REVIEW: Murder at St Saviour's by Merryn Allingham

Murder at St Saviour's (Flora Steele #5) by Merryn Allingham

Genre: Cosy mystery

Read: 20th November 2022

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Published: 21st November 2022

★★★★ 4 stars

DESCRIPTION:

Bookshop owner and amateur detective Flora Steele teams up with handsome crime writer Jack Carrington to unravel a curious murder in the village of Abbeymead!

Sussex, 1956: When Flora and her partner-in-crime-solving, Jack, arrive at the charming church of St Saviour’s the last thing they’re expecting to find is the curate, Lyle Beaumont, lifeless on the flagstone floor beneath the belltower, with a mysterious note in his hand.

Flora is dismayed to find the poor curate dead. But she can’t help being intrigued by the eclectic mix of bell ringers present at the old church – Mr Preece, the local butcher, Dilys Fuller, the busybody postmistress, and Stephen Henshall, a newcomer to the close-knit community. Any one of them could be the culprit – and Flora needs to act fast before someone gets away with murder…

When Flora and Jack begin their sleuthing, they quickly realise all is not what it seems with the victim, and the certainty of the dead man’s identity becomes the first twist in the investigation.

Just as they’re getting closer to the answer, the death of one of the suspects changes everything. As a series of unexplained accidents unfolds across the village, it seems no-one who was present at the church on the night of the curate’s demise is safe.

Has the bell tolled on Flora and Jack’s detective days? And will they work out the truth in time to save themselves?

A completely addictive cozy crime novel set in the fictional Sussex village of Abbeymead. Perfect for fans of Agatha Christie, Faith Martin and Joy Ellis!

MY THOUGHTS:

I am excited to be taking part in the #BooksOnTour #BlogTour for Merryn Allingham's cosy mystery series MURDER AT ST SAVIOUR'S.

It's November 1956 and Christmas is coming as Abbeymead prepares for the festive season. It's only been a couple of months since the unfortunate events that took place at the newly renovated and opened Priory Hotel from which they are still trying to recover. As for bookshop owner Flora Steele and crime writer Jack Carrington, who would love nothing more than snuggling up on this chilly night, are getting ready for an evening out at the cinema.  Their plans, however, unfortunately fall by the wayside when they hear a single toll coming from the nearby St Saviour's bell tower. Feeling something is amiss, the dynamic duo make the frosty walk to the Norman church and make the most gruesome discovery. The newly arrived curate Lyle Beaumont is found dead on the floor with a single note in his hand.

The police are called and the bumbling village constable Tring is all sixes and sevens as to what to do next. Jack's friend Inspector Alan Ridley is soon on the case but soon discovers that clues are hard to come by, especially as Beaumont was a newcomer to Abbeymead and few villagers seemed to know anything about him. Working alongside the inspector, Flora and Jack soon discover there is far more to this case than meets the eye. And unlike ever before, both of them appear to find themselves in danger than ever before.

Investigations take Jack to London and the couple to a weekend in Dorset to learn more about their victim and who would want him dead. What they uncover is a treasure trove of secrets that could put any number of unknown newcomers in the frame - stolen identities, family hostilities, hidden grudges, sudden deaths and even fraud! And while asking questions puts both Flora and Jack in danger...it also brings them closer together.

But it seems someone wants to silence the amateur sleuths permanently as they close in on the villain. Will they live to uncover the truth?

MURDER AT ST SAVIOUR'S is the fifth in the Flora Steele series which has a taste of Agatha Christie in the form of Miss Marple and her own village of St Mary Mead. Although Flora is a lot younger than Ms Christie's elderly sleuth, she is just as dogged and with the same nose for uncovering the truth.

I love Flora and Jack. They make a good team and their partnership is one of friendship and comfort as their relationship begins to move into something more and yet it doesn't overshadow the main story. It was also good to see the inspector back and taking on a bigger role in this story. As well as the inclusion of all the usual residents - Sally, Alice, Kate, Dilys as well as a few newcomers that pass through.

This book, as well as the series, is perfect for fans who love cosy mysteries without the sex, gore and graphic detail of crime thrillers. Just a picturesque chocolate box village hidden in the English countryside with a murder or two on their doorstep every couple of months. Life in Abbeymead is reminiscent of life in Midsomer.

Overall, a nice gentle easy read perfect for cosy mystery fans.

I would like to thank #MerrynAllingham, #NetGalley and #Bookouture for an ARC of #MurderAtStSaviours in exchange for an honest review.

MEET THE AUTHOR:

Merryn taught university literature for many years, and it took a while to pluck up the courage to begin writing herself. Bringing the past to life is a passion and her historical fiction includes Regency romances, wartime sagas and timeslip novels, all of which have a mystery at their heart. As the books have grown darker, it was only a matter of time before she plunged into crime with a cosy crime series set in rural Sussex against the fascinating backdrop of the 1950s.

Merryn lives in a beautiful old town in Sussex with her husband. When she’s not writing, she tries to keep fit with adult ballet classes and plenty of walking.

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