This is third in the Hopwood hall series and one of the best. Well plotted mystery, great characters and just enough twists. Not your typical cozy but a more elevated version of a cozy. Highly recommend.

Originally posted on my blog Nonstop Reader.

A Marriage to Murder For is the third Hopgood Hall cozy by E.V. Hunter. Released 3rd Feb 2023 by small press indie Boldwood Books, it's 268 pages and is available in hardcover, paperback, audio, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout. For Kindle Unlimited subscribers, this book is currently included in the KU subscription library to borrow and read for free.The other books are also available on KU and the fifth book in the series is due out middle 3rd quarter 2024 from the same publisher.

This is a well written, engaging, and finely constructed amateur sleuth mystery pairing a former investigative journalist (and boutique hotel co-owner) with a handsome PI trying to keep a summer wedding event on a smooth footing during a blistering summer. There's a strong side element of romance, so readers who prefer romance in their cozies will likely enjoy that aspect of the story. The characters are well rendered and mostly believable and the pacing and plot are well done and the denouement and resolution of the various plot threads are satisfyingly wrapped up by the end of the book. It's a continuing series, so if read out of order, some of the character developments and relationships will be spoiled, but otherwise it works fine as a standalone.

Spelling and vernacular are British standard English, but won't pose a problem for readers in context.

Four stars. A fun continuation of a nice light series. With four books extant in the series, and a fifth due out in Aug '24, it would make a good choice for a short binge or buddy read.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

Another well plotted and compelling mystery by this author. It kept me guessing and I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Can't wait to read the next one.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

This was a perfect 3rd book to the series. I love this series and the main characters jack, and alexi and her friends and business partners Cheryl and Drew.
They make such a good mix of characters trying to solve the multiple murders that happen at their property or surrounding grounds.
This time they are hoping to be massive in the marriage market and hope lots of weddings will be coming their way until a groom gets killed before the first wedding can happen.
This moves along at a good pace can't wait for more from this series.

Hopgood Hall is hosting a pre-wedding party and are dealing with a bridezilla who is making outrageous demands. But when the social influencer bride to be is found holding a dagger over the body of her dead fiancé, Alexi, Jack and their fellow sleuths (including Cosmo the cat) do not believe she is the killer.

This is my first book in the Hopgood Hall Murder series with a resident ‘detective’ cat.

This book is about a social media influencer who was found with the body of her fiancé and the murder weapon in her hands.

I like the suspense and how I am able to come up with different suspects with different motives. There was nothing to give away the real culprit.
Each of the suspect had a motive to commit murder.

I was glad that the elephant in the room was addressed (Greece). But what I did not see what the culprit, kudos to the author.

Cosmos is a star. Animals have been known to possess some kind of special abilities (in my culture it is believed that dogs can tell if someone is dying or a tragedy is imminent).

I look forward to reading even more books in the series. Lovers of crime, mystery and police procedural drama will enjoy this.

I received a copy of this book and the review is entirely mine and voluntary.

As Hopgood Good prepares to host the wedding of minor celebrity and media influencer, Crystal Hughes, the owners are tearing their hair out. Bridezilla doesn’t even begin to describe the woman. As her demands become even more extreme, the groom seems to be finding solace elsewhere. When she’s found standing over a dead body with a dagger in her hands, Alexi and Jack must find out the truth, and save the reputation of the hotel. After all, this isn’t their first rodeo! Can they uncover some murky secrets and solve the case before anyone else dies? 

Alexi and Jack work well as a team and I enjoy following their investigations. The combination of investigative reporter and private detective gives them an advantage over the police, who are often left in the dark. The pair are able to get an inside track, by subtly probing where the police have no access.

The mystery unfolds in a deliciously paced way, taking the reader on a fascinating and exhilarating journey. And of course I must mention the most important element of any investigation at Hopgood Hall - the adorable cat Cosmo. His impeccable judgment has swayed many a case.I loved it.

