I have read the other books in this series and was glad to be accepted for the next instalment. Really fun reads

Favorite Quotes:

Beth realised she had never enjoyed a Nativity so much… The Angel Gabriel was extremely reluctant to hand over the Godchild to Mary, as it was her brand new Luvabella doll playing the pivotal role. Once that tug-of-war was over, one of the Year 1 oxen bit a shepherd on the leg and the Three Wise Men got lost, their Sat Nav having apparently failed in the desert. Billy and Bobby MacKenzie, playing the role of bouncers – characters who had oddly not appeared in the original Gospels – had a not very sotto voce fight over who was going to tether Mary’s extremely uncooperative donkey, and only their mother’s blistering intervention from the audience got events moving again. Finally, one of the angels absentmindedly lifted up her skirts to reveal she wasn’t wearing any knickers, at which point many parents gave up live-streaming the event for fear of prosecution on public decency grounds.

She fumbled out the Nokia phone, looking askance at its blocky buttons. ‘Cool,’ breathed Ben, taking it from her with the reverence of an Egyptologist examining a rare papyrus. ‘That’s so… old.’

Poor Janice was starting to get that look of occasional blank terror Beth had often seen on expectant mothers’ faces, and which had no doubt been on her own, as the horrible truth dawned that two people couldn’t continue in one body indefinitely, and there was only one possible exit route.

‘Bet you thought we was all too old for hanky-panky. Well, let me tell you, a Freedom Pass in’t just for the buses, love… It’s like the January sales, sometimes, down at the sheltered housing. And I’m in a good position now that Ivy Penrose has passed.’

How do you even know that much? We’re just piecing things together. Honestly, I ought to just tap your phone line. It would cut our investigation time in half.



My Review:

I have enjoyed each intriguing, humorous, and cunningly penned installment in this series, but I believe I enjoyed this one most of all. Alice Castle has laced her well-crafted mysteries with delightfully amusing wry wit, clever comedic observations and insights, and humorously depicted and enticingly quirky characters. I smirked and reveled in the nimbly described antics and colorfully detailed encounters and shenanigans the highly curious Beth manages to entangle herself within, but she just can’t herself. I totally adore Beth and suspect we would be fast friends if we ever had the chance to meet. She also provided a treasure trove of new additions for my Brit Vocabulary List with blimmin’ - a milder version of bleeding or bloody; boyf – boyfriend; moggie – a common cat; titch – a small amount or small person; cozzie – swimsuit; off-licence –a liquor store; and shirty – irritable and bad-tempered.

Liked the story but won't be going on with the series at all . Some things just got repetitive. So that's why I'm not going on with this series

Not my favorite of the series. I had a hard time staying engaged with this story. It was really slow, and I just didn't care for the plot. The characters are good, and Beth is wonderful. There always seems to be one book in a series that just doesn't talk to you and this one is mine. It's a bummer, but it happens,

Book 4 in the series… Packed full of twists and turns, I couldn’t stop frantically turning the pages! The characters are realistic and believable, and you can certainly feel yourself sharing in their emotions throughout.

We return to the 4th Beth Haldane mystery to find Beth getting ready for Christmas. As ever she gets herself embroiled in yet another case.
I love the flow and style of the writing in these books that keep me retuning to Dulwich every time.

The Murder Plot by Alice Castle
A Beth Haldane Mystery Book #4 - Previously released as Homicide in Herne Hill

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

Blurb

As snow covers perfect little Dulwich Village, amateur sleuth Beth Haldane is certain something’s amiss. There’s a suspicious solicitor, poorly pooches and… a plot to murder?

Beth Haldane is getting ready for a quiet Christmas with her son and their beloved grumpy cat when fellow single mother Nina begs her for help. Something fishy is going on with Mr Potter, the solicitor she works for… business is slow, with the accounts empty. So why does his wife have such an impressive collection of designer dresses?

Unable to resist a puzzle, Beth agrees to cover Nina’s job as a receptionist to get a closer look. But just as she finds a mysterious key hidden away in the office, Mrs Potter arrives in floods of tears with terrible news for her husband. Their precious pet, Lancelot the Great Dane, has been found dead in his basket. Mrs Potter suspects a poisoning…

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. Set during the festive season, this book can be read at any time of year and would even work as a standalone.

Once again the plot of this book is slow, but an entertaining cosy mystery.

Rating 4/5

Re-published with new titles and cover designs, the Beth Haldane Mysteries is a series of seven cozy mystery books dealing with widow Beth Haldane and her quest to solve mysteries while raising her son in the upscale Dulwich Village.

