Murder in the Lakes

Melody Harper #1

by Rachel Amphlett

A wedding, a missing fiancée, and a murder – Melody Harper is about to discover just how dangerous "I do" can be...

Fledgling private detective Melody Harper is down on her luck and nursing a black eye when she’s approached by a new client who believes her daughter is in danger.

There’s a wedding next weekend, and the client’s daughter is the bride. Except Melody’s client hasn’t told her the whole truth – the groom’s last fiancée seems to have disappeared, and nobody has any answers.

Now tasked with going undercover to protect the bride-to-be, Melody finds herself out of her comfort zone and on an outdoor adventure weekend in the Lake District with the hen party.

This is her biggest investigation to date, but will Melody even survive long enough to unmask the killer and protect the bride?

Murder in the Lakes is a page-turning murder mystery from USA Today bestselling author Rachel Amphlett and perfect for readers who love amateur sleuths and deadly crimes.

Genres: Mystery, Ebooks

296 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 9, 2025

About the author

Before turning to writing, USA Today bestselling crime author Rachel Amphlett played guitar in bands, worked as a TV and film extra, dabbled in radio, and worked in publishing as an editorial assistant.

She now wields a pen instead of a plectrum and writes crime fiction with over 30 crime novels and short stories featuring spies, detectives, vigilantes, and assassins.

A keen traveller and accidental private investigator, Rachel has both Australian and British citizenship.

You can find out more about Rachel and her books at www.rachelamphlett.com.



Praise for Rachel Amphlett

“Fast paced with vivid characterisation and clever twists, [None the Wiser] is another winner” Adrian McKinty

“[None the Wiser] is a terrific start to a new series” Jo Spain, With Our Blessing and The Confession

“Quirky, creepy and twisted tales” James Oswald, Sunday Times bestselling author

“Thrilling start to a new series. Scared to Death is a stylish, smart and gripping crime thriller” Robert Bryndza

"Scared to Death… moves along at breakneck speed with twists and turns" Angela Marsons

Reviews

[Brenda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Melody Harper, private detective, was headed to the Lake District where a facility conducted outdoor adventure weekends. A small group of women had booked a hen's weekend, and when Melody was contacted by the bride-to-be's mother, concerned for Natasha's safety, Melody threw herself into the task. Now, in a freezing October, with storms and howling winds, Melody wondered just what she'd let herself in for.

Brothers Chris and Noah ran the facility, along with long time assistant, Ava, and while they tried to teach Melody the ropes, she knew she wasn't welcome. But when the women arrived, the events began; fun and laughter led the way. Abseiling, clay pigeon shooting, hiking and camping overnight - with rain and wind to keep them company, and Melody alert for every little thing; danger was coming. Then someone was murdered...

Murder in the Lakes is the 1st in the Melody Harper series, a new one from Aussie author Rachel Amphlett, and I loved it! The setting was gorgeous, with visual pictures painted so well, I felt I was there. Melody is an excellent character, sharp, connected and courageous, and I'm looking forward to reading more about her. Highly recommended.

[Andrea · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was something a bit different, and not at all what I expected from this author. I'll be looking out for the continuation of the series.

Melody Harper is a bit aimless in life. She's trained to be a private investigator, but having some trouble getting her career off the ground. So when her beloved grandfather dies and leaves her some money, she decides to go travelling. Wandering around in Europe she finds the money dwindling much faster than expected, so she buys a cheap ticket to India to extend both her money and her trip as far as possible. She loves India!! And while she's there, she stumbles across an idea that she thinks could be the solution to her problems. She has discovered the niche profession of wedding detective. Returning to England full of hope, Melody uses her remaining inheritance to set herself up with an office for her new business.

Along comes the well-to-do, worried mother of Natasha, who is due to be married very soon. Natasha's hen party will be an outdoor/survival weekend in the Lake District with a couple of friends, plus her in-laws-to-be. The thing is, the previous fiancée of Natasha's beau had gone missing in mysterious circumstances, and the mother is worried about something happening to Natasha. Melody will have to go along on the hen weekend to protect her from danger.

