Can an apparent accident be exactly that?

Synopsis

A tragic accident or an untimely death?

When Drew Hopgood’s brother, Frank dies whilst out climbing, it’s initially thought his death was simply a tragic accident. But when Frank’s much younger wife, Stella arrives at Hopgood Hall demanding half of Frank’s inheritance the Hopgoods and Alexi Ellis begin to suspect foul play…

Stella has no claim to Frank’s legacy, but she isn’t giving up easily. And with the reputation of Hopgood Hall still fragile, Alexi can’t afford to lose any more money because of Stella’s greed.

So Alexi, her partner Jack, and Cosmo of course, decide to dig deeper into Stella’s background. Just how did she meet Frank and were they really as in love as she claims?

As the trio investigate, they discover Stella has her own reasons for being back at Hopgood Hall. And rather than console the grieving widow, Alexi and Jack think they might need to look again at Frank’s tragic death – because rather than an accident this could have been a deadly fall – planned by his own wife!

A boutique hotel. A feral cat. A recipe for murder!

A gripping murder mystery, perfect for fans of Faith Martin, Frances Evesham and Emma Davies.

My review

Drew Hopgood and his brother Frank weren’t that close, yet Frank’s death comes as a shock and a surprise. Losing his life after a fall while climbing has been declared as an accident, despite Frank being an avid and good climber. Alexi Ellis and her partner Jack are just like Drew and Cheryl shocked when Frank’s widow appears at Hopgood Hall, claiming half of Frank’s inheritance of the place, even if Drew bought Frank out. Stella not giving up that easily makes Alexi and Jack wonder if there is more to Stella’s demands than on first appearance, especially as the reputation of Hopgood Hall still has not recovered fully of past events. So was Frank’s death truly an accident as claimed, or is Stella some involved? It’s up to Alexi, Jack and the (in)famous Cosmo and new addition Silgo to put their investigating hats back on and unravel the truth once again.

While I absolutely love returning to Hopgood Hall, it is also always with a sense of dread. Because retuning to a new story in this series, means that another victim has fallen, and that Alexi and Jack once again have to investigate and try to find out the truth.

Slowly I start to fear for the lives of everyone around Hopgood Hall! 😊

This time the victim is closer to home, as it is Drew’s brother Frank. I didn’t have the pleasure to get to know him before, and I have to admit, I don’t truly feel that I missed something. Now, Tizi, don’t be cruel, that isn’t a nice thing to say… But trust me, when you are getting to know Frank a little bit better through all the discoveries and Drew’s memories, I believe that you will share my same thoughts.

Even if I didn’t truly feel sad over Frank’s death, my heart went out to Drew. Because even if the siblings weren’t that close anymore, and their lives took different directions, Frank is Drew’s brother. Losing a family member will always hurt you, no matter how close you were.

I liked it how Alexi and Jack were there for their friends during these terrible moments, offering every kind of support possible. For me it felt that these four people, these two couples, have become a special kind of family of their own.

Even if I knew that Stella, Frank’s widow, would make an appearance and claim half of the Hall, I was shocked by her audacity. A few words came up in my mind to describe, but I cannot possibly repeat them here as they were anything but the nice kind of words.

Of course that didn’t help my own feelings, aligned with those of Alexi and Jack, that Frank’s death perhaps wasn’t so accidental as it seemed on first instance. And I was happy to see the couple and their pets (or co – investigators…) trying to figure out the truth.

Now, it won’t come as a shock who I suspected to be involved with Frank’s death, but I also knew that this author is a master with inventing twists and turns that even I didn’t see coming!

As this is a cozy murder mystery, there are of course lovely moments, sweet moments and even funny moments. And yes, Cosmo steals the scene once again, in several occasions. And it was over the top sweet to see how Silgo not only made a nice addition to the unit, but also turns out to be of inestimable value! That for sure sounds promising for following investigations for the furry group!

Normally I am the kind of person that rather quickly has an inkling what happened and who is truly involved with the crime. Yet once again, I had to  show patience (which I don’t have! 😊) to finally have all the cards on the table and understand what happened to Frank and why.

But that of course doesn’t mean that I didn’t enjoy reading another great cozy murder mystery at the hand of this author, with great main characters that not only grow stronger as a person on their own, but mainly and more important as a couple and a unit completed by amazing friends and lovely, unpredictable yet most loyal furry friends that for sure will put a smile on your face with their antics!