A Harvest Murder

The Ham-Hill Murder Mysteries #3

by Frances Evesham

A Cozy Mystery in The Bestselling Ham Hill Murder Mysteries from France Evesham!

One unexplained disappearance is strange, but two are sinister.In Lower Hembrow, an idyllic village nestled beneath Ham Hill in Somerset, the villagers are preparing to enjoy the autumn traditions of the rural English countryside until Joe Trevillion, a curmudgeonly local farmer and the father of six children, vanishes.

When Adam Hennessy, the ex-detective proprietor of The Plough, the village's popular Inn, investigates, he finds ominous undercurrents beneath apparently harmless rumour and gossip.

Meanwhile, a vicious campaign of vindictiveness forces Adam and his three amateur sleuth friends to dig deep into the secret lives of their neighbours to expose the source of a cruel vendetta and prevent another death.

As they uncover the disturbing truth, the friends learn they must also lay their own past lives to rest before they can hope to make their dreams for the future come true.

A cozy mystery series from the bestselling author of A Village Murder, and A Racing Murder perfect for fans of Faith Martin, Betty Rowlands and M.C. Beaton.

What readers are saying about the Ham Hill Murder Mystery
’Wonderfully portrayed characters, a mystery that keeps you guessing till the end, this is a brilliantly written piece of cozy mystery'

’I loved this book and think that it marks the beginning of a fun new series!’

’There are plenty of red herring plus twists & turns & a growing number of murders before the culprit is revealed. I happily whiled away a few hours with this engrossing read’

’I would recommend it to anyone looking for an entertaining read’

’An enjoyable and entertaining plot making for an engaging, relaxing read providing some much needed escapism’

’What a wonderful beginning to a series that I just know I am going to follow’



Other Books in the Ham Hill Murder Mystery series by Frances


A Village Murder

A Racing Murder



Also by Frances Evesham - The Exham-on-Sea Murder Mystery


Murder at the Lighthouse

Murder on the Levels

Murder on the Tor

Murder at the Cathedral

Murder at the Bridge

Murder at the Castle

Murder at the Gorge

Murder at the Abbey

Genres: Mystery, Cozy, Crime, Cozy Mystery, Audiobook, British Literature, Amateur Sleuth

261 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 21, 2022

Reviews

[AndrewP · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another cozy read that has all the things that make this sort of light mystery entertaining. Good characters, nice setting, and several mysteries to unravel. Some delving into the past of one of the main characters is part of the main focus, as well as the obligatory murder.

Nice easy read and I look forward to other books by this author.

[Janet · Rating 5 out of 5]

In Lower Hembrow, an idyllic village nestled beneath Ham Hill in Somerset, the villagers are preparing to enjoy the autumn traditions of the rural English countryside until Joe Trevillion, a curmudgeonly local farmer and the father of six children, vanishes. When Adam Hennessy, the ex-detective proprietor of The Plough, the village's popular Inn, investigates. Meanwhile, a vicious campaign of vindictiveness forces Adam and his three amateur sleuth friends to dig deep into the secret lives of their neighbours to expose the source of a cruel vendetta and prevent another death.
This is the third book in the series & whilst it could easily be read on its own I’m loving how the characters are developing. Another well written engrossing read, there were twists & red herrings & a delightful group of sleuths who worked together to solve not only a murder but also finding a missing donkey. There’s even a bit of romance. A delightful cosy mystery
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read

[LittleRead · Rating 5 out of 5]

When a local man goes missing and then returns only to drop dead at the Apple festival, retired Detective Inspector Adam and his friends sleuth to find out where the man disappeared to for a week and how he was poisoned. At the same time, one of the foursome of sleuths has his own troubles and the friends also decide to find out who is harassing the man and why.

This is British cozy mystery and I loved it! There’s something about British cozies that seem to be even cozier for me. The characters are relatable, the village and its residents inviting, and the mystery intriguing. I’ll be back for more.