This was a really enjoyable, quick read. I particularly enjoyed the first half, where the premise for the series was being established. The mystery was good too (I didn't pick the perp), but that's almost irrelevant. I wouldn't call this a cosy; it's kind of halfway between cosy and edgy. Recommended.

[Ness Nanfra · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book is an easy read about a murder that occurs on a hens weekend. I would struggle to call this a true thriller as it lacks the complex character development which helps to craft the plot twist at the end of the book

[Nicola Doyle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this. Cosy Mysteries are so relevant right now in my opinion. I love how many varieties we have. Rachel has spoiled us with this outing. It was so good.

The cover is stunning. The colour palette is excellent. The image shrieks isolation but it works so well. It's a great design job!

The story is very well written and flows beautifully. The descriptions are wonderful and they help with the cosy mystery vibes tremendously.

The characters were all great. They all fit into the story well. Melody is a great detective and I had great fun reading her story and watching the events of this unfold.

I can't recommend this to you all!

[Julie (JuJu) · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC BOOK TOUR REVIEW 👰 MURDER IN THE LAKES by Rachel Amphlett (Melody Harper Series - Book #1)
🌟🌟🌟🌟.5/5
The Lake District is stunning, but it definitely has a dark side—like dead bodies.

Rachel Amphlett kicks off her new series with "Murder in the Lakes," a British crime procedural that pairs a gloomy lakeside murder with a detective who’s just as emotionally stormy.

Enter Melody Harper, a unique investigator on a mission to vet grooms and make sure they’re not just charming con artists. I could have used Melody back when I was planning my first wedding! 😂

When a woman's body washes up by the water, it’s easy to think it’s an accident—spoiler alert: it isn’t. This isn’t your feel-good beach read; we’re here for crime, not natural causes! Melody soon discovers that this seemingly idyllic town is more like a can of worms than a postcard. Secrets are swirling, and let’s say most folks have a shady side.

The plot unfolds like a slow-moving fog on the lake, and once you’re in it, you can't get out. Amphlett writes with confidence, layering in twists, red herrings, and local gossip that feel both believable and deliciously sinister. And Melody? She’s the kind of detective you root for: flawed and determined.

The setting is straight out of a cozy mystery lover’s daydream: misty mornings, creaky boats, and isolated cottages that might give you chills but are cozy enough to keep you glued to the pages. If you love your murder mysteries infused with atmosphere, moral dilemmas, and a detective working through both crimes and her own mess, this series is calling your name.

Even with the slower pacing, this is a solid start to what promises to be a gripping new series. Perfect for anyone who enjoys their murder with a side of emotion and rainy landscapes.

Thanks to the author, Saxon Publishing, and Zooloo's Book Tours for this gifted eARC. All opinions are my own.

#MurderintheLakes #RachelAmphlett #SaxonPublishing #ZooloosBookTours #GiftedARC
#capcut #lefttoread #reader #read #honestreview #thriller #bookreviewer #thrillerbooklovers #thepulse #lovetoread

[Hailey]

An incredible read with tons of twists and turns. My first book by Rachel and it won't be my last. This was the first in the Melody Harper series featuring a stealthy private eye detective who decides to do investigations into soon to be wedded couples to find out if there is anything nefarious going on in either the future husband or wife's lives. Such a great storyline. Bravo!

[Beth · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 cute short simplistic cozy mystery

[Sue Wallace · Rating 5 out of 5]

Murder in the Lakes by Rachel Amphlett.
Melody Harper book 1.
This was a really good read. I liked the cover and blurb of this book. I do love this author. I love the setting. I have been there. It's gorgeous. I liked the writing style and the story. I did have a theory. But I was wrong. Twisty and gripping. What a great start to a new series. I devoured in two sittings. I really am looking forward to the next book.

