In the Life Ever After: An Ellie Kent Mystery

Ellie Kent Mystery #3

by Alice K. Boatwright

The cold, dark winter in the Cotswolds is finally coming to an end, so Ellie and Graham Kent celebrate with a belated honeymoon in Paris. But news from Little Beecham casts a shadow over their holiday: convicted murderer Corinna Matthews has been released from prison and turns up in the village asking for Mrs. Kent. As Ellie soon discovers, it was Louise Kent, Graham's late wife, Corinna wanted to see, but she steps in to help and finds herself not only coping with villagers who still want "an eye for an eye," but also with baffling questions surrounding what really happened on the night Corinna murdered her brother Pindar and why.

“In the Life Ever After offers the perfect mix of engaging characters and a cunning plot. Readers are in for a treat!”
— Candace Robb, bestselling author of the Owen Archer mysteries

Genres: Mystery, Cozy Mystery, Fiction, Cozy, Contemporary

308 pages, Paperback

Published January 30, 2024

About the author

Alice K. Boatwright is the author of award-winning mysteries and literary fiction. Her mysteries about the skeptical American Ellie Kent, who marries a handsome English vicar and moves to his Cotswold village, have generated an enthusiastic following. The stories draw on the author's own experiences as an ex-pat living in an English village – as well as her longstanding love of English culture, literature, and history.

The first book in the series, UNDER AN ENGLISH HEAVEN, won 2016 Mystery & Mayhem Grand Prize for best mystery; and WHAT CHILD IS THIS? (Book 2) has become a popular Christmas read. IN THE LIFE EVER AFTER (Book 3) was published in January 2024.

In August 2019, a new edition of Alice's first book, COLLATERAL DAMAGE, was released by Standing Stone Books in recognition of the 50th anniversary of the Vietnam War. Winner of the 2013 bronze medal for literary fiction from the Independent Publisher Book Awards, COLLATERAL DAMAGE is three novellas about this divisive era told from the perspective of those who fought, those who resisted, and the family and friends caught in the crossfire between them.

Alice is also the author of a chapbook of stories about the San Juan islands, SEA, SKY, ISLANDS; and, in 2022, she established Firefly Ink Books to publish stories that families and friends can read together. The first book, MRS. POTTS FINDS THANKSGIVING, was released in August 2022.

After 10 years of living in England and France, Alice now makes her home in the Pacific Northwest, where she is active in the writing community as a member of Sisters in Crime, Mystery Writers of America, and PEN America. She is also the convenor for the North America chapter of the UK’s Crime Writers Association.

To keep up Alice’s latest activities, sign up for her newsletter at http://eepurl.com/cER4Cj

You can follow her on Twitter at https://twitter.com/aliceboatwright; Instagram at www.instagram.com/alicek.boatwright/ or Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/alice.boatwr...

Reviews

[Juliet Goldbart · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have loved all the Ellie Kent series and hope they continue. Alice Boatwright's writing is gentle and careful; she understands English life and people better than any of the other American "cosy crime" writers I have read.
I have particularly enjoyed Ellie Kent's development in her role as vicar's wife and member of the village community, as well as her relationship with Graham and Isabelle.
Each book subtly explores moral dilemmas in ways that make the reader think, both during and after reading the book. These novels are certainly crime fiction, but they are also explorations of the human condition. I recommend reading them in order.

[Natalie Pitman · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would recommend the Ellie Kent mystery series to anyone who loves a good cozy mystery like I do. I enjoyed reading all three books in the series.

[Elizabeth Johnson · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars for this one. The story itself was absorbing, and the historical traditions fascinating, but I just didn't connect with it as well. It was a little hard to follow the timing of when everything took place. And I was disappointed to see the vicar and his wife both using God's name inappropriately... bit of an instant turn off for me.

[patt · Rating 5 out of 5]

I feel as if it took forever for book 3 in the Ellie Kent series and it was worth the wait. This story may have been the best mystery of all. I really enjoy the author, Alice Boatwright’s, writing style and the small English village of Little Beacham, where these take place. There are a great mix of characters with the perfect combination of mystery mixed with a bit of family drama. I hope there will be more books in this series.

[Homerun2 · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have read all three of this series so far, and feel like they deserve to be a bit better known. Basic setting: American literary academic Ellie falls in love for a young widowed English vicar, they marry, and she moves to a small English village.

Ellie is trying to maintain her own identity without getting typecast as a vicar's wife while still supporting her husband Graham. To complicate matters, his first wife was a lovely person and highly regarded by his parish. Ellie does pretty well with all this and by the third book has a sort of might-have-been-friends relationship with the late wife.

Ellie and Graham have an honest and affectionate marriage and Ellie gets on well with his university aged daughter. She has a talent for mystery solving, which is good since dead bodies keep popping up.

[Kathleen · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautifully written mystery involving old and new murders. Are they related or is there something else going on? The main protagonist is the village vicar’s second wife, Ellie, who decides to take up the efforts of her predecessor, to prove the innocence of a convicted murderer now returned to the village having completed her sentence. This becomes a complicated and convoluted case with numerous people against Ellie’s efforts, even after more deaths happen in the village.

It was interesting when the author used social media reactions at various points to good effect, especially in showing how popular opinion changed after dramatic “rough music” by a village mob goes viral. Ellie may take some risks, but carefully and while keeping the local police fully informed. The final reveal was incredibly tragic on so many levels.

