I would read this just for Gus, the canine sidekick. This is a strong mystery with good characters who will make you care about what happens to them. The setting is great and really well described. A very enjoyable mystery for people who like a touch of quirkiness in their reading,

Another good cozy mystery in the series. Book 4, but can be read alone. Enjoyed this one and the building up of who is who and what they are hiding was fun to follow. Would recommend this book, series and author.

Mystery at the old mill is another wonderful cosy mystery by Clare Chase.

I love revisiting the wonderful characters who live in Saxford St Peter and discovering the hidden secrets this quaint village holds.

This time round a fire at the old mill and the death of the wealthy and mysterious man who lived there has everyone on their toes. As Eve's investigation gets underway she soon discovers that the mysterious man has more than one target on his back!

Treading a little too close to danger ( as always) Eve once again finds herself in a sticky situation.

The village of Saxford St Peter is far from sleepy!

There is something so “cosy” about Clare Chase’s Eve Mallow Mystery series, and I mean that in the best possible way. Mystery at the Old Mill, the fourth book in the series, is no exception.

Harry Tennant has a secret. Unbeknownst to most of his neighbors in in the village of Saxford St. Peter, he masquerades as an “agony aunt” (think, “Dear Abby”) for a gossip paper. While most of the advice he dispenses is good-natured, some of his counsel is over-the-top. When Harry’s home at the Old Mill is burned down, with him in it, the question arises – has he gone too far? As Eve Mallow, tasked with writing his obituary, begins her research, she discovers that Harry – and other members of the community -- had other sordid secrets of their own. With a wealth of angry suspects, Eve’s investigation is daunting, propelling her to unmask a killer.

Eve Mallow is my kind of heroine. She is smart, detailed, and meticulous. She takes calculated risks, but is fully aware of them. Her murder investigations flow nicely from her profession. It’s never a stretch for her to be investigating the subject of her obituary. And she loves dogs, particularly her dachshund, Gus, who is a great character on his own. The mystery is fresh and exciting, ratcheting up the suspense bit by bit to a nail-biting conclusion. The clues, cues and red herrings are so plentiful that it keeps you guessing right up to the end of the story. But as with most cozy mysteries, the people are the heart of this book. Saxford St. Peter is teeming with charming and quirky characters. Colorful Viv and gossipy Moira each add a spark to the story, while Robin emerges not only as a potential romantic interest for Eve, but also a solid, honest and dependable confidant.

Mystery at the Old Mill is one of those rare novels where everything comes together perfectly. From the riveting prologue to the climactic resolution, Ms. Chase weaves a story that captures both our hearts and our minds.

Note: I received an ARC of Mystery at the Old Mill from NetGalley and Bookouture. The above is my honest review.

I've read two of the three previous books in the Eve Mallow Mystery series, and it keeps getting better.
It's good to return to the picturesque village and its vividly described inhabitants. Eve investigates a death after an arson attack and soon finds the victim has hidden depths and secrets.

The plot is full of twists, and the list of suspects is vast, but Eve's tenacious investigative techniques and willingness to put herself in danger draw the guilty party into the open in an exciting finale.

I received a copy of this book from Bookouture via NetGalley in return for an honest review.

This was a great mystery with a cleverly crafted plot. I enjoyed following along on Eve and Gus’s investigation with the many twists and turns that they encountered. There was enough action and suspense to keep me flipping pages.
Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

This is the 4th book in the series and it didn't disappoint. I enjoy this series more with every new book. I envision Eve Mallow as a combination of Miss Marple and Jessica Fletcher. That being said, this is cozy mystery writing at it's best. The characters are intriguing and the setting is so vivid in my mind. There are plenty of twists and turns to keep you wanting to read more.

New to me author and series, and I am on the lookout for more. I loved the characters and the writing. The mystery was perfectly crafted, the characters believable, and the setting sheer perfection.

Title: Mystery at the Old Mill
Author: Clare Chase
Publication Day: Dec 7th 2020

Description:

When the calm of Saxford St Peter is disrupted by a deadly fire at the Old Mill, amateur sleuth Eve Mallow finds herself investigating a most surprising mystery!