[Sonja Charters · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is now only my fourth read by this author (even though there's an extensive backlist!)

I seem to have been randomly reading books that formed part of much bigger series and although I loved the writing style and premise of each, I definitely felt that something missing, having not grown with the characters from the start.

 

Imagine my excitement when I discovered this new release!

This is the first book in a new series by Rachel - the Melody Harper Detective Mysteries series.

I had such high hopes for this one as I knew that it would encompass all of the things I loved from my previous reads and I'd get to meet our new detective right from the start.

This did not disappoint!!

 

Our main character gives us something a little different in that she's a private detective rather than a police detective so this gives us a little more scope for the possibility of bending rules and being a little loose with certain morals maybe.

 

Melody was a great character to explore and I know that although we've seen some snippets of her background and character - there's going to be a lot more to come over the series.

 

This case was perfect as an introduction, as Melody goes undercover to help her client save her daughter from a potential threat - leaving her right in the centre of a wedding party and attending the hen do where things don't really quite go to plan for the hens or the suspect.

 

This was such a good storyline and I was completely hooked from the start.

With a great mix of diverse characters who all end up on my suspect lost at one point or other!

 

The setting was perfect for a tension filled and exciting thriller with so many potential threats and accidents waiting to happen.

It was great to see all the different characters' experience of this super outdoorsy weekend.

It definitely made me uncomfortable and confirmed that this kind of thing is not for me!!

 

This was a brilliant start to the series and I loved Melody so much.

She's definitely a character I can get behind and one who I can't wait to follow into the next case ....

[Jen · Rating 5 out of 5]

There are few things more enjoyable than reading, and loving, a book by one of your favourite authors, knowing that it is the start of a brand new series. That is exactly what has happened here and, Murder In The Lakes, our introduction to novice Private Investigator Melody Harper, is an absolute cracker that hit all the right notes for character, mystery and tension, just as I knew it would.

Now, I am not going to say that Melody Harper is modelled in anyway on the author herself, but there are some similarities in that both are very tall (veritable giants IMHO), and both have completed Private Investigator training. I'd like to think that faced with a case such as that in which Melody is engaged, Rachel Amphlett would totally step up to the plate too, although perhaps considerably more prepared for the very outdoorsy nature of the situation than her protagonist. For Melody is hired by a bride-to-be's very worried mother to watch her daughter during her Hen weekend, a getaway at an outdoor activity centre in North Wales. The reasoning behind the mother's nervousness? The fact that the Groom to be's last fiancee disappeared without a trace and there is a fear that history may be about to repeat itself.

Melody is a brilliant character and, as is typically the case in a Rachel Amphlett novel, she is introduced to us in such a way that it is hard not to like her and feel every ounce of her enthusiasm, and trepidation, when it comes to the cases she undertakes. There is just something about her and there is no denying her commitment to the case. Completely out of her comfort zone, in every sense of the word, and with a real risk to her life as well as that of her client, she goes all in, with potentially deadly consequences. In fact, there are very deadly consequences for one of the group and it will be up to Melody to try and find out who and why before her client becomes victim number two or, worse still, suspect number one.

I love the way in which Rachel Amphlett is able to create such a broad range of characters for her books that it is really hard to know who to trust, or just who, if anyone, has Melody's back. From the centre instructors, to the very broad range of personalities in the bridal group, I could easily picture any one of them having an issue with bride to be Natasha. Heck, there were times when I'd have cheerfully throttled most of the group, and possibly one of the instructors too, so getting to the bottom of the who, what and why was not necessarily that straightforward. In fact, the bad guy, or gal, was hidden in plain sight, very effectively so. There is a quick building tension as, with a weekend centred around, climbing, abseiling, shooting and altogether outdoorsy world of opportunity, the risk factors were present at every turn. But in amongst this was good humour, brilliant dialogue and some very astute observations from Melody that often made me smile.

