10 Marchfield Square

Audrey and Lewis #1

by Nicola Whyte

The Paris Apartment meets Only Murders in the Building in this debut murder mystery with an intriguing cast of characters inhabiting a quirky block of flats in modern-day London.

When a minor criminal is murdered in the smallest residential square in London, elderly heiress and landlady Celeste van Duren recruits two of her tenants to investigate. Her cleaner, Audrey, knows everyone and is liked by all, while failed writer Lewis is known by no one. He hates his job, hates his life, and he’s not that fond of Audrey either—but Celeste is persuasive.
As they hunt for clues in and around the Square, they discover everyone has something to hide, including their fellow residents. Audrey and Lewis must find a way to work together if they’re to find the killer in their midst. Assuming of course, there’s just the one . . .

Cozy crime enthusiasts will not be able to get enough of Marchfield Square and its residents.

Genres: Mystery, Cozy Mystery, Fiction, Audiobook, Cozy, Crime, Mystery Thriller

400 pages, Hardcover

First published April 1, 2025

About the author

Nicola Whyte has loved books for as long as she can remember. She writes novels and short stories for both adults and children. Her work has been listed for the Comedy Women in Print Prize, the Cheshire Novel Prize, the Daily Mail First Novel Competition, the BPA First Novel Award, and the Times Chicken House Children’s Fiction Competition. She lives near Stonehenge in Wiltshire with her family, a ridiculous spaniel, and two demanding tabby cats.

Reviews

[Jannelies · Rating 3 out of 5]

Marchfield Square looks like a lovely and safe place to live. In the city but behind walls and security gates, wealthy Celeste van Duren built her small community. She’s made one mistake though: she didn’t count on having a tenant with a criminal past – and a criminal live. When he’s found murdered and the police isn’t very fast with finding clues, she asks two other tenants to solve this mystery. Audrey, who loves cleaning and taking care of others, and Lewis, who hates his job and people in general, but loves crime writing. The two set out in a somewhat reluctant way but when the story evolves they learn to work well together.

What I like about this story is the interaction between Audrey and Lewis, and several other characters – not to forget that Marchfield Square itself plays a big role. And although there are developments we don’t expect, and some real surprises, the story failed to keep my interest at places. There was just too much talking and not enough action. It was a nice book and I would like to read more of this author to whether other works by her may get four stars instead of three.

Thanks to Bloomsbury Publishing and Netgalley for this review copy.

[Sian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nicola is a lovely friend of mine and she's written a book! And it's a cozy crime! Loved the setting and sense of place and Audrey and Lewis's relationship.

[scl.ashx · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating: 3.5/5

Big thanks to NetGalley and Bloomsbury Publishing for the ARC!

If *Only Murders in the Building* had a slightly British twist and way more conversations over cups of tea, you'd get *10 Marchfield Square*. It’s a cozy murder mystery with just the right touch of amateur sleuthing and eccentric neighbors, all wrapped up in a charming (but secretly shady) apartment complex.

Celeste Van Duran, the estate’s owner, recruits two unlikely detectives—Audrey the cleaner and Lewis the crime writer—to dig into a suspicious tenant murder when she loses faith in the police’s enthusiasm.

Their odd-couple dynamic is genuinely the highlight of the book. Audrey’s down-to-earth sensibility paired with Lewis’s self-serious crime brain gives the whole thing a fun, offbeat rhythm.

That said, it *is* a slow burn. There’s a lot of talking, a lot of speculating, and at times it feels like the plot is meandering around in circles. It doesn't help that there’s a sizable cast of quirky characters to keep track of—keeping a notebook on hand wouldn’t hurt.

Still, there are some solid twists, a nice “gotcha!” ending, and it’s cozy in the best sense of the word. If you're into murder mysteries that are more tea than terror, give this one a go.

[Jeanne Adamek · Rating 5 out of 5]

!!!!!!

[Kendra Mae · Rating 5 out of 5]

I genuinely love everything about this book! Only Murders in the Building meets The Paris Apartment!
A couple of murders happen in a small block of flats in modern day London. The elderly landlady recruits 2 of the square’s residents—her cleaner and a mystery novelist—to investigate, after police are quick to rule it a murder suicide. The unlikely pair discover anyone in the square could be a suspect and everyone has something to hide.