[Mary Grand · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was so lucky to read an early copy of A Harvest Murder and I loved it.
Set in an idyllic village, cleverly plotted with great characters-a perfect book to escape in.

[Jenny · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Harvest Murder is book three in the Ham Hill Murder Mysteries by Frances Evesham. The small community of Lower Hembrow in Somerset was rocked again by the disappearances of a local farm and father of six. When a donkey went missing from a local artist retreat, Adam, the owner of The Plough, an ex-detective, and his friends decided to investigate. However, during the investigation, someone dies in mysterious circumstances. The readers of A Harvest Murder will continue following Adam and his friends to discover what happens.

A Harvest Murder is the first book I have read by Frances Evesham. I enjoyed reading A Harvest Murder, a lovely cozy mystery, and I like that Frances Evesham involved all her characters in the plot of this book. I did engage with this book from the start, which wasn't easy to put down. I love the way Frances Evesham portrayed her characters and their interaction with each other throughout this book. A Harvest Murder was well written and researched by Frances Evesham. I like how Frances Evesham described her settings of A Harvest Murder, which allowed her readers to immerse themselves in the plot of this book.

The readers of A Harvest Murder will learn how lovely donkeys are as a pet. Also, the readers will start to understand the dangers of eating the wrong mushrooms.

Thank you, NetGalley and the publisher, for my ARC copy of this book. I recommend this book.

[Emmalynn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another fun adventure but marked by some immaturity. Adam, Imogene, Dan and the gang are back in this new mystery that starts with Dan being subjected to a missing donkey. Soon he is bombarded with accidents and mishaps that makes it clear someone is out for him. Imogene, impatient with Dan for showing up late. Gives him the cold shoulder and and instead of being an adult and talking well a new man turns her head because one argument obviously mean her relationship with Dan is over, right??🙄🙄🙄 meanwhile Adam and Steph are going strong and investigating not only the disappearance and murder of a farmer but also the accidents that’s happening to Dan. There’s a lot of relationship issues to untangle, mysteries to solve, surprise proposals and more.

[StinaStaffymum · Rating 4 out of 5]

This delightful third installment in the Ham Hill mystery series set in the small community of Lower Hembrow in sleepy Somerset sees Imogen busy setting up for the Apple Day festival at the hotel, in light of the previous premises falling through, particularly after the success of the Spring Fair. With the help of the locals and the effervescent vicar, they are able to have everything in place within a week. Of course Imogen asks her artist boyfriend Dan for his help and he agrees, but on the day despite having set several alarm clocks to ensure his early arrival, he fails to show and Imogen is not best pleased.

However, unbeknownst to Imogen, when Dan was preparing to leave he discovered one of his beloved donkeys was missing and spent the next several hours searching to no avail. He arrives at the Streamside Hotel for the festivities but Imogen is angry at his tardiness yet again and refuses to listen to his excuses. Without waiting to be berated even more, Dan turns and leaves the hotel and the Apple Day festival to return to his studio some miles away.

Meanwhile, local farmer Joe Trevillian has disappeared after a row with his wife and a night of drinking at The Plough, leaving his wife and six children with a farm to run. Gossip is rife in the village as everyone has their own theories on where Joe might have run off to when he suddenly reappears at the Apple Day festivities. But before he can shed any light on where he's been he drops dead in front of Imogen. Now the gossip grapevine runs hots throughout the village with the news. But what happened to Joe Trevillian in those missing days? Could they shed any light on the reason for his sudden death?

When a post mortem reveals he had been poisoned, Adam (the owner of The Plough) and his partner Steph begin to toss ideas as to when and how the poisoning occurred...and ultimately, the question that remained. Who?

But life is far from quiet in what is thought to be a sleepy village as Dan finds himself the target of someone who appears to have it in for him. First his donkey Smash had disappeared...only to reappear a few days later with no explanation as to what occurred. Then his paintings were vandalised in a gallery and his studio is then burnt to the ground. Who has it in for him? And why?

