Murder at the Lighthouse by Frances Evesham - Book Review
Release: 23/09/2015
Format: Kindle
Publisher: Ainsley Associates
Source: Kindle
Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Synopsis: Have you ever found a body on the beach?
Recently widowed Libby Forest arrives in the small coastal town of Exham on Sea, keen to start a new life baking cakes and designing chocolates.
Walking on the beach one stormy autumn day, Libby and excitable Springer Spaniel ‘Shipley’ discover a dead body under the lighthouse. Convinced the death was no accident, Libby teams up with Max Ramshore, an attractive local resident, and Bear, a huge sheepdog, to confront indifference from the community and unmask the killer.
Murder at the Lighthouse is the first in a series of Exham-on-Sea Murder Mysteries set at the small English seaside town full of quirky characters, sea air and gossip.
If you love Agatha Christie-style mysteries, cosy crime, clever dogs and cake, then you'll love these intriguing whodunnits.
Goodreads
Amazon
About the Author Frances Evesham: Hello, and thanks for taking an interest in my books.
I love murder mysteries, especially cosy mysteries to read with a nice cup of tea and maybe a chocolate biscuit.
So, those are the books I write.
Most of my stories are set in beautiful Somerset and I hope you’ll enjoy reading them as much as I loved writing them, whether you begin with The Exham on Sea mysteries or The Ham Hill Mysteries.
Murder at the Lighthouse is the first in the Exham on Sea mystery series. Number nine in the series, Murder at the Palace, is due out in June this year and is available to pre-order right now.
Cozy Comfort with Mild Mystery
I came in with modest expectations for a quick, cozy read and got exactly that. This book had charming small-town vibes with a mystery that takes its time.
What Works:
The cozy atmosphere absolutely delivers. Libby's interactions with townspeople feel warm and genuine, especially her bond with Mandy. I actually cared about Mandy's family troubles as much as the main plot. Similarly, Libby's connections with Max and Mrs. Thomson add nice layers too. The supporting cast stands out nicely! Marina's overbearing humor and Samantha's sophistication make them easy to tell apart and fun to spend time with.
What Falls Short:
The murder mystery itself gets pushed to the back burner. Not much happens investigation-wise until the second murder hits halfway through, which makes the first half feel a bit aimless. The killer reveal surprised me, sure, but it lacked that satisfying punch you want from a whodunit.This is perhaps because there are also too many characters floating around. George, Angela, Ned, looking back, several suspects didn't actually need to exist. The canvas gets crowded without adding real complexity to the puzzle, making the reveal of the killer not so memorable.
Verdict:Murder at the Lighthouse does what it sets out to do. It's a gentle, pleasant cozy with enough charm to keep you company for an afternoon. Don't expect tight plotting or shocking twists, but if you want small-town warmth with a light mystery on the side, this fits the bill. I'll probably check out the next one for the comfort factor alone.
Perfect for:Cozy mystery fans, small-town setting lovers, and readers wanting low-stakes whodunits.
Murder at the Lighthouse
by Frances Evesham
3.5
★★★
★
★
★
3.5 out of 5 stars
Synopsis
"Have you ever found a body on the beach?
Recently widowed Libby Forest arrives in the small coastal town of Exham on Sea, keen to start a new life baking cakes and designing chocolates.
Walking on the beach one stormy autumn day, Libby and excitable Springer Spaniel ‘Shipley’ discover a dead body under the lighthouse. Convinced the death was no accident, Libby teams up with Max Ramshore, an attractive local resident, and Bear, a huge sheepdog, to confront indifference from the community and unmask the killer.
Murder at the Lighthouse is the first in a series of Exham-on-Sea Murder Mysteries set at the small English seaside town full of quirky characters, sea air and gossip.
If you love Agatha Christie-style mysteries, cosy crime, clever dogs and cake, then you'll love these intriguing whodunnits."
Release
23/09/2015
Format
Kindle
Publisher
Ainsley Associates
Source
Kindle
About the Author
Frances Evesham
Hello, and thanks for taking an interest in my books.
I love murder mysteries, especially cosy mysteries to read with a nice cup of tea and maybe a chocolate biscuit.
So, those are the books I write.
Most of my stories are set in beautiful Somerset and I hope you’ll enjoy reading them as much as I loved writing them, whether you begin with The Exham on Sea mysteries or The Ham Hill Mysteries.
Murder at the Lighthouse is the first in the Exham on Sea mystery series. Number nine in the series, Murder at the Palace, is due out in June this year and is available to pre-order right now.
My Review
Cozy Comfort with Mild Mystery
I came in with modest expectations for a quick, cozy read and got exactly that. This book had charming small-town vibes with a mystery that takes its time.
What Works:
The cozy atmosphere absolutely delivers. Libby’s interactions with townspeople feel warm and genuine, especially her bond with Mandy. I actually cared about Mandy’s family troubles as much as the main plot. Similarly, Libby’s connections with Max and Mrs. Thomson add nice layers too. The supporting cast stands out nicely! Marina’s overbearing humor and Samantha’s sophistication make them easy to tell apart and fun to spend time with.
What Falls Short:
The murder mystery itself gets pushed to the back burner. Not much happens investigation-wise until the second murder hits halfway through, which makes the first half feel a bit aimless. The killer reveal surprised me, sure, but it lacked that satisfying punch you want from a whodunit.
This is perhaps because there are also too many characters floating around. George, Angela, Ned, looking back, several suspects didn’t actually need to exist. The canvas gets crowded without adding real complexity to the puzzle, making the reveal of the killer not so memorable.
Verdict:
Murder at the Lighthouse does what it sets out to do. It’s a gentle, pleasant cozy with enough charm to keep you company for an afternoon. Don’t expect tight plotting or shocking twists, but if you want small-town warmth with a light mystery on the side, this fits the bill. I’ll probably check out the next one for the comfort factor alone.
Perfect for:
Cozy mystery fans, small-town setting lovers, and readers wanting low-stakes whodunits.