Everyone in Saxford St Peter is desperate to know more about Harry Tennant, the newcomer who owns the Old Mill. He usually keeps himself to himself, but he’s finally invited the villagers round for drinks, and Eve Mallow isn’t the only one looking forward to having some questions answered.

But two days before the party, a terrible fire sweeps through the mill, and Harry is found dead. When Eve passes the burned remains of his beautiful house, she can’t resist the call to investigate. Especially when it turns out quiet, charming Harry was living a double life as the famous advice writer Pippa Longford. Eve has to wonder what revelations were contained in the letters he received… and whether one of them was worth killing for.

Accompanied by her reliable dachshund sidekick Gus, Eve starts digging. She soon realises Harry was at the centre of a web of lives – and lies. There’s an uncle desperate to inherit, two women who thought they were his one and only, not to mention everyone who shared their darkest secrets with him. Was one of those strangers much closer to home than Harry knew? And can Eve untangle the truth before she finds herself face to face with a killer?

A completely charming page-turner, perfect for fans of Faith Martin, Agatha Christie and Betty Rowlands.

BLOG TOUR REVIEW

Review for 'Mystery At The Old Mill' by Clare Chase.

Read and reviewed via NetGalley for Bookouture publishers and Bookouture anonymous

Publication date 7th December 2020

This is the first book I have read by this author. It is also the fourth book in her 'Eve Mallow Mystery' series but can be read as a standalone.

I was originally drawn to this book by its beautiful eye catching cover and its intriguing synopsis. It also stated in the synopsis that this book is perfect for fans of Faith Martin amongst others. I am a fan of Faith's books so am looking forward to see if it loves up to this. I must admit I was also biased due to the publisher being Bookouture. I have yet to read a book published by Bookouture that I haven't enjoyed. Hopefully this won't be the first... Watch this space! (Written before I started reading the book).

This novel consists of a prologue and 44 chapters. The chapters are short to medium in length so possible to read 'just one more chapter' before bed...OK, I know yeah right, but still just in case!

This book is based in a fictional town based in Suffolk, UK 🇬🇧. The bonus for me of books that are partly or fully based in the UK is that I live in the UK and have sometimes visited places mentioned in the book which makes it easier to picture. I have actually visited Suffolk on several occasions so am looking forward to seeing if I recognise anywhere that Clare has based the book on.

This book is written in third person perspective and the main protagonist is Eve Mallow. The benefits of third person perspective are that it let's you see the bigger picture of what's going on and you get to know more characters more, what they are thinking and what they are doing. It feels like you get to see the whole picture and not miss out on anything.

This book is very well written making it a lovely smooth read. The atmosphere and vivid descriptions are perfect for the plot and helps give that cosy feeling while reading. The synopsis and cover suited the storyline perfectly. I'm looking forward to reading more of Clare Chase's books including any prior to this one. This book can easily be read as a standalone and anything that has happened prior is described in just the right amount of detail.

THE storyline itself if a lovely cosy mystery that kept me guessing all the way through. I had no idea who the killer was so a huge congratulations to Clare. It is getting harder and harder to surprise me with the amount of crime books I read but you definitely managed it. I enjoyed that it wasn't really a case of just one mystery but how several linked smoothly and everything was tied up nicely at the end, hate loose ends!! I really enjoyed going on this adventure with Eve and investigating with her. The book was filled with crime, mystery, murder, red herrings and some suspense. I als believe that Clare portrayed village life perfectly and the community within them.

THE characters were all realistic, strong and an eclectic bunch to say the least. It was really fun learning all of their different characteristics, personalities and backgrounds. I love Eve and of course Gus. Eve felt to me to be slightly eccentric which I enjoyed the most about her. I also enjoyed meeting all the other villagers and Viv as well. I'm hoping something will come from Eve and Robin's friendship banishing the cringe worthy Ian for good.

Overall an absolutely compelling and page turning cosy mystery that is perfect to read on front of the fire.

Genres covered in this novel include Mystery, Suspense and Crime Fiction amongst others.

