Obituary writer and amateur sleuth Eve Mallow is enjoying life in sleepy Saxford St Peter – until a mysterious murder lands right at her door… until a new arrival stirs everyone up. Ashton Foley is back: a teenage tearaway turned interior designer to the stars. He’s mad, bad and dangerous to know, but charming too – as Eve herself can testify – and every house in Saxford opens its doors to him.
So when he’s found murdered in the woods near his mother’s home, Apple Tree Cottage, there’s no shortage of suspects. A jealous husband? A spurned lover? Or has someone from his past life caught up with him?
The police soon hit on a simple solution, and arrest his mother’s partner Howard. Ashton always hated him, and he bears all the marks of a recent fight. But Ashton’s mother, miles away in New Zealand, is convinced he’s innocent, and enlists Eve’s help to prove it.
There’s just one problem. Eve saw Howard sniffing around Apple Tree Cottage on the morning of the murder, and she’s fairly sure he’s guilty, too…
An unputdownable page-turner, perfect for fans of Faith Martin, Agatha Christie and Betty Rowlands.
See what readers are saying about the Eve Mallow series:
‘Stunning… loved the story and the pacing and just everything about it… a great story that I couldn’t put down… The twists and turns were great.’ Crossroad Reviews
‘Plenty of plot twists, red herrings, and misdirection. Kept me in suspense. I loved it!’ Goodreads Reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘Grabs your attention from the start… you feel as though you are helping Eve with her investigation… hits the ground running and maintains the pace throughout… I thoroughly enjoyed every single second of it.’ Gingerbookgeek, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘Drags the reader right into the plot from day one. She writes so vividly… I can almost imagine I’m on the dunes walking Gus, an inspiration of a dog that steals the show… A Marplesque amateur sleuth.’ Jenny O’Brien, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘I really enjoyed reading this! Loved the typical English village location and the very Jessica Fletcher-type protagonist… I am anxious to read more of this character soon!’ Goodreads Reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘Such a bold and interesting female lead… will keep you enthralled from the beginning till the last page.’ Goodreads Reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘I was immediately drawn into the story… a sure winner for M.C. Beaton fans.’ Goodreads Reviewer
‘Cracking… compelling… enough twists and surprises to keep the most demanding armchair sleuth satisfied.’ Goodreads Reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘Kept me on my toes throughout…a cracking follow up book which completely satisfied although it did leave me gagging for the next in series.’ Goodreads Reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘I devoured the mystery in one sitting. Highly recommend.’ NetGalley reviewer
‘I loved this… an excellent cozy mystery, engrossing and entertaining… it kept me guessing till the end.’ Scrapping and playing, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘Like coming home. I loved the atmosphere… Looking forward to the next part. 5 stars’ B for Bookreview, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘I thoroughly enjoyed it… loved the setting… I was reminded of a modern-day Miss Marple.’ Goodreads Reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘I loved this book… everything an old-fashioned sleuthing ought to be… I flew through the pages’ Shalini’s Books & Reviews, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘A real page turner, a la vintage Christie… will keep you glued until the final pages, and ready for the next book in the series!’ Bless Their Hearts Mom, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐more
Favorite Quotes:
As a freelance obituary writer, she interviewed the living to unearth the secrets of the dead…
‘I’m sure Simon’s ready to settle down now. And he’s looked very subdued lately.’ ‘You have a vivid imagination. He looks like a dog that’s been let off the leash each time I see him.’
She wasn’t busy at the moment, but a fascinating obituary subject could turn up at any time. It wasn’t like you got advance notice.
Still, he seems like a nice guy, not like he’s portrayed in the press. I’d guess he works hard at his bad-boy image, then goes home and brews up a cocoa.
I know what you’re thinking. I can see it in your face. Nothing would delight you more than having me as a houseguest, but you can’t imagine how to express your thanks. Well, don’t worry, you don’t have to. I want to come. If any dodgy characters turn up on your doorstep, I can frighten them away with my violent hair colour.
Villagers at the ready! Deploy!
He might not be chatty, but he’s easy on the eye. And great with a hoe. So there you are, double benefits. Nice scenery, which will lead to nice scenery.
My Review:
This engaging cozy mystery was a proper conundrum and complete head-scratcher with a full slate of suspects for such a small village. There appeared to be ample circumstantial evidence to put several under suspicion, yet no actual proof on anyone. Color me intrigued. I delighted in this amusing and observantly insightful tale with clever and generous servings of wry humor along with well-paced tidbits and red herrings that had my cynical nature spinning in all directions.
Ms. Chase’s character development continually comes up aces with dynamic and well-honed descriptions and colorful personality traits. I have yet to decide on my favorite, between the vivacious Viv and ever-curious Eve, they are still neck and neck and tied for the top spot.