A HARVEST MURDER is the delightful third book in this cosy mystery series where we meet up with Imogen, Adam, Dan and Steph once again, as well as all the various other locals that pop up. As with the previous mysteries, it is a very easy read involving all her characters in one way or another and engaging the reader from the start.

With a gentle pace, the reader is immersed into village life alongside the characters as the dramas inevitably unfold creating a mystery in which our sleuths cannot ignore. And there is plenty of drama, like a Midsomer Murders mystery, to keep readers entertained and the characters busy.

I liked how A HARVEST MURDER ended and I look forward to the next installment to see what's next for our our dynamic duo and their respective partners. Having enjoyed this series thus far, I have added Frances Evesham's Exham-on-Sea series to my ever growing TBR pile.

I would like to thank #FrancesEvesham, #Netgalley, #BoldwoodBooks and #RachelsRandomResources for an ARC of #AHarvestMurder in exchange for an honest review.

This review appears on my blog at https://stinathebookaholic.blogspot.com/.

[Alyson Read · Rating 5 out of 5]

Set in the village of Lower Hembrow, the Streamside Hotel is owned by Imogen Bishop who inherited it when her father died. Adam Hennessey is an ex-DCI from Birmingham who retired early from the police after a raid ended in tragedy and who subsequently bought The Plough Inn in the village. Old habits die hard though and he just cannot resist dabbling in a mystery. Adam and Imogen have become great friends and already have a shared history due to being involved in solving two murder cases, including that of Imogen’s husband’s murder, together with their two other friends, journalist Steph (who Adam is happily dating) and artist Daniel Freeman (for whom Imogen has held a torch for years but wonders if he will ever put her before his painting). Once again Imogen has been persuaded to host a village event, this time the Apple Day festival after another venue pulled out suddenly, when village shopkeeper Edwina Topsham asks Adam (in his role as ex-detective to all things in the village from missing dogs to murder) to look into the disappearance to farmer and father of six Joe. He left the pub on Sunday night and has not been seen since, although rumour has it he could just be avoiding his battle-axe mother-in-law and will turn up sooner or later. He does indeed return but there is an almighty shock in store when he does. Meanwhile another character from the village also vanishes and then returns with a sinister threatening message attached. Soon the team of four sleuths uncover something rather nasty and even deadly in their lovely chocolate box village which is too close for comfort.
This is a charming cosy murder mystery set in a picturesque village in Somerset with a cast of wonderful and sometimes eccentric people, although for me the star of the show is still Harley the dog. Adam and Imogen make a fantastic detective partnership in this gentle yet totally engrossing story where all the characters are very well described with plenty of background history given where required so this book can easily be enjoyed as a stand-alone without needing to read books one and two first (although I definitely recommend you do!). A great way to lose yourself in a story you won’t want to put down until you’ve finished. 5*

[Nellie Kampmann · Rating 3 out of 5]

At first I thought it was getting into the personal lives of the characters more than I cared for at the expense of the mystery part of the story. That's a matter of personal taste, so my rating is not based on that. Then it was revealed that the personal focus was part of a second mystery. That was better. I liked that the characters were relatable, "real" people, not the usual clichés or caricatures that you often see in cozy mysteries. The mystery part was interesting. What knocked it down from 4 stars to 3, borderline 2 stars was the ending. So, are we really supposed to believe that womanizing "use 'em and lose 'em" Brian would go through that much effort to destroy Dan over the drunk driving death of a woman who was probably drinking because of Brian, not Dan as had been assumed? That made no sense. I could have found it more believable if the brother had been the culprit. This is the first book I have read by Frances Evesham. Unfortunately, I can't say that it has enticed me to read any more in the series. It's a pity, since most readers are smitten with it. Hopefully that gaffe was a one off and I will enjoy the other books in the series better.

[Connie · Rating 1 out of 5]

If, when you come to write a review, you remember nothing whatsoever about a novel, perhaps it rates a single star. So seldom, so very seldom are the four star ratings accumulated on Goodreads actually reflected in the content of the books. This is one such book. I didn't like it, but obviously, many others did.

