Sir Lance Hale is found dead after a party at his home. It is the third tragedy for the family but were all the deaths actually murder? Eve Mallow knows the family and wants to find the truth…
Mystery at Lockley Grange is the 13th book in the Eve Mallow series of amateur sleuth murder mysteries.
Eve used to be the nanny for the Hale children. Now they are all grown up and sadly one died after falling from a cliff. The mother of the family also died after being run down by her brother in law. Now Lance is killed too and Eve wants to find answers.
On the personal side, Eve and Robin are just weeks away from their wedding. Do they really have time to investigate a murder? Of course they do! As usual they are ably accompanied by Gus the dachshund and their friends. There are lots of suspects to ask questions and discover motives, and I was kept guessing by the twists of the plot.
I really like Eve’s character. Her inquisitiveness isn’t overwhelming but feels natural as part of her obituary writer career. She is gentle in manner and sensitive to the feelings of others, especially the recently bereaved. However, I also feel she has a spine of steel that gives her a determination to get justice for the victim.
Mystery at Lockley Grange is an enjoyable addition to this series of cosy murder mysteries.
Famous diplomat Lance Hale is throwing a party at Lockley Grange to celebrate his latest award. But when he’s found face down in his swimming pool, Eve Mallow is sure someone thought he deserved to die…
It’s always an occasion when the Hale family descend on their country pile, Lockley Grange. Almost everyone in Saxford St Peter has been called upon to dust the rooms, tidy the garden, and cater for the party. Eve Mallow’s delighted to be invited: years ago she babysat for the Hale children, and she can’t wait to see how they turned out.
But the night will be remembered for all the wrong reasons. The following morning, Lance is found dead in his indoor pool. He’d been the life and soul of the party, but Eve saw him arguing with friends and family. She’s convinced it was no accident – especially when she finds a threatening note tucked into his desk drawer.
But who wanted to make sure indiscreet Lance was silenced for good? His right-hand woman, who could spill the family’s secrets, but won’t say a word? His older son, who’s drowning in debt, or his younger daughter, whose career he’d sabotaged?
As Eve sets to work at isolated Lockley Grange with loyal dachshund Gus at her heels, she uncovers past tragedies, blackmail and hidden cameras watching her every step. Eve knows she’s wading into dark waters… can she find the killer, or is she in over her head?
Author Bio
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.
Sir Lance Hale is found dead after a party at his home. It is the third tragedy for the family but were all the deaths actually murder? Eve Mallow knows the family and wants to find the truth…
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