I'm really keen to see where this series will lead. Melody is the kind of personality that has the capacity to get herself in all manner of scrapes, and with the opportunity presenting itself following this very high profile case, there is a world of opportunity open to Rachel Amphlett to put her latest hero right in the thick of it. Fun, fresh, pacy but packed full of mystery, brilliant humour, and featuring a character I am excited to see again, I heartily recommend this book. If you love Rachel's books, choosing this should be a no brainer.

[Claire · Rating 4 out of 5]

Melody Harper has an unusual occupation – she’s a wedding detective. What’s one of those I hear you ask? Well a wedding detective “will turn the prospective groom’s life inside out, and all without him knowing.” Melody makes sure that the betrothed is exactly who he says he is and doesn’t have any skeletons hidden away!

Melody’s rather good at her occupation from what I can see! The book opens as she’s telling a bride what a scumbag the man she’s planning to marry is which doesn’t go down too well but that’s what you get when you’re breaking hearts!!

Her new assignment is to protect a bride in her hen do up in Cumbria at an activity centre – that is fraught with danger as the hen party and Melody find out!! But someone in the inner circle of friends must be the culprit but why?!?

Totally told from Melody’s perspective, I loved playing detective. The hen party seemed so close knit, I didn’t want to believe any of them would want to harm their good friend even if some of them were b!tches to our Melody!

I do love an “amateur detective” read and Murder In The Lakes is an excellent one. It’s not as dark as some of the crime books I’ve read but when you think someone is gunning for a bride on her hen do, that’s a pretty dark idea! I’m hoping to see more from Melody Harper!!

[Bibliophile Foodie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first book in the Melody Harper series, and it’s a fantastic start. From the moment I started reading, I was pulled into Melody’s world and her newest case, which quickly became more serious than expected.

Melody is a private investigator who finds herself working undercover at an outdoor activity center during a bride-to-be’s hen weekend. What begins as a protective job soon turns into a dangerous mystery, and I couldn’t stop turning the pages to see what would happen next. The setting added such a great atmosphere—isolated and full of tension—and the pacing was just right. Every chapter kept the story moving while adding more clues and drama.

I really liked Melody as a character. She’s smart, determined, and not afraid to face a challenge, even when she’s out of her comfort zone. The rest of the cast, from the bridal party to the staff at the center, added layers to the mystery and made guessing the truth tricky.

The writing was smooth, the plot was tight, and the twist kept me guessing until the end.

I’m already looking forward to what Melody gets up to next.

[caz.readz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Melody Harper, Private Detective, has a new case to delve into. The mother of a Bride-To-Be is worried for her daughter Natasha's safety and hires Melody to look out for her daughter by attending her hen weekend. It's not your normal going out for dinner and drinks hen do but a weekend at an outdoor adventure centre. Melody needs to quite literally learns the ropes and go under cover as a member of staff at the centre so she can be close to Natasha. What Melody doesn't know is that the Groom's previous fiancée has vanished andnobody seems to know what happened to her. Can Melody keep her safe whilst also seeking out who it is that wishes her harm before it’s too late?

This is a great introduction to our FMC Melody and what looks to be a brilliant new series. She is a strong character who doesn't let anything stop her investigating a case. Her sheer tenacity to get to the truth and put her client first is commendable. She is by no means perfect, and we are privy to her flaws but for me that makes her more relatable. The story flows at a great place allowing things to flow naturally without feeling rushed or drawn out. We have a good range of characters who we get little glimpses of and I hope we hear more from them in later books. This is the first book I have read by Rachel Amphlett and I look forward to delving into her back catalogue. A refreshing and fun detective story that ties everything up nicely.

[Lisa reads alot Hamer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m a big fan of Rachel Amphlett books and this is book 1 in the Melody Harper detective mysteries.

Struggling to make her way in the private investigator world Melody takes jobs looking into the grooms eyes on upcoming weddings, a great concept and a great book.

