Cover Image: A Murder Inside

A Murder Inside

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I own a lot of Frances Brody's books, so jumped at the chance to read this one, just as good, gripping and enjoyable from start to finish, highly recommend. Thanks to NetGalley for the chance to read this

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1969. A job in the Prison Service is not for everyone. The training is hard, the cells are bleak and a thick skin is needed. But for Nell Lewis, helping prisoners is something she cares about deeply, and when she's promoted into a new post as governor of HMP Brackerley in Yorkshire, she's tasked with transforming the renowned run-down facility into a modern, open prison for women.

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It was a compelling and entertaining read, the good start for a new historical mystery series.
Even if it's set in a prison it's not dark or gritty and we get to know the characters, especially Nell who is the MC.
Frances Brody did a good job in developing the solid mystery and the characters.
The historical background is vivid and well researched as usual.
I think this will be a very interesting series, look forward to the next story.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

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I’ve previously read and enjoyed the Kate Shackleton mysteries so was happy to receive an advance copy of this book via Netgalley.
Set in 1969 as opposed to the 1920s there is a beautiful sense of time, and to a degree, place in this novel. The new social mores of the time allow for a female governor in a female open prison with a more enlightened approach to rehabilitation. The changes in society were displayed through the older characters who belonged to a more straight laced period which was interesting even before any crime was committed. The supporting characters were well drawn and diverse. I look forward to reading future books in the series.

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It is 1969 and this is the first in what will be a series of books from the author. Dealing with strong female characters find us the readers meeting Nell Lewis, the new governor at HMP Brackerly Edge in Yorkshire.

This is to be the first open prison for women and Nell is tasked with bringing this palace into a more modern setting, not just in terms of buildings but also those who work within the walls, the grounds and the local area.

However, there is some background with these female prisoners who are towards the end of their sentences. Surely it can’t have anything to do with the previous governor being found dead his garden – found dead by Nell herself.

Nell finds herself drawn back to her previous days as a WPC and calls on the support of a former colleague all the while trying to help these women, all who have their own paths to forge once they can escape the prison system and stigma.

This is a great start to a series and the setting and the idea behind it is unique and one that fascinates me. I hope we don’t have to wait too long before we can catch up with Nell and see how HMP Brackerly Edge is faring as the world starts changing around them all.

If you are a fan of the historical cosy mystery, female dominated and like the idea of starting a new series then I think this is one to keep your eye on.

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I had some flashbacks to the Kate Shackleton series as in back then I did not super love the first book in the series either but then ended up loving the series a lot.

I think it was just a lot of scene setting that stopped me ultimately really caring for the characters. But I shall pick up book 2 and see if after we know a lot about the main players it will get better.

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1969. Nell Lewis has been promoted into a new post as deputy governor of HMP Brackerley an open prison in Yorkshire, helping prisoners is something she cares about deeply, she's tasked with transforming the renowned run-down facility into a modern, open prison for women. Just as Nell is settling into her new role, events take a dark turn when a man's body is discovered in the prison grounds. The mystery deepens still when one of their female inmates goes missing, ensuing a search across the country.
This is the first in a new series & another well written book. As with all new series there’s quite a bit of scene setting & background but this isn’t overly done, There aren’t many inmates or residents, as Nell calls them, in this former Borstal so we get to know them too. I enjoyed the mystery & the book held my interest all the way through & I look forward to more in the series
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read

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I was very pleased when I had the opportunity to read the new book by one of my favourite authors Francis Brody and I was not disappointed. A Murder Inside is about HMP Brackerleys, a former Borstal which was in the process of being converted into a women's open prison with a new deputy governor Nell Lewis. The story unfolds with her efforts of starting to receive residents to the prison and getting the prison to function as an open prison, the former prion governor still living in the governor's cottage. The author goes onto describe the characters and their life history culminating in the murder of the governor. the story then goes on at a pace with the events unfolding with Francis Brody's usual descriptive flair. I cannot recommend this book more highly and if you take the plunge to read it you will not be disappointed and you maybe persuaded to read her Kate Shackleton series of murder mysteries.

