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London Murder Mystery #5
The Murder Walk
A pleasant stroll in the park, catch ups over coffee and... a body among the spring bulbs?
Single mum and school historian Beth Haldane has promised her new beau, Detective Harry York, that her sleuthing days are behind her. But when she stumbles over the body of local artist Mark Smeaton while ambling in the park, it’s clear a dangerous killer is on the loose in peaceful Dulwich Village. Shocked, Beth can’t resist delving into the mystery.
Snooping around the nearby cozy cafes, Beth listens carefully to gossip and soon learns Mark's graffiti-style art was famously controversial. There are plenty who might want him gone. Was it the suspiciously charming gallery owner? A disgruntled resident offended by Mark’s art? Or an old school chum with a dark secret about Mark’s true inspiration?
A dinner party hosted by a dear friend soon gives Beth the chance to grill all her suspects over wine and nibbles. But following a lead back to the scene of the crime, Beth’s search of a hollow tree throws up a mysterious envelope that stops her in her tracks… will her sleuthing get her in hot water before she can find the villain, and before there’s another fatal plot in the park?
Single mum and school historian Beth Haldane has promised her new beau, Detective Harry York, that her sleuthing days are behind her. But when she stumbles over the body of local artist Mark Smeaton while ambling in the park, it’s clear a dangerous killer is on the loose in peaceful Dulwich Village. Shocked, Beth can’t resist delving into the mystery.
Snooping around the nearby cozy cafes, Beth listens carefully to gossip and soon learns Mark's graffiti-style art was famously controversial. There are plenty who might want him gone. Was it the suspiciously charming gallery owner? A disgruntled resident offended by Mark’s art? Or an old school chum with a dark secret about Mark’s true inspiration?
A dinner party hosted by a dear friend soon gives Beth the chance to grill all her suspects over wine and nibbles. But following a lead back to the scene of the crime, Beth’s search of a hollow tree throws up a mysterious envelope that stops her in her tracks… will her sleuthing get her in hot water before she can find the villain, and before there’s another fatal plot in the park?
246 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 22, 2022
427 people are currently reading
102 people want to read
About the author
Alice Castle
20 books153 followersAlice Castle lives in South London. She was a feature writer on national newspapers for many years. She has a degree in Modern History from St Andrews University, is the British Royalty expert for Flemish TV, and lived in Brussels for nearly a decade. Her first novel, Hot Chocolate, sold out in two weeks and her second, the cozy crime novel The Murder Mystery, is an Amazon bestseller. She has written nine more whodunnits starring single mum amateur sleuth Beth Haldane. She has also written two psychological thrillers for Harper Collins, The Perfect Widow and The Invitation, under the name A.M. Castle
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews
August 3, 2023
Favorite Quotes:
So, you’re telling me there’s a bit of a #MeToo movement building up in the park against young Teddy here? … Perhaps you might want to think about getting him, erm, done? I’m not sure what age they need to be to have the op, but that would definitely sort out his hormones, I should think. Even a Dachshund isn’t going to look that irresistible if you’ve had your danglers cut off, I dare say.
‘Liquorice? Oh, is that your dog?’ looking under the bench at the little wiry-haired creature… ‘He’s very cute,’ said Beth dutifully, looking at Liquorice doubtfully. She supposed it was like being presented with other people’s babies. No matter how much they resembled Winston Churchill sucking a lemon, you were still obliged to say how utterly gorgeous they were.
Beth sometimes wondered how she’d grown to adulthood with such a light hand on the parental tiller. Her father had always been at work. She remembered trying to get into the garage, as a small child, as that was the place her father disappeared to every morning and the spot he emerged from every night. With her child’s logic, she assumed he spent his days shut away in there, and already she could see why he might want to.
Delving in the bread bin, she made the unwelcome discovery that she only had white sliced, which she was pretty sure Katie equated with crack cocaine. More horrifying still, one slice had a tiny fleck of blue on one edge. Mould! Hastily chopping off all the crusts and hurling them in the bin dealt with that problem. And penicillin was good for you, right?
… such an oily charmer, he’s totally the type to sell a double bed to the Pope. I’d take every word he said with a mine of salt.
Bursar looked as though he had been poured into his suit but had forgotten to say ‘when’.
My Review:
While she appeared to have started with an exceptional skill set and an enviable level of innate ability, Alice Castle continues to hone her craft as each new installment of this pleasantly entertaining and enticing series has proven to be even better than the last. Each cunningly plotted tale has provided ample servings of clever wry humor, engaging storylines, endearingly flawed and intriguing characters, and an unusual and unpredictable murder mystery. I am besotted with this quirky collection of characters; several of which reappear in each interconnected book. I am also totally enamored with this series and keenly await each new tale.
The main character of Beth is a pint-sized, pixie boot wearing young widow and single-mom with an insatiable curiosity, a somewhat short attention span, and a tenacious tendency to follow her own instincts. I adore her! She is as prone to daydreaming and being easily side-tracked as she is to stumbling into crime scenes and discovering murder victims. Her domestic skills and time sense are humorously haphazard yet she somehow keeps her beloved young son and well-adored pets fed and content, and is fortunate enough that her work output is largely unmonitored and her frequent absences go unnoticed. Beth generally intends to show up at her office, yet she just cannot seem to keep herself from careening off-track to snoop and delve into the lives of those unfortunate creatures she has found without a pulse. All despite the rigorous admonitions from her overworked and jaded police detective paramour to cease and desist.
In addition to providing high-quality entertainment, Ms. Castle has gifted me with a toy box full of new terms and idioms and for my Brit Word List with: in bits - to be very upset; titchy – a small person; chuntering – talk or grumble monotonously; swish – fashionable; inside gen – information; and Bonio – a popular brand of dog biscuit. What would I ever do without my blessed Mr. Google?
So, you’re telling me there’s a bit of a #MeToo movement building up in the park against young Teddy here? … Perhaps you might want to think about getting him, erm, done? I’m not sure what age they need to be to have the op, but that would definitely sort out his hormones, I should think. Even a Dachshund isn’t going to look that irresistible if you’ve had your danglers cut off, I dare say.
‘Liquorice? Oh, is that your dog?’ looking under the bench at the little wiry-haired creature… ‘He’s very cute,’ said Beth dutifully, looking at Liquorice doubtfully. She supposed it was like being presented with other people’s babies. No matter how much they resembled Winston Churchill sucking a lemon, you were still obliged to say how utterly gorgeous they were.
Beth sometimes wondered how she’d grown to adulthood with such a light hand on the parental tiller. Her father had always been at work. She remembered trying to get into the garage, as a small child, as that was the place her father disappeared to every morning and the spot he emerged from every night. With her child’s logic, she assumed he spent his days shut away in there, and already she could see why he might want to.
Delving in the bread bin, she made the unwelcome discovery that she only had white sliced, which she was pretty sure Katie equated with crack cocaine. More horrifying still, one slice had a tiny fleck of blue on one edge. Mould! Hastily chopping off all the crusts and hurling them in the bin dealt with that problem. And penicillin was good for you, right?
… such an oily charmer, he’s totally the type to sell a double bed to the Pope. I’d take every word he said with a mine of salt.
Bursar looked as though he had been poured into his suit but had forgotten to say ‘when’.
My Review:
While she appeared to have started with an exceptional skill set and an enviable level of innate ability, Alice Castle continues to hone her craft as each new installment of this pleasantly entertaining and enticing series has proven to be even better than the last. Each cunningly plotted tale has provided ample servings of clever wry humor, engaging storylines, endearingly flawed and intriguing characters, and an unusual and unpredictable murder mystery. I am besotted with this quirky collection of characters; several of which reappear in each interconnected book. I am also totally enamored with this series and keenly await each new tale.