[Colin Mitchell · Rating 3 out of 5]

The four sleuths in Lower Hembrow are on the track of Joe, a local farmer, who has gone missing after leaving the Plough Inn. A week later he returns to the village and drops dead at the Apple Festival at the Streamside Hotel. Imogen Bishop the hotel owner because her boyfriend Dan has not turned up to help and when he does a subplot develops.

Imogen is a frustrating character, always thinks she is right and does not give others their chance, this leads her into difficulties others help to sort out. Steph and Adam at the pub seem to be getting together as a couple. Living in a village myself I can see lots of the same folk, so the book has some creditability. Ends up as a good read although the two separate plots divert the focus. 3 stars from me.

[Lorraine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Many thanks to NetGalley for an advance copy of this cozy mystery.

Imogen is busy setting up for Apple Day at the hotel, with help from the church and locals. She has asked Dan, her artist boyfriend, to assist on the day, and he agrees. But when the day arrives, one of his beloved donkeys has gone missing, and he spends hours searching. Imogen is angry at his absence and won't listen to any excuses from him.

Meanwhile, a local farmer has gone missing after a night of drinking at the Plough. Since he is a busy man with a wife, six children and a large farm to run, there's a lot of concern that something's wrong. He finally shows up on Apple Day, but after a few minutes collapses. When he dies shortly afterwards, an autopsy shows he was poisoned. But who and how?

I enjoyed this mystery about a group of friends in this pretty little town. This is the third in the series and I will continue reading it.

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s only fairly recently that I discovered how flipping fantastic an author Frances Evesham is. I haven’t quite caught up with everything that she has written which is something that I hope to rectify fairly soon. I have a special fondness for the ‘Ham Hill Murder Mysteries’ series. I read the first two books in the series and loved them and so when I found out that Frances was due to release another book in the series, I knew that I had to read it as soon as possible. Well ladies and gents, the wait is over because the third book in the series is called ‘A Harvest Murder’ and it was released on 21st June 2022. It’s a corker of a read, which I thoroughly enjoyed but more about that in a bit.
Once I started reading, I knew that I was onto a winner and that there was a fair chance that I wouldn’t be doing anything other than reading for the rest of the afternoon. I must be psychic (or should that be psychopathic lol) because that was exactly what happened. I felt as though I had reunited with old friends in the shape of Adam and his three fellow sleuths. I found that I just couldn’t put this book down. My Kindle wasn’t exactly glued to my hand but it might as well have been because it travelled everywhere with me. I just couldn’t beat to miss a single second of the story. I had my own suspicions as to how the story was going to develop and pan out so I had to keep reading to see if I was on the right path or if I wandered off down a diversion. The more of the story that I read, the more I wanted to read and the quicker the pages seemed to turn. At one point the pages were turning that quickly that the page numbers became a blur. All too quickly I reached the end of ‘A Harvest Murder’ and I had to say a temporary farewell to Adam and the rest of the villagers.
‘A Harvest Murder’ is extremely well written but then that’s true of all of Frances’s books that I have had the pleasure of reading and reviewing. Frances has one of those easy going writing style that is easy to get used to and easy to get along with. In fact reading one of her books feels more like a chat between friends rather than reading an actual book- I hope that makes sense. For me the story hits the ground running and maintains a fairly gentle pace throughout. I find that this gentle pace suits the story that is being told. Frances clearly cares about her characters and this shines through in the very vivid and realistic way in which she talks about them. She describes them so well that the characters in the book seem just as real as you and I. I love the way in which Frances makes the reader feel as though they are part of the story and at the heart of the action.
In short, I thoroughly enjoyed reading ‘A Harvest Murder’ and I would definitely recommend this book to other readers. I will certainly be reading more of Frances’s work in the future. The score on the Ginger Book Geek board is a very well deserved 5* out of 5*.

