The Murder Garden

A Beth Haldane Mystery #8

by Alice Castle

A winding path leads past the beautiful begonias to an overhanging oak tree. But underneath, a deadly secret is hiding…

Beth Haldane cradles a warm cup of tea and admires the view of crisp, red autumn leaves scattering the lawn of her little garden. But the peace and quiet is interrupted when her loyal pet pooch sniffs out something suspicious. At the bottom of a freshly-dug hole is a bone: and it looks worryingly human.

Even for a mystery-loving amateur sleuth like Beth, the discovery of a body beneath her own lawn is a little too close for comfort. But when the police insist that she must know something about the remains, digging up the truth herself is Beth’s only option.

With gossip flying all around Dulwich Village, Beth has her work cut out to find the culprit. Could a local cat-sitter, with keys to every home on the street, have been involved? Is her ex-actress neighbour a little too good at acting innocent? And was a whispered secret at a dinner party meant to point Beth in the right direction?

Scouring her garden for missed clues, when Beth discovers a shining silver engraved coin she’s certain it will lead to the victim’s identity. But the arrival of a threatening anonymous message sends chills down her spine… can Beth find a killer hiding in plain sight, before she’s the one pushing up daisies?

A deliciously cozy and gripping murder mystery, perfect for fans of Agatha Christie, T.E. Kinsey and The Thursday Murder Club.

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Cozy Mystery

281 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 15, 2022

About the author

Alice 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

Reviews

[Tahera · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have previously read the first four books in the series before deciding to take a break. The Murder Garden is the eighth book in the Beth Haldane Mystery series and I decided to read this before going back to the remaining books in the series, curious to see if Beth's life had moved forward in any way.

It has not.

We find Beth stuck in the same revolving wheel of her personal and professional life with nothing new to show except for her son Jake being almost a teenager now. I mentioned this in my earlier review and will say it again that I think Beth should just give up her archivist job (at which she rarely spends time anyways) and become a private investigator since she is a pro at discovering dead bodies--in this book in her own back yard! Even her romantic relationship with DI Harry York seems to be going nowhere and at this point I wouldn't even mind an introduction of a new male character just to spice things up!

Mystery wise, this time around it starts as a cold case with human bones being discovered in Beth's own back yard which leads to the death of another local, making Beth wonder if there is a connection between the two incidents. With her signature self-musing/introspection Beth, with some help from friends, manages to once again crack the case in the nick of time.

My thanks to NetGalley, the publisher Bookouture and the author Alice Castle for the e-Arc of the book.

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐✨💫

[Vanessa · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Murder Garden: by Alice Castle is the eighth book in the A Beth Haldane Mystery series. If you love cosy mysteries these are books for you. I really enjoyed the latest book by Beth it flowed well and ended up reading it in one sitting.

I loved this especially as it can be read as a standalone but I do advise to go back and read the other seven, as these are a read for a wet winters day or a great holiday read.

Big Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for my ARC.

[Annarella · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm happy I read another mystery featuring Beth Haldane as I had a lot of fun and thoroughly enjoyed it.
It kept me hooked and guessing, was glad to catch up with the characters and had a lot of fun.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this arc, all opinions are mine

[Charlene Keller · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was my first read of Author Alice Castle books.
I don’t normally like to read a series out of order.
But, this book read well as a stand-alone, in that I didn’t feel like I was missing any info because of not reading previous ones.
I may feel differently once I read the others.
And yes, I plan to read the others.
Well done !

Thankyou to author Alice Castle, Netgalley and Crooked Lane for giving me the opportunity to read this book!

Charlene 🌸📚🤗 @lastnownext

[LJ (ljwritesandreviews) · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's so nice to finally see Beth Haldane back in action with her snooping ways! This time, she's about to have a new shoffice built in her back garden to help with her overcrowded house when the builders unearth a skeleton. Of course, Beth can't resist digging into the case and putting herself in danger as usual.

This is the eighth book in the series. While it can be read as a standalone, I would probably recommend you read a few of the previous novels just to get a better understanding of the characters.

Beth is still her likeable and nosey self. This book we got a lot more of her personal drama entwined with the case, which I'm here for, with the strain between her and her boyfriend DI Harry York and also her bestie Katie taking centre stage for some of the book.

I'll be honest, I guessed the identity of the skeleton and the murderer quite early on, but it didn't spoil my enjoyment too much.