The main character of Beth is a pint-sized, pixie boot wearing young widow and single-mom with an insatiable curiosity, a somewhat short attention span, and a tenacious tendency to follow her own instincts. I adore her! She is as prone to daydreaming and being easily side-tracked as she is to stumbling into crime scenes and discovering murder victims. Her domestic skills and time sense are humorously haphazard yet she somehow keeps her beloved young son and well-adored pets fed and content, and is fortunate enough that her work output is largely unmonitored and her frequent absences go unnoticed. Beth generally intends to show up at her office, yet she just cannot seem to keep herself from careening off-track to snoop and delve into the lives of those unfortunate creatures she has found without a pulse. All despite the rigorous admonitions from her overworked and jaded police detective paramour to cease and desist.
In addition to providing high-quality entertainment, Ms. Castle has gifted me with a toy box full of new terms and idioms and for my Brit Word List with: in bits - to be very upset; titchy – a small person; chuntering – talk or grumble monotonously; swish – fashionable; inside gen – information; and Bonio – a popular brand of dog biscuit. What would I ever do without my blessed Mr. Google?
April 11, 2023
I am really unhappy that I wasted my time with four other books in this series. The first was all right; the next three had me raising my eyebrows over some details. This one began losing me almost immediately.
One instalment's description starts with calling the main character a "Caring mother, school historian, and amateur sleuth" - and frankly I protest against every part of that. She's a mother who is doing her damnedest to force her son into a high-pressure school, the equivalent of which she admits she was fortunate to miss out on. She feeds the kid moldy bread, not because she can't afford new but because she has been too wrapped up in other nonsense to bother with little things like buying groceries - or with other little things like making sure her so-beloved kid doesn't dress like his wardrobe belongs in the bin.
"School historian" ... This one actually infuriated me. It's not uncommon for cozy mystery characters to stumble into dream jobs - that's part of the checklist cozy authors follow. Usually, though, the characters recognize their good fortune and, you know, do their jobs. Our Beth barely manages to show up for an hour or two each day, and even if she's physically present she's more likely to be concentrating on her latest "case" than on whatever she's being paid for. Every time she actually puts in a couple of hours doing what she's happily taking a decent salary for, it's such a rare accomplishment that Beth congratulates herself smugly. Every time. I've worked with too many wastes of space like this to feel anything but contempt - and a sneaking suspicion that the author's previous employers haven't exactly gotten the employee they expected. Anyone else want to bet that at least some of the first couple of books were written on someone else's time?
Her amateur sleuthing skills consist of the usual - fall over a body, fall under the delusion that she is the only person to be able to discover the killer, and almost accidentally do so through means not legal for the police. Same old, same old. What's unusual for this series is another thing I found off-putting: Beth's outright contempt for her detective boyfriend. Repeatedly she muses on the fact that he will either take the first solution he comes across, or will be content to just shrug and let a case go unsolved - which, especially given her own pitiful work ethic, is a horrific point of view. Apparently thinking he's a shoddy detective doesn't detract from his hotness, at least, so she's still perfectly happy to bed him. Unless he's "grumpy" with her for lying to him about the sleuthing, that is.
This book had me thinking fondly of dnf'ing as yet another example of contempt became more and more blatant: the author doesn't think much of dogs, or of dog owners. Yet she chose to give the main character's best friend a puppy. And she devoted entirely too much time and detail to graphic descriptions of the puppy's misbehavior - and its owner's completely ridiculous handling of it. And lack thereof. This isn't comedy - it's maltreatment, bordering on criminal neglect.
The moment that gave me the push I needed to pick this thing up gingerly in newspaper and drop it in the trash was the Biden joke. Dear author, even if yet another type you're contemptuous of is Americans, is it really a great idea to alienate a substantial part of your readership by assuming we're all red-hat-wearing morons? It was the kind of thing that makes me go back and change previous books' ratings - and that makes me really want back all the time I wasted on this author.
One instalment's description starts with calling the main character a "Caring mother, school historian, and amateur sleuth" - and frankly I protest against every part of that. She's a mother who is doing her damnedest to force her son into a high-pressure school, the equivalent of which she admits she was fortunate to miss out on. She feeds the kid moldy bread, not because she can't afford new but because she has been too wrapped up in other nonsense to bother with little things like buying groceries - or with other little things like making sure her so-beloved kid doesn't dress like his wardrobe belongs in the bin.
"School historian" ... This one actually infuriated me. It's not uncommon for cozy mystery characters to stumble into dream jobs - that's part of the checklist cozy authors follow. Usually, though, the characters recognize their good fortune and, you know, do their jobs. Our Beth barely manages to show up for an hour or two each day, and even if she's physically present she's more likely to be concentrating on her latest "case" than on whatever she's being paid for. Every time she actually puts in a couple of hours doing what she's happily taking a decent salary for, it's such a rare accomplishment that Beth congratulates herself smugly. Every time. I've worked with too many wastes of space like this to feel anything but contempt - and a sneaking suspicion that the author's previous employers haven't exactly gotten the employee they expected. Anyone else want to bet that at least some of the first couple of books were written on someone else's time?
Her amateur sleuthing skills consist of the usual - fall over a body, fall under the delusion that she is the only person to be able to discover the killer, and almost accidentally do so through means not legal for the police. Same old, same old. What's unusual for this series is another thing I found off-putting: Beth's outright contempt for her detective boyfriend. Repeatedly she muses on the fact that he will either take the first solution he comes across, or will be content to just shrug and let a case go unsolved - which, especially given her own pitiful work ethic, is a horrific point of view. Apparently thinking he's a shoddy detective doesn't detract from his hotness, at least, so she's still perfectly happy to bed him. Unless he's "grumpy" with her for lying to him about the sleuthing, that is.
This book had me thinking fondly of dnf'ing as yet another example of contempt became more and more blatant: the author doesn't think much of dogs, or of dog owners. Yet she chose to give the main character's best friend a puppy. And she devoted entirely too much time and detail to graphic descriptions of the puppy's misbehavior - and its owner's completely ridiculous handling of it. And lack thereof. This isn't comedy - it's maltreatment, bordering on criminal neglect.
The moment that gave me the push I needed to pick this thing up gingerly in newspaper and drop it in the trash was the Biden joke. Dear author, even if yet another type you're contemptuous of is Americans, is it really a great idea to alienate a substantial part of your readership by assuming we're all red-hat-wearing morons? It was the kind of thing that makes me go back and change previous books' ratings - and that makes me really want back all the time I wasted on this author.
August 26, 2022
Beth Haldane’s best friend Katie has gotten a new puppy for her son. As Beth and Katie are out walking the dog, he gets away from them. Before they find the puppy, Beth immediately begins to be concerned that her son is going to be jealous that his friend now has a puppy. Will she herself have to get a dog for Jake? Well the opportunity to do so presents itself in the most unusual of ways.
As Beth and Katie search for the mischievous puppy, they make a gruesome discovery. The puppy, Teddy, is found standing next to an older dog. A dog who is apparently standing guard over its owner. Sadly, the owner is deceased, dead of numerous stab wounds. When the police arrive, of course Beth’s boyfriend DI Harry York is there and in charge. Naturally, he cannot believe that Beth has stumbled on yet another body. As she is about to leave the scene, the police ask her if she will take charge of the dog so that they can deal with the body. She reluctantly agrees. She notices a collar on the dog and discovers that his name is Colin. Well, apparently Beth has a dog after all.
More than having a dog on or hands, something that completely excites her son Jake, However, her cat Magpie is none too pleased with their new houseguest. Of course the police are in charge, but that won’t stop her from learning what happened to Colin's owner. As far as she is concerned, she has a new case on her hands. With her skills at research asking the right questions, and unending patience, she begins to learn more about the murder victim. Beth also spends a bit of time with her mother and brother, all while still focusing on Jake and his education. Nary a moment to rest for Beth.
For another enjoyable story in the delightful Beth Haldane Mystery, definitely stop and read this installment. You will not be disappointed.
