Book: Mystery at Lockley Grange
Author: Clare Chase
Publication Day: Nov 4th 2024
Buy link(s): Amazon
Book description:
Famous diplomat Lance Hale is throwing a party at Lockley Grange to celebrate his latest award. But when he’s found face down in his swimming pool, Eve Mallow is sure someone thought he deserved to die…
It’s always an occasion when the Hale family descend on their country pile, Lockley Grange. Almost everyone in Saxford St Peter has been called upon to dust the rooms, tidy the garden, and cater for the party. Eve Mallow’s delighted to be invited: years ago she babysat for the Hale children, and she can’t wait to see how they turned out.
But the night will be remembered for all the wrong reasons. The following morning, Lance is found dead in his indoor pool. He’d been the life and soul of the party, but Eve saw him arguing with friends and family. She’s convinced it was no accident – especially when she finds a threatening note tucked into his desk drawer.
But who wanted to make sure indiscreet Lance was silenced for good? His right-hand woman, who could spill the family’s secrets, but won’t say a word? His older son, who’s drowning in debt, or his younger daughter, whose career he’d sabotaged?
As Eve sets to work at isolated Lockley Grange with loyal dachshund Gus at her heels, she uncovers past tragedies, blackmail and hidden cameras watching her every step. Eve knows she’s wading into dark waters… can she find the killer, or is she in over her head?
Everyone in Saxford St Peter is preparing for the big event Lance Hale will be throwing at his country home, Lockley Grange, to celebrate his most recent business success and honor the memory of his deceased daughter. Eve and Viv will be catering, and Eve is looking forward to getting reacquainted with the Hale children. She was their nanny when they were young, and she looks forward to seeing how they’ve grown up.
But the evening falls apart when Lance is found dead in his pool. Eve had observed some curious actions and interactions during the evening, and she has questions aplenty. So she gets herself tasked with writing his obituary so she can do her own digging.
Clare Chase kept me guessing with this one! The more Eve investigates, the more suspects and secrets it seems she uncovers. The Hale children did not all grow up to be nice, kind people, and one of them is dead already. Did one of the surviving siblings do their father in? What about Lucy, Lance’s right-hand woman and confidante since Lucy’s boyfriend (Lance’s brother) killed Lance’s wife? What has she seen and heard over the years that she’s felt compelled to keep to herself? Or Erica, Lance’s visibly overworked assistant. Did he finally push her too far? And then there’s his second wife Sonia, who he constantly belittles and whose success in her own career he seems determined to block. Lance is one of those people who wants to be in the spotlight all the time, and woe betide anyone who appears to be getting ahead of him. He seems to be well-respected, but he’s certainly given a lot of folks reason not to cry too much over his demise.
In addition to trying to solve a mystery, Eve is feeling the time crunch of her approaching wedding. Has she bitten off more than she can chew, taking this on just weeks before her nuptials?
Chase has once again done a marvelous job of giving us blind trails and red herrings aplenty, and she’s filled the story with some characters that are sympathetic and some that are thoroughly unlikeable. Eve does her usual meticulous job of researching, and she and her friends do a bang-up job of putting clues together. You’d think they could run DI Palmer out of a job if they tried! And I’m struck once again about what a great occupation Eve has to give her reason to look closely into someone’s life. In my experience, obituaries in the United States are written by the deceased’s family, not a paid professional. No one in my part of the world could investigate a crime like she does!
The story ends on a lovely note, and I hope there are more stories yet to come out of Saxford St Peter. I’m not ready to wave goodbye to Eve and company yet! Five stars from me, and recommended for current fans of the series or anyone who enjoys a captivating cozy read.
Disclaimer: I received a review copy of this book from Bookouture. I was not required to leave a review. All opinions here are mine, and I don’t say nice things about books I don’t actually like.
About the author:
Clare Chase writes classic mysteries. Her aim is to take readers away from it all via some armchair sleuthing in atmospheric locations.
Her debut novel was shortlisted for Novelicious’s Undiscovered Award, as well as an EPIC award post-publication, and was chosen as a Debut of the Month by LoveReading. Murder on the Marshes (Tara Thorpe 1) was shortlisted for an International Thriller Writers award.
Like her heroines, Clare is fascinated by people and what makes them tick. Before becoming a full-time writer, she worked in settings as diverse as Littlehey Prison and the University of Cambridge, in her home city. She’s lived everywhere from the house of a lord to a slug-infested flat and finds the mid-terrace she currently occupies a good happy medium.
As well as writing, Clare loves family time, art and architecture, cooking, and of course, reading other people’s books.
You can find Clare’s website and blog at www.clarechase.com
Facebook | Twitter | Website | Instagram | Bookouture email sign-up
