Princess Fuzzypants here: Looking for a great mystery series that has appealing and believable characters and a plot with twists and turns, intrigues and deceptions. Alexi has left London and her investigative journalist job at the newspaper run by her former lover. Jack left London and the Met when his career crumpled. Both of them were victims of betrayal and lies. They have found each other but there are those from their previous lives who refuse to let them get on with it. To what degree these people would descend to scupper their lives and love is gobsmacking. They will resort to almost anything but does that include murder?

As the two sort through all the machinations, Alexi is running a retreat for six people who are interested in investigative reporting. The deceased is one of them. It is possible that the killer is also one of them. But whether or not this is true is irrelevant to those in the village who claim Alexi is a jinx and should be ostracized and sent on her way. At times it must seem like almost everyone is lined up against the couple. Will it drive them apart or closer together? If kitty Cosmo has anything to say of the matter- and Cosmo never hides his feelings- they will emerge stronger.

It is a story where possession is disguised as love and truth is something very hard to find. It kept me riveted from beginning to end. Five purrs and two paws up.

Blog tour with Rachel's Random Resources

http://ramblingmads.uk/2024/01/08/blog-tour-a-story-to-strangle-for-e-v-hunter/

It is very rare that a mystery story keeps me guessing to the very end but author E.V. Hunter did it. A Story to Strangle For was a well paced and interesting read from beginning to end. Looking forward to the next installment in this great series.

A Story to Strangle For by E.V. Hunter is the forth book in the The Hopgood Hall Murder Mysteries series this is the first book I have read and really enjoyed it. This book was a cosy mystery book and a very easy read especially as it has great characters lots of good red herrings with twists and turns, that will have you guessing to the very end! Very clever.

I had no problem getting into this book especially as I have not read the other three books, but I will be going back to purchase them as they were a quick and easy read, which is great for a raining day or a holiday.

Big thank you to Netgalley and Boldwood for my ARC.

I loved this 4th installment in this series. The characters are really good and you feel for them. Can alexi help her friends and save their hotel after yet another murder even she is thinking she is jinxed. I love the cat Cosmo too. These are really easy books to get into and a lovely series to follow. Can not wait for more in this series.

E.V. Hunter’s 4th book in The Hopgood Hall Murder Mysteries series follows Alexi Ellis as she conducts a writing course for wannabe journalists at Hopgood Hall. Her hope is that the reputation of the Hall focuses on something other than its murderous past.

Unfortunately for Alexi, one of her students is found dead, and Alexi is supposed the last to see him alive. Feeling like she is being set up, Alexi, Jack, and Cosmo the cat must find out who would want such tragic results before she winds up in jail, or worse.

This is not a standalone novel. While not often, there were moments of “who the heck is this person? What is their relationship?” Not confusing, but obvious that I was missing something. I liked DI Mark Vickery, because he did not reject the amateurs’ help, but he also didn’t encourage it either. I hated Cassie, and something tell me she would have been the character that I felt the series could do without. I can’t stand people who think they are better for someone. He’s not into you, boo. Move on.

I enjoyed the mystery. There were plenty of red herrings, and I honesty wasn’t expecting the overall result. I was glad of who the killer was, though. It felt like well-deserved closure. Alexi’s attitude, or self-pity, however, did not help. There were moments when it seemed like she was giving up, and I was just like “not yet girl. There’s still time.” I also didn’t like Jack burying his head in the sand until he couldn’t anymore.

Overall, I rate this novel 4 out of 5 stars.

"A Story to Strangle For" by E.V. Hunter is a gripping murder mystery that delivers on its promise of thrills and suspense. Set against the backdrop of a failing hotel and a writing course gone awry, the novel introduces Alexi Ellis, determined to save her beloved Hopgood Hall from further damage. The plot takes a shocking turn when a member of the writing group is found dead, and Alexi becomes the prime suspect, adding layers of complexity to the narrative.

The author skillfully weaves a tale of intrigue and suspicion, keeping readers on the edge of their seats as they navigate the twists and turns of the investigation. The pacing is well-executed, with each chapter revealing new clues and raising the stakes. The mystery unfolds seamlessly, creating an immersive experience that encourages readers to keep turning the pages.