Melody is very relatable and I’m really looking forward to reading more from this series.
A highly enjoyable whodunnit set in the Lake District if you like crime mysteries you’ll love this, highly recommend.
Congratulations on release day @rachelamphlett
Thank you @zooloosbooktours for having me on the tour

#saxonpublishing #murderinthelakes #outnow #ebookreview #zooloosbooktours

[Elvan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Early days in this series but I think Melody Harper and her pre nup investigations PI business are going to be fun to watch. This first in the series had Melody heading out with a hen party to an outdoors adventure venue. The bride's mum wants to be sure her daughter is safe and not a target like the prospective groom's late fiancee.

[MoMo Book Diary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hen Parties, Hikes, and Homicide – A Cosy Mystery in the Lakes

If you're looking for a classic cosy crime set against the stunning backdrop of the Lake District, Murder in the Lakes delivers intrigue, outdoor adventure, and a touch of humour through its scrappy, endearing lead, Melody Harper.

Melody is a private investigator still finding her feet, and I liked the fact that she felt real – a little rough around the edges, but genuinely determined. The hen party setting gave the book a fun and unusual angle, and the murder mystery that unfolds is well-plotted and engaging. There’s a strong sense of place, with the wilderness setting adding both atmosphere and danger.

The pacing kept me turning the pages, and although I didn’t quite get that 'wow' moment, I was thoroughly entertained. My only frustration – and the reason this is a four-star read rather than five – is that the blurb gives away several events that don’t occur until quite late in the story. I would have preferred to discover those twists myself, rather than anticipating them from the start.
That said, I really enjoyed the read overall and would happily return to follow Melody’s next case.

[Melanie Robertson-King · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first book by Rachel Amphlett I've read. It's the first in her Melody Harper series.

I'm not normally a huge fan of books written in the first person, because it's hard to get the other characters' POV. However, this didn't cause any issues for me.

Melody is a private detective who specializes in investigating the prospective spouse(s) hired by the parents. In this one, she ends up in the Lake District at a camp, undercover as a trail guide. Trouble is, she hasn't got a clue.

I found I was almost halfway through the book before I realized how much of it I read.

I've visited the Lake District once. And as we drove by Lake Windermere, the military flew one of the fighter jets low over the water. Scared me to death.

Back to the book. This is a series I'll definitely follow since I enjoyed this one so much.

Kudos to Rachel.

[Jacqueline · Rating 3 out of 5]

when there are only 4 potential murder suspects it gets too easy. 2.75

[Peter Fleming · Rating 4 out of 5]

First impression of our protagonist is she is personable and going to be fun reading about, as she slapped by a client’s daughter and takes revenge by an extra charge on her invoice. Melody Harper has stumbled into her current job as a wedding detective, taking inspiration from her travels in India where weddings are elaborate and carefully planned. She rents an office above a fish and chip shop, the proprietors of which treat her more like family and their good-looking twenty-something twin sons dote on Melody. She is a young woman with a touch of the sassy about her. With this brief set up we are up and running, in this shortish but keenly focussed and entertaining story.

Just vetting prospective spouses might be routine, but Melody ends up with an assignment that is far from it, looking after the welfare of the bride on her hen weekend. Most of her work is office based, but here she is going to be well out of her comfort zone and out in the field, literally so. The hen weekend is at an activity centre in the Lake District and Melody is to be acting undercover as one of the instructors, with no previous experience. All she will get is one day’s crash course before they arrive. What could possibly go wrong?

The set up is a variation on the familiar, having much in common with the Country House Mystery format, but being at an activity centre much of the action takes place outdoors. It may be a hen do but these women are keen to throw themselves into all the climbing, abseiling, outdoor skills and archery activities. So, plenty of danger out there, plus a touch of jeopardy and of course not everything goes to plan I am pleased to report.