I love this series so much and is a go to if I want a cosy mystery to escape with. This is a slower pace story compared to the previous two books but this is no bad thing. I think this story still has the same mix of intrigue, betrayal and even a dash of romance. The characters are so well written and are a mix of personalities that gel well together and as we get to know them throughout the novels they feel so real and authentic. I love the twists and turns and they kept me guessing til the very end and I was so sad when it ended and I just hope there will be more installments to this wonderful series

I was completely hooked on this book before I had even got to the end of chapter one, I did not want to put it down(thankfully I had the day to read it uninterrupted) and I enjoyed reading every page.
It was really well written, I instantly connected with and loved Alexi, her relationship with Jack was lovely, I enjoyed reading from both perspectives. And they worked well together as a crime-solving team, they each had their strengths and both had opportunities to use them, and the fact that the local police seemed quite fine with them helping was amusing to read and see play out.
Shockingly I had no idea who the killer was! Normally I have some kind of inkling of who it might be but id dismissed the killer early on in favour of someone else stupidly, though I blame the good writing and not my being oblivious to the signs.
I had no idea it was part of a series when I started reading it, but that didn't stop me from enjoying it anything that I might have needed to know from the previous books was slipped into this one so you definitely don't need to read them in order. But I do plan on going back and reading the other two whilst I eagerly await more in this series.

This cosy mystery is set at Hopgood Hall, the location for a social influencer wedding. The events leading up to the inevitable crime are full of sensory imagery, drawing the reader into the story. With the hotel's reputation on the line, Alexis and Jack race to solve the crime. The mystery has scandalous secrets and many suspects. I like the suspense building, the amateur detectives and the cast of vibrant characters.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher.

The groom is seen embracing another women not long before his bride to be is found standing over his corpse holding a knife! I really enjoyed Cosmo the cat. This is a good cozy mystery. Social media influencer, bridezilla Crystabel is an interesting character. Thanks #Netgalley and #Boldwoodbooks for the eARC in exchange for a honest review. All opinions are mine.

Prepare for a wedding like no other in E.V. Hunter's "A Marriage To Murder For." Social media influencer Crystabel Hughes is determined to make her wedding to Giles Preston Smythe the ultimate talk of the town, no matter the cost or the chaos it causes. But for the staff at Hopgood Hall, Crystabel's extravagant demands are pushing them to their limits.

As the tension escalates, the discovery of the groom's infidelity raises the stakes even higher. Alexi Ellis, part of the Hopgood Hall team, fears that trouble is brewing beneath the surface. And trouble indeed arrives when Giles is found dead, with his bride-to-be Crystabel holding the murder weapon.

Hunter crafts a gripping mystery that keeps you guessing until the final page. The race to find the killer and close the case becomes a desperate race against time, as Crystabel threatens to live-stream her dilemma to the world.

With a cast of intriguing characters and a plot filled with twists and turns, "A Marriage To Murder For" is a must-read for fans of thrilling mysteries. Join Alexi, Jack, and Cosmo as they untangle the web of secrets and lies, racing to uncover the truth before the killer strikes again. If you love authors like Faith Martin, Frances Evesham, and Emma Davies, this book is the perfect addition to your reading list. Don't miss out on this high-society whodunit that will leave you breathless and on the edge of your seat!

3.7 Stars
One Liner: Entertaining but a little slow

Social media influencer Crystabel Hughes is getting married at Hopgood Hall. The staff and owners are doing their best not to snap at the bridezilla’s extremities.
However, Alexi can’t help but feel a nagging sensation of something not being right.
The cheating groom, Giles, is found murdered a night before D-day with the would-be holding the dagger. Alexi and Jack jump into action, knowing they have to solve the case before Hopgood Hall faces the bad press.
Things aren’t easy with so many secrets, suspects, and Crystabel’s constant need to film everything for her social media popularity. Can the duo find the killer in time?
The story comes in Alexi and Jack’s third-person POV.