Mystery at Apple Tree Cottage (An Eve Mallow Mystery Book 2) by Clare Chase is a cozy mystery featuring obituary writer, Eve Mallow. I have read all of the Tara Thorpe mystery series by Clare Chase and so I was happy to read another series written by this author. Eve writes comprehensive obituaries for people who pass in her village of Saxford St Peter. She also works a shift at the local diner for additional income where she often hears the latest gossip around the village. The news is a previously troubled teen, Ashton Foley is now returning home with his successful business allowing him to design an inside garden for a local celebrity. After he is found murdered, Eve is asked by his mother to write his obituary. Eve feels she must delve into the secrets surrounding Ashton’s death, family, and associates in order to really learn about his life. This puts Eve directly into the path of a killer!
It seemed to me this mystery proceeded a bit slower than the Tara Thorpe series I am familiar with reading. It is easily read as a stand-alone book even though this is the second book of the Eve Mallow series.
Publication Date: March 12, 2020
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced digital copy of the book to read and review.
I was immediately drawn into the story by the prologue which revealed the finding of a body but little else. Then the body of the story starts in the charming village of Saxford St. Peter. It seems like the perfect place to be although I know it is not. It turns out there are a number of possibly shady characters in the village. Relative newcomer and obituary writer Eve Mallow finds herself not only writing the victim’s obituary but also trying to figure out who murdered him.
The stories descriptions are colorful and there are characters I would like to know better. Also, the mystery has some surprises and keeps you guessing to near the end. It is a sure winner for M.C. Beaton fans. Thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for an ARC. The opinions expressed are my own.
cosy-mystery, friendship, murder-investigation, murder, England, law-enforcement, amateur-sleuth, small-business, small-town, procedural
In early chapters it’s easy to figure out who will be the murder victim. It is rather ironic for Eve that this very irksome man is determined to bully her into writing a biographical piece about himself for a trade magazine when her writing is of obituaries for niche market magazines. The worst of it for Eve is that the man’s mother is a friend, so when the woman tasks Eve with finding his murderer (the local police detective is a caricature of the kind of short sighted investigator) it poses some real problems. Eve does a great job with the due diligence for her obit and that helps a lot with her investigation as well. She determined who was most likely and actually confronted him. But then. Well, no spoilers, but there are plenty of plot twists, red herrings, and misdirection. Kept me in suspense. I loved it!
I requested and received a free ebook copy from Bookouture via NetGalley. Thank you!
“Working with her friend Viv, who owned the place, complemented her real profession perfectly. As a freelance obituary writer, she interviewed the living to unearth the secrets of the dead, but also spent hours researching her subjects. Wanting to understand people was hardwired in her. Regular shifts in Monty’s ensured she stayed solvent, but the work was also sociable, and an additional people-watching opportunity.”
This time, Eve is being urged to write a feature on a living subject. A bit of an infamous ex-resident of Saxford St Peter – Ashton Foley – returned to rub in his detractors’ faces that the local “bad boy” has made something of himself after all. For some reason, he’s decided that only Eve can do his story in the style he deserves.
But then he turns up dead! And now Eve has a legitimate reason to write his life story . . . as an obituary feature. Not quite what the well-known entrepreneur had in mind when he’d originally tried to engage her services.
Chase’s well developed and extremely engaging characters are back for another episode of mystery and maybe revenge. All the lovely villagers Eve befriended are here again in Book Two. I’ve loved Eve from the first book, and this second book has totally confirmed that! She and Gus – her elderly dachshund – are now permanent residents of Saxford St Peter! Here is another entertaining tale, and despite being Book Two of an ongoing series, it does well as a standalone. I urge you to read book one as well, though. You’ll love this series.
[Many thanks to NetGalley / Bookouture and the author for the opportunity to read an Advance Reader Copy of this book. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.]
4.5 Stars
Eve Mallow is relishing the gentle pace of life after moving to Saxford St Peter until a new arrival stirs everyone up. Ashton Foley is back, a teenage tearaway turned interior designer to the stars. His mother Betty is thrilled but when her aunt has a stroke Betty leaves for New Zealand. So when he’s found murdered in the woods near his mother’s home, Apple Tree Cottage, there’s no shortage of suspects. The police soon hit on a simple solution, and arrest his mother’s partner Howard. Ashton always hated him, and he bears all the marks of a recent fight. Betty is convinced he’s innocent, and enlists Eve’s help to prove it. There’s just one problem. Eve saw Howard sniffing around Apple Tree Cottage on the morning of the murder, and she’s fairly sure he’s guilty, too but then Howard is found dead in the woods.
A well written engrossing read, this is the second book in the series & is easily read on its own. I really like Eve who along with Gus, her dachshund has moved from London & bought the cottage she stayed in the previous summer. She soon realises that not everything is as it seems & along with the enigmatic gardener Robin strives to find the murderer. The story flows well & here are plenty of red herrings thrown into the mix. Well portrayed characters with depth made this a very enjoyable, entertaining read & I look forward to more books in the series
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read