If you're looking for a lighthearted cozy mystery, with a cast of entertaining characters, then I'd highly recommend this book and the rest of the series to you!

[Ruth Morales · Rating 2 out of 5]

Tiring to read

I found these stories irritating. Beth is expected to give her all, helps the detective, and all he ever is appears ungrateful and narcicistic. I grew irritated and frustrated with her doubting herself, being put down by the detective boyfriend,and always being unappreciated. I ended up reading the first two chapters and going to the last ones. I was weary of her lack of self-esteem and being made to appear less a than because she was a single parent with limited funds. Pure rubbish writing.

[Janet Medforth · Rating 5 out of 5]

great characters and plotting

Great characters and plotting in this the eighth book of the Beth Haldane series.
I’ve been enthralled by Beth’s adventures in and around Dulwich. Beth is a very believable single mother trying to bring up her young son, working at a private school and romancing the local DCI Harry York
I’ve really loved the whole series and can’t wait for the next one

[cynthia carleton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book

I really enjoyed this book,I read all 8 books in a few days.Now I sad because I finished the last one...for now.

[Denise Bonham · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book

What a intriguing read. Great characters and very interesting setting . The ending was a complete surprise. Looking forward to the next one.

[Robin Loves Reading · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beth Haldane has some much needed construction going on at her home. With her boyfriend Harry, a local detective, having moved in recently, things are getting a little tight for space at home. She also has a preteen son named Jake and is now in the process of turning her shed into a space that just might meet her needs. However, when the workers building her shed discover a bone, a bone that turns out to be human, all construction comes to a halt and now the police have to find out who that bone belonged to and whether there are any more in her garden.

As far as Beth is concerned the police are taking far too long to find answers. Having proved more than adept when it comes to being an effective amateur sleuth, Beth launches her own investigation. Until now, Beth has felt really good about her relationship with Harry. But now, suddenly he is seemingly way too busy to even converse with her, never mind helping her figure out what is going on in their garden.

Meanwhile, Beth has a dilemma with her son and she must pay attention to what is going on with him at school and with his friends. She must do this while navigating her curiosity involving the body as well as being concerned about her relationship with Harry.

I admit to having to go to my friend Google to find out what the meaning of “shoffice” was, as it was a new term for me. But once I found out what it meant and what Beth‘s original plan was, everything fell into place. Even more, with Beth talking to as many people as possible, including other developers who may have worked on her property before she moved in, the story just kept getting better and better.

I happily binge read books one through seven of the series just a few months ago and loved each and every book. This made falling into this latest cozy mystery by Alice Castle quite enjoyable. However, readers do not have to worry if they have not read any of the previous books, as this latest installment would do perfectly well as a standalone novel.

Beth is a marvelous character, and the story was interesting throughout. I loved how Beth never lost her determination to find her own answers, all while navigating what was going on in her personal life. I loved how her even her dog Colin played his own role in helping Beth to solve the crime that was right in front of her. The Murder Garden was definitely a winner for me and I am really looking forward to the next book in the series.

Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.

Please enjoy my YouTube video review - https://youtu.be/lv4qPZ7nB9U

[June Price · Rating 5 out of 5]

Publication Nov. 15,2022

Wow, what a page-turner. And all because Beth wanted a shed, er, office built in the backyard. I mean, no one expected to find bones, human bones.

To be honest, although Beth does seem to go off on tangents, trying to make her primary suspect fit, so to speak, she also operates on hunches. Hunches that frequently prove right. True, her thinking is a bit convoluted at times, revolving around vague things and gossip. She's also prone to go off on thinking tangents not related to the crime, blurting out questions that put off even one of her best friends, not to mention putting herself into danger....repeatedly.... despite all of her detective boyfriend's cautions. She even takes senior dog Colin along on an info gathering visit, endangering not just herself but her beloved old dog in the process when a ferocious watchdog greets them. Whoa, Beth, leave the dog out of it.

Yet, despite all this, I find myself liking Beth, all the while wondering once again how the heck she keeps her job. She's both careless and caring, loving and likely to forget things like paying the bills, but loves her son and wants the best for him. He's on the age 12/13 cusp now, an age where he'll soon be fighting for some independence from motherly supervision, so that will be interesting to watch as the series continues. Harry seems to genuinely dote on Beth, too, despite her frequent feelings of being shunted into the background and having to fight for his attention. You know, she's a great deal like most of us. She questions herself regularly, unsure of herself, yet doing what she can and hoping, grasping for the best. I think that aspect of her character is what draws me to her so strongly. She's real, even if I'd never, ever, ever admit to being quite so spacey.

