Beth’s mother is grieving the loss of her male friend but at the funeral other women claim he was dating them too. His death was suspicious so could one of his women have taken revenge on the cheating man?
The Murder Affair is the 9th book in the Beth Haldane series. I have previously read the first book in the series, The Murder Mystery.
Len Broughton was a ladies’ man to say the least! He seems to have been dating about 10 women as well as having a wife and being engaged to Beth’s mum Wanda. However, he is not the only victim and Beth soon has a more intricate investigation on her hands. There are plenty of suspects to investigate and Wanda has set a deadline so Beth has to forge onwards with the help of her friends.
Beth’s character is great: down to earth with a police officer boyfriend and a teenage son. There was a good mix of the investigation alongside personal elements to the plot. I enjoyed the antagonistic relationship between Beth and her mother. However, it is also obvious that they love each other deeply and her mum has faith in her that she will solve the case.
The Murder Affair is an enjoyable cosy murder mystery.
The Murder Affair: An absolutely addictive cozy mystery (A Beth Haldane Mystery Book 9)
In a quiet little village, mourners gather for a church funeral. But some of the tears flowing are fake – and Beth Haldane suspects foul play…
On a rainy afternoon, Beth Haldane accompanies her elderly mother Wendy to the funeral of her boyfriend and local councillor Len. But as they gather in the church, Beth can’t help but notice how many women are there who look just like her mother.
As the service begins it soon becomes clear that all of the women thought they were Len’s special someone – and one of them even claims to be his distraught wife. Wendy suspects foul play and immediately asks Beth to investigate.
As Beth begins to speak to the women she has to ask, was one of Len’s many disgruntled girlfriends out for revenge? Why was Len borrowing money from the ladies he romanced? And why did his work for the local council seem so suspicious?
Then, Len’s secretary Bella is found dead amongst the dahlias in a planter. Beth starts to suspect Len was involved in something far more dangerous than she’d assumed but what did Bella know about his business that led to her unfortunate end?
With the village rumour mill in full swing, fingers start to point at Wendy. After all, distraught Wendy is telling everyone who lends her an ear that Len was murdered – and she saw Len the very evening he was found dead. The clock is ticking for Beth to clear her mother’s name before it’s too late!
A deliciously cozy and gripping murder mystery, perfect for fans of Agatha Christie, T.E. Kinsey and The Thursday Murder Club.
Before turning to crime, Alice Castle was a UK newspaper journalist for The Daily Express, The Times and The Daily Telegraph. Alice is an avid reader of crime fiction, her favourite stories are cozy crimes with a strong sense of place. When she couldn’t find a series about her beloved south London, she decided to write her own – and single mum amateur sleuth Beth Haldane was born. Alice also writes twisty psychological thrillers for HQ Digital under the name A.M. Castle. The Perfect Widow was a top selling audiobook in 2019 and The Invitation hit the top 50 on Amazon UK in 2021. Alice lives with her two children and two cats and, if she isn’t writing or reading a whodunit, she’ll be watching one on telly.
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