[Holly · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Harvest Murder is the 3rd book in the Ham Hill Murder Mysteries series, and IMHO it’s the best yet. I’m torn about writing this review, as there is so much to say but I don’t want to give away the plot as it’s a good one. From the title, you know there’s a murder, but there is so much more – really, there are two stories playing out that seem to have little to do with each other until you get to the very end. There are twists and turns, peril, romance (but all in good taste, no sex and no bad language), humor, and a satisfying ending. Once again Ms. Evesham draws us into the world of Lower Hembrow, this time as the village celebrates some fall events like Apple Day. Imogen is still running the Streamside Hotel that she inherited and it’s doing fairly well. Adam still owns and runs the Plough, everyone’s favorite pub. Imogen and her artist friend Dan have some adventures in this book, and I really can’t say more. Adam and his girlfriend Steph (also Imogen’s friend from school days) are moving along in their romance and they’re helping out with solving the mysterious death of a local farmer. Much of the action in the book takes place outside the Plough and the hotel and involves people outside the village. I didn’t get who killed the farmer until the very end, and with the other concurrent story, I had a good idea of the culprit (and I was right) but I was completely wrong about the motive. Be sure to read the Author’s Note at the end as she explains the fall festivals and where some of her ideas for this book originated.

There’s not a lot of backstory for the main characters in this book, so it is helpful if you’ve read the first two in the series, but it’s not necessary – this book is complete as are the first two and indeed, all the books in Ms. Evesham’s Exham-On-Sea Mysteries series (which I highly recommend). A Harvest Murder is well written and edited, the plot moves along at a brisk pace, there are clues along the way to help you solve the mysteries with Imogen and Adam, and enough plot twists to keep you guessing. Oh, and Ham Hill, which is a part of Lower Hembrow, has its day in this story. Put your feet up for a couple of hours and lose yourself in the goings on in Lower Hembrow. You’ll be glad of the time spent.

I received an advance review copy of this book from the author (thank you, Ms. Evesham!) and I leave this review voluntarily and with pleasure.

[Annette · Rating 4 out of 5]

As villagers in Lower Hembrow prepare for the upcoming Fall Festivities, Joe Trevillion, a curmudgeonly local farmer and the father of six children, vanishes. At the Apple festival, Joe reappears but only for a short while because he suddenly drops dead in front of everyone. Joe's death unleashes a flood of rumor and gossip. As retired police detective Adam Hennessey investigates, trouble raises it head as Imogen and Dan split. Along with solving the death of Joe, he and Steph must also work to bring their estranged friends back together. Dan on a personal level has his own mystery to solve when he becomes the apparent victim of a vendetta. The four friends must discover who killed Joe and who is out to get Dan. A very good read with twists and surprises.

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cosy crime readers will fall upon Frances Evesham’s latest novel A Harvest Murder with glee. The third stand-alone title in her Ham Hill series, A Harvest Murder is a fun, addictive and thoroughly enjoyable read perfect for Midsomer Murders and Agatha Raisin addicts.

In Lower Hembrow, a beautiful village nestled beneath Ham Hill in Somerset, the villagers’ plans to enjoy the autumn festivities of the English countryside end up going awry when local farmer Joe Trevillion vanishes off the face of the earth. With six children and a farm to run, Joe certainly has got plenty weighing on his shoulders, but he couldn’t just have disappeared…could he? Local publican and former detective Adam Hennessy is convinced that there is more to this case than meets the eye and, alongside his pals, plans to do some sleuthing of his own…

When a vicious campaign of vindictiveness begins to take hold in the village, Adam and his friends realise that maybe the local community knows more about Joe’s disappearance than they are letting on. As they begin to look into their neighbours’ lives, they find themselves shocked to their very core to discover that many a dark and twisted secret lurks behind the villagers’ closed doors. As they seek to expose who is the mastermind behind this cruel smear campaign, will Adam and his fellow sleuths manage to stop a murderer in their tracks? Or will they only manage to find a dangerous killer by looking deep into their own past lives?