A retired inspector that Ellie consults with about the original case at one point says, “I would have thought your husband would choose someone more interested in flower arranging than murder. But apparently not…. Ellie didn’t know what to say—whether he was praising her or calling her a complete nincompoop…” Fortunately the present inspector is more appreciative of her efforts and insights.

I also enjoyed the few catches of religion as seen mainly in Ellie’s husband’s sermons. Her step daughter’s essay on the Resurrection sounds fascinating and I wonder what she concluded. All in all another delightful book by this author.

There are 2 previous book in the series and, while this can stand alone, it is interesting to see Ellie’s comfort zone as a vicar’s wife continue to evolve. I came upon this third book by accident and was very thrilled to see it. There is also a fourth book coming soon! Thank you Ms. Boatwright!

[Bev Hitchins · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such an unlikely premise--the new American wife of a parish pastor in the small English village of Little Beecham plays a pivotal role in solving the mystery of a "death" that happened 15 years prior. Alice Boatwright begins what appears to be an easy-going story with her protagonist Ellie Kent chatting, seemingly innocently, with the village residents. Their take of what happened remains vivid and, in some cases, angry. The desire to uncover the details grows not only in Ellie but also in the reader (me) as she continues to hear others' perspectives and discover valuable information. As the story unravels, the easy-going tone morphs into a tension-filled crescendo--something that had me on the edge of my seat until the end! Go Ellie!!!

[Lisa Teves · Rating 5 out of 5]

Each book in the Ellie Kent Mystery’s gets better than the one before. In this book, Ellie finds herself looking into a mystery that her husband’s late wife had begun years earlier. Corrina Matthew’s confesses to killing her brother and spends 15 years in prison. When she’s released she returns to her home in Little Beecham. Unfortunately she’s not greeted with open arms. A hateful campaign to get her to leave the village begins immediately. Ranging from petitions to threatening letters and even an attempted murder, Corrina remains calm and unconcerned. So unconcerned that Ellie wonders why she doesn’t even want to call the police.
The ending was completely unexpected but perfect.

[Cecilia Aragon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great read in the Ellie Kent series by the talented Alice Boatwright. It starts out peaceful and warm with loving and lush descriptions of the English countryside and the quirky characters that inhabit the small village in the Cotswolds, and then the tension ratchets up as break-ins, attempted murders, and more murders occur. Quite a page turner! I enjoyed it all the way to the end. Highly recommended.

[Alice F. Meier · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Truise Mystery

I love a good mystery! This one kept my interest from the beginning! Being a Vickers wife was a good plot! That's an uncommon role for a detective with the ability to solve crimes! I loved her part of the story.. Loved the twists of character at the conclusion to reveal the killer! Very good ending!

[Mary Beth M · Rating 5 out of 5]

Three Ellie Kent books are not enough!

The characters, atmosphere and mysteries in this series met me at exactly the spot I longed for. From the carefully crafted problems to be solved, with the very human personae, the musing spirituality, the beautifully described settings - I can't say goodbye to them so soon.

I can best compare them to the Merrily Watkins novels of Phil Rickman, including fascinating local facts, but without the paranormal shadows.

I'm sure you have a lot to keep you busy, Ms. Boatwright, but I do implore you - if inspiration is tickling you at all to continue following Ellie's path, please, please, please, pursue it.

[Lynne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Alice Boatwright has a gift for writing terrific mysteries! This, her third in the Ellie Kent series, is even better than the previous entry. Great characters - old friends as well as new ones. A wonderful plot with an excellent twist that I didn't see coming. And each time I finish I can't wait for the next addition. And - books I'd recommend to anyone!

[June · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like this series very much and was so glad to discover a third story involving Ellie Kent and the other characters in the village of Little Beecham. In the Life Ever After is my favorite of the series. 4.5 stars

[Diana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Third Book in the Ellie Kent series as good as #1&2

Alice Boatwright has a wonderful way of developing characters, expressing theology, creating a mystery with twists and turns…and leaving the reader satisfied. Her words are put in the right order to intrigue and satisfy.

[Heidi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've really enjoyed this series. I hope there will be more someday...

[Kathy Moberg · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like this series a lot. This one may be a bit over the top but it's entertaining and well written. I hope there are more of these mysteries to come.

[Kristin · Rating 5 out of 5]

worth the wait!

Finally got more in the series about American Ellie Kent and her English vicar husband. I enjoyed the mystery and getting to know the characters both new and old.

[Sheila · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great addition to this series. Good murder mystery, good characters. I hope that there will be more in the future.

[kathryn casper · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book

An intriguing mystery with many layers. Well written with relatable characters. I'm looking forward to reading about Ellie Kent's next adventure.

[Richard Farley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well plotted mystery

Once again another great plotted mystery and with a surprising twist, The author has given us more interesting characters. Hopefully more to come.

[Jill Stirling · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quite good, except I guessed the outcome from the beginning. This is quite a good series.

[Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this long awaited addition to the Ellie Kent series!

[MARY HEBERT · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fan of Ellie Kent

I love these books and I hope there is another one in the works. Ellie has a wonderful family and a fascinating life.

[Anne Knight · Rating 5 out of 5]

intrigue and mystery throughout

I love a good mystery and this one pulled me in and ended in a complete surprise about “who done it?”

[Peggy Roub · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good book

This was a real page turning mystery. I liked the characters, sorry this is the end of the haunting story.

[KDRBCK · Rating 4 out of 5]

conclusion to trilogy, all is well in the end

[Pk · Rating 4 out of 5]

Only downgraded to 4 or 4.5 because I figured out the solution pretty early on.