I would recommend this book to the fans of the above as well as fans of cosy mysteries, Faith Martin and Agatha Christie.

319 pages.

This book is just £1.99 to purchase on kindle via Amazon which I think is an absolute bargain for this book!!!

Rated 5/5 (I loved it ) on Goodreads, Instagram, Amazon UK and Amazon US and on over 30 Facebook pages plus my blog on Facebook.

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Author Bio:

Clare Chase writes women sleuth mysteries. After graduating from London University with a degree in English Literature, Clare moved to Cambridge and has lived there ever since. She's fascinated by the city's contrasts and contradictions, which feed into her writing. She's worked in diverse settings - from the 800-year-old University to one of the local prisons - and lived everywhere from the house of a Lord to a slug-infested flat. The terrace she now occupies, with her husband and teenage children, presents a good happy medium.

As well as writing, Clare loves family time, art and architecture, cooking, and of course, reading other people's books.

You can find Clare's website and blog at www.clarechase.com


Author Social Media Links:

Twitter: https://twitter.com/ClareChase_

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/10204574.Clare_Chase

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ClareChaseAuthor/



BUY LINKS:

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Eve Mallow doesn't just write amazing obituaries, her job goes further than that. In fact, she is pretty much a detective, because before she can even begin writing about the deceased she wants to get to know them in order to form a full picture of their life. By so doing, she digs deep. In the case of the current death, Harry Tennant, he happens to be a man Eve recently met. She found him to be quite a likeable guy and was rather shocked when she found out he was dead.

Just like several times before while Eve begins asking questions, she quickly learns that Harry was indeed murdered. What is more is that she discovered that he was living a double life as Pippa Longford, a famous writer. Something Harry was up to was enough to get him murdered, and Eve is determined to find out what exactly that was.

Eve will go to any lengths possible to find the answers, and relies on communication with former policeman Robin for assistance. All the while she has her adorable dachshund Gus by her side. Also, Eve has to deal with some personal matters along the way.

In this terrific addition to a delightful series, I enjoyed watching Eve successfully maneuver her way through, even though she found danger along the way. I am loving this series and am looking forward to the next installment.

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

Yet another fantastic outing for Obituary writer Eve Mallow. I have read the previous 3 books in the series and was delighted to be offered this copy in exchange for an honest review, thank you to Netgalley and the Publisher.
Eve has settled into life in the sleepy little town of Saxford St Peter, but life is not quiet for long.
In the standard procedural format I have come to enjoy there is a death quite early on in the plot and Eve finds herself writing the obituary. This allows her the opportunity to delve into the mystery of the death along with her close friend Robin who is a former detective.
Easy reading but still with enough twists to keep you guessing, this is a good winter read to while away the hours.

Mystery at the old mill by Clare Chase.
Eve Mallow mystery #4.
I really enjoyed this book even though I haven't read the first 3. I loved Eve from the start. I had no clue who the killer was. I'm looking forward to reading more from this author. 4*.

A well written and entertaining cozy mystery. Good plot and character dynamics. Mystery fans will love this book. I received an advance ebook from the publisher and Netgalley and this is my unbiased review.

Eve Mallow makes a new friend at her winter party and is looking forward to his hosting the next party in the new year. But the second party never happens as the old mill is burned down with Harry inside. Eve discovers that Harry was actually an agony aunt with a forceful style that led to legions of fans but also enemies: could he have given the wrong advice and revenge is the motive? She is called upon to write his obituary and begins to investigate his murder...
Mystery at the Old Mill is the fourth book to feature Eve and the village of Saxford. However, it works perfectly well as a stand alone novel as there are no spoilers about previous books.
The style of writing is easy to read and there are no gruesome forensic details so I would definitely describe this as a cosy murder mystery. The focus is on the investigation by amateur Eve assisted by former police officer Robin and her dachshund Gus. There are plenty of suspects for Eve to question so the mystery is sustained well over the course of the book.
Eve remains a very likeable character and comes across as determined rather than nosey. Her ex continues to stir up her dismay and I felt a little sad that we didn't meet her children at Christmas. She has good friends in the village and, as I've said before, this would make a perfect Sunday night TV drama series.
Mystery at the Old Mill is a classic and enjoyable murder mystery novel with a strong lead character and entertaining plot.