The character of Alexi Ellis is a compelling protagonist, and the reader can empathize with her predicament as she finds herself entangled in a case too close to home. The dynamics between Alexi, Jack, and Cosmo add depth to the story, creating a trio of characters with distinct personalities and motivations. The relationships are well-developed, and the interactions between characters contribute to both the suspense and the overall enjoyment of the novel.

The plot's setting in a failing hotel adds an interesting layer to the story, as the characters grapple not only with a murder investigation but also with the challenges of running a struggling business. This dual focus adds richness to the narrative and elevates the stakes for the characters involved.

E.V. Hunter's writing style is engaging, with a balance of suspense and moments of intrigue. The author effectively builds tension and maintains a sense of mystery throughout the novel. The dialogue is sharp and contributes to the overall authenticity of the characters and their interactions.

As a murder mystery, "A Story to Strangle For" successfully delivers on its promise, offering readers a thrilling and satisfying experience. While some elements may follow familiar tropes of the genre, the execution and the well-crafted narrative make this book well worth a read. T.A. Williams' endorsement holds true – "A Story to Strangle For" is a four-star mystery that captivates with its suspenseful plot and well-drawn characters.

If you like to be taken on a journey full of twists and turns this book is definitely for you. A triumph for the Author as she has written a page turner with a complex storyline. I'm not usually a reader of murder mystery, but I thoroughly enjoyed this novel by E. V. Hunter. I am looking forward to reading more of her books and fully recommend A Story To Strangle For. My appreciation goes to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for this advance copy for my honest review.
Review has been added to Goodreads

I love books featuring communications experts and journalists, because it resonates so much with my own professional experiences. I know for sure that a book, especially a murder mystery, casting such professionals guarantees a lot of intellectual challenges and fun.

With still a couple of months ahead to be spent in semi-darkness and cold, and few days into the New Year after long vacations, what can be better than getting back to the reading corner with a cosy mystery. A Story to Strangle For by E.V. Hunter kept me busy the last Monday morning for few intellectually eventful hours and it was exactly what I needed to start the week right.

Going through a rough personal and professional episode, Alexi Ellis is decided to get back her reputation and start anew. But as in life, it´s sometimes harder than expected. She has a plan which on paper looks perfect: organising a writing course for journalists. An idea that may save her reputation and take her beloved Hopegood Hall in Lambourn. However, disaster struck again, as one of the participants is found dead, and the only one that saw this person for the last time is no other than poor Alexi. Thus, finding the culprit as soon as possible is more than a matter of reputation: it may involve saving her freedom as well.

Alexi Ellis is the kind of characters I would love to meet in real life too. Creative, bold, courageous, acting perfectly under duress and first and foremost a journalist. The ways in which she leads the investigations is smart, and got completely caught off guard until the end, although I was offered enough hints to have a guess or two.

E.V.Hunter succeeded to manage a complex story which take diverse turns, covering a very big variety of subjects, including abuse and trauma, abusive relationship, criminal behavior. The whole setting is very wild, as it seems that everyone and their pets do hide something from the rest of the world. An intricate net of secrets that in crime novels as in real life it may cost lives and reputations.

A Story to Strangle For is a standalone, but it is part of the fourth in the Hopgood Hall Murder Mysteries Series, which is a good news, because it seems I may have some good mysteries waiting for me for the next dark cold weeks to come.

Alexi Ellis has got a challenge of epic proportions on her hands as she tries to save her beloved Hopgood Hall in the fourth nail-biting title in the series, A Story to Strangle For.

Hopgood Hall seems to be dogged by bad luck and even worse publicity. With its reputation in the gutter, it’s going to take a miracle for Alexi and her team to reverse the ailing fortunes of the house that means everything to them. Still, Alexi refuses to give up without a fight and she is determined to do whatever it takes to turn things around. A writing retreat for aspiring journalists should be harmless enough – until mayhem – and murder – ensues…

One of the group attending the retreat has been found dead in the local pub – and Alexi is the very last person to have seen him alive. Finding herself as the prime suspect in this murder is the very last thing she needs at the moment. With a business to save, her name in the gutter and her freedom at stake, Alexi and her team need to find out whodunnit – fast.