Bottom line, this installment of the Beth Haldane mystery series is a winner. I'm still trying to go to grips with the crime and criminal, however. It packs quite a punch. Nope, not telling, you're going to have to read the book to watch Beth balance her need to know with delicate friendships, family needs, Jake's growing up, and her relationship with Harry (and his massive book collection). And, oh, maybe find time to go into work at least occasionally?

Thanks #NetGalley and #Bookouture for letting me drop into Dulwich again. I look forward to not just Beth's next adventure but poor Katie's progress with wild-child Teddy the dog.

[Alison · Rating 3 out of 5]

Eighth in a cosy detective series set in the chichi London suburb of Dulwich Village. Our heroine Beth Haldane is a single mother, widowed very young, with a propensity for stumbling over murders in what had until recently been a very safe area of London. She and her 'boyfriend' DCI Harry York seem to have given up on the idea of buying a house together in a cheaper area and have instead decided to build a Shoffice (part shed and part office) at the end of the garden. Unfortunately, Beth's dreams of getting rid of Harry's Golden Age novels and her son's gaming equipment into the Shoffice is thwarted when the builders find what is unmistakably a human bone. With Harry working late on another case, a group of dedicated CSI detectives traipsing in and out of her cottage, and a dog desperate to eat said bones, Beth is forced to investigate the murder in order to have any chance of getting her Shoffice built.

Finally, a book in this series in which the reader has a chance to guess the murderer's identity because there are actual clues! It's only taken eight books to get to this point. Also, I think Alice Castle has realised that there seems to be little chemistry between Harry and Beth and has introduced a potential new love interest in the form of the dour chief CSI officer - already he gets my vote over the bossy and fairly useless Harry. As I have noted previously, this series takes cosy mysteries to a new level where there is more detail about who Beth has coffee with and what homework her son has been set than there is actual detecting.

I received an ARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley and on my Kindle Unlimited subscription in return for an honest review.

[Kirsty (BookBlogger) · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Murder Garden by Alice Castle
A Beth Haldane Mystery Book #8

I received an advance review copy for free thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Blurb

A winding path leads past the beautiful begonias to an overhanging oak tree. But underneath, a deadly secret is hiding…

Beth Haldane cradles a warm cup of tea and admires the view of crisp, red autumn leaves scattering the lawn of her little garden. But the peace and quiet is interrupted when her loyal pet pooch sniffs out something suspicious. At the bottom of a freshly-dug hole is a bone: and it looks worryingly human.

Even for a mystery-loving amateur sleuth like Beth, the discovery of a body beneath her own lawn is a little too close for comfort. But when the police insist that she must know something about the remains, digging up the truth herself is Beth’s only option.

With gossip flying all around Dulwich Village, Beth has her work cut out to find the culprit. Could a local cat-sitter, with keys to every home on the street, have been involved? Is her ex-actress neighbour a little too good at acting innocent? And was a whispered secret at a dinner party meant to point Beth in the right direction?

My Opinion

I have read this series in order but each book could be read as a standalone. Beth is having some work done on her house when a bone is discovered in the garden - so of course she is going to investigate. This is another great cosy mystery by Castle with many twist and turns to keep the reader interested. A quick and easy read.

Rating 4/5

[Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was drawn to the cover illustration, and thought that this looked and sounded like a book that I would enjoy, so I was happy to be approved to read it, in exchange for an honest review.

I'm a big fan of cosy mysteries, and I was expecting a modern cosy mystery. This ticked all of the right boxes. A modern cosy mystery in a village setting. I hadn't read any of the previous books in the series, but felt that enough background information was provided for it to be read on its own. I liked the protagonist, and found myself relating to her, and some of her behaviours.

This book did remind me a little bit of the Dr Ruth Galloway mysteries by Elly Griffiths, which I'm familiar with. I felt that it was humorous in a very subtle way - at times, the characters said or did things that made me chuckle while reading. I also felt that the chapters often ended in ambiguous way, hinting at something, without telling the reader exactly what was going on. For example, the text message Beth receives, that meant she "wouldn't get a wink of sleep all night". When this happens, as a reader, you feel compelled to keep turning pages.

I would probably be interested in reading some more books in this series, and I may recommend this to my Crime Café book club. Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for my opportunity to read and review this.