As Beth and Katie search for the mischievous puppy, they make a gruesome discovery. The puppy, Teddy, is found standing next to an older dog. A dog who is apparently standing guard over its owner. Sadly, the owner is deceased, dead of numerous stab wounds. When the police arrive, of course Beth’s boyfriend DI Harry York is there and in charge. Naturally, he cannot believe that Beth has stumbled on yet another body. As she is about to leave the scene, the police ask her if she will take charge of the dog so that they can deal with the body. She reluctantly agrees. She notices a collar on the dog and discovers that his name is Colin. Well, apparently Beth has a dog after all.
More than having a dog on or hands, something that completely excites her son Jake, However, her cat Magpie is none too pleased with their new houseguest. Of course the police are in charge, but that won’t stop her from learning what happened to Colin's owner. As far as she is concerned, she has a new case on her hands. With her skills at research asking the right questions, and unending patience, she begins to learn more about the murder victim. Beth also spends a bit of time with her mother and brother, all while still focusing on Jake and his education. Nary a moment to rest for Beth.
For another enjoyable story in the delightful Beth Haldane Mystery, definitely stop and read this installment. You will not be disappointed.
August 25, 2022
The Murder Walk sees the return of single-mum to Jake, Beth Haldane, a determined and amusing protagonist whose priority is her son and her naughty cat, Magpie. She has a job at Wyatt's School as well with flexible hours.
In this tale, her best friend, Katie has adopted a cavapoo puppy, Teddy who is let off his lead and the resulting chase leads Beth to a dead body, local artist Mark Smeaton, wearing a beige coat with red smears on it, and his elderly chocolate labrador, Colin. Beth can't resist getting involved, of course.
It was a treat to return to Dulwich, South-east London to follow events alongside Beth and Harry York, though Harry isn't best pleased that Beth has become involved in the discovery of another corpse and mystery. Beth takes in Colin as a houseguest at the request of Harry. The writing is funny and expressive and the plot is intriguing will plenty of shenanigans. Although part of a series, this story stands well on its own.
I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from Bookouture via NetGalley and this review is my own unbiased opinion.
Previously published as Revenge on the Rye.
In this tale, her best friend, Katie has adopted a cavapoo puppy, Teddy who is let off his lead and the resulting chase leads Beth to a dead body, local artist Mark Smeaton, wearing a beige coat with red smears on it, and his elderly chocolate labrador, Colin. Beth can't resist getting involved, of course.
It was a treat to return to Dulwich, South-east London to follow events alongside Beth and Harry York, though Harry isn't best pleased that Beth has become involved in the discovery of another corpse and mystery. Beth takes in Colin as a houseguest at the request of Harry. The writing is funny and expressive and the plot is intriguing will plenty of shenanigans. Although part of a series, this story stands well on its own.
I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from Bookouture via NetGalley and this review is my own unbiased opinion.
Previously published as Revenge on the Rye.
February 2, 2019
This is the first book I’ve read by this author and it won’t be the last! I really liked how she shared her main character’s thoughts and reactions, making it easy to relate to her throughout the story. Whilst this is the fifth book in the series, I can vouch for it reading well as a standalone. I found it a highly entertaining read with plenty of mystery, revelations and surprises served along with a dash of humour. The victim is discovered on Peckham Rye when Beth’s friend Katie’s puppy, Teddy, runs off. Sat by the body Teddy is found by is a black Labrador, Colin, who Beth ends up taking home to look after. Beth’s boyfriend is Detective Inspector Harry York of the Metropolitan Police and he’s really not happy for his girlfriend’s proclivity at discovering murder victims – to put it mildly! Nor does he want her to join in the investigation, but she just can’t resist, especially as Colin is a popular and familiar dog to many folks in the area and is key to helping identify the victim and other aspects of the investigation.
It seems strange to describe a murder investigation as a fun read, but this really is. There’s plenty of different characters adding to the mix. Beth’s relationship with her boyfriend together with her concerns over her son’s interview for a place at Wyatt’s school all enhance her as a believable lady juggling different aspects of her life whilst still endeavouring to hold down her job and solve who the murder is. There’s plenty of mystery and surprises in it as clues are revealed but this proved to be a delightful, cosy mystery that I thoroughly enjoyed reading and have no hesitation in highly recommending to anyone who enjoys this genre.
I requested and was gifted a copy of this book and this is my honest review after reading it.
P.S. I really want to know what decision the letter contained!
It seems strange to describe a murder investigation as a fun read, but this really is. There’s plenty of different characters adding to the mix. Beth’s relationship with her boyfriend together with her concerns over her son’s interview for a place at Wyatt’s school all enhance her as a believable lady juggling different aspects of her life whilst still endeavouring to hold down her job and solve who the murder is. There’s plenty of mystery and surprises in it as clues are revealed but this proved to be a delightful, cosy mystery that I thoroughly enjoyed reading and have no hesitation in highly recommending to anyone who enjoys this genre.
I requested and was gifted a copy of this book and this is my honest review after reading it.
P.S. I really want to know what decision the letter contained!
February 25, 2019
Full review: http://swiftcoffee.blog/2019/01/30/bl...
I can't believe I haven't even heard of this series before! This book was well-written and I enjoyed it very much!
The upper-class London background was very atmospherically drawn, and what actually surprised me was that I liked reading Beth's thoughts and worries about her everyday life (like her son's schooling) and not just about the mystery. It somehow made the story and the character more...real. I have to admit that all this environment and characters were a bit too snobbish for my taste, but that didn't take away from my enjoyment of the story. I'm also not a hundred percent okay with the main female characters' relationships with their men (their thinking patterns and general attitude/approach to the men, I mean), but that might be because I don't get everything about those relationships because of the previous books. And even if that's not the reason, it's (sadly) way too realistic, so I'll let it slide.
And how could I not talk about the pets? The sweet and old Colin, the little crazy pup Teddy, and Magpie, such an adorably typical cat! I loved them so much! Actually I think they're my favorite characters. At first I had a bit of a trouble with Beth's thoughts about both dogs, though I get that she's a cat-person, and the point is that she's about to warm up to dogs. And it is hard for her. I did think she's pretty mean about them, but then she really seemed to change her mind, and that I found to be a very nice development of character, so at the end of the day, it did turn out to be a positive thing.
Story-wise I'd say this was a pretty predictable (for me, at least), but very well built-up mystery. If the other books in the series are like this, I'll enjoy reading them all very much!
I can't believe I haven't even heard of this series before! This book was well-written and I enjoyed it very much!
The upper-class London background was very atmospherically drawn, and what actually surprised me was that I liked reading Beth's thoughts and worries about her everyday life (like her son's schooling) and not just about the mystery. It somehow made the story and the character more...real. I have to admit that all this environment and characters were a bit too snobbish for my taste, but that didn't take away from my enjoyment of the story. I'm also not a hundred percent okay with the main female characters' relationships with their men (their thinking patterns and general attitude/approach to the men, I mean), but that might be because I don't get everything about those relationships because of the previous books. And even if that's not the reason, it's (sadly) way too realistic, so I'll let it slide.
And how could I not talk about the pets? The sweet and old Colin, the little crazy pup Teddy, and Magpie, such an adorably typical cat! I loved them so much! Actually I think they're my favorite characters. At first I had a bit of a trouble with Beth's thoughts about both dogs, though I get that she's a cat-person, and the point is that she's about to warm up to dogs. And it is hard for her. I did think she's pretty mean about them, but then she really seemed to change her mind, and that I found to be a very nice development of character, so at the end of the day, it did turn out to be a positive thing.
Story-wise I'd say this was a pretty predictable (for me, at least), but very well built-up mystery. If the other books in the series are like this, I'll enjoy reading them all very much!
February 4, 2019
Back in Dulwich with Beth, her son Ben is on the cusp of an important interview at the prestigious Wyatt’s, which will determine whether he will be starting there in year seven but of course Beth has something to distract her, by stumbling across a dead body with a dog sitting next to it!
The dead man turns out to be artist Mark Smeaton, who didn’t seem to have an enemy in the world. Roping in her reluctant friend Katie, she dives head first into the mystery.
