate, modelled very closely on the famous Theakston’s Old Peculier Writing Festival and a large part of the fun was guessing which authors Ellis might’ve based his characters on. While there are evolving storylines about the detectives, this could easily be read as a stand-alone.

Damian Penrose, a pompous and malicious but inexplicably popular crime writer, is found murdered in the historic Turkish bathhouse in Harrogate the morning after his Festival session, where several other authors have accused him of plagiarism. No one can work out how the killer escaped unnoticed, and with so many people having a motive, the police are stumped, but when other murders follow, only Oldroyd can unpick the puzzle, all while experiencing a new romance. Meanwhile his DS Steph has to cope with a predatory and possibly corrupt senior officer.

I have enjoyed all the books in this borderline-cosy Agatha Christie-inspired series, and this was no exception. It’s taken me longer than usual to read but that’s been more to do with recovery from a difficult month, and serious jet lag.
Ellis uses intriguing real locations, both historic and geographical, to great effect as a backdrop for his stories, and has fun with his characters paying homage to the great old detective series of the past, but set in contemporary times. They are well-written and comfortably paced, without too much violence. I didn’t guess the identity or motive of the killer, and while the reveal was a bit too Scooby-Doo-ish, again this was just following the Christie format of a villain who just can’t wait to explain how clever they were...

My thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc which allowed me to give an honest review. The Royal Baths Murder is available now.

Description
A murdered crime writer. An idyllic Yorkshire town. Can DCI Oldroyd separate fact from fiction? A famous writer is found murdered at the Victorian baths in the Yorkshire town of Harrogate. In a crime worthy of one of his novels, Damian Penrose, who was appearing at the town’s crime festival, has been ruthlessly strangled. But with no trace of the murderer and no apparent means of escape, how did the killer simply vanish from the scene of the crime? There’s only one mind capable of unlocking this mystery: DCI Jim Oldroyd. But as he and his team quickly discover, while Penrose was popular with the reading public, he had made plenty of enemies. Feuds over money, accusations of plagiarism, a string of affairs…His route to the top left a trail of embittered rivals—and suspects. But which of them was willing to commit murder? When Penrose’s shocking death proves to be just the first of many, it becomes clear to Oldroyd that he is dealing with a calculating criminal hell-bent on revenge. He must find and bring them to justice. Before the truth becomes more chilling than fiction…

My Review:
The Royal Baths Murder starts off at the crime festival with the introduction of a well-known writer Damian Penrose. The characters are well written, especially that of Penrose who you cannot help but not like as all he wants to do is talk about himself. There is an altercation at the hotel and you wonder when Penrose is murdered if one of these people present are the killer.

The story keeps you guessing until the very end. Great job J.R. Ellis, amazing page turner. I received this book for free in exchange for my honest opinion.

Highly recommend this book for anyone wanting to read a good mystery that keeps you on your toes and has surprising twists and turns.

A great story for those who like their crime less 'hard core' than many. There is a brilliant evocation of both Harrogate and the surrounding countryside as well as a real sense of reality about the literary festival The author brings a sense of the golden age mysteries, despite this being in a very modern setting, and reminds us of the period when Agatha Christie went missing in the town during the 1920s. I will definitely read more by this author

"This the the fourth book in the Yorkshire Mystery series by J.R.Ellis.
Oh, how I wish they make the books into TV series. I'd love to see Jim, Andy and Steph 'in person'.
Anyhow, The Royal Bath Murder is another 'locked room mystery' for DCI Oldroyd and his team. A famous but despised my many crime writer is strangled in the Baths. There is no place to hide. There was noone but him inside. So, who's done it? And who's done another two murders to boot?
All will become clear at the end. As well as taking the reader on a very intricate journey of uncovering the mystery (reader is left guessing until the very end), the author 'enlivens' the story with several sub-plots, one of which is #metoo movement within West Riding Police in Harrogate.
Well, a picturesque town, famous for its mineral springs and Royal Baths is a place for yet another murder mystery. To add the juiciness, all the murders take place during Crime Writers Festival and even during Mystery Night... My my, now I am definitely going to a mystery night myself.
J.R. Ellis created a team of characters that have become my 'friends' by the second book in the series. They are like family by the fourth. I feel for them, for their personal troubles and wins. I want to see them succeed and be happy. Till the next novel. "

As I have a weak spot for the UK, especially anything related to Yorkshire, I couldn't resist this one. The Yorkshire setting is described very well, the characters are fleshed out and the plot and storyline has some twists and turns to keep you on your toes. There's also a bit of humour at times, which made it more enjoyable and the book reminds me a bit of the more classic murder mysteries. The book also raises awareness on sexual harassment in the workplace, especially within the police force, which I thought was well done.