[Paula · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Murder Garden: A Beth Haldane Mystery Book 8 by Alice Castle is a book I was able to read in one day. This is the first book I have read by this author. Even though this is a part of a series, I did not feel I missed out by not reading the other books. The main character, Beth, is likable. I also liked the setting, Dulwich (the setting), and getting to know the other characters.

One irritating thing was that Harry, Beth's boyfriend, works all the time on cases and doesn't make time for her. But when he suggests after finishing this current case that they take a holiday, he gets annoyed with her when Beth says she will think about it. A bit hypocritical on his part.

The reader definitely needs a glossary for some of the terms used, and sometimes too much description of unnecessary things, which distracts from the storyline and plot.

All in all, The Murder Garden was an enjoyable cozy mystery with good characters and easy to read. Sometimes the pacing was a bit slow, and I found myself skimming some pages. I had the culprit kind of figured out, so not a real surprise, but it did not take away from the story.

#TheMurderGarden #NetGalley @bookouture

[Janet · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beth Haldane cradles a warm cup of tea and admires the view of crisp, red autumn leaves scattering the lawn of her little garden. She’s finally going to get her shoffice but then the workmen stop, they've found a bone & it looks human. Then Adua the local cat / dog sitter is murdered. As more bones are unearthed Beth feels the need to investigate. But the arrival of a threatening anonymous message sends chills down her spine.
The eighth book in the series & it could easily be read on its own. Another engrossing read which as well as focusing on the discovery at the bottom of the garden there’s also the day to day life of Beth, her partner Harry working LONG hours, her son Jake reaching puberty, her relationship with best friend Kate, all these relationships are weighing on Beth's mind too as well as all the mud that the SOCOs are dragging into her house. The characters are well portrayed & had depth, the mystery as to who the bones were kept me guessing as there are plenty of red herrings plus the obligatory twists & turns. I really like Beth with her small stature & wayward fringe who just has to get involved
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read

[Elaine - Splashes Into Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is another fab Beth Haldane cosy mystery tale
Full of twists, danger and engaging without fail!
I thoroughly enjoyed this page turner read
And hope you agree it is just what you next need!

In her garden her dog finds a human bone
So for the police she has to phone.
When it turns out it isn't just one
She wishes the forensic team will quickly be gone!

However, with more finds, who could it be?
Beth is determined to resolve the mystery.
Just who could the killer be
And how did the bones end up under her tree?

With family drama and her partner often away
Whilst her young son also has much to say
Can Beth keep doing her job and still discover
Who the killer is before they kill another?

With warnings being sent to put Beth off the case
She needs to make sure she has caution in place.
She doesn't want to be the next victim, that's clear
But just who or what should she really fear?

Another murder mystery peppered through with fun
Family drama and friends getting things done.
For my complementary copy of this book, I say thank you,
It is an intriguing read and this is my honest review.

[Libby Mckinmer · Rating 3 out of 5]

In this eighth in the series, Beth Haldane is busy with her relationship with partner Harry, raising her teenage son and her job – and all is going well. Then while the construction crew is working on her new shoffice in the back garden, family dog Colin finds a human bone in a newly dug hole. Is it an ancient bone, an old bone, or is the person a victim of a recent crime?

Beth’s home is inundated by the police unit sent to investigate, but their progress is slow. Her partner Harry is a cop who is caught up in a very intense investigation of his own, so Beth feels it falls to her to figure out what has happened. Her investigation is complicated by the murder of a beloved community member…was she involved somehow?

As Beth pushes ahead with her investigation, she finds herself at serious risk. Can she figure out the clues before she’s the next victim?

I did find it a bit slow going in places and there were a few spots where an editor’s eye could have been useful. But the climax to the story and the reveal of the murderer made up for any slow going leading up to that.

Fans of the Beth Haldane series will doubtless be drawn into her newest adventure and enjoy it.

[Lauren Hewitt · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is book 8 in the Beth Haldane series but because of some introductions and descriptions it could be read as a stand alone, but trust me you'll want to read the others too.
The setting is Dulwich, which is anything but dull!
This cosy mystery has everything you could possibly want: suspense, nosy neighbours, drama, a few grim discoveries, a furry companion or two and tea! The kind of book to snuggle up with a blanket, buckets of tea and biscuits.
I loved the beautiful descriptive language, the Nina-isms and the epic twist.
There were a few cliffhangers with regards to some relationships leaving it open to more books in the series.
While this is the first I have read it certainly won't be the last.