Another fun and entertaining cosy mystery from Alice Castle!
I make no secret I’m a huge fan of this series, having read the first four, so when I knew the fifth one was coming out, I knew I had to read it! It can easily be read as a standalone but I’d recommend starting with the first Death In Dulwich if you want to get to know the characters a bit better.
So the last book wasn’t my favourite but I felt this one Beth was back to her best, nosing into a mystery while DI Harry York fumes and wishes she’d stop putting herself in danger.
I really enjoyed seeing a different side to Beth’s friend Katie in this book. Usually so put together and effortless, but that’s all shattered by a very naughty puppy called Teddy, who seems like a tornado of fluff wrecking everything (and eating) in sight.
An honourable mention goes to Colin the Labrador for a) being called Colin and b) just sounding adorable and being the complete opposite of Teddy.
I also cheered when the dishy DI Harry York was featured a bit more, whom, I have to say I have a little literary crush on.
I’d recommend Revenge on the Rye to anyone who likes a classic style whodunnit, with well drawn characters and a sprinkling of humour.
The dead man turns out to be artist Mark Smeaton, who didn’t seem to have an enemy in the world. Roping in her reluctant friend Katie, she dives head first into the mystery.
Another fun and entertaining cosy mystery from Alice Castle!
I make no secret I’m a huge fan of this series, having read the first four, so when I knew the fifth one was coming out, I knew I had to read it! It can easily be read as a standalone but I’d recommend starting with the first Death In Dulwich if you want to get to know the characters a bit better.
So the last book wasn’t my favourite but I felt this one Beth was back to her best, nosing into a mystery while DI Harry York fumes and wishes she’d stop putting herself in danger.
I really enjoyed seeing a different side to Beth’s friend Katie in this book. Usually so put together and effortless, but that’s all shattered by a very naughty puppy called Teddy, who seems like a tornado of fluff wrecking everything (and eating) in sight.
An honourable mention goes to Colin the Labrador for a) being called Colin and b) just sounding adorable and being the complete opposite of Teddy.
I also cheered when the dishy DI Harry York was featured a bit more, whom, I have to say I have a little literary crush on.
I’d recommend Revenge on the Rye to anyone who likes a classic style whodunnit, with well drawn characters and a sprinkling of humour.
August 19, 2022
I adore this series. Beth is a unique, sometimes frustrating character, but she is, oh, so real and likable. Author Alice Castle does a wonderful job letting us get to know Beth and those about her. This installment lets us spend time in her head as she indulges in thoughts ranging from her determination to give her son Jake an element of freedom.....all while tailing him on his walk to school, mind you .... to imagining what she could do should a bundle of money just drop into her hands. She hadn't calculated on a tall tree, let's just say.
She's also competitive enough to feel smug that she might have gotten one up on detective boyfriend Harry at one point by finding an important bit of info first....or, hmm, did she find it first? She also ponders if dogs mourn losses. Yes, Beth, they do.
And, oh, yes, the murder. But, first, let me back up a few steps. Beth's best friend, Katie, has adopted a puppy. Puppy Teddy seems to be a wild child, driven by natural hormones. I must admit that I wanted to give Katie's husband a stern talking to with his male disdain for the common sense approach of neutering and even basic training. Anyway, Teddy gets loose.... who are we kidding, Katie makes the mistake of letting him off-leash.... and ultimately leads Beth, hot in pursuit of the wayward pup, to a body. Beside it is a sad older dog, Colin, who Harry somehow gets Beth to agree to take home with her. Magpie the cat isn't a happy kitty. Will Teddy ever learn some manners? Has he learned his lesson after eating that valuable memory stick? Uh, he's a puppy. What do you think? You'll both chuckle and feel sympathy for the usually put together Katie as she deals with the puppy in some unusual ways, all while embracing playing sleuth as a distraction from puppy worries. Katie does prove helpful, however, even if Beth ignores her words of caution
So, who did it? Who'd hate graffiti artist Mark Smeaton enough to kill him? How does Beth's Bridge playing mother prove helpful? Will Beth drive Harry crazy with worry? Why is she calling her photographer brother? Why is Beth worrying so much about Jake? Will she leave him alone at an interview for a spot at a prestige school to go chase a clue? What lengths will a mother go to to protect her child?
And, oh, so much more. You'll spend quite a bit of time hanging out in Beth's head, worrying not just about the murder but her private life, and most likely get a chuckle out of her flights of fancy even when facing death. And, you'll like her, even if, like me, you wish you could reach through the virtual pages and shake some sense into her occasionally.
Thanks #NetGalley and #Bookouture for allowing me to spend some more time with Beth. As a dog person, I'm psyched at her realization of how well Colin the senior Lab fits into her life. Now, if only Magpie the cat will agree
She's also competitive enough to feel smug that she might have gotten one up on detective boyfriend Harry at one point by finding an important bit of info first....or, hmm, did she find it first? She also ponders if dogs mourn losses. Yes, Beth, they do.
And, oh, yes, the murder. But, first, let me back up a few steps. Beth's best friend, Katie, has adopted a puppy. Puppy Teddy seems to be a wild child, driven by natural hormones. I must admit that I wanted to give Katie's husband a stern talking to with his male disdain for the common sense approach of neutering and even basic training. Anyway, Teddy gets loose.... who are we kidding, Katie makes the mistake of letting him off-leash.... and ultimately leads Beth, hot in pursuit of the wayward pup, to a body. Beside it is a sad older dog, Colin, who Harry somehow gets Beth to agree to take home with her. Magpie the cat isn't a happy kitty. Will Teddy ever learn some manners? Has he learned his lesson after eating that valuable memory stick? Uh, he's a puppy. What do you think? You'll both chuckle and feel sympathy for the usually put together Katie as she deals with the puppy in some unusual ways, all while embracing playing sleuth as a distraction from puppy worries. Katie does prove helpful, however, even if Beth ignores her words of caution
So, who did it? Who'd hate graffiti artist Mark Smeaton enough to kill him? How does Beth's Bridge playing mother prove helpful? Will Beth drive Harry crazy with worry? Why is she calling her photographer brother? Why is Beth worrying so much about Jake? Will she leave him alone at an interview for a spot at a prestige school to go chase a clue? What lengths will a mother go to to protect her child?
And, oh, so much more. You'll spend quite a bit of time hanging out in Beth's head, worrying not just about the murder but her private life, and most likely get a chuckle out of her flights of fancy even when facing death. And, you'll like her, even if, like me, you wish you could reach through the virtual pages and shake some sense into her occasionally.
Thanks #NetGalley and #Bookouture for allowing me to spend some more time with Beth. As a dog person, I'm psyched at her realization of how well Colin the senior Lab fits into her life. Now, if only Magpie the cat will agree
September 29, 2022
Sigh. The amateur sleuth genre can be tricky - you need a plausible reason for them to find the body, and to be able to investigate. I can’t say this series ticks either box for me. This time we do get a body early in, thanks to Beth’s friend Katie deciding to get her son a puppy and then going for a walk in a new park because he’s tried to hump everything in Dulwich park (the puppy, not the son… the book’s not that bad).
Now this get me onto bug bear number 1. Katie’s husband - bear with me here - only seems fit to be a walking cashpoint. He’s forbidden Katie to get training for the delinquent dog. I’m sorry, have we gone back to the 1950s? Training is responsible. He seems to think everyone should know how to train dogs themselves - and yet he’s never home enough to do his share (and when he is, he doesn’t train the dog anyway).
So yes, body duly found. There is no reason for Beth to be involved after this. It’s nothing to do with the school where she works (or pretends to - bugbear number 2 is she treats her paid work as an optional activity, doing less time and frequently wandering off to sleuth). It’s not in Dulwich. It’s no one she knows. The sole reason is that she gets lumbered with the dead man’s dog, by DI Harry York (presumably as punishment of some kind for her stumbling over another body). She then feels some duty bound need to find who killed the man because she is temporarily looking after his dog - well, whatever justification gets her to sleep at night. I guess.