Eve lives in a quaint, rather old fashioned village. She has an unusual occupation too. She is an obituary writer for the rich and famous and supplements her income with working for the local cafe, a job she enjoys and the camaraderie amongst locals.

When Mark the mill owner meets with a gruesome end, a top magazine approaches her to write his obituary. The write up becomes more interesting when it is revealed that Mark was murdered and that there are several strands to Mark's life and story which were well hidden until now. Mark has been the face of an agony aunt, well known but giving out at times controversial and ascerbic advice. Advice which it seems has lead many people into paths of despair rather than uplifting them from their present downward spirals. This brings up many suspects who could have done away with him gladly.

Eve along with her friend retired Detective Robin slowly unravel the mystery and when a second victim is found, the pace hots up to solve the crime before more victims succumb.

The setting alone was very interesting, the story was good and since I had never heard of an obituary writer before, I was intrigued.

After reading mystery at Seagrave Hall I was looking forward to the next book in this series and hoping that it would be as enjoyable a read as the previous one.
I didn't get disappointed: mystery at the old mill combines the same cosy feeling as mystery at Seagrave Hall and is full of suspense. Eve's relationship with police detective turned gardener Robin is slowly developing in something more. The conversations at the teashop and the village grocery add some couleur locale and I love the interaction with her quirky dachshund Sam.

This episode features Harry Tennant, the new owner of the old mill, who perishes when his mill is set alight. Of course Eve can't wait to investigate his death under the guise of writing his obituary. A couple of deaths later and some suspects less, Eve discovers the real culprit and almost pays with her own live but gets rescued by an unusual hero.
4* for mystery at the old mill. I want to thank Netgalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

One night in early January, a fire breaks out at the old mill in the village of Saxford St. Peter, with the new owner, Harry Tennant, trapped inside. The mill burns to the ground, and when the police declare the cause of the fire is arson, rumours and gossip begin to fly about who could possibly have wanted Harry dead. As a professional obituary writer, Eve Mallow is familiar with digging around and unearthing the truth about the lives of her subjects and has found herself solving murders in the past with her own investigations (much to the ire of the local constabulary). So, of course, when Eve is asked to write Harry’s obituary, she jumps at the opportunity … especially when she discovers that Harry Tennant is the man behind agony aunt columnist Pippa Longford, notorious for her unusual and, often, reckless advice.

Armed with the knowledge that Harry Tennant had probably made enemies of many readers through his ill-thought through advice, Eve begins to investigate along with her trusty sidekick, Gus the dachshund. As she delves deeper into the secret life that Harry led, Eve starts to uncover a dark web of misdirection and lies. It’s clear that knowing these secrets is worth killing for, but now Eve has to find the killer before she becomes the next in a mounting pile of victims.

This book delivers on what it promises: a cosy mystery set in a quaint English village that you can read without feeling overly taxed. And if you like this type of book, then you’re in luck as this is the fourth in the Eve Mallow series by Clare Chase (plus there are a whole bunch more books by this author in other series of a similar genre, it seems). Unfortunately, I think that the fact that this book was the fourth in its series is precisely what let it down for me. There are a lot of established characters who reappear in this book with little to no introduction – obviously they had been fleshed out and developed fully in previous books (I hope, anyway), and the author didn’t reintroduce them in great detail here. Because of this, I found myself scrambling to place everyone for about the first 20% of the book, and this really threw me off, decreasing my enjoyment of the book.

This being said, though, I have tried to look at the book independently of the fact that it is part of a series, and in many respects, I think that helped. However, I think this book suffered in pacing problems at times, with parts of the book dragging (scenes where Eve and Viv baking a fruit cake were described in great detail, down to the ingredients that were being weighed out and folded into batters), and in other places, the plot zoomed by really quickly (one very clear example I can think of is the final confrontation of the book). I think that if this had been smoothed out and if there had been a wider variety of settings for the book (there are only so many times that action can be propelled along by going for dinner at the pub, or by sitting and staring at an Excel spreadsheet), the pacing issues I picked up on may have been solved.