Each book deals with a murder mystery revolving around the residents of Dulwich Village with the elite Wyatt's School and College School and other landmarks of the village making up the scene of the crime. Each murder mystery is connected to a social/moral issue (child sexual abuse, incest, peer pressure, health and image issues amongst teenagers, abusive relationships, cheating and jealousy, foul play/fraud, etc.) which becomes the motive for the crime.

As an inquisitive character with a strong sense of truth and justice, Beth can't resist attaching herself to each mystery and doing everything possible to make sure the culprits are caught and punished, which irks DI Harry York to no end.

In my opinion Beth should just become a private investigator instead of staying on as an archivist at the Wyatt's School, a job she rarely finds herself doing.

The thing that gradually became annoying as I kept reading the books was Beth's constant introspection and self musings about everything that was happening in her life at that moment, her past, her future, etc...it was repetitive and most times steered away from the issue at hand.

I have so far read the first four books in the series. I will continue and read the rest of the books but I feel I do need a break from all the incessant self musings/brooding of Beth.

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

Ratings:

The Murder Mystery (previously published as Death in Dulwich)- ⭐⭐⭐⭐

The Murder Museum (previously published as The Girl in the Gallery)- ⭐⭐⭐⭐

The Murder Question (previously published as Calamity in Camberwell)- ⭐⭐⭐💫

The Murder Plot (previously published as Homicide in Herne Hill)- ⭐⭐⭐💫

This book was everything I wanted it to be. It had me turned pages without even realizing. It was so good!

Possibly a 1.5 stars. I get cosy mysteries are a gentler pace, but this one didn’t have a murder until 78% through the book (if you exclude a few dogs being poisoned). Beth makes a new (fairly chavvy) friend, who suspects something is up in the solicitor’s office where she works. So with impeccable logic, Beth agrees to dump her child with said new friend and use her Christmas holiday to instead go to work in the office and sleuth around. She seems to turn up and spend more time working at her fake job than she does at her actual one in term time. Previously we were bashed over the head in book one with endless references to Beth’s fringe - now in book 4, it’s her height. I don’t think you can go more than a chapter without there being some reference to it. Amnesiac readers will find it helpful, but for most people, it’s unnecessary.

I can’t say I’d be inclined to read any more of these, if I didn’t have some as ARCs. This one was received as a free ARC from NetGalley and the publishers in return for an unbiased review.

I somehow missed book three in the series and so this one felt a little jarring. I freely admit I read books in order and am usually HIGHLY reluctant to skip a book to an out of order book in a series. This one was decent but I missed the events of book three. Good character growth and writing style met expecations.

The Murder Plot by Alice Castle is the forth book within the new Beth Haldane Cosy Mystery series and these books have been a good read. However, I am finding them predicable.

This book is full of good strong twists and turns throughout and another great book and I highly recommend this series.

Thanks to Netgalley, Bookouture and the author Alice Castle for my advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

I do enjoy this series very much and think the characters are well written and interesting. I was apprehensive about this book as I am an animal lover and don't enjoy reading about any form of animal cruelty. For that reason this is my least favourite in the series so far but will look forward to reading the next book.

Another lovely romp through the refined world of Dulwich and its latest murders . This time Beth is called in to help her friend Nina who suspects nefarious goings on at the solicitors firm where she works. The neighbourhood dogs are also dying in mysterious circumstances. Could the two be connected? Our intrepid amateur sleuth is determined to find out!

Another fabulous read in this wonderful series. Set in Dulwich with all the same characters with some new additions. Thieve are a fun read and I’m still enjoying them immensely. My thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.

When I saw this cover I thought I was ready for Christmas and thoroughly enjoyed the festive atmosphere and the solid mystery.
It's an entertaining cozy and Beth is becoming an expert sleuth and I love her character.
It could have been a 5* but the death of a pet is a big NOT in the world of cozy mystery and I rated this book down even if it's relevant to the plot.
Recommended, tw: death of a pet
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

Absolutely loved this book and read in one sitting,only the death of dogs was awful but part of the story revealed at the last moment

The relationship with Harry is growing and a new friend is made

Looking forward to reading the next in the series

Book 4 of the Beth Haldane mystery series. Beth is awaiting the holiday season in Dulwich Village, a seemingly quiet little village with her son and their cat. Something is off in the village and Beth can't help but investigate. With great characters, lots of red herrings and a good story plot, this is a delightful mystery. Fans of the great Agatha Christie will agree! Thanks #netgalley and #Bookouture for the eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are mine.

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.

The Murder Plot is book four in the Beth Haldane series and the series just keeps getting better. When Nina suspects something strange is going on at the solicitors where she works, our main character Beth just can't help but get involved. Yet again I devoured this book in one enjoyable sitting. I just love this series.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for my ARC.