Onto bug bear 3. Harry and Beth don’t seem to like each other much. They have moments, and by the sounds of it, decent sex. But she has low regard for his work (thinking he just shrugs and marks things as unsolvable too easily), and never wants to respect his wish to leave the sleuthing to the police. She spins any kind of self deluding lie, to justify things to herself - like when she and Katie find crucial evidence, and then TAKE IT HOME TO COUNT IT, BUGGER ANY TRACE EVIDENCE OR CHAIN OF COMMAND (bug bear 4). Back to bug bear 3 though, because Harry seems to be bipolar, one minute wildly attracted to Beth and wanting to walk her up the aisle, and the next minute frustrated out of his head by her actions. Harry boy, I’m kind of with you on that one…
Beth seems to have a huge disdain for her mother, when frankly she’s not too likeable in the woman’s presence either. Feeling the red mist of angry judgement descend over her mother always debating taking a second sugar cube for her tea (and always deciding yes) is just petty and makes me want to slap Beth upside her head.
And then - bug bear 5. Beth seems to drift along in vague parenting style, interspersed with occasional bursts of actual care. She can prioritise sleuthing, but not getting basic groceries in, so her son (and Katie’s son) end up eating beans on toast on slightly mouldy bread? Even debating whether to leave him at his interview to go and meet a likely murder suspect?
Finally - bug bear 6. Beth doesn’t seem to have the basic self preservation sense she was born with. She texts the likely killer late at night, then gives Harry the slip and GOES TO MEET A LIKELY KILLER ON HER OWN IN A BADLY LIT PARK AT NIGHT. Dear Lord.. it’s only because her poker face is as transparent as glass, that she isn’t killed.
If I’d got these from the library, I’d take them back. If I’d paid for them in a charity shop, I’d probably take the remaining two books back unread - the charity could keep the money. But I’ve got these as ARCs from NetGalley in return for an unbiased review, and so I feel the need to see them through and review, otherwise it’ll mean my response rate is lower.
There are good cosy mystery series out there. But I can’t honestly pretend this is one of them by any stretch, sadly.
Now this get me onto bug bear number 1. Katie’s husband - bear with me here - only seems fit to be a walking cashpoint. He’s forbidden Katie to get training for the delinquent dog. I’m sorry, have we gone back to the 1950s? Training is responsible. He seems to think everyone should know how to train dogs themselves - and yet he’s never home enough to do his share (and when he is, he doesn’t train the dog anyway).
So yes, body duly found. There is no reason for Beth to be involved after this. It’s nothing to do with the school where she works (or pretends to - bugbear number 2 is she treats her paid work as an optional activity, doing less time and frequently wandering off to sleuth). It’s not in Dulwich. It’s no one she knows. The sole reason is that she gets lumbered with the dead man’s dog, by DI Harry York (presumably as punishment of some kind for her stumbling over another body). She then feels some duty bound need to find who killed the man because she is temporarily looking after his dog - well, whatever justification gets her to sleep at night. I guess.
Onto bug bear 3. Harry and Beth don’t seem to like each other much. They have moments, and by the sounds of it, decent sex. But she has low regard for his work (thinking he just shrugs and marks things as unsolvable too easily), and never wants to respect his wish to leave the sleuthing to the police. She spins any kind of self deluding lie, to justify things to herself - like when she and Katie find crucial evidence, and then TAKE IT HOME TO COUNT IT, BUGGER ANY TRACE EVIDENCE OR CHAIN OF COMMAND (bug bear 4). Back to bug bear 3 though, because Harry seems to be bipolar, one minute wildly attracted to Beth and wanting to walk her up the aisle, and the next minute frustrated out of his head by her actions. Harry boy, I’m kind of with you on that one…
Beth seems to have a huge disdain for her mother, when frankly she’s not too likeable in the woman’s presence either. Feeling the red mist of angry judgement descend over her mother always debating taking a second sugar cube for her tea (and always deciding yes) is just petty and makes me want to slap Beth upside her head.
And then - bug bear 5. Beth seems to drift along in vague parenting style, interspersed with occasional bursts of actual care. She can prioritise sleuthing, but not getting basic groceries in, so her son (and Katie’s son) end up eating beans on toast on slightly mouldy bread? Even debating whether to leave him at his interview to go and meet a likely murder suspect?
Finally - bug bear 6. Beth doesn’t seem to have the basic self preservation sense she was born with. She texts the likely killer late at night, then gives Harry the slip and GOES TO MEET A LIKELY KILLER ON HER OWN IN A BADLY LIT PARK AT NIGHT. Dear Lord.. it’s only because her poker face is as transparent as glass, that she isn’t killed.
If I’d got these from the library, I’d take them back. If I’d paid for them in a charity shop, I’d probably take the remaining two books back unread - the charity could keep the money. But I’ve got these as ARCs from NetGalley in return for an unbiased review, and so I feel the need to see them through and review, otherwise it’ll mean my response rate is lower.
There are good cosy mystery series out there. But I can’t honestly pretend this is one of them by any stretch, sadly.
January 31, 2019
*I received a free ARC of this book with thanks to the author and Rachel Gilbey at Rachel’s Random Resources blog tours. The decision to review and my opinions are my own.*
This fifth book in The London Murder Mysteries series was definitely my favourite and functions perfectly well as a standalone, but I would personally recommend reading the series in order to get the ‘full Beth’ experience!
Here Alice Castle has found the perfect balance of Beth’s personal life as a single mum with a grumpy boyfriend, struggling with money, social life and raising her son in a small and relatively affluent community with her amateur detection sideline which is rapidly taking over her life (pushing her actual job far down the list of priorities!).
We see a lighter and more comfortable side to her relationships in this instalment than in previous, and Beth has found some ideal sidekicks in Katie, Colin and Teddy, who help to bring both humour and pathos and that extra bit of heart that had been slightly lacking in Beth’s lonely wanderings previously.
Of course, these books are murder mysteries so Beth yet again stumbles into a body (and why would that stretch credulity when you think about places like St Mary Mead or Midsomer?!). By now she has pretty much admitted to herself that she cannot resist a good old investigation and so she plunges right in with gusto and what passes for her as professionalism, much to DI Harry York’s great irritation… again.
This is a lovely, engaging and well-written cosy mystery series that is getting better with each book and I would recommend it to any fans of the genre.
Beth had astonished herself by bursting into noisy tears. She rarely cried, and then only if something really bad happened… like a friend getting murdered. Good news deserved a smile, not this storm of emotion. But a lot had happened in Dulwich in the past year. Maybe she was permitted a tiny wobble, she’d thought, as she blew her nose half an hour later and threw cold water on cheeks blotched with tears.
– Alice Castle, Revenge on the Rye
Review by Steph Warren of Bookshine and Readbows blog
https://bookshineandreadbows.wordpres...
This fifth book in The London Murder Mysteries series was definitely my favourite and functions perfectly well as a standalone, but I would personally recommend reading the series in order to get the ‘full Beth’ experience!
Here Alice Castle has found the perfect balance of Beth’s personal life as a single mum with a grumpy boyfriend, struggling with money, social life and raising her son in a small and relatively affluent community with her amateur detection sideline which is rapidly taking over her life (pushing her actual job far down the list of priorities!).
We see a lighter and more comfortable side to her relationships in this instalment than in previous, and Beth has found some ideal sidekicks in Katie, Colin and Teddy, who help to bring both humour and pathos and that extra bit of heart that had been slightly lacking in Beth’s lonely wanderings previously.
Of course, these books are murder mysteries so Beth yet again stumbles into a body (and why would that stretch credulity when you think about places like St Mary Mead or Midsomer?!). By now she has pretty much admitted to herself that she cannot resist a good old investigation and so she plunges right in with gusto and what passes for her as professionalism, much to DI Harry York’s great irritation… again.