Frances Evesham writes engaging cosy mysteries that once you start reading, you simply cannot put down and A Harvest Murder is a delightful, witty and suspenseful read I polished off in a matter of hours. Hard to resist and even harder to put down, A Harvest Murder thrums with long-held resentments, desperate secrets and unexpected revelations that will keep readers frantically turning the pages.

Fun, fast-paced and fabulous, readers who loves cosy mysteries will love Frances Evesham’s latest novel, A Harvest Murder.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[The Honest Book Reviewer · Rating 4 out of 5]

A 3.5 star read.

This is another welcome book in the Ham Hill Murder Mysteries. I still question the series being called "Ham Hill" when the village is not Ham Hill. A small thing, but I find it a bit annoying.

In this book, we have two mysteries. One hits very close to home for one of our regular characters, Dan. The other involves the death of a farmer, who did make a bit of an impact in book 2. The thing that bugged me about his death is the means. It's just another poisoning, like in book 1. That starts to make the series feel a little stale. I'd prefer different methods. Hoping that changes in future books in the series. The thing that save this book is the other mystery, which is far more interesting. It's interesting because the events are unusual and intriguing. For one, it makes the reader wonder if they are all related. Secondly, if they are all related, then how? And third, who could it be? The more this unfolds, and the more we learn, it could be any number of people. And this second mystery also had plenty of red herrings, which the first mystery didn't. The first mystery, the death of the farmer, fell flat and seemed to drag the story down.

Although I do enjoy the characters in this series, creating drama through extreme and forced misunderstandings is not my favourite mechanism in books. It's often used in other series, such as the Agatha Raisin series, and sometimes it works, but when it fails it fails hard and fast. In this book, it failed. It's there to push important parts of the plot, so it's put to good use, but it's not subtle.

I still enjoy the English village setting, and will look forward to the next in this series. Now, that I've caught up to the most recent book, I guess the next will be many months away. It will give me a chance to focus on others, but I will miss the characters until the next is released.

[Julie Morris · Rating 4 out of 5]

You don’t need to have read either of the two previous Ham Hill Murder Mysteries to enjoy A Harvest Murder but, having read and enjoyed A Racing Murder last year, I was thrilled to pop back to Lower Hembrow to see what was going on with Imogen, Adam and the crew.

Sadly, all is not well. One of the couples who seemed to be growing closer previously is fraying around the edges and one of the local farmers is having trouble in his business and his marriage. Then there is a disappearance, and Imogen and Adam’s detective instincts are on high alert again to get to the bottom of what is going on. As is typically the case in small villages, rumours and gossip abounds, feuds and rivalries raise their heads and it takes some digging to get to the truth. And there are donkeys. Sounds like a great read, doesn’t it?

Well, it is and I was not at all disappointed by my second foray into the world of this small Somerset village and all the deadly goings on. I love a cosy murder mystery and this author has managed again to incorporate all the elements that make these types of story so appealing. Great setting that you might want to move to if it were a real place (and people didn’t keep getting murdered in the vicinity!); fantastic characters in whose lives you are really invested and who have fully rounded experiences; twisty, turny plot that you are eager to unravel; great pacing that keeps you glued to the page; flowing writing that is easy to read.

After reading two book I can safely say I have become a huge fan of this series and I am eager for the next one to come out. A fast, fun read that was a welcome change from my recent diet of romcoms and something I can highly recommend. Will appeal to fans of Midsomer Murders and Miss Marple.

[M.J. · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Harvest Murder is the first Ham Hill Murder Mystery I've read, but it was easy to get to know the four main characters and I'm sure other readers will be able to jump right in if they want to. Mind - there are a few references to the earlier books, so if you do, it might spoil your enjoyment of books 1 and 2 in the series.