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Nell Lewis #1

A job in the prison service is not for everyone. The training is hard, the cells are dark and a thick skin is needed. But for Nell Lewis, helping prisoners is something she cares about deeply, and when she's promoted into a new post as governor of HMP Brackerley Edge in Yorkshire, she's tasked with transforming the run-down facility into a modern, open prison for women. Just as Nell is settling into her new role, one of the female prisoners goes missing.

Nell has been sent to a women's open prison that had previously been a borstal. There's a lot of scene setting and getting to know the characters. There is only a few prisoners or residents as Nell likes them to be called. Of course it's not going to be plain sailing for Nell, there's a murder to solve. I really enjoyed this murder mystery and I'm looking forward to reading what's in store for Nell next in the second book in this series.

I would like to thank #NetGalley #LittleBrownBookGroupUK and the author #FrancesBrody for my ARC of #AMurderInside in exchange for an honest review.

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This is the first novel in a new series. The main character is Nell Lewis, who has fought against a difficult start in life and made herself a successful career in the prison service. It is 1969 and Nell is about to become the deputy governor at an open prison for women. Brackerley was, formerly, a borstal for young boys and the borstal governor, Major Harding, is near retirement but is still living in the cottage that is meant to be Nell’s.

Nell is determined to make a change to the lives of the prisoners under her care (or ‘residents’ as she insists they be called) who require a more enlightened approach to allow them to move on and have a productive life when they are released. However, even before she arrives at Brackerley, there are hints and rumours of a ‘bad apple,’ and Nell is aware that she needs to make changes.

The prison has a few residents to begin with and we learn of their backstories and explore why they committed the crimes which saw them sent to prison. As this is a mystery, of course, we also have a murder and the first in what will be a series introduces lots of characters. Although set in a prison, this is a fairly gentle mystery and there is much scene setting. I suspect this series will improve, but I found it difficult to engage or empathise with the characters and did not feel that invested in them. Overall, a pleasant mystery but I doubt I will continue with the series. I received a copy of this book from the publisher, via NetGalley, for review.

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This is a new departure and era for Frances Brody who is well known for her Kate Shackleton mysteries.
Brody has created an engaging character in Nell Lewis who is both authoritative and empathetic. It is 1969 and Nell is the newly appointed governor of a women’s open prison which has just received its first cohort. Scarcely has she been in the post when Nell discovers a body in the prison grounds and so she becomes involved in the investigation to find the culprit.

Brody has written a “cosy crime” with plenty of suspects to pursue. I hope another Nell Lewis book is planned for the future.

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Thanks Netgalley and the Publisher. I have just discovered this old fashioned mystery stories and have liked everything this author has done. This was a great story, great characters and would recommend.

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The first in a new crime series. What’s not to be excited about by getting approved! Thank you so much as this was such a good book. I really can’t wait to read more in this series, I will be keeping a beady eye on any news of a new release

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This is the first in a new series by Brody as a new prison governor takes over the first open prison for women in the north of England.
Nell arrives to take over the prison and is met with a cast of characters including prison staff and prisoners. As she starts to settle into her role she is confronted with a murder on her doorstep, she deploys similar skills to Brodys other series heroine Kate Shackleton displaying intelligence, calmness, and strength.
As with any first novel in a series there is a lot of scene setting but that doesn't really get in the way of the plot.
The only drawback i found was that the novel is set in the late sixties but I didn't really get a sense of that.
A good read that will appeal to Brody fans with a likeable heroine and uses an unusual setting of a prison.

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Set in 1969, this is the first in a new series of historical mysteries. Nell Lewis is the newly promoted deputy governor of a women's open prison that has recently been converted from a borstal. The current governor is due to retire shortly and Nell will then takeover. Initially four prisoners are transferred there, one of whom is serving a life sentence for murder. In her first week at the prison, Nell stumbles across the dead body of the governor in his cottage.
As this is the first book in the series, there is a lot of scene setting to start with. This does not detract from the story which is well paced and easy to read.
This book has the same comfortable tone as the Kate Shackleton series and in many ways, Nell and Kate are very similar characters, both are efficient, organised and ambitious.
There is plenty of mystery and surprise throughout the story and the setting in the open prison is both novel and very interesting.
There are plenty of supporting characters in the book and I'm sure they will be developed further in the subsequent books.
An entertaining read and I look forward to reading the next book in the series.