This is a classic whodunnit with a small ensemble, so doubts are cast on almost all of them at some point or other, with plenty of red herrings along the way. Its nicely written, well structured and plotted, with an excellent reveal. It includes most of the elements that fans of the genre would expect and is the kind you read with a smile on your face. From the outset the reader can guess that the wedding specialist is going to become the ‘accidental detective’ in a situation where they are unsure who to trust, but sometimes the pleasure comes from this anticipation. The author does a great job, writing in an upbeat engaging style.

The switch from London to the Lakes is a nice way of moving Melody out of her comfort zone and contrasting the gritty, grimy city and the natural beauty of the British countryside, where nobody gets murdered… The activity centre is beautifully imagined and the reader will appreciate the natural dangers the weather brings to the great outdoors. This is nicely described with broad brush strokes, the length precludes much detail and it would spoil the flow. Naturally the story moves along at a rapid pace but still manages to build up a sense of urgency, with the final third becoming quite intense.

[April · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is Book 1 of Rachel's series, Melody Harper Detective Mysteries.

As someone who lives in the South Lakes, I saw this and had to read it... I mean, I'm a 20-minute drive from the Heart of the Lakes, so of course I had to.

The story follows Melody, who, after inheriting from her grandfather, decides to set up a private investigator firm in the extremely niche area of weddings!

This was an incredibly different kind of private investigator, and I loved the wedding angle!

Melody is great... I sometimes feel she has a little bit of imposter syndrome, just from what she says at times, but she absolutely shouldn't as she's brilliant at what she does!

I loved how city girl Melody ended up in The Lakes after accepting a job and loved how she goes undercover there!

The story itself is brilliant and very imaginative and knowledgeable of the area... even the train route from South to Winderemere Station, which was great!

This is definitely a cosy mystery as there's no gore, some laughs, and a who-dunnit, so it is perfect for a variety of crime/mystery lovers!

It's a brilliant story and I can't wait to jump into the next book as I feel this one will be even better, as Melody has proven to herself and to the world that she's pretty darn good at what she does!

[Alyssa E · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ — Twisty, fast-paced, and refreshing!

Murder in the Lakes was an excellent read! I honestly couldn’t put it down. The author did a fantastic job with the detail, character progression, and overall storyline. I really enjoyed the twists and turns — it kept me guessing right to the end.

That said, there were a few things that stood out as a little odd. Like, it was strange that the girls went on such an intense outdoor camping-style trip for a bachelorette, and even more surprising that the mother-in-law came too. Especially considering the ex-fiancé died at that exact location… and yet the MIL and SIL were just like, “Sure! Let’s go back there with the new fiancé!” That felt off.

Also, when Melody was undercover and getting to know the staff, wouldn’t at least one of the guys have mentioned the connection between the family and the previous death? It felt like those details were kind of glossed over — probably on purpose to preserve the twists — but it still seemed strange.

Even so, I was able to overlook those details because the story as a whole was so enjoyable. I loved that Melody Harper took on a wild assignment with no experience, and I really appreciated that the author didn’t try to shoehorn in a random romance subplot. So many books with strong female leads do that, and it ends up distracting from the mystery. Not here. Melody’s story stayed focused, strong, and believable, and I liked that we saw how she managed her way through the whole thing without much to go on.

I was truly stumped about who the murderer was — great job to the author for pulling that off! I loved the ending and definitely look forward to reading more from this series.

[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm reviewing this as part of a tour with Zooloo's Book Tours.

This murder mystery is the first in a series featuring private detective Melody Harper. Melody is approached by Patricia, whose daughter Natasha is getting married soon. Patricia has some suspicions about Natasha's fiancé, Ethan, and she wants Melody to investigate.

I liked Melody and connected with her while reading. Initially, I think she was somehow different from the kind of protagonist I expected, but somehow, that made me like her more. There were some intriguing characters, and after a while, I wasn't sure who to trust.

I'm a big reader of cosy mysteries, and I felt this had that cosy kind of quality. There was a little bit of an Agatha Christie vibe, just in a modern setting. I found this light enough to read in one sitting, I was invested in the story, and it kept me guessing right up until the end. If there are going to be more books with Melody as the protagonist, I'd probably like to read about her again.