I found the characters and the twin mysteries to be intriguing. The residents of Lower Hembrow are a typically mixed bunch of nosy do-gooders and those trying to keep their secrets just that, secret. Much of the action takes place in the local pub, listening to gossip from the locals, and if it's not at the pub, then it's at the local hotel, either on Cider Night or Guy Fawkes Night. The book feels very autumnal.

An enjoyable, cosy read that makes you think of toffee apples, and pumpkins. This won't be the only book in the series that I read.

[Gea · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although I have read other books by Frances Evesham, this was the first book in this series that I read. I enjoyed getting to know the characters, there was an interesting plot with some twists and turns, and all this in a great setting. I will make it a point to go back and read the first two books in the series.

[CB · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good continuation of this cozy mystery series.

[Cindy B. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cozy mystery with some twists. Entertaining read. The narrator is always clear and engaged in the reading material—a professional. 3-1/2 ⭐️⭐️⭐️

[Annie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Originally posted on my blog Nonstop Reader.

A Harvest Murder is the third book in the Ham Hill murder cozy series by Frances Evesham. Released 21st June 2022, it's 256 pages and is available in paperback, audio, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats. For Kindle Unlimited subscribers, this book is currently included in the KU subscription library to borrow and read for free (along with the previous books in the series).

This is a charming and quaint village cozy series. Protagonist Adam (ex-detective and proprietor of the local pub) and his amateur sleuth friends look into the strange disappearance, reappearance, and sudden suspicious death of a local farmer, uncovering some of the less salubrious and generally hidden currents of village life along the way. It's an ensemble cast, including a nice group of supporting characters who are appealingly well rendered (and with the realities of middle age). The language is clean, there is no graphic sexual content (there's a little light romance and minor associated drama, but not objectionably much), and the violence is off-scene and relatively restrained.

The buildup is well done and the denouement and resolution are satisfying. There were a few twists along the way which I didn't anticipate. Although it's the third book in the series, it works perfectly well as a standalone. With three books extant at this point, it would make a good choice for a weekend binge/buddy read.

Four and a half stars, a lovely engaging cozy read. Fans of Merryn Allingham and Clare Chase will find a lot to like with this series.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

[Niki · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Harvest Murder is one of those books that the minute you begin reading you just know you’re in for a great read. I really enjoy a well written cosy mystery, you really get involved with the relationships. This little band of sleuthing villagers are just wonderful people. There’s Friendship, love, not love, a bit of jealously and a bit of superb country life thrown in. It has it all and the perfect murder included, what could go wrong? Well seemingly quite a lot.

This is an utterly engrossing read with plenty of mystery and strange goings on. A village full of people who know everything about everyone until there’s death and strange disappearances. Then no one has a clue yet they all have an opinion. Adam and his friends need to get to the bottom of everything, if only to stop the rumour mill spinning out of control. What they unearth is quite something, but oh no I’m not falling into that trap of telling you what. This is where you get a copy and do some digging for yourself.

Frances Evesham is great at evoking a sense of place and the people with it that place. Everything is written with a gentle quality that draws you right in. This book is a case of not only wanting to find out why a death occurred but also about the fabulous characters within this beautiful Somerset countryside. I loved it. Every single brilliantly written page. Epic!

[loopyloulaura · Rating 4 out of 5]

Four amateur sleuths investigate a missing farmer. Did Joe run away due to his overbearing mother in law or is there something more sinister behind his disappearance...?
A Harvest Murder is the third book in the Ham Hill series by Frances Evesham. It is the first book that I have read of the series so it works as a standalone. There are some mentions of things that had occurred in the past and I think there is some relationship and character development in the first books that I would benefit from reading.
The four sleuths are two couples: Imogen and Dan, Adam and Steph. This adds an extra dynamic to the plot as they compare themselves and their relationship to the other couple. It also allows us to see a different, more personal aspect to their character.
Farmer Joe goes missing as does one of Dan's donkeys. Both return but Joe is poisoned before he can explain his disappearance. This book fits firmly into the cosy murder mystery genre. However, the death takes second place to the tension between Imogen and Dan as their relationship crumbles.
Dan finds himself the target of a campaign of increasingly dangerous incidents and this is given equal prominence in the plot. There is little violence or detail about the death. The English village setting and the occasion of Apple Day provides the backdrop to the plot.
A Harvest Murder is an enjoyable murder mystery novel.