My Thoughts:
I was excited to read book #3 after enjoying #2. This one also has a good load of drama, suspects, secrets, and of course, a murder.
The setting is the Hopgood Hall again, so naturally, Drew, Cheryl, and Alexi (the owners and investor) are worried about what it would mean to the place’s reputation. Being a scene of crime is hardly good business, though morbid curiosity did bring more guests and profits.
The concerns of the characters come across clearly. Alexi’s internal thoughts and conflict align with her worries and sense of justice. Solving the case is more important for them as their future depends on how well they can minimize the damage to Hopgood Hall’s reputation.
Though the book is just 270 pages, the pacing is on the slower side. Fortunately, there’s enough movement for the plot to progress. Just that recurring interrogations reduce the narrative pace.
Similar to book #2, we get a rough backstory in the first chapter so the reader knows the basic information about the main characters and the setting. While this technique works for now, it may feel odd as the series grows. Imagine Alexi thinking about the whole thing in book #10.
Cosmos does what he likes the best – be the darling of the press and scare the hell out of everyone else. Of course, he loves Alexi and Jack and tolerates little Verity. I like how Jack thinks Cosmos could help sniff out the potential murder. Maybe this huge black cat will have a prime role in one of the upcoming cases.
The mystery, as such, is intriguing. Crystabel is annoying and hard to empathize with. Her mom, Gloria, is worse, so it’s no wonder the wedding party wants her to be the killer. Yet, Alexi and Jack know they have to be sure. There’s something called conscience and justice, after all. The information is revealed in bits and pieces. The missing link comes in the last part of the book, though we can guess the killer based on other details.
It was a little hard to track the names Cheryl and Crystabel. The common alphabets in both make it tough to not confuse one with another, especially when both are mentioned in the same scene or conversation. This may not be an issue for other readers.
I’m not sure why we have this trend of ending a novel a couple of steps before the finish line. While it may work for some books, it doesn’t help when a few questions remained unanswered in a mystery. The subplot will anyway be left open for further development, but all aspects related to the book’s mystery need to be tied up in the same one.

To summarize, A Marriage To Murder For is an entertaining mystery that deals with issues like parental ambition, manipulation, and, most importantly, how much is too much where social media influencers are concerned.
Thank you, NetGalley and Boldwood Books, for the eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.

Crystabel Hughes, a social media influencer, is planning a big wedding at Hopgood Hall. She is a bridezilla on steroids and her mother is even worse. When Alexi Ellis, former investigative reporter, sees the groom in a hot clutch with another woman she knows things could get even more explosive. And when the bride-to-be is found standing over the dead body of the prospective groom holding a bloody knife...well, it won't do Hopgood Hall's reputation any good so she calls upon her present beau, Jack, an investigator, and her own experience to find out the truth before things go from bad to worse.

Overall, it is enjoyable but it doesn't really stand out from many other cozies I have read. Cosmo, the cat, is fun and I like Jack and Alexi as a couple. The mystery is solid. Parts seemed a bit slow and Crystabel and her mother were nightmares so I didn't really care for them. But, if you want a cozy mystery to read that deals with social media influencers and all that goes with that, give it a try.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest opinion.

I was excited to read book #3 after enjoying #2. This one also has a good load of drama, suspects, secrets, and of course, a murder.The setting is the Hopgood Hall again, so naturally, Drew, Cheryl, and Alexi (the owners and investor) are worried about what it would mean to the place’s reputation. Being a scene of crime is hardly good business, though morbid curiosity did bring more guests and profits.The concerns of the characters come across clearly. Alexi’s internal thoughts and conflict align with her worries and sense of justice. Solving the case is more important for them as their future depends on how well they can minimize the damage to Hopgood Hall’s reputation.

Though the book is just 270 pages, the pacing is on the slower side. Fortunately, there’s enough movement for the plot to progress. Just that recurring interrogations reduce the narrative pace.Similar to book #2, we get a rough backstory in the first chapter so the reader knows the basic information about the main characters and the setting. While this technique works for now, it may feel odd as the series grows. Imagine Alexi thinking about the whole thing in book #10.Cosmos does what he likes the best – be the darling of the press and scare the hell out of everyone else. Of course, he loves Alexi and Jack and tolerates little Verity. I like how Jack thinks Cosmos could help sniff out the potential murder. Maybe this huge black cat will have a prime role in one of the upcoming cases.

The mystery, as such, is intriguing. Crystabel is annoying and hard to empathize with. Her mom, Gloria, is worse, so it’s no wonder the wedding party wants her to be the killer. Yet, Alexi and Jack know they have to be sure. There’s something called conscience and justice, after all. The information is revealed in bits and pieces. The missing link comes in the last part of the book, though we can guess the killer based on other details.
It was a little hard to track the names Cheryl and Crystabel. The common alphabets in both make it tough to not confuse one with another, especially when both are mentioned in the same scene or conversation. This may not be an issue for other readers.