Alexi is sure that she’s being set up, but who would go to such dastardly lengths? And why? With her team behind her, Alexi will leave no stone unturned to clear her name and unmask the culprit – even if it means putting herself in danger.

E V Hunter’s A Story to Strangle For is a gripping cozy mystery readers will polish off in one sitting. Fast-paced, exciting and unpredictable, readers will be on the edge of their seats desperate to find out who is setting Alexi up – and whether Hopgood Hall can ever be saved.

Perfect for cozy mystery fans, E V Hunter’s A Story to Strangle For is sure to entertain and delight.

I first discovered E. V. Hunter and her amazing books when I was offered the opportunity to read and review the first book in the 'Hopgood Hall Murder Mystery' series which is called 'A Date To Die For' and was released in February 2023. Since then I have read and thoroughly enjoyed the other two books in the series. When I heard that the author was due to release another book in the series, I knew that I had to grab a copy at the earliest opportunity and read it as soon as I could. Well ladies and gents, the wait is over because the fourth book in the 'Hopgood Hall Murder Mystery' series called 'A Story to Strangle For' and it was released on 6th January 2024. It's another cracking addition to a cracking series. I thoroughly enjoyed reading 'A Story To Strangle For' but more about that in a bit.

The fact that I saw 'E. V. Hunter' on the cover of a book that I knew I hadn't read yet was enough to grab my attention and draw me in. As soon as I started reading, well that was it for me. I knew that I would be doing nothing other than reading for the rest of the afternoon because I knew that I wouldn't be able to put the book down for any length of time. I was spot on too. I had initially picked the book up only intending to read a chapter or two but I became so wrapped up in the story and in the lives of the different characters that I was still sat there reading several chapters and an hour or so later. My Kindle wasn't exactly glued to my hand but it might as well have been because it travelled everywhere with me that day because I couldn't bear to miss a single second of the story. I felt as though I had reunited with old friends in the form of the main characters. I cared about them and about what happened to them. I had to keep reading to see if the story was going to pan out in the way in which I thought it would. The more of the book that I read, the more I wanted to read and the quicker the pages seemed to turn. All too quickly I reached the end of 'A Story To Strangle For' and I had to say goodbye to the main characters. I found 'A Story To Strangle For' to be a fun. cosy mystery which certainly kept me guessing and kept me on the edge of my seat.

'A Story To Strangle For' is superbly written but then I have come to expect nothing less from E. V. Hunter. E. V. Hunter has an easy going writing style that is easy to get used to and easy to get along with. In fact reading one of her books often feels more like a chat between friends rather than reading a book. I hope that makes sense. E. V. Hunter certainly knows how to grab the reader's attention and draw them into what proves to be one heck of a story and then some. E. V. Hunter clearly cares about her characters and this shines through in the very vivid and realistic way in which she describes them. She makes her characters seem just as real as you and I. As I mention earlier, some of the main characters felt more like friends rather than characters in a book. For me, this was one of those books that trotted along at a gentle pace. There were several twists and turns along the way in this story- some of which I guessed and some of which came as a surprise. I love the way in which the author makes the reader feel as though they are part of the story and at the heart of the action.

In short, I thoroughly enjoyed reading 'A Story To Strangle For' and I would recommend it to other readers. I will certainly be reading more of E. V. Hunter's work in the future. The score on the Ginger Book Geek board is a very well deserved 5* out of 5*.

A hotel where murders have taken place
Has Alexi Ellis endeavouring to help it save face.
This renown journalist is hosting a course there
For just six who journalist dreams share.

However, a killer strikes nearby once more
As a participant is murdered, that Alexi can't ignore.
She was the last one known to see the victim alive
To find the killer she, Jack - and Cosmo - will now strive.

A fascinating read where the participants history
Add to the evidence needed to solve this mystery.
With jealousy, a disappearance and so much more
There are a plethora of clues to be found and to explore.

I really enjoyed this contemporary cosy murder mystery
And how sometimes present events link to childhood history.
For my complementary copy, I say thank you,
As I share with you this, my honest review

4/5 stars! This book is the definition of cozy crime. There is a strong storyline and there are certainly twists and turns, but it didn't feel overwhelming heavy or dark like some mystery stories do. I liked getting to know Alexi and the cast of characters and found myself amused throughout the story. Would read more books by this author in a heartbeat.

