Homicide in Hampshire

Cleo Marjoribanks Mystery #1

by Barbara Bothwell

One evening when Cleo Marjoribanks returned home she discovers the body of her housekeeper (Janet) - in the swimming pool. It appears that the housekeeper's husband (Dan) and Cleo's Volvo are missing. His body is discovered on a beach. He had been shot and the car is found hidden deep in the forest. Paula Linley, Cleo's friend has a teenage daughter, Margaret, whom it is discovered had known Dan. Paula found Margaret's diary and learned that Dan had had the teenager look after a sealed envelope with a small book inside. Both Dan's brother and and Janet's brother turn up looking for money. Then the village gossip is murdered in Cleo's garden in an attempt to frame Cleo and near the end of the book is a very strange car chase . Eventually Cleo is threatened, twice in one morning. The DCI in charge of the case is David 'Steaming' Kettle who knew Cleo when they were children. Does a romance develop?

Genres: Mystery

215 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 6, 2011

About the author

Welcome to my profile, lovely to see you.

Have you always been a writer? Is a question writers are frequently asked. Yes, among other things is often the reply. In my case I think I should be in the Guinness Book of Records for the variety of work I have done.

Advertising, PR, theatre, cabaret, Travel Courier, Gift Shop Manager (cruise ships), Legal Secretary. This last fulfilling my parents' dream that I get a safe, secure job. Hmmm. Until I developed RSI and got laid off without compensation.

But I have always written and became an internationally published travel writer. Now I am a published novelist. I love writing cosy crime and, as I have lived in other countries I sometimes set my books there. 'Death of a Copycat' and 'Irresistible You' (Jemma Linley) are both set in Florida and the Cleo Marjoribanks book 'Ghosts in the Guest House' is set in Spain. I actually had the idea when in Portugal but as Cleo speaks Spanish.....

I have now also written a novella 'A Favourite Aunt by Christina' which is fiction based on fact about a woman who, in the 1960s, had the courage to leave her no-very-nice husband. He got everything including the children - but she survived.

Also now published is the first of an American period Saga series about a Spanish gentleman who leaves the circus to become a theatrical agent and entrepreneur. 'A Young Man's Dream'.

Now I would love it if you would buy and read all of my books and recommend them to your friends.

Thank you.

Reviews

[Melody · Rating 4 out of 5]

nice!

[Paula Corregan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good mystery!

This mystery was filled with action and intrigue. I liked the main characters. The plot was rather intricate. I highly recommend this book to other mystery readers.

[Les · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a strange book as I feel like the main character is really super unlikable and annoying.

Cleo Marjoribanks (Pronounced Marchbanks don't 'cha know - No I didn't ) is a fat annoying woman of an indeterminate age who following a lottery win bough a pile in the New Forest and spent a small fortune fixing it up only to wander around shrouding her massive bulk in hideous caftans

Now to be honest I can't tell is Cleo is meant to be chunky, zaftig, or a person on my 600 pound life. But really what does that have to do with anything unless she needs a scooter to get around and can't climb steps.

She's already annoying with her 1/2 cockney accent and constant "Ta" which apparently means thanks you or thanks

The other thing is Cleo is a snob, she completely disdains the women who live in her local village as gossips; only befriending the local "Lady of the Manor" type who I assume in reality would have run screaming from the hot mess that is Cleo no matter how much cabbage she has.

And lastly Cleo still has the hots for the local Chief Detective who apparently grew up with her in London but then was able to escape and learn proper English.

He will be her love interest which I found unrealistic. Further everyone in the book seems to love her from classical Orchestra members to the newest coppers. It beggars belief unless they only like her because she is rich.


ETA Apparently I started this when it was new on my Kindle and lost interest at 61% on December 18, 2015. I wish I had recalled that before I reread it.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cleo is a larger than life character and with a big lottery win decides to buy a big house in the country, spends big to get it looking good. But then her housekeeper is murdered and Cleo finds her dead in her indoor swimming pool, then the adventure begins. A very satisfying read.

[Walter Price · Rating 3 out of 5]

This one started with promise and then quickly went downhill. The story was slow moving and I couldn't get into the characters. So I finally gave up and put it aside. On the plus side it was clean.

I gave it 3 stars because it wasn't really a bad book, just not my cup of coffee.