I want to move into this square and investigate alongside Audrey and Lewis! This was such a fun read! I like how the different perspectives kept the story moving in an exciting and balanced manner. Sequel, please?

Thank you to Dreamscape Media for providing an arc!

[Lulu McDermott · Rating 2 out of 5]

Honestly if I hadn’t been reading this book club, I would have for sure DNFed it. The plot was kinda interesting but I didn’t care about the characters at all. At one point I was hoping that Lewis would be the next victim just to add a little something interesting

[mira · Rating 4 out of 5]

A solid 4-star mystery. I loved the characters, I was supposed to love, and hated those who I was supposed to. Now whe I look back I feel like this puzzle is pretty solvable for the reader if they want to, but I just enjoyed the ride this audiobook took me on. The mystery didn't feel isolated from the rest of the world even though the most of the action took place in the Marchfield Square

Thanks to NetGalley, the author, the audiobook narrator and the publisher for providing me with the audio arc

[Brooke Delage · Rating 3 out of 5]

If I wasn’t reading this for book club I probably would have stopped half way through lol… but overall, decent!

[Kathrin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ein klassischer Cozy Crime mit einem schönen Setting – die Atmosphäre im Haus und die vielen kleinen Geheimnisse haben mir gut gefallen. Das Buch lässt sich angenehm und durch die kurzen Kapitel flott lesen.

Spannungsmäßig war es für mich eher auf der ruhigen Seite. Manche Entwicklungen konnten mich nicht ganz mitreißen, sodass der große „Ich-muss-jetzt-unbedingt-wissen-wie-es-ausgeht“-Moment ein bisschen gefehlt hat.

Trotzdem insgesamt ein unterhaltsamer Krimi für zwischendurch, den ich gern gelesen habe – vor allem wegen der Atmosphäre. (:

[Rylee Jones · Rating 2 out of 5]

uhmm that was the longest audio book of my life. And so very mid. I feel like it was soo stagnant the whole entire book, nothing caught my eye as I was reading, so made it VERY hard to finish. Lol at finishing this so late !

[Cam Dugard · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was underwhelmed...

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this cosy mystery featuring two slightly reluctant amateur sleuths.
I highly recommend the audio book, its brilliantly narrated.
I've pre-ordered the next book and can't wait!

[Leona · Rating 3 out of 5]

3,5 ⭐️
War ganz nett für zwischendurch :)

[Ally · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an absolutely PERFECT cozy murder mystery. It has a variety of interesting and well-rounded characters and enough information to keep you constantly coming up with new theories, but not so much that it becomes horribly convoluted. The twists were surprising but subtle enough to be believable. I loved the interaction between the main duo and really hope this is a first in a series!

The narrator in the audiobook did an Incredible job of bringing the characters to life! Tricky dialogues were very easy to follow.

Thank you NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for providing me with an ARC for my honest review!

[Janae McNally · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story is an absolute delight! Marchfield Square is a close-knit, safe community—until one of its residents is found dead. The eccentric landlady, Celeste, recruits the personable cleaner Audrey and the introverted writer Lewis to solve the murder, and the result is a fast-paced whodunit brimming with charisma and charm. The dynamic between Audrey and Lewis is a perfect blend of contrasting personalities, bringing both humor and heart to the story, making them an unlikely yet irresistible detective duo. The square itself feels almost like a character, with its quirky residents and picturesque setting adding to the mystery’s allure. The twists and turns keep you guessing until the very end, and just when you think you’ve figured it out, there’s another surprise. With a satisfying conclusion, this book is a wonderful read that balances suspense with endearing moments. If you're a fan of cozy mysteries, this one is definitely worth picking up!

Thank you to NetGalley and Union Square & Co. for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

[Lauren Molyneux · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐️
this was really fun! i would like to be celeste van duren when i grow up. go on nicola, give us a sequel, please!!

[Liz · Rating 2 out of 5]

An ok cosy crime, though I found both of the amateur detectives very annoying.

[Amelie · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐️ Cozy Mystery mit einem Setting, das mir echt gut gefallen hat :) trotzdem hat mir ab und zu die Spannung ein bisschen gefehlt? Irgendwie hat mich der Plot an manchen Stellen nicht so abgeholt, deswegen hatte ich auch kein krasses Bedürfnis danach zu wissen, wie die Story ausgeht. Habe auch die beiden Hauptcharaktere als eher unnahbar empfunden. Alles in allem hat mir das Buch aber trotzdem gefallen und man konnte es schnell lesen.