Thank you to bookouture and netgalley for the arc copy in exchange for my honest opinions. And bookouture for having me on the blog tour.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Murder Garden the eighth book in the Beth Haldane mystery series, continues the story of Beth, widow, single mother and amateur sleuth. This is a true cozy mystery with all the things that make you love a cozy mystery. Her relationship with Detective Inspector Harry York has evolved and Harry has moved into her very small home. She realizes she must make more space and so decides to add an office/shed to her tiny backyard. Unfortunately the construction crew quickly unearths bones. Of course they do! And so begins yet another round of sleuthing. The writing is gentle and quite funny and her books cover some thought provoking themes. The series does not need to be read in order but I would recommend reading at least one of the previous books to become familiar with the many characters in Beth's life and village. This is a series to sit back and enjoy.

[Patricia A · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley, Alice Castle, and Bookouture for the opportunity to read an advance copy of THE MURDER GARDEN which is the 8th book in the Beth Haldane series. Having not read prior books from this series, this was still workable as a standalone. I found this cozy mystery to be interesting in that Beth, the heroine, who perceived herself as a super sleuth, was delightfully ostentatious in her efforts to seek out the reason bones were found in her garden and to try to solve a local murder. Beth was very closely attached to and in tune with her Labrador and her cat, both of which demonstrated individual personalities throughout the book which was an illustrative departure from most novels in the same genre. Beth Haldane followers will definitely want to read this!

[Jane Hunt · Rating 4 out of 5]

My first adventure with amateur sleuth Beth Haldane was a success. Even though I haven't read any other books in the series, it reads well as a standalone with a complete mystery and enough backstory to ensure the reader understands the characters' lives and relationships. I like the original setting, in Dulwich rather than a cosy English village, but this retains a cosy crime vibe with its intelligent amateur sleuth, numerous suspects, quirky cast of characters and twisty mystery.

I like Beth's character, the cast of characters, especially the animals and the well-written mystery.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher.

[Karin Carlson · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s never good when you find a dead body in your garden…..especially when you live in a small town. With gossip flying all around Dulwich Village, Beth has her work cut out to find the culprit. Could a local cat-sitter, with keys to every home on the street, have been involved? Is her ex-actress neighbour a little too good at acting innocent? And was a whispered secret at a dinner party meant to point Beth in the right direction? This was a fun cozy and although there are 7 books in the series it reads well as a stand-alone. Thank you NetGalley for the advanced readers copy for review.

[LittleRead · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book eight in the series has Beth finding a body in her yard. The police insist that she must know something about the body, but she doesn’t. How to prevent herself from being railroaded for a murder she didn’t commit? Sleuth herself!

This series delivers a solid mystery every time and each visit to Dulwich Village is satisfying. If you haven’t read a book in this series yet, you’re missing out!

[Emma Hardy · Rating 4 out of 5]

To start, I read this as a standalone and it totally worked- although I am intrigued about the previous reads after reading this one.

This starts as quite a showstopper, and I was eager to race through to work all of this out. A creepy, punchy start to the book felt suspenseful.
A few too many dog scenes for me as I am scared of dogs, but if you are a dog lover then you will embrace this!

Tense, dark and claustrophobic.

[Michelle Debnam · Rating 3 out of 5]

Watch your neighbours closely as you never know what goes on behind closed doors

When a bone is found by the workmen currently building a quiet retreat in the garden of Beth she knows that it is more than likely human and should not be there so our amateur sleuth sets out to discover who is under her garden

[Victoria Jackson · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Murder Garden is book 8 in the Beth Haldane Mystery series. I have read the previous books and loved them all and this one is no exception. In this instalment a body is found in Beth's garden and once again can't help but do some amuture sluething. There are plenty of twists and turns in this cosy mystery that kept me turning the pages.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for my ARC.

[Gea · Rating 3 out of 5]

Beth Haldane finds plans for her new “shoffice” build put on hold after the builders dig up some bones. I found this book a little slow moving, with Beth wailing about the discovery, but eventually she gets to the truth of the matter. I do wonder how she manages to hold on to her job at Wyatts school with the amount of work days she misses!

[Isabella May · Rating 5 out of 5]

Witty, gripping and thoroughly juicy, Alice Castle's 8th instalment of the Beth Haldane Mysteries is cosy crime at its best. With excellent characterisation and plot twists throughout, Dulwich springs to life in the wake of more grisly death!