I received a free copy of this book via NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving a review

Alexi Ellis is running a writing course for would be journalists at Hopgood Hall.
As expected things don’t run smoothly when an attendee of the course is found dead at the local pub .
To add to Alexi ‘s woes she was the last person to see the victim alive .
Alexi’s partner Jack begins to look in to the murder in his role as a private investigator.
The story is well written and the dynamic between Alexi and Jack works well .
There are plenty of twists and turns and red herrings in the story and I didn’t guess the perpetrator .
An enjoyable cosy mystery read .
Thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood Books.

The fourth book in The Hopgood Hall Murder Mysteries sees investigative journalist Alexi running a prestigious course for would-be journalists at Hopgood Hall. It's an attempt to focus on the positive aspects of the hotel rather than the murders that have taken place. Predictably, things go wrong, and what follows is an engaging, cosy mystery with noir elements that have Alexi and her partner, Jack, the private investigator, at the forefront.
I like the characterisation, the dynamic between Alexi, Jack and Cosmo, the cat who is an astute judge of character. The investigation is well-paced and includes new, diverse characters and old familiar ones.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher.

Rounded up from 2.5

A story to strangle for is the fourth in the Hopgood Hall murder mysteries but works perfectly fine as a standalone.

This book started off strong for me. Alexi is running an exclusive course for a select few wannabe journalists. One of them ends up dead. Alexi, who already has a reputation for being a trouble magnet, is high on the list of suspects.

I liked Alexi and Jack as a couple. Alexi is a former journalist and Jack a police officer turned private investigator. They gelled well together during their investigations, playing off one another. It was also entertaining to see their journey as a fairly new couple and the pitfalls around that.

There was plenty of initial intrigue and tension, but then we hit the midpoint, and that's where it started to go wrong for me. I felt like there weren't enough suspects and the story relied on coincidences. As for the killer reveal... I also wasn't sold on it, nor the motive behind the murder.

I wouldn't rule out reading another book in this series as I enjoyed the characters. I just wish the mystery in this book had been better.

A Story to Strangle For is an enjoyable contemporary cosy murder mystery with an absorbing storyline and memorable characters. It is the first of E.V. Hunter‘s Hopgood Hall mysteries I have read but I don’t think it will be the last. Although this is number four in the series, it was fine to read as a standalone book because background information was given about the characters as needed.

I liked getting to know ex-journalist and amateur sleuth Alexi, her partner Jack and Cosmo the judgmental cat. 🙂 There is a lovely bond between the three of them. The story is perfectly plotted and well written, introducing new characters among the wannabe journalists and balancing these with existing ones like bubbly Cheryl and Drew and tame police Inspector Vickery.

The writing style is modern and confident and is easy to get engrossed in. The investigation is fun, I wanted to know whodunit and I did not guess the ending. I could imagine this being made into a television series along the lines of Midsomer Murders or Agatha Raisin. A Story to Strangle For really does have all the attributes needed for a good cosy mystery and I fully recommend it to fans of the genre.

Thank you to the publisher for my copy of A Story to Strangle For and to Rachel’s Random Resources for my spot on the tour.

Although Hopgood Hall is thankfully not the site of a murder this time, it does involve Alexi as the victim has been on a journalism course she is leading. Alexi and Jack are once again on the case working through various red herrings and how this murder is related to Jack’s missing person case.

I am genuinely obsessed with this series it is a thrilling mix of murder, intrigue and a dash of romance. Whenever I pick up an E.V Hunter I can never put them down, I love the twists and turns mixed with the cleverly plotted red herrings that throw you. I also love Alexis and her passion to get the truth and protect her loved ones and her relationship with Jack is my favourite too. If you love a cosy mystery then you will love this too.

A cozy mystery full of complex characters red herrings and twists and turns. A particupant on a writing course turns up strangled. This is coipled alongside a jealous unrequited love and a disapperance. I loved the twists and turns and the relationships that were expressed within complex issuses such as abuse. The final reveal seemed to happen too quickly but thus was a solid 4 star read. Look forward to the next one.