This is a lovely, engaging and well-written cosy mystery series that is getting better with each book and I would recommend it to any fans of the genre.
Beth had astonished herself by bursting into noisy tears. She rarely cried, and then only if something really bad happened… like a friend getting murdered. Good news deserved a smile, not this storm of emotion. But a lot had happened in Dulwich in the past year. Maybe she was permitted a tiny wobble, she’d thought, as she blew her nose half an hour later and threw cold water on cheeks blotched with tears.
– Alice Castle, Revenge on the Rye
Review by Steph Warren of Bookshine and Readbows blog
https://bookshineandreadbows.wordpres...
February 1, 2019
Book 5 in the series and my second one. I was so charmed by the main character in the stories that I was really looking forward to the sequel.
Well, Beth is still funny and the author had me totally eating out of the palm of her hand by having not one but two dogs playing a big role.
When I compare the two books I have read, I feel like this one was slower paced. In my opinion the focus was more on Beth’s private life than on the murder case, but it did not disturb me. I liked the story even though I had an inkling about the culprit rather early one, which did not disturb me either. I was certainly pleasantly surprised when everything was revealed because the author had kept something up her sleeve until the end.
Overall, this story was a fun read with wonderful (furry) charachters.
Thank you, Alice Castle and RachelsRandomResources.
https://bforbookreview.wordpress.com
Well, Beth is still funny and the author had me totally eating out of the palm of her hand by having not one but two dogs playing a big role.
When I compare the two books I have read, I feel like this one was slower paced. In my opinion the focus was more on Beth’s private life than on the murder case, but it did not disturb me. I liked the story even though I had an inkling about the culprit rather early one, which did not disturb me either. I was certainly pleasantly surprised when everything was revealed because the author had kept something up her sleeve until the end.
Overall, this story was a fun read with wonderful (furry) charachters.
Thank you, Alice Castle and RachelsRandomResources.
https://bforbookreview.wordpress.com
August 17, 2022
I actually read the latest edition called The Murder Walk but that edition isn't up yet. So, this is basically just a placeholder for now.
I adore this series. Beth is a unique, sometimes frustrating character, but she is, oh, so real and likable. Author Alice Castle does a wonderful job letting us get to know Beth and those about her. This installment lets us spend time in her head as she indulges in thoughts ranging from her determination to give her son Jake an element of freedom.....all while tailing him on his walk to school, mind you .... to imagining what she could do should a bundle of money just drop into her hands. She hadn't calculated on a tall tree, let's just say.
She's also competitive enough to feel smug that she might have gotten one up on detective boyfriend Harry at one point by finding an important bit of info first....or, hmm, did she find it first? She also ponders if dogs mourn losses. Yes, Beth, they do.
And, oh, yes, the murder. But, first, let me back up a few steps. Beth's best friend, Katie, has adopted a puppy. Puppy Teddy seems to be a wild child, driven by natural hormones. I must admit that I wanted to give Katie's husband a stern talking to with his male disdain for the common sense approach of neutering and even basic training. Anyway, Teddy gets loose.... who are we kidding, Katie makes the mistake of letting him off-leash.... and ultimately leads Beth, hot in pursuit of the wayward pup, to a body. Beside it is a sad older dog, Colin, who Harry somehow gets Beth to agree to take home with her. Magpie the cat isn't a happy kitty. Will Teddy ever learn some manners? Has he learned his lesson after eating that valuable memory stick? Uh, he's a puppy. What do you think? You'll both chuckle and feel sympathy for the usually put together Katie as she deals with the puppy in some unusual ways, all while embracing playing sleuth as a distraction from puppy worries. Katie does prove helpful, however, even if Beth ignores her words of caution
So, who did it? Who'd hate graffiti artist Mark Smeaton enough to kill him? How does Beth's Bridge playing mother prove helpful? Will Beth drive Harry crazy with worry? Why is she calling her photographer brother? Why is Beth worrying so much about Jake? Will she leave him alone at an interview for a spot at a prestige school to go chase a clue? What lengths will a mother go to to protect her child?
And, oh, so much more. You'll spend quite a bit of time hanging out in Beth's head, worrying not just about the murder but her private life, and most likely get a chuckle out of her flights of fancy even when facing death. And, you'll like her, even if, like me, you wish you could reach through the virtual pages and shake some sense into her occasionally.
Thanks #NetGalley and #Bookouture for allowing me to spend some more time with Beth. As a dog person, I'm psyched at her realization of how well Colin the senior Lab fits into her life. Now, if only Magpie the cat will agree...
I adore this series. Beth is a unique, sometimes frustrating character, but she is, oh, so real and likable. Author Alice Castle does a wonderful job letting us get to know Beth and those about her. This installment lets us spend time in her head as she indulges in thoughts ranging from her determination to give her son Jake an element of freedom.....all while tailing him on his walk to school, mind you .... to imagining what she could do should a bundle of money just drop into her hands. She hadn't calculated on a tall tree, let's just say.
She's also competitive enough to feel smug that she might have gotten one up on detective boyfriend Harry at one point by finding an important bit of info first....or, hmm, did she find it first? She also ponders if dogs mourn losses. Yes, Beth, they do.
And, oh, yes, the murder. But, first, let me back up a few steps. Beth's best friend, Katie, has adopted a puppy. Puppy Teddy seems to be a wild child, driven by natural hormones. I must admit that I wanted to give Katie's husband a stern talking to with his male disdain for the common sense approach of neutering and even basic training. Anyway, Teddy gets loose.... who are we kidding, Katie makes the mistake of letting him off-leash.... and ultimately leads Beth, hot in pursuit of the wayward pup, to a body. Beside it is a sad older dog, Colin, who Harry somehow gets Beth to agree to take home with her. Magpie the cat isn't a happy kitty. Will Teddy ever learn some manners? Has he learned his lesson after eating that valuable memory stick? Uh, he's a puppy. What do you think? You'll both chuckle and feel sympathy for the usually put together Katie as she deals with the puppy in some unusual ways, all while embracing playing sleuth as a distraction from puppy worries. Katie does prove helpful, however, even if Beth ignores her words of caution
So, who did it? Who'd hate graffiti artist Mark Smeaton enough to kill him? How does Beth's Bridge playing mother prove helpful? Will Beth drive Harry crazy with worry? Why is she calling her photographer brother? Why is Beth worrying so much about Jake? Will she leave him alone at an interview for a spot at a prestige school to go chase a clue? What lengths will a mother go to to protect her child?
And, oh, so much more. You'll spend quite a bit of time hanging out in Beth's head, worrying not just about the murder but her private life, and most likely get a chuckle out of her flights of fancy even when facing death. And, you'll like her, even if, like me, you wish you could reach through the virtual pages and shake some sense into her occasionally.
Thanks #NetGalley and #Bookouture for allowing me to spend some more time with Beth. As a dog person, I'm psyched at her realization of how well Colin the senior Lab fits into her life. Now, if only Magpie the cat will agree...
December 27, 2018
Once again Beth stumbles upon a dead body – that of a man out walking his dog on Peckham Rye. The man’s dog remains steadfastly by his side and Beth sees no option but to look after it until her boyfriend Harry and his team solve the case. Beth has never kept her nose out of any of the cases she’s been involved with and this one is no exception. Alice Castle manages to capture the spirit of the modern go-getting mummy as her son and his friend take the entrance exam for the top school Wyatt’s.
This story felt a little slower than the rest and was a touch later in getting to the action. I also feel it’s too incredible that Beth can find so many dead bodies. I don’t know anyone who has found one! I’m sure she would stick her oar in whoever found the body.
Filled with lovely, funny characters, this is yet another in a series I can’t stop reading. There must be more? If so, I’ll be reading them.
This story felt a little slower than the rest and was a touch later in getting to the action. I also feel it’s too incredible that Beth can find so many dead bodies. I don’t know anyone who has found one! I’m sure she would stick her oar in whoever found the body.
