A little later than I’d planned – I read both these books just before Christmas – but I’m really delighted today to share my reviews of the first two Maybridge murder mysteries from Liz Fielding. Described as “an utterly gripping cozy murder mystery full of twists”, Murder among the Roses was published by Joffe Books on 18th April last year, and is now available for kindle (just 99p, or free via Kindle Unlimited), in paperback, and as an audiobook: Murder under the Mistletoe followed on 7th November, available in all formats too. The copies I read were my own, purchased for my kindle via Amazon.
Having written 70 books for Harlequin Mills and Boon, and a recent recipient of the Romantic Novelists’ Association’s Outstanding Achievement Award, Liz has been nominated for the prestigious RITA award eight times (winning twice), and the RoNA Rose five times (winning with A Family of His Own). And I’m always a touch ashamed that I’ve only ever read one of her books – Christmas Reunion in Paris, way back in 2020. And I have to say I found it a gorgeous read, and could see straight away why her writing is loved by so many – just 166 Kindle pages, but a story packed with emotion, with wonderfully developed characters, a stunning and well drawn background, and the loveliest storytelling (you can read my full review again here). A change of direction feels like a particularly brave move – a bit of a step into the unknown – and, although cozy crime isn’t my usual reading, I’d read a number of enthusiastic reviews and was rather looking forward to reading something a little different from the Christmas romances I’d been immersed in for the previous couple of months.
So, without further ado… let’s take a closer look!
Murder among the Roses
Meet Abby Finch. She’s the busy mum of three, an expert gardener, and the star of your new favourite cozy murder mystery.
In the peaceful Cotswolds village of Maybridge, you wouldn’t expect to find a dead body in the rose garden. And certainly not two.
Abby is horrified to discover the bones of a baby buried under a rose bush. It’s in the garden of her soon-to-be ex-husband Howard’s family home.
She immediately calls the police. But she can’t get hold of Howard. He’s off on a jolly with the woman he’s got pregnant.
And then, just two days later, Abby finds Howard himself.
Lying dead in the very same rose garden.
Throat slashed with her own garden spade.
Now Abby is the prime suspect…
Fans of Faith Martin, Jane Adams, Frances Evesham, M.C. Beaton, Clare Chase or Jeanne M. Dams will love this addictive cozy mystery!
With a full diary for her gardening business, Abby could have done without having to take on the upkeep of the garden of her soon-to-be ex-husband Howard’s family home – but there are good reasons why it’s a job she couldn’t refuse. Finding the bones of a baby among the roots of an ailing rose, she reports it to the police – and incurs Howard’s wrath, worried about the impact of the ensuing publicity on his political aspirations. But his fury proves short-lived – after an argument, he’s found dead at the very same spot, killed with Abby’s spade. She understandably becomes a prime suspect – but there are plenty more who might have had their reasons for not having regrets about his demise. While endeavouring to clear her name and follow her own clues towards finding Howard’s killer, the unknown baby’s bones and her natural curiosity lead her to investigate the dark family history and there are a few real surprises along the way.
The whole story – pursuit of the murderer in the present, laced with red herrings and a sizeable list of credible suspects, and the sad story shrouded in the past – are quite wonderfully told, with all the twists and turns I could possibly have asked for, making it all particularly compelling and engaging. But I’ll admit that what I particularly loved about it was the fantastic characterisation. Abby herself is so very likeable, as she deals with the demands of her work while handling her children’s grief at the loss of their father (and, after a long marriage, some of her own too). Part of a particularly well drawn rural community, she’s supported by good friends – estate agent Meg, police woman Dee, and old school friend Jake (who I have high hopes might become a love interest – as a romance reader, it’s something I always look for!) – all equally well rounded, and I really enjoyed the relationships between them.
Something else I thoroughly enjoyed was the pacing of the story – gentle at first, but gathering speed and increasing in tension as the clues proliferate and the discoveries begin to multiply. Although I’m not usually a cosy mystery fan, I was entirely drawn into the story – I sat down, intending to dip in for an hour or so, but finished reading in the early hours, unable to put it down until I’d read the last page. The outcome and ending were unexpected, but entirely convincing and completely believable and, as always, had me looking in entirely the wrong direction.