As far as the mystery goes, I think that this was a relatively good story, and I felt that there was a lot of work put into building up the clues and character traits that led to the big reveal of the book. One criticism I do have is that I felt a bit as if there was too much mystery. Without wanting to give away anything as relates to the plot, I felt that the mystery became too big for a quaint English countryside mystery and felt as if things had been transplanted from a big city into a countryside setting. For example, there were characters who had apparently lived in the village for years, but Eve (who has also been there for a fair while) seemed to be meeting and interacting with them for the first time. This seemed a bit odd and out of place for what sounded like a small community (after all, the book opens with a community Christmas party, where everyone joins Eve at her house for a traditional Christmas do). This made the ending feel slightly unbelievable to me as I couldn’t reconcile that a journalist character who is a key community player in many respects was so oblivious to other residents in the village, especially since there seemed to be emphasis on the village being very small and connected.

On the whole, I think the book was decent, but I wouldn’t rank Clare Chase as one of my favourite authors. I can recognize that this type of book may be right up someone else’s alley, but unfortunately (and, I will admit, surprisingly) it just didn’t quite do it for me. A good cosy mystery is a true treat, and I always love sinking into one, but in future I may be a bit more discerning with Chase’s books as they may be a bit hit-and-miss for me.

Thanks to NetGalley UK and Bookouture for the ARC in exchange for a review.

Eve Mallow lives at Elizabeth’s Cottage in the sleepy village of Saxford St. Peter in Suffolk. Although life is not so quiet come mid-winter, as the mill burns down and Harry Tennant, the mysterious new resident, is dead. Eve picks up the trail by getting a commission for writing the man’s obituary, a handy occupation that sets her amateur sleuth skills in motion.

Soaking in hot baths. Lighting house fires in Winter. And taking her pet dog Gus out to circumnavigate the pretty village greens. This really is cosy stuff. And the snow-covered ruins of old churches add a deep wintry atmosphere that brings the whole place alive. Eve interviews local village inhabitants and picks up peculiar clues along the way.

In classic Christie fashion, not without intrigues of the wealthy class, these clues can be as random as a misplaced silver candle worth 6 figures, or a beautiful woman nobody really much knows, who happens to be nicknamed “Venus” after her likeness of Botticelli’s model. Gus is useful for bouncing ideas off and even plays smart as a decoy. Long walks by the sea with a four-legged companion turn out to be a great way to solve puzzles, and thereby crimes.

The plot is not as ingenious as hoped for, but it’s a definite page-turner nonetheless. And well made up for by Eve Mallow’s charm and effortless curiosity. She has a pleasurable knack for pondering intricate human relationships and deducing meaning from them. And manages to retain an admirable state of calm, which could be attributable to the decaf coffee she drinks… noted.

It’s the fourth book in Clare Chase’s Eva Mallow Suffolk series. No doubt they will be just as enjoyable as this one.

The cozy crime genre is very over crowded at the moment. There are many really dull novels somehow finding publishers. It was with huge relief I found a new Clare Chase novel to revitalize my interest. Her novels never disappoint.
Eve Mallow writes obituaries. This isn't the first time she has investigated a murder or two. I'm hoping it won't be the last.
The author uses the tensions in a village community with great effect. I personally think Gus is the best sidekick in all the crime fiction I've read. So much more endearing than the likes of Dr Watson.

I've read Clare Chase's novels before but have to confess this is my first featuring Eve Mallow. It's billed as a cozy mystery and I guess it is just that. What I really loved about it - apart from the story which gradually teased out the suspects, leaving you not quite sure who was innocent or guilty until the end - was the backdrop and the support cast. The village 'stalwarts' made it easy to settle into this book; the interaction between them and Eve making me feel I'd known them for years. And then, of course, there was the snow. It added something to the story making it very atmospheric. A definite five star read which leaves me with a note to self to catch up on the other Eve Mallow stories.