Thank you to Zooloo's Book Tours, and to the author and publisher, for the opportunity to read and review this.

[Marcia Scott · Rating 5 out of 5]

The beginning reminded me of Janet Evanovich’s Stephanie Plum since the main character, Melody, was inept at everything to do with mountaineering. Yet she had accepted a job as private investigator to protect a bride to be on just such an adventure.
The humor related to her inexperience is soon lost as the activities begin in earnest and Melody realizes just how inexperienced she is and how difficult it will be to protect the bride.
Melody learns a lot about climbing, building shelters and abseiling as she tries to figure out who would like to see the bride dead before the wedding. Soon she is in danger as well as the bride she was hired to protect.
Descriptions of the beautiful scenery and wildlife are seen through Melody’s eyes are kept brief and do not get in the way of the story. We get a peek at what it takes to run a mountaineering business, a lodge for guests and deal with the unexpected. And you KNOW there are going to be unexpected twists and turns! I really enjoyed it!

[Jemima W · Rating 1 out of 5]

I am perplexed by all the good reviews for this book. I read it for book club and don’t think I have ever liked a book less. It got to the point where I became genuinely amused by how unrelentingly insipid, poorly-written, and derivative it was. It seems the author tried to cover the total lack of plot with constant unconvincing attempts to concoct tension (including a fake, cringy “cliffhanger” every. Single. Chapter). Not only was there insufficient story for any tension to exist, but it was impossible to care about any of her bland, one-dimensional characters.
There wasn’t a single event in the book that felt realistic (the main character is a “private investigator” but her entire job consists of…. Googling people???) and the writing was contrived, self-consciously tryhard, and deeply repetitive. I can’t even count the plot holes, ridiculous coincidences, and loose ends that were confidently introduced and then immediately ignored. It almost reads like it was written by AI.

[Nadine-Sue Sargent · Rating 5 out of 5]

Melody's new business venture sounds a hazard to her health but also fascinating.

Melody is an interesting character who is still finding her feet. She didn't seem to have confidence in herself but through inheritance has managed to travel and then set herself up doing something a little different. I felt like this was the start of a series with much more to come and it certainly ended in a way to allow that.

I did like the relationship between Melody and Charlie, and his family. She seems an easy character to get on with. Ava was a tough one to warm to but you understand why later on.

Quite enjoyed this and hoping for more to come

[Dave Wheeler · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rachel.an accomplished author shows why this is the case in this excellent novel.

Melody is commissioned to protect Natasha who her Mum believes life is in danger, is she just over protective or rightly concerned, well not boring of she wrong and This is not boring so.enough about the plot. This is a cast of friends the questionable referring to some of the characters. Theres plenty of things to get your head around and to try second guessing but if you can your doing well. The twists will catch you out and well.it just makes for a great read so why not.

I'm going to give it 5stars as I feel it well worthy I hope you.agree.

[Claire Ball · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a perfect murder mystery! I absolutely loved Melody and found myself really feeling for this poor woman who was clearly in over her head. I loved the description of her relationship with her grandad as I was close with mine. I raced through this book and found it a very easy comforting read. I only wish I was in the beauty of the Lake District to read it! I enjoyed how it wrapped up at the end and I hope to read more by this author in the near future.

[Soma Kar · Rating 5 out of 5]

Murder in the Lakes is a quietly gripping start to a new series. Melody Harper’s voice is fresh and sincere, and the Lake District setting adds a lovely atmospheric tension. I found myself turning pages faster than I expected, drawn in by the emotional undercurrents and the subtle twists. A sweet surprise for anyone who enjoys amateur sleuths with heart.

[Mike · Rating 1 out of 5]

Not the authors best work. As a reader I was not able to get invested in any of the characters.plot was overly simple.

[Maggie · Rating 5 out of 5]

The start of another great series. I read it in one day!