[Sabrina Gebauer · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ich habe eine lange Zeit gebraucht, um in die Story einzutauchen. Da Krimis generell nicht zu meinem Lieblingsgenre zählen, habe ich mich stellenweise durchs Buch gequält. Die zwei Hauptprotagonisten Audrey und Lewis sind mir mit der Zeit immer sympathischer geworden.
Ich habe das E-Book gelesen. Was sehr nervig war, war, dass ich die Textnachrichten am rechten Rand gar nicht lesen konnte, weil die mehr als die Hälfte abgeschnitten wurde. Hätte ich das vorher gewusst, hätte ich mir das E-Book nie gekauft.

[Hannah Zabran · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book dragged sooo much. I didn’t mind the characters but it really felt like it was trying to be Thursday Murder Club or Marlow Murders but just wasn’t. Also I guessed the end end “plot twist” within the first 50 pages.

[Kovaxka · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nem volt rossz, de olvastam már érdekesebbet is ebben a műfajban. Celeste lett a kedvenc szereplőm, Audreyt és Lewist kicsit halványabbnak találtam, bár sok szellemes riposzt kapcsolódik hozzájuk. 70-80 oldallal nyugodtan lehetett volna rövidebb, mert az első felében alig jutottunk előbbre. A végén okozott meglepetést, és a folytatás lehetősége is megvan benne – majd meglátjuk.

[Scarlett · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.7 ⭐️


For what it's worth, 10 Marchfield Square is a cozy, murder mystery. It is a slow burn and could be too slow for some.

I enjoyed the amateur sleuthing done by Audrey and Lewis. They were an unlikely pair to find this mystery out. I enjoyed their banter. These two had never spoken a word to each other until Celeste gave them an offer they couldn't refuse. I too would take time off work if someone offered to pay my month's worth of salary to find out whodunnit.

Audrey is a cleaner with a keen eye. However, around the end, she did slightly annoy me by believing the red herrings. She did have PTSD, so I can't blame her too much.

Lewis was kind of a mood. A crime writer who had a failed last book and was stuck in almost writer's block. He goes to work, comes home, and attempts to write. A reclusive man who doesn't socialize enough with his neighbors. I'd do the same tbh.

I liked this book, but not as much as I would have hoped. It is slow and there is a lot of talking. Not that many scenes that make you feel the thrill of investigating. The surprise at the end wasn't too surprising for me. I had a feeling from the beginning of the book, because why else would they have been watching?

[Julia · Rating 4 out of 5]

10 Marchfield Square is a haven for the carefully selected people living there. Naturally, when one neighbour is found murdered the morning after Bonfire Night the community is shocked. When a second murder happens and the police don't take it seriously the owner and landlord of the small community engages two of her tenants, Lewis and Audrey, to find out what happened. Audrey and Lewis don't get along at first. They are too much polar opposites, but the cleaner and the author of crime novels (currently suffering from writer's block) complement each other well enough to pick up threads the police hasn't noticed.

I liked the many quirky characters. As is the custom with a large cast of characters, each one has something to hide that makes them suspicious, but is there someone among the inhabitants of the square who actually did it?

Cosy mystery that had me guessing a few times. With the way it ended I'm hoping Audrey and Lewis get the chance to investigate another crime.

[Wondrously Bookish Cristina · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a cosy murder mystery with an amateur detective duo who beats the police to the punch.

When the first body turns up dead in the building at 10 Marchfield Square, wealthy neighbour Celeste feels the police are bumbling about and not likely to find the culprit. When the second body turns up and they suspect a suicide, the conclusion is confirmed. She proceeds to secure a better duo of detectives inasmuch as at least they seem interested to discover the truth and are unwilling to leave any stone unturned.

Quite the caper.

Thank you Nicola Whyte and Netgalley for this ALC.

[Connor · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5. I just want to say I was right about ONE murder, and while I wasn’t about the others, I WAS STILL RIGHT ABOUT ONE.

[Leona_Booklover · Rating 3 out of 5]

BuddyRead mit der lieben Toni 🫶🏼

Als ich mir “Marchfield Square” als Lesejury Prämie geholt habe, waren meine Erwartungen nicht allzu groß, doch aktuell bin ich für viele Krimis zu haben.