Filled with lovely, funny characters, this is yet another in a series I can’t stop reading. There must be more? If so, I’ll be reading them.
January 31, 2019
Imagine the pressure cooker of mums stressing about getting into the best day school in Dulwich … code-named “Wyatts” … in between yoga classes and chai lattes. Then add a dog walk in the park with a naughty puppy (probably pedigree), and a bored busy-body, and you have the perfect setting for a “yummy mummy” murder mystery.
The lead is rather irritatingly nosy – quite how her police boyfriend put up with her is beyond me, but setting that aside, I liked the mix of characters. My favourite though was Colin, the loyal, depressed, Labrador.
I raced through this in just a few hours. Fluidly written, it’s a fun easy read. Chick lit meets detective story. Although part of a series, it stands on its own. I haven’t read any of the others, but I will now though.
Slip this into your handbag, grab a chai latte and head to your local park …
The lead is rather irritatingly nosy – quite how her police boyfriend put up with her is beyond me, but setting that aside, I liked the mix of characters. My favourite though was Colin, the loyal, depressed, Labrador.
I raced through this in just a few hours. Fluidly written, it’s a fun easy read. Chick lit meets detective story. Although part of a series, it stands on its own. I haven’t read any of the others, but I will now though.
Slip this into your handbag, grab a chai latte and head to your local park …
November 4, 2022
The Murder Walk by Alice Castle
A Beth Haldane Mystery Book #5 - Previously released as Revenge on the Rye
I received an advance review copy for free thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Blurb
A pleasant stroll in the park, catch ups over coffee and... a body among the spring bulbs?
Single mum and school historian Beth Haldane has promised her new beau, Detective Harry York, that her sleuthing days are behind her. But when she stumbles over the body of local artist Mark Smeaton while ambling in the park, it’s clear a dangerous killer is on the loose in peaceful Dulwich Village. Shocked, Beth can’t resist delving into the mystery.
Snooping around the nearby cozy cafes, Beth listens carefully to gossip and soon learns Mark's graffiti-style art was famously controversial. There are plenty who might want him gone. Was it the suspiciously charming gallery owner? A disgruntled resident offended by Mark’s art? Or an old school chum with a dark secret about Mark’s true inspiration?
My Opinion
This series of books is being re-released with new names. These are quick little mystery books to read and I can easily finish one in a few hours. So far I am enjoying this series and the characters are really starting to develop as we work through the various mysteries.
In this book we see Beth struggling with the thought of allowing Jake some more independence. Whilst part of a series, this book would work well as a standalone. Twists and turns make for another great read.
Rating 4/5
A Beth Haldane Mystery Book #5 - Previously released as Revenge on the Rye
I received an advance review copy for free thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Blurb
A pleasant stroll in the park, catch ups over coffee and... a body among the spring bulbs?
Single mum and school historian Beth Haldane has promised her new beau, Detective Harry York, that her sleuthing days are behind her. But when she stumbles over the body of local artist Mark Smeaton while ambling in the park, it’s clear a dangerous killer is on the loose in peaceful Dulwich Village. Shocked, Beth can’t resist delving into the mystery.
Snooping around the nearby cozy cafes, Beth listens carefully to gossip and soon learns Mark's graffiti-style art was famously controversial. There are plenty who might want him gone. Was it the suspiciously charming gallery owner? A disgruntled resident offended by Mark’s art? Or an old school chum with a dark secret about Mark’s true inspiration?
My Opinion
This series of books is being re-released with new names. These are quick little mystery books to read and I can easily finish one in a few hours. So far I am enjoying this series and the characters are really starting to develop as we work through the various mysteries.
In this book we see Beth struggling with the thought of allowing Jake some more independence. Whilst part of a series, this book would work well as a standalone. Twists and turns make for another great read.
Rating 4/5
December 25, 2022
‘The Murder Walk’ is Book 5 in Alice Castle’s Beth Haldane series of cosy mysteries set in South London. I combined reading with its unabridged audiobook edition.
This novel was originally independently published in 2018 as ‘Revenge on the Rye’. Background is provided for new readers allowing for these mysteries to be read as stand-alones though reading them in order does allow for a better appreciation of the characters’ development.
Beth accompanies her friend, Katie, to the park at Peckham Rye. Apparently Teddy, Katie’s new puppy, has rather gained a reputation at their local park in Dulwich. When Teddy is let off his lead he zooms off. Beth and Katie follow him and stumble over the body of local artist Mark Smeaton.
Poor Beth - she had promised Detective Harry York to stop getting involved in mysteries. Yet Beth feels that Colin, Mark Smeaton’s Labrador found at his master’s side, deserves answers and would a little sleuthing really hurt? With Katie’s help Beth identifies a number of suspects and tries to uncover a motive. Will her investigation land her in hot water again?
This was another fun cosy with plenty of doggie antics with Teddy and Colin and some gentle satire aimed at the modern art scene. It ends on a slight cliffhanger linked to her son’s future. Naturally I was already planning to continue reading the series.
This novel was originally independently published in 2018 as ‘Revenge on the Rye’. Background is provided for new readers allowing for these mysteries to be read as stand-alones though reading them in order does allow for a better appreciation of the characters’ development.
Beth accompanies her friend, Katie, to the park at Peckham Rye. Apparently Teddy, Katie’s new puppy, has rather gained a reputation at their local park in Dulwich. When Teddy is let off his lead he zooms off. Beth and Katie follow him and stumble over the body of local artist Mark Smeaton.
Poor Beth - she had promised Detective Harry York to stop getting involved in mysteries. Yet Beth feels that Colin, Mark Smeaton’s Labrador found at his master’s side, deserves answers and would a little sleuthing really hurt? With Katie’s help Beth identifies a number of suspects and tries to uncover a motive. Will her investigation land her in hot water again?
This was another fun cosy with plenty of doggie antics with Teddy and Colin and some gentle satire aimed at the modern art scene. It ends on a slight cliffhanger linked to her son’s future. Naturally I was already planning to continue reading the series.
August 23, 2022
Single mum and Wyatt School historian Beth Haldane has promised her boyfriend, Detective Inspector Harry York, that her sleuthing days are behind her. Her best Katie has just bought a puppy, Teddy & whilst the pair are walking Teddy they stumble over the body of local artist Mark Smeaton. Sitting placidly by Mark’s side is a brown labrador, Colin. Beth listens carefully to gossip and soon learns Mark's graffiti-style art was famously controversial. Beth & Katie decide to revisit the crime scene & Katie’s search of a hollow tree throws up a mysterious envelope that stops them in their tracks
The fifth book in the series & it could be read on its own. I'm loving the books & love how the characters have developed & love Beth & Harry's romance. Jake, Beth's son is 'preparing' for the interview for a place at Wyatt’s that Autumn & now Beth is also looking after the utterly adorable Colin. Katie is almost at her wits end with Teddy, a loveable but mischievous & naughty pup. There are twists & turns as well as red herrings. Beth once again finds herself in hot water before being rescued by Harry. A well written engrossing read
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read
The fifth book in the series & it could be read on its own. I'm loving the books & love how the characters have developed & love Beth & Harry's romance. Jake, Beth's son is 'preparing' for the interview for a place at Wyatt’s that Autumn & now Beth is also looking after the utterly adorable Colin. Katie is almost at her wits end with Teddy, a loveable but mischievous & naughty pup. There are twists & turns as well as red herrings. Beth once again finds herself in hot water before being rescued by Harry. A well written engrossing read
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read
September 14, 2022
The Murder walk by Alice Castle is the fifth book within the new Beth Haldane Cosy Mystery series and these books have been a good read. However, I am finding them predicable. - well I did read these back to back whilst relaxing in the summer holidays.
This book is full of good strong twists and turns throughout and another great book and I do recommend this series.
Thanks to Netgalley, Bookouture and the author Alice Castle for my advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review.
This book is full of good strong twists and turns throughout and another great book and I do recommend this series.
