When a TV drama crew descends on sleepy Saxford St Peter, Eve Mallow joins the excited throng of extras in a funeral scene. But then a real body is found… and Eve gets a starring role as sleuth!
Eve Mallow is looking forward to her fifteen minutes of fame when Saxford St Peter is chosen as the location for a new drama series. A devoted people-watcher, Eve is thrilled to learn that TV stars are just as glamorous – and tempestuous – as she’s always imagined.
But then someone delivers a bouquet of poisonous flowers to the director Rufus Beaumont, making Eve worry that some of the rivalries she’s noticed are deadly serious. And when Rufus’s body is found in the church where the funeral scene took place, it’s clear that someone’s out for the kill in real life.
Eve and dachshund Gus have been on the ground from the start, and now they’re on the case, interrogating the suspects one by one. Is it the devastating diva whose relationship with Rufus was far from professional? The cameraman who caught Rufus doing something he shouldn’t? Or the groupie groundskeeper who’s in the background of every shot? One thing’s for sure – Eve must catch the killer before she stars in their next murderous production…
A completely unputdownable page-turner, perfect for fans of Faith Martin, Agatha Christie, and Betty Rowlands.
My Rating:
Favorite Quotes:
There was a distasteful, meditative look in his eye as though she was a fly on his bowl of trifle and he was working out how best to swat her.
If a man had been unfaithful once, why would you assume it wasn’t his habit? Saskia struck her as someone who’d been on cloud nine and failed to look down.
His ego was like a cobweb: painstakingly constructed but easily destroyed.
My Review:
This tale had a slow and maddeningly meandering progression to the well-crafted head-scratcher of a mystery, with oddly unlikable and prickly victims and a multitude of suspects as nearly everyone in the cast had cause to snuff out these vile players. The writing was lively, light with storylines that were entertaining and easy to follow.
Amongst a nest of entertainment professionals, it proved to be even more difficult to determine if reactions and statements were real or an act. The little village was abuzz with gossip and rumors, and Eve was still working to keep her relationship under the radar. The intrepid Eve and her lovable little Gus were on the case from the beginning being extras on the set where the murders occurred and Eve being the very one to find the first body. I wasn’t the only one having a hard time narrowing down the guilty party, Eve was flip-flopping as well, but luckily she had little Gus and the lovely Robin to talk things through.
About the Author
Clare Chase writes classic mysteries. Her aim is to take readers away from it all via some armchair sleuthing in atmospheric locations.
Her debut novel was shortlisted for Novelicious’s Undiscovered Award, as well as an EPIC award post-publication, and was chosen as a Debut of the Month by LoveReading. Murder on the Marshes (Tara Thorpe 1) was shortlisted for an International Thriller Writers award.
Like her heroines, Clare is fascinated by people and what makes them tick. Before becoming a full-time writer, she worked in settings as diverse as Littlehey Prison and the University of Cambridge, in her home city. She’s lived everywhere from the house of a lord to a slug-infested flat and finds the mid-terrace she currently occupies a good happy medium.
As well as writing, Clare loves family time, art and architecture, cooking, and of course, reading other people’s books.
You can find Clare’s website and blog at www.clarechase.com
I’ve never read her work, good to see you are still enjoying her books. Great review,
My kind of story. Glad to see you enjoyed it.
Excellent review. Glad you enjoyed.