Grundsätzlich hat mir die Story des Buches gefallen und auch das Londoner Setting am Marchfield Square war ein authentischer Schauplatz. Dennoch gibt es für mich leider mehrere Kritikpunkte…

Nicht nur kam ich ständig mit all den Charakteren durcheinander (es gibt 10 Parteien am Square und dann noch viele Außenstehende…), sondern auch der Schreibstil hat meinen Lesefluss ziemlich beeinträchtigt 😢

Am schwerwiegendsten ist für mich allerdings die Tatsache, dass einige der Handlungen und Plot Twists so kompliziert waren, dass ich sie schlichtweg nicht verstanden habe. So war mir selbst das Ende bzw. die finale Auflösung des Falles nicht ganz klar, was das Leseerlebnis natürlich negativ beeinflusst 😕

Dennoch gebe ich 3✰, denn Potenzial hat das Ganze definitiv - nur leider scheiterte es an der Umsetzung.

Falls allerdings jemand mehrere komplexe Zusammenhänge in Krimis liebt: Dieses Buch ist für euch perfekt! 🔎

[lysified · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of the biggest joys of Celeste, the rich neighbourhood busybody (and landlady of Marchfield Square) is to quietly spy on her neighbours and tenants with binoculars as she is looking out her window every day, chronicling the comings and goings of the residents. One day murder creeps through the cracks of the building and Celeste is ready to task the ‘cleaner’ and the ‘writer’ in the building to do sleuthing for her to both satisfy her curiosity and solve the murder of one of her tenants.

The way this book was a delightful read! Absolutely adored all the characters that were included in this cozy murder mystery. There are a little million small characters, and seemingly no one has a motive, but turns out there are more going on in the neighbourhood, than what you expect at first.

Audrey and Lewis’ chemistry in conversations are enchanting, as opposites are interacting, although I sometimes felt the happenings were drowned out by conversation and at times I had a hard time keeping up with who is who and did what. I didn’t mind it as much as audiobook, since Nneka Okoye narrates it wonderfully, bringing the book to life vividly.

Thank you to NetGalley and Dreamscape media for allowing me to listen to this audiobook for free ✨

[Lydia · Rating 5 out of 5]

a perfect cosy murder mystery to get you out of a reading slump!!

[Laura Misch · Rating 3 out of 5]

A nice, cosh mystery for this time of year. Basically a British riff on Only Murders in the Building when two residents of Marchfield Square come together to solve murders.

I liked the characters, and I wouldn’t mind reading about them again if more books were to come.

[Liz Weasleyhead · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cozy Crime Story mit "Only Murders in the Building" Vibes ❤️
Schon seit Release war ich so gespannt auf die Story 🤓
Ich hab es dann sehr spontan als Hörbuch angefangen und muss zugeben, dass mir der Einstieg nicht leicht viel 😕
Irgendwie waren mir das auf einmal zu viele Charaktere, Namen und Orte. Doch nach einer Weile war ich dann voll drin und richtig gefesselt.
Die Atmosphäre war richtig schön dicht, mysteriös aber dennoch ganz cozy 🥰
Aber auch mit Audrey und Lewis als laienhaftes Ermittlerduo musste ich erstmal warm werden 🤣 beide sind echt speziell und haben total ihre Eigenheiten, was in der einen oder anderen Situation schon zu einem witzigen Moment geführt hat 🤣
Beide spielen sich aber nach einer gewissen Zeit ein und machen auch eine tolle Entwicklung durch, das hat mir richtig gut gefallen 🥰
Ich habe den Fall wirklich gespannt verfolgt, obwohl ich manchmal das Gefühl hatte es wird sich ein unnötigen Details verbissen, nur um die Leserschaft auf eine falsche Fährte zu locken 🤓
Die Auflösung und den kleinen Twist am Ende fand ich doch toll und sehr unterhaltsam inszeniert 😊
Ich hatte an tristen und verregneten Sommertagen viel Spaß mit der Geschichte und es gibt eine klare Leseempfehlung für Fans von "Only Murders in the Building ". Besonders mit dem düsteren, cozy Setting passt es auch toll in den kommenden (Spät)Herbst 😊