Although there’s a distinctly dark edge to the story at times, there’s a really lovely lightness to the writing – with plenty of warmth, and the most perfectly judged touches of humour. This is the kind of crime writing I enjoy – but the plotting is also challenging enough to give it real appeal for more hard-core crime readers. A wholly successful transition for the author, and wonderful start to a new series – I’m happy to declare myself a fan, and I’ll look forward to the next Maybridge mystery…
Murder under the Mistletoe
Abby Finch arrives at the old church hall armed with festive mistletoe and holly, ready to decorate. But within moments of her walking through the door, tragedy strikes…
Edward Marsh reaches to test the antique star at the top of the tree. There’s a fizz and the lights go out.
Abby hears the sickening thud of a body hitting the floor. When the lights turn back on, Edward is dead.
It soon becomes clear it was no accident.
The real victim should have been Gregory Tatton. Dapper silver fox. Popular with the ladies of the seniors’ lunch club. A known blackmailer…
Abby is desperate to find out the truth, but putting herself in danger isn’t on her Christmas wish list.
Who’s been naughty? Who’s been nice? Who’s hiding the fact they’re a murderer?
A return to Maybridge, and Abby and her young family are facing their first Christmas without the children’s father, slowly coming to terms with all the secrets that emerged after his murder. And her gardening business is busier than ever – but she really can’t refuse to help out the seniors’ lunch club, taking along some mistletoe and holly to help decorate the village hall. She certainly doesn’t expect to witness the death by electrocution of much-loved former teacher Edward Marsh as he fixes a vintage decoration to the tree. He shouldn’t even have been up the ladder – that was a job Gregory Tatton was meant to complete, when he’d finished being slimily charming to the local ladies vying for his attention.
When the police decide that the death was something other than a tragic accident, and Edward perhaps not the intended target, Abby begins to uncover unexpected tensions within the group. The clues begin to lead to Gregory’s door – he has a strange hold over some of its members, and more than a few who might just have been glad to see him as the victim. He even tries to get Abby to do some free work on his garden, and there’s the unpleasant whiff of attempted blackmail – and when there’s a second death, she finds herself in the frame again while conducting her own investigation in an attempt to identify the real murderer.
This is the second book in a series, and a story that’s complete in itself – but I do think you might enjoy it most if you’ve read the first, understand the relationships between some of the characters, and have some knowledge of what’s gone before. I already had a really soft spot for Abby, juggling her many commitments, unable to resist following leads and uncovering secrets and connections others would prefer remained hidden, even when it put her in personal danger. Her relationship with Jake is developing nicely – something I was delighted to see – and her other friends are still there with support and a listening ear when needed.
The wider cast is just wonderful too, every individual perfectly drawn and developed, some considerably more likeable than others. I’ve seen reviews saying that the number of characters is confusing, but I really can’t agree – the author is very firmly in control, using the community she’s created so well to allow all the false leads and red herrings to multiply. And the pacing is again totally perfect – the way the tension cranked up towards the end was superb, and (yet again…) had me reading into the early hours to see if I could solve everything before Abby did. And no, of course I didn’t – but I never do!
There’s a warmth to the writing, lovely touches of humour, well drawn relationships, a setting and community I’m getting to know well – Christmassy touches too, but nothing to stop the book being readable at any time of the year. And the author’s storytelling is really top notch, along with her ability to lead you down the garden path when you really shouldn’t have allowed her to. I really love this series – and I’m looking forward to the next one already!
About the author
Liz Fielding worked as a secretary in Africa and the Middle East and was co-ordinator of the Brecon Jazz Festival before writing full time. Her books are published worldwide in multiple languages, she has won the Romance Writers of America’s prestigious RITA award for both The Best Man & the Bridesmaid and The Marriage Miracle and in 2019 was honoured with an Outstanding Achievement Award from the Romantic Novelists’ Association in the UK.
She is now writing cozy crime for Joffe Books and her first two Maybridge Mysteries, Murder Among the Roses and Murder under the Mistletoe are available now.
Liz lives in West Sussex.
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Thank you so much, Anne. I can’t tell you how thrilled I am that you enjoyed the books – this was the kind of review that every author dreams of getting for her work. There are no emojis or I’d send you a heart!
Sorry it took me so long Liz – thoroughly enjoyed them both, and the reviews were a real pleasure! xx
Well worth waiting for!