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From the author of the Kate Shackleton series comes a new set of novels, set in 1960s Yorkshire with prison governor Nell Lewis at the helm. This initial book sets the scene effectively, and introduces readers to the characters, and personalities, of who’ll you go fond of/way of in upcoming reads. Nell is promoted as governor of HMP Brackerley, a modern, open prison for women that needs a lot of work and renovation before it can be fit for purpose. But as Nell is learning the way of her new role, a body is discovered on prison grounds – and then a female inmate goes missing. Nell must navigate the rules and law she has always abided by, to ensure the culprit is found, and the inmate returned to her room, even if it means a cross county search for both. Nell’s a great character: compassionate but careful, and her logical deductions share a lot with Kate Shackleton. Very much looking forward to this series.

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Superb New Departure….
In a superb new departure for this talented author we meet Nell Lewis in the first of the Brackerley Prison Mysteries. With a credible and convincing narrative, a cast of colourful and interesting characters, a solid sense of time and place and an intriguing plotline with a strong female lead, this is a wholly immersive read and a great start to a new series.

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As a reader of Frances Brody's Kate Shackleton series, I was very interested in this new departure.. A Murder Inside features Nell Lewis, newly appointed Governor of a women's open prison. She is to take over the facility and transform it from a Borstal. Even before she arrives, she is aware that she has a challenge but she does not expect to have to cope with a murder. And, moreover, one which hits very close to home.

That description might lead a reader to expect a murder mystery but although Nell does become involved with the investigation, it is only at arm's length. The books is much more about Nell's first four prisoners, or residents as she prefers them to be called, and her involvement with them.

I enjoyed the book very much and read it in a day, eager to see how all the threads were woven together. It didn't let me down and I am happily looking forward to more books in the series and finding out more about Nell.

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When I heard that Frances Brody was starting a new series, I thought “Oh, no! But what about Kate Shackleton?”. The good – no, brilliant – news is that this new book, about Nell Lewis, is emphatically just as enjoyable as Brody’s previous books. That set me wondering why. Both series have strong women as the main character and they both feature mysteries to be solved but then they differ widely.

Brackerley was a borstal for young male offenders. It’s being turned into an open women’s prison and Nell Lewis is the newly appointed deputy governor. It’s a lively first week with a body and an absconding prisoner.

Why are Frances Brody’s books so good? Firstly, the conversations – if you prefer, the dialogue, but I think “conversations” is more precise here. I have a sense of two people talking as they would in real life. The tone used; the words chosen; the openings; the lack of unrealistic verbiage are just how real people speak. Brody doesn’t have Person A telling Person B what B already knows, simply to give us the back story.

The second impressive aspect to Brody’s books is the plotting. There is jeopardy and there is suspense. There are unexpected twists and red herrings. The pace varies: Nell is walking with someone and suggests they sit down in the garden for a minute. Everything moves the story forward, but not always at a flat-out pace. Again, that’s how real life is.

What about characterisation? Did I guess who the villain was? Yes, but as always with Brody’s books, I suspect everyone in turn, so I must have suspected them at some point during the book, as I did everyone else. Again, it’s realistic: none of these nice people in whatever the setting is – a prison, a brewery, a rhubarb farm – can do horrible things, surely? Yet it must be one of them, so it could be any of them. None of them are obvious killers / thieves / whatever. They can all show a pleasant face or do good things. I believe the Krays were very respectful towards women.

Period detail? Yes, the new Open University is mentioned, as is Thunderclap Newman’s ‘Something in the Air’, so it’s definitely 1969.

Is the book perfect, then? Yes, pretty much – but the prison is just opening and there are only four “residents” and few staff, so we can see them as individuals. When there are more of both, will the closed environment curtail the variety of plots? I don’t know, but I do know there are few writers that I would trust to do so as well as Frances Brody will.

#AMurderInside #NetGalley

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