Thanks to Netgalley, Bookouture and the author Alice Castle for my advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review.
September 18, 2022
I'm enjoying this series and I'm glad it was published again. This is another entertaining and well plotted story. Beth is a strong character and the setting is always intriguing.
The mystery is solid and kept me guessing.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine
The mystery is solid and kept me guessing.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine
January 17, 2023
Love this author’s sense of humor. The little bits here and there that make you laugh out loud. The young single mother trying to survive life and the choices she makes. The vocabulary is English and testing my skills of translation. Love the new language and new meaning of words that are different in American English. Will continue with the series and recommend the books to my friends.
April 17, 2023
This is book 5 in the Beth Haldane series. It can be read as a stand alone. Beth is walking in the park when she finds a dog and a dead body. Boyfriend, Detective Harry York isn't happy with yet another murder investigation involving Beth. The dead artist, Mark is very controversial and there is a large pool of suspects.
February 8, 2023
Main character has stupid behavior
Beth, the main character, just can’t let things go. She’s really annoying in her need to solve mysteries that are dangerous. Most moms would put their own safety first because of their children , but not this mom.
Beth, the main character, just can’t let things go. She’s really annoying in her need to solve mysteries that are dangerous. Most moms would put their own safety first because of their children , but not this mom.
June 2, 2023
I just love Colin!
Colin is such a wonderful edition to the Beth Haldane mystery series. Once again a great story, very real characters and a mystery that keeps you guessing almost to the last page! I highly recommend this book.
Colin is such a wonderful edition to the Beth Haldane mystery series. Once again a great story, very real characters and a mystery that keeps you guessing almost to the last page! I highly recommend this book.
August 12, 2023
Another great read.
November 4, 2025
3.75 stars
December 24, 2025
keeps you on your toes
This book is filled with humor and strange twists but there are lots of hints; making it a fun read!
This book is filled with humor and strange twists but there are lots of hints; making it a fun read!
December 10, 2022
Beth's BFF Katie has bought a puppy which has turned out to be a bit of a liability seeing as how it tries to mount any dogs smaller than itself (FYI, my seven month old puppies are barely at that stage so how Katie's new puppy is doing that I don't know). Anyway, Teddy, the puppy, has become persona non grata at Dulwich Park necessitating Katie and Beth to take him to Peckham Rye. Katie lets him off the lead (again, why would you do that with a dog you can't control) and chasing after him Beth comes across a Labrador in a thicket standing guard over a dead body.
The dead body is that of a local renowned artist, while the police investigate his murder Beth agrees to look after his dog Colin. Apparently Colin and his owner were well-known for walking in the Rye of a morning and then in Dulwich Park in the afternoon. Then Beth and Katie find £30,000 in cash stuck in a tree close to where they found the body, are the two things connected?
As noted in my last review, my feeling is that these books are so 'cosy/cozy' that there is very little detecting involved, we read a lot about coffee in chi-chi shops and expensive handbags, and cat hairs then out of thin air Beth solves the crime without (as my maths teacher used to say) showing the workings. It is always as an afterthought that someone asks 'how did you know that X was the murderer' just so we the readers can find out what happened. These are okay but TBH if I didn't have the eighth book sitting on my TBR pile as an ARC and the books are all on Kindle Unlimited I probably wouldn't bother reading any more.
Read on my Kindle Unlimited subscription.
The dead body is that of a local renowned artist, while the police investigate his murder Beth agrees to look after his dog Colin. Apparently Colin and his owner were well-known for walking in the Rye of a morning and then in Dulwich Park in the afternoon. Then Beth and Katie find £30,000 in cash stuck in a tree close to where they found the body, are the two things connected?
As noted in my last review, my feeling is that these books are so 'cosy/cozy' that there is very little detecting involved, we read a lot about coffee in chi-chi shops and expensive handbags, and cat hairs then out of thin air Beth solves the crime without (as my maths teacher used to say) showing the workings. It is always as an afterthought that someone asks 'how did you know that X was the murderer' just so we the readers can find out what happened. These are okay but TBH if I didn't have the eighth book sitting on my TBR pile as an ARC and the books are all on Kindle Unlimited I probably wouldn't bother reading any more.
Read on my Kindle Unlimited subscription.
February 14, 2019
Revenge on the Rye is the fifth book in this cozy mystery series set in Dulwich in London and, this time Beth's friend Katie has a new puppy which they innocently take for a walk on nearby Peckham Rye ...... but when they stumble upon an elderly labrador sitting obediently next to his dead owner, Beth, of course, can't resist trying to find the who, the why, the how and the whodunnit!
From art world spying to grafitti art, from a naughty puppy to an older, well brought up dog, this is a tale of contrasts while Beth's normally calm and unflappable friend Katie is reduced to a simpering wreck, hiding from other dog walkers, while trying to train her new excitable puppy.
Beth's still juggling her work at Wyatt's school with single-handedly bringing up her young son, still seeing the lovely DI Harry York, and still worrying whether she's a good enough mum and where her relationship with Harry is going, she is so endearing and I can so easily identify with her and her insecurities.
This can be read as a standalone as there are no spoilers from previous storylines, though mention is made several times of Beth's adventures from the earlier books.
I really enjoyed this mystery, the writing was full of detail, so true to life, it's so entertaining following Beth when she's on the scent of a mystery, with richly-drawn characters, this is a must for any cozy mystery fan!
From art world spying to grafitti art, from a naughty puppy to an older, well brought up dog, this is a tale of contrasts while Beth's normally calm and unflappable friend Katie is reduced to a simpering wreck, hiding from other dog walkers, while trying to train her new excitable puppy.
Beth's still juggling her work at Wyatt's school with single-handedly bringing up her young son, still seeing the lovely DI Harry York, and still worrying whether she's a good enough mum and where her relationship with Harry is going, she is so endearing and I can so easily identify with her and her insecurities.
This can be read as a standalone as there are no spoilers from previous storylines, though mention is made several times of Beth's adventures from the earlier books.
I really enjoyed this mystery, the writing was full of detail, so true to life, it's so entertaining following Beth when she's on the scent of a mystery, with richly-drawn characters, this is a must for any cozy mystery fan!
February 12, 2019
Another great book in the London Murder Mysteries series. I love the character of Beth and her uncanny knack of finding dead bodies where ever she goes.
Her friend has got a puppy, Teddy, who is trouble on lead, so Beth finds herself going on dog walks with her. It is on one of these walks that they (whilst chasing Teddy) discover a body in the undergrowth. Beth being Beth has to find out what happened to the poor man.
So she embarks on another mystery but this time with her best friend and with two dogs in tow. Another great read from Alice Castle, I loved catching up with Beth again. Although as I said in my review of Homicide in Herne Hill, my favourite character is Magpie, fancying having to share a house with a dog!!
Her friend has got a puppy, Teddy, who is trouble on lead, so Beth finds herself going on dog walks with her. It is on one of these walks that they (whilst chasing Teddy) discover a body in the undergrowth. Beth being Beth has to find out what happened to the poor man.
So she embarks on another mystery but this time with her best friend and with two dogs in tow. Another great read from Alice Castle, I loved catching up with Beth again. Although as I said in my review of Homicide in Herne Hill, my favourite character is Magpie, fancying having to share a house with a dog!!
May 1, 2019
Another hit from the Queen of observational wit!
Castle's cosy crime series goes from strength to strength, and this canine calamity of a tale (tail) gets another BIG paws up from me. Throw some gritty art, Dulwich yummy mummies, and the familiar pea coat clad Harry York into the mix, and you have an unputdownable read brimming with mystery, malice, comic moments and romance. An author to watch!
Castle's cosy crime series goes from strength to strength, and this canine calamity of a tale (tail) gets another BIG paws up from me. Throw some gritty art, Dulwich yummy mummies, and the familiar pea coat clad Harry York into the mix, and you have an unputdownable read brimming with mystery, malice, comic moments and romance. An author to watch!
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