[Joe Maggs · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another Somerset-based murder mystery from an author I’ve read plenty of over the last couple of years. I really enjoyed the autumnal setting - I didn’t realise how prominent it’d be so it was blind luck that I started reading this just as autumn properly seemed to set in. In that sense, very cosy, and for the most part the storyline was engaging, though focussing more on personal dramas than the death itself! Still, Evesham builds up a series of events to ramp up the tension, only for things to be let down by a pretty lacklustre ending to it all, followed by two engagements. I can’t help but feel this book is simply well short on ideas. And with respect, the characterisation of the younger people in this story is well off, which for me simply takes you out of the story. In fact, any character who isn’t English and middle-aged or older is lazily put together. French? Well, he has a mistress doesn’t he? American? He only has two lines and both contain “y’all” as well as comparing Bonfire Night to 4th of July. All-in-all, perfectly easy to read, with a story that won’t bore you, but just pretty average all-in-all, with only the setting redeeming it slightly. Hence, 3 stars.

[Nikki · Rating 5 out of 5]

I couldn't put this book down which resulted in a very late night/ early morning! I've read all 3 of the books, in as many days, released so far in this great cozy mystery series by Frances Evesham.

Adam, Steph, Imogen and Dan are, once again, embroiled in a mystery when a local farmer goes missing. Things are not all they seem in the farmers household.

When one of Dan's adorable ponies, Smash (his mate is Grab) goes missing too, Dan is distraught. Then, when other things happen which tend to point towards someone having it in for Dan, he is forced to take it seriously.

Imogen decides to make an addition to the hotel, a set of craft workshops in the old folly on the grounds, she meets the architect who takes her breath away.

I loved this book and devoured it in one sitting, another late night/early morning! The books are best read in order of publication to preserve continuity of the characters and series. I really how there's more to come from Adam, Imogen and the rest of the friends in Ham Hill, including Harley of course!

[Cozy Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the third in series and my favorite of the three books. This is a charming English cozy mystery with great charcters and a intriguing sleuth. Thank you to the publisher and to Net Galley for the opportunity. My review opinion is my own.

The author has a picturesque charming holiday theme of a apple festival in this small British village. A murder occurs of a local man and Father. Imogene is determined to solve the mystery. With contention over a missing donkey, not agreeing with her boyfriend and investigating murder Imogene wears many hats in this delightful cozy mystery. I enjoyed the sleuth to conclusion. A well rounded group of local charcters and a fun read . I highly recommend this cozy for all who enjoy cozy mysteries.

[Jane Hunt · Rating 5 out of 5]

It takes a few chapters to get back into the Ham Hill Village vibe, but once you do, this is an entertaining cosy crime novel with a vibrant village setting, great characters and a twisty plot. Adam, the retired police detective .and Steph's relationship is working well, but Imogen feels her tentative love affair with Dan, the artist, is floundering. Dan is the story's focus, and the reader learns about his past life. The village's community spirit draws the amateur sleuths' attention to a missing farmer, and the story soon escalates into something sinister.

I like the dynamic between the amateur sleuths and how they support each other, the village location and the twisty plot that builds into a suspenseful story.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher.

[Jan · Rating 5 out of 5]

The publisher's blurb does a fair job, the characters are all really interesting, the sleuthing is a co-operative effort and moves at a good pace. And then there are some really sneaky plot twists and red herrings in this foray into the rural world of the west country. It devolves into a really tangled mess with missing person, poisoning, stolen animal, harassment, burglary, arson, and more. Excellent work by our series sleuths with the assistance of friends who are still working in law enforcement. Another winner!
I requested and received a temporary digital ARC of this book from Boldwood Books via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!