This is the third book I have read by this author and they just keep getting better! The police characters are the same in each book but I don't think it's necessary to read them in order. This can easily be read as a stand alone. It is a 'slow burn' police procedural mystery with a lot of interesting characters and is very descriptive of the countryside and places of interest . I think I'd love to visit them someday! The characters are well developed and conversations are realistic. You will never guess what is going to happen next or who the killer is going to be. It is a well written enjoyable mystery without being full of profanity, sex and bloodshed. Enjoy!
I received this book as a complimentary copy for an unbiased review.The opinions expressed are my own. Many thanks to the author,publisher, and NetGalley for the ARC.

I started to read this book and then realised that it is book 4 in a series.
I make it a rule of mine, to not to read and review a book that is in the middle of a series.
This is my fault as i should have check, a thousand apolgies Star rating reflects what i did read

A Really Enjoyable Series of Crime Novels:
Given the chance to read and leave a review of "The Royal Baths Murder" I took the opportunity to start at the first novel in the series, "The Body in the Dales", and just kept on reading every book. So my review is not just of "The Royal Baths Murder" but rather this wonderful series as a whole. We are all on the lookout for a really good new author to read, and in J R Ellis, I found one.
"The Royal Baths Murder" is the fourth novel in the Yorkshire Murder Series, featuring DCI Jim Oldroyd. These novels come into the category of "Cozy Mysteries" but each novel in the series boasts sufficient twists and turns to keep the reader fully engaged. Or they certainly did me.
My personal favourite is "The Quartet Murders" in which Oldroyd himself is a witness to the murder.
This is series which will not disappoint readers who love crime novels.

This is a great police procedural with many clues. I have not read the earlier books in the series but I will do so now. The story is well written with great character development.
Many thanks to Amazon Publishing UK and to NetGalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

Set in North Yorkshire, this is an enjoyable series of Murder Mysteries. I enjoyed the pace and plot and with believable characters it makes for an enjoyable read. I liked the back stories of the characters especially the handling of sexual harassments within the workplace. Overall a good read.

This is the fourth in a series of crime stories and I will definitely read the others. The characters are believable and the police procedures appear well researched. Certainly one I would recommend to friends.

Thank You to the author, publisher and Netgalley for providing the e-publication in exchange for a unbiased review of this book.

Really interesting

Damian Penrose, a well known writer appearing at the Crime Writers Festival in Harrogate, is found strangled in the historic Turkish bathhouse, with no trace of the murderer and no clear means of escape. DCI Jim Oldroyd discovers that Penrose, though a very popular writer, was very unpleasant and had plenty of enemies. With more murders following, Oldroyd must race against time to find and bring the murderer to justice.

This was my first book by this author. I thought I'd give this book a try because of the Agatha Christie vibe I got from the blurb. But the similarities ended there. The characters were not fleshed out and the subplot involving DS Steph Johnson felt dated. Despite these shortcomings, the story overall held my attention. Hence, I give it 3.5 stars. Thanks to Netgalley and Amazon Publishing for providing me with an ARC of this book.

I love JR Ellis’s novels. The Harrogate setting is lovely, one I know well, and it’s good to see the character of Oldroyd develop. This one was the beat yet.

I seldom read modern day fiction. This is one of the exceptions. The author blends history with murder in a pleasing combination. The hero is DCI Jim Oldroyd and with his team he must solve the murder of a disliked writer of murder mysteries named Damian Penrose. With a long list of possible suspects since the man was loved as a writer by the public but hated by fellow writers, Jim must unravel the perfect crime. The body was found in an empty spa that had no visitors. Nothing is as it seems as lie after lie is told to the police and they realize things are much worse than they appear. Although I like this series and I will read more there is just something lacking. The pace of the action is good. The characters are well constructed and likable. The Yorkshire location is full of local lore and legends which are shared with the reader. Overall, a good read.

I very much enjoyed this book. It has a good story and excellent main characters. I would definately recommend this book.

While I liked this book but won't say I loved it. Unlike the rest of the books in this series this book started out a bit lack luster. It took me a few tries to get into it but when I did manage to read a few chapters in the story finally caught my attention. The twists and turns remind me a lot of agatha-christie style murder mysteries and that's what I enjoy about this series. I can't give this book 5 stars because it was extremely hard to get interested in but I would rate it a solid 3/5 because once the story gets going it's good.

Great thriller which I could not put down. Brilliant characters, and twists and turns. Highly recommend to others!

I wanted to…I really did. I just could not complete reading “The Royal Baths Murder.” I credit budding authors attempting to writie books that I don’t have the writing skills to successfully author. J. R. Ellis doesn’t write a bad book: he/she just isn’t for me. I have been spoiled by authors such as Robert Goddard Donna Leon, Martin Edwards, and Reginald Hill. Perhaps some day Ellis may be the superior story teller: just not yet.
However, thanks to Ellis for doing the hard work to write this book and for NetGalley for the authorized copy.