I’m not sure why we have this trend of ending a novel a couple of steps before the finish line. While it may work for some books, it doesn’t help when a few questions remain unanswered in a mystery. The subplot will anyway be left open for further development, but all aspects related to the book’s mystery need to be tied up in the same one.

To summarize, A Marriage To Murder For is an entertaining mystery that deals with issues like parental ambition, manipulation, and, most importantly, how much is too much where social media influencers are concerned.

Bubbling Over..
The third entry into the Hopgood Hall Murder Mysteries finds a high society wedding turning murderous and Alexi and her team in a race against the clock to catch a killer. Will it mean more bad press for Hopgood? Bubbling over with twists and turns, this fun and entertaining cosy crime boasts a pacy plot populated with a credible and well drawn cast of characters, amateur sleuthing galore and a murder to boot. Can be happily read as a standalone although the first two preceding entries in this series are recommended.

A celebrity wedding is scheduled to take place at Hopgood Hall. The film crew is there, days have been allocated to hair and makeup, the groom knows that his fiancée was once engaged to his best man, the bride has barely met her bridesmaids, and that bride? Ambitious Influencer Crystabel Hennessy? Let me tell you, bridezilla has been defined by this bride to be. So what could go wrong? Many things but start with the groom, Giles Preston-Smythe, found dead the night before the wedding with Crystabel standing over him, holding a bloody knife. There are several reasons to believe that Crystabel is guilty, her personality being the main one, but Alexi and Jack, partners and close friends of the owners of Hopgood Hall, don’t want another murder to be associated with the Hall. (This refers to the first two books in this excellent series.) They make a determined attempt to clear Crystabel but only find more reasons to believe she is guilty. Who could be the murderer and how is this case linked to Crystal’s earlier brokenengagement?

This series just keeps getting better. Although A Marriage To Murder For contains spoilers if you haven’t read the first two books, it works as a standalone, well plotted mystery. Alexi, Jack and Hall owners Cheryl and Drew are now familiar characters as is the location of the Hall in horse country. I love the idea of the Inn, now associated with three murders, being used for murder mystery weekends, as Alexi hints after the crime is solved! 5 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley, Boldwood Books and E.V. Hunter for this ARC.

Name of Book: A Marriage to Murder for
Author: E.V. Hunter
Series: Hopgood Hall Mystery #3
Publisher: Boldwood Books
Genre: Mystery Thriller
Pub Date: September 7, 2023
My Rating: 3.7 rounded up!
Pages: 270

Social media influencer, minor TV celebrity and socialite Crystabel Hennessay wants her wedding to Giles Preston Smythe to be the talk of the town.
Hopgood Hall, owners Alexi Ellis and Cheryl and Drew Hopgood as well as the rest of the staff, are finding bridezilla Crystabel’s demands becoming more extreme.

When Alexi spots the groom getting a bit too close with one of the bridesmaids, she fears trouble is only a bouquet toss away.
Things never get to the bouquet tossing as Giles turns up murdered and Crystabel is holding a knife covered in blood. –Has the killer bride been caught red-handed?.
As the story continues there is no doubt that Crystabel is unlikeable therefore difficult to any sympathy and actually don’t really care if she is guilty or not. Then Yikes her mom, Gloria, - Hmmm apple – tree!
Have to admit I love little Verity and am sure she will be in Series #4.

Story was a bit slow at times but turned out to be an enjoyable read.

Want to thank NetGalley and Boldwood Books for this early eGalley.
Publishing Release Date scheduled for September 7, 2023.

Thank you to @rachelsrandomresources for my copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Book 3 of another favourite cosy mystery series of mine, this time we see a “celebrity” wedding about to take place at the hotel until someone murders the groom. Step up Alexi and Jack to find out who and save the hotel from bad publicity and possible closure, this being the 3rd murder associated with it.

Crystabel, the bride to be, is a nightmare - everything has to be her way and perfect with it. No ones likes her and her controlling mother but a booking is a booking. As usual, Cosmo the cat sees right through these two and takes an instant dislike. Plenty of good characters, and a few familiar faces from previous books in the series make up the cast in the latest instalment.

A great standalone, well written and planned as usual, a fast paced easy to read cosy murder mystery - long may they continue!

This is book three in this series. I thought this one had a good mystery. I was kinda surprised by the ending.
It kept me guessing to the end. Definitely looking forward to the next one. Thanks